memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第25章
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oor Don Timoteo out。 At first； every boat of his； in coming down from the San Rafael； touched at the Ohio； and left the best beefsteaks and roasts for the commodore； but soon the baron had enough money to dispense with the borrowed boat； and set up for himself； and from this small beginning； step by step； he rose in a few months to be one of the richest and most influential men in San Francisco； but in his wild speculations he was at last caught； and became helplessly bankrupt。 He followed General Fremont to St。 Louis in 1861； where I saw him； but soon afterward he died a pauper in one of the hospitals。 When General Smith had his headquarters in San Francisco； in the spring of 1849； Steinberger gave dinners worthy any baron of old； and when； in after…years； I was a banker there； he used to borrow of me small sums of money in repayment for my share of these feasts； and somewhere among my old packages I hold one of his confidential notes for two hundred dollars； but on the whole I got off easily。 I have no doubt that； if this man's history could be written out； it would present phases as wonderful as any of romance； but in my judgment he was a dangerous man； without any true…sense of honor or honesty。
Little by little the rains of that season grew less and less； and the hills once more became green and covered with flowers。 It became perfectly evident that no family could live in San Francisco on such a salary as Uncle Sam allowed his most favored officials； so General Smith and Major Ogden concluded to send their families back to the United States； and afterward we men…folks could take to camp and live on our rations。 The Second Infantry had arrived； and had been distributed； four companies to Monterey； and the rest somewhat as Stevenson's regiment had been。 A。 J。 Smith's company of dragoons was sent up to Sonoma； whither General Smith had resolved to move our headquarters。 On the steamer which sailed about May 1st （I think the California）； we embarked； the ladies for home and we for Monterey。 At Monterey we went on shore； and Colonel Mason； who meantime had been relieved by General Riley； went on board； and the steamer departed for Panama。 Of all that party I alone am alive。
General Riley had； with his family； taken the house which Colonel Mason had formerly used； and Major Canby and wife had secured rooms at Alvarado's。 Captain Bane was quartermaster； and had his family in the house of a man named Garner； near the redoubt。 Burton and Company F were still at the fort； the four companies of the Second Infantry were quartered in the barracks； the same building in which we had had our headquarters； and the company officers were quartered in hired buildings near by。 General Smith and his aide； Captain Gibbs； went to Larkin's house； and I was at my old rooms at Dona Augustias。 As we intended to go back to San Francisco by land and afterward to travel a good deal； General Smith gave me the necessary authority to fit out the party。 There happened to be several trains of horses and mules in town； so I purchased about a dozen horses and mules at two hundred dollars a head； on account of the Quartermaster's Department； and we had them kept under guard in the quartermaster's corral。
I remember one night being in the quarters of Lieutenant Alfred Sully； where nearly all the officers of the garrison were assembled； listening to Sully's stories。 Lieutenant Derby； 〃Squibob；〃 was one of the number； as also Fred Steele； 〃Neighbor〃 Jones； and others； when； just after 〃tattoo；〃 the orderly…sergeants came to report the result of 〃tattoo〃 roll…call； one reported five men absent； another eight； and so on； until it became certain that twenty…eight men had deserted； and they were so bold and open in their behavior that it amounted to defiance。 They had deliberately slung their knapsacks and started for the gold…mines。 Dr。 Murray and I were the only ones present who were familiar with the country； and I explained how easy they could all be taken by a party going out at once to Salinas Plain； where the country was so open and level that a rabbit could not cross without being seen； that the deserters could not go to the mines without crossing that plain； and could not reach it before daylight。 All agreed that the whole regiment would desert if these men were not brought back。 Several officers volunteered on the spot to go after them； and； as the soldiers could not be trusted； it was useless to send any but officers in pursuit。 Some one went to report the affair to the adjutant…general； Canby； and he to General Riley。 I waited some time； and； as the thing grew cold； I thought it was given up； and went to my room and to bed。
About midnight I was called up and informed that there were seven officers willing to go； but the difficulty was to get horses and saddles。 I went down to Larkin's house and got General Smith to consent that we might take the horses I had bought for our trip。 It was nearly three o'clock a。m。 before we were all mounted and ready。 I had a musket which I used for hunting。 With this I led off at a canter； followed by the others。 About six miles out； by the faint moon； I saw ahead of us in the sandy road some blue coats； and； fearing lest they might resist or escape into the dense bushes which lined the road； I halted and found with me Paymaster Hill； Captain N。 H。 Davis； and Lieutenant John Hamilton。 We waited some time for the others； viz。； Canby； Murray； Gibbs； and Sully； to come up； but as they were not in sight we made a dash up the road and captured six of the deserters； who were Germans； with heavy knapsacks on； trudging along the deep； sandy road。 They had not expected pursuit； had not heard our horses； and were accordingly easily taken。 Finding myself the senior officer present； I ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to search the men and then to march them back to Monterey； suspecting； as was the fact； that the rest of our party had taken a road that branched off a couple of miles back。 Daylight broke as we reached the Saunas River； twelve miles out； and there the trail was broad and fresh leading directly out on the Saunas Plain。 This plain is about five miles wide； and then the ground becomes somewhat broken。 The trail continued very plain； and I rode on at a gallop to where there was an old adobe…ranch on the left of the road； with the head of a lagoon； or pond； close by。 I saw one or two of the soldiers getting water at the pond； and others up near the house。 I had the best horse and was considerably ahead； but on looking back could see Hill and Davis coming up behind at a gallop。 I motioned to them to hurry forward； and turned my horse across the head of the pond； knowing the ground well； as it was a favorite place for shooting geese and ducks。 Approaching the house； I ordered the men who were outside to go in。 They did not know me personally； and exchanged glances； but I had my musket cocked； and； as the two had seen Davis and Hill coming up pretty fast； they obeyed。 Dismounting； I found the house full of deserters； and there was no escape for them。 They naturally supposed that I had a strong party with me； and when I ordered them to 〃fall in〃 they obeyed from habit。 By the time Hill and Davis came up I had them formed in two ranks； the front rank facing about； and I was taking away their bayonets； pistols； etc。 We disarmed them； destroying a musket and several pistols； and； on counting them； we found that we three had taken eighteen； which； added to the six first captured； made twenty…four。 We made them sling their knapsacks and begin their homeward march。 It was near night when we got back； so that these deserters had traveled nearly forty miles since 〃tattoo〃 of the night before。 The other party had captured three； so that only one man had escaped。 I doubt not this prevented the desertion of the bulk of the Second Infantry that spring； for at that time so demoralizing was the effect of the gold…mines that everybody not in the military service justified desertion； because a soldier； if free； could earn more money in a day than he received per month。 Not only did soldiers and sailors desert； but captains and masters of ships actually abandoned their vessels and cargoes to try their luck
