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Naval Conquest of
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THE NAVAL CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA

Early the next morning 310 ill-prepared men were landed without artillery and the advance begun immediately. Progress was greatly hampered by want of transport, the enemy having driven off all the horses and oxen, and by constant harrassment from hostile cavalry. With Gillespie's volunteer riflemen protecting the flanks and Captain Marston's marines as an advance guard the expedition covered fourteen miles and camped for the night at Domingo's rancho. During the ensuing darkness there were frequent attacks by detachments of cavalry and a piece of horse artillery which the Americans found it impossible to approach.

At daylight a weary force resumed the march and three miles from camp came upon the Californians deployed upon a plain. Captain Mervine reported that they consisted of "between three and four hundred cavalry; all well mounted, and one piece of Flying Artillery, which commenced firing upon us as soon as we advanced within its range."

The second shot grazed the tops of the boarding pikes, with which many of the sailors were armed. The field piece was then depressed and at once began to take toll in the American ranks. Gallantly they charged it and the enemy was driven from the right of the gun, but maintained his position on its left. "Three spirited but unsuccessful charges were made upon this piece," says Mervine, "at each of which I became more satisfied that it was impossible for men on foot to reach a piece of Flying Artillery: and I reluctantly ordered a retreat, which I made good bringing off the field all my wounded."

The beginning of this deplorable retirement is graphically shown in the sketch by Gunner Meyers (Plate V). An advanced line held off the enemy until retreating men could form another line to cover the withdrawal of those in front. Later a marching formation was taken up with the experienced irregulars on the flanks except for Gillespie himself who commanded a rear guard of 20 marines. The Californians pursued for five miles using their "Flying Artillery" at advantageous points, but by sundown the thirsty expedition had covered the seventeen fatiguing miles to San Pedro through parched country and re-embarked in the ships. Ten men had been wounded, four mortally. American prestige had been reduced to its lowest ebb.

Arriving at San Pedro in the Congress on October 26th Stockton landed a strong force with artillery preliminary to the recapture of Los Angeles. The maritime insecurity of the open anchorage, however, together with the dearth of cattle and horses which the enemy had driven off, persuaded him to change the base of operations ninety miles further south to the sheltered harbor of San Diego. The garrison at the latter place was found to have endured a trying siege and its food supplies were completely exhausted when the vessels arrived from San Pedro. Word was received from Fremont that he had stopped at Santa Barbara to get horses and finding that place in enemy hands had gone back to Monterey for the necessary horses and would march upon Los Angeles by land. The Commodore at once set about the care, careful organization and training of a military force for the Los Angeles enterprise, together with the preparation of a means of transport and supply.

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