memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第19章

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rectly　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　at　the　mines。　　Preachers　and　professors　forgot　their　creeds　and　took　to　trade；　and　even　to　keeping　gambling…horses。　　I　remember　that　one　of　our　regular　soldiers；　named　Reese；　in　deserting　stole　a　favorite　double…　barreled　gun　of　mine；　and　when　the　orderly…sergeant　of　the　company；　Carson；　was　going　on　furlough；　I　asked　him　when　he　came　across　Reese　to　try　and　get　my　gun　back。　　When　he　returned　he　told　me　that　he　had　found　Reese　and　offered　him　a　hundred　dollars　for　my　gun；　but　Reese　sent　me　word　that　he　liked　the　gun；　and　would　not　take　a　hundred　dollars　for　it。　　Soldiers　or　sailors　who　could　reach　the　mines　were　universally　shielded　by　the　miners；　so　that　it　was　next　to　useless　to　attempt　their　recapture。　　In　due　season　General　Persifer　Smith；　Gibbs；　and　I；　with　some　hired　packers；　started　back　for　San　Francisco；　and　soon　after　we　transferred　our　headquarters　to　Sonoma。　　About　this　time　Major　Joseph　Hooker　arrived　from　the　Eastthe　regular　adjutant…general　of　the　divisionrelieved　me；　and　I　became　thereafter　one　of　General　Smith's　regular　aides…de…camp。

As　there　was　very　little　to　do；　General　Smith　encouraged　us　to　go　into　any　business　that　would　enable　us　to　make　money。　　R。　P。　Hammond；　James　Blair；　and　I；　made　a　contract　to　survey　for　Colonel　J。　D。　Stevenson　his　newly…projected　city　of　〃New　York　of　the　Pacific；〃　situated　at　the　month　of　the　San　Joaquin　River。　　The　contract　embraced；　also；　the　making　of　soundings　and　the　marking　out　of　a　channel　through　Suisun　Bay。　　We　hired；　in　San　Francisco；　a　small　metallic　boat；　with　a　sail；　laid　in　some　stores；　and　proceeded　to　the　United　States　ship　Ohio；　anchored　at　Saucelito；　where　we　borrowed　a　sailor…boy　and　lead…lines　with　which　to　sound　the　channel。　　We　sailed　up　to　Benicia；　and；　at　General　Smith's　request；　we　surveyed　and　marked　the　line　dividing　the　city　of　Benicia　from　the　government　reserve。　　We　then　sounded　the　bay　back　and　forth；　and　staked　out　the　best　channel　up　Suisun　Bay；　from　which　Blair　made　out　sailing　directions。　　We　then　made　the　preliminary　surveys　of　the　city　of　〃New　York　of　the　Pacific；〃　all　of　which　were　duly　plotted；　and　for　this　work　we　each　received　from　Stevenson　five　hundred　dollars　and　ten　or　fifteen　lots。　　I　sold　enough　lots　to　make　up　another　five　hundred　dollars；　and　let　the　balance　go；　for　the　city　of　〃New　York　of　the　Pacific〃　never　came　to　any　thing。　　Indeed；　cities　at　the　time　were　being　projected　by　speculators　all　round　the　bay　and　all　over　the　country。

While　we　were　surveying　at　〃New　York　of　the　Pacific；〃　occurred　one　of　those　little　events　that　showed　the　force　of　the　gold…fever。　　We　had　a　sailor…boy　with　us；　about　seventeen　years　old；　who　cooked　our　meals　and　helped　work　the　boat。　　Onshore；　we　had　the　sail　spread　so　as　to　shelter　us　against　the　wind　and　dew。　　One　morning　I　awoke　about　daylight；　and　looked　out　to　see　if　our　sailor…boy　was　at　work　getting　breakfast；　but　he　was　not　at　the　fire　at　all。　　Getting　up；　I　discovered　that　he　had　converted　a　tule…bolsa　into　a　sail　boat；　and　was　sailing　for　the　gold…mines。　　He　was　astride　this　bolsa；　with　a　small　parcel　of　bread　and　meat　done　up　in　a　piece　of　cloth；　another　piece　of　cloth；　such　as　we　used　for　making　our　signal…　stations；　he　had　fixed　into　a　sail；　and　with　a　paddle　he　was　directing　his　precarious　craft　right　out　into　the　broad　bay；　to　follow　the　general　direction　of　the　schooners　and　boats　that　he　knew　were　ascending　the　Sacramento　River。　　He　was　about　a　hundred　yards　from　the　shore。　　I　jerked　up　my　gun；　and　hailed　him　to　come　back。　　After　a　moment's　hesitation；　he　let　go　his　sheet　and　began　to　paddle　back。　　This　bolsa　was　nothing　but　a　bundle　of　tule；　or　bullrush；　bound　together　with　grass…ropes　in　the　shape　of　a　cigar；　about　ten　feet　long　and　about　two　feet　through　the　butt。　　With　these　the　California　Indiana　cross　streams　of　considerable　size。　When　he　came　ashore；　I　gave　him　a　good　overhauling　for　attempting　to　desert；　and　put　him　to　work　getting　breakfast。　　In　due　time　we　returned　him　to　his　ship；　the　Ohio。　　Subsequently；　I　made　a　bargain　with　Mr。　Hartnell　to　survey　his　ranch　at　Cosnmnes　River；　Sacramento　Valley。　　Ord　and　a　young　citizen；　named　Seton；　were　associated　with　me　in　this。　　I　bought　of　Rodman　M。　Price　a　surveyor's　compass；　chain；　etc。；　and；　in　San　Francisco；　a　small　wagon　and　harness。　Availing　ourselves　of　a　schooner；　chartered　to　carry　Major　Miller　and　two　companies　of　the　Second　Infantry　from　San　Francisco　to　Stockton；　we　got　up　to　our　destination　at　little　cost。　　I　recall　an　occurrence　that　happened　when　the　schooner　was　anchored　in　Carquinez　Straits；　opposite　the　soldiers'　camp　on　shore。　　We　were　waiting　for　daylight　and　a　fair　wind；　the　schooner　lay　anchored　at　an　ebb…tide；　and　about　daylight　Ord　and　I　had　gone　ashore　for　something。　　Just　as　we　were　pulling　off　from　shore；　we　heard　the　loud　shouts　of　the　men；　and　saw　them　all　running　down　toward　the　water。　　Our　attention　thus　drawn；　we　saw　something　swimming　in　the　water；　and　pulled　toward　it；　thinking　it　a　coyote；　but　we　soon　recognized　a　large　grizzly　bear；　swimming　directly　across　the　channel。　　Not　having　any　weapon；　we　hurriedly　pulled　for　the　schooner；　calling　out；　as　we　neared　it；　〃A　bear！　a　bear！〃　It　so　happened　that　Major　Miller　was　on　deck；　washing　his　face　and　hands。　He　ran　rapidly　to　the　bow　of　the　vessel；　took　the　musket　from　the　hands　of　the　sentinel；　and　fired　at　the　bear；　as　he　passed　but　a　short　distance　ahead　of　the　schooner。　　The　bear　rose；　made　a　growl　or　howl；　but　continued　his　course。　　As　we　scrambled　up　the　port…aide　to　get　our　guns；　the　mate；　with　a　crew；　happened　to　have　a　boat　on　the　starboard…aide；　and；　armed　only　with　a　hatchet；　they　pulled　up　alongside　the　bear；　and　the　mate　struck　him　in　the　head　with　the　hatchet。　　The　bear　turned；　tried　to　get　into　the　boat；　but　the　mate　struck　his　claws　with　repeated　blows；　and　made　him　let　go。　After　several　passes　with　him；　the　mate　actually　killed　the　bear；　got　a　rope　round　him；　and　towed　him　alongside　the　schooner；　where　he　was　hoisted　on　deck。　　The　carcass　weighed　over　six　hundred　pounds。　　It　was　found　that　Major　Miller's　shot　had　struck　the　bear　in　the　lower　jaw；　and　thus　disabled　him。　　Had　it　not　been　for　this；　the　bear　would　certainly　have　upset　the　boat　and　drowned　all　in　it。　As　it　was；　however；　his　meat　served　us　a　good　turn　in　our　trip　up　to　Stockton。　　At　Stockton　we　disembarked　our　wagon；　provisions；　and　instruments。　　There　I　bought　two　fine　mules　at　three　hundred　dollars　each；　and　we　hitched　up　and　started　for　the　Coaumnes　River。　About　twelve　miles　off　was　the　Mokelumne；　a　wide；　bold　stream；　with　a　canoe　as　a　ferry…boat。　　We　took　our　wagon　to　pieces；　and　ferried　it　and　its　contents　across；　and　then　drove　our　mules　into　the　water。　　In　crossing；　one　mule　became　entangled　in　the　rope　of　the　other；　and　for　a　time　we　thought　he　was　a　gone　mule；　but　at　last　he　revived　and　we　hitched　up。　　The　mules　were　both　pack…animals；　neither　had　ever　before　seen　a　wagon。　　Young　Seton　also　was　about　as　green；　and　had　never　handled　a　mule。　　We　put　on　the　harness；　and　began　to　hitch　them　in；　when　one　of　the　mules　turned　his　head；　saw　the　wagon；　and　started。　　We　held　on　tight；　but　the　beast　did　not　stop　until　he　had　shivered　the　tongue…pole　into　a　dozen　fragments。　The　fact　was；　that　Seton　had　hitched　the　traces　before　he　had　put　on　the　blind…bridle。　　There　was　considerable　swearing　done；　but　that　would　not　mend　the　pole。　　There　was　no　place　nearer　than　Sutter's　Fort　to　repair　damages；　so　we　were　put　to　our　wits'　end。　We　first　sent　back　a　mile　or　so；　and　bought　a　raw…hide。　　Gathering　up　the　fragments　of　the　pole　and　cutting　the　hide　into　strips；　we　fished　it　in　the　rudest　manner。　　As　long　as　the　hide　was　green；　the　pole　was　very　shaky；　but　gradually　the　sun　dried　the　hide；　tightened　it；　and　the　pole　actually　held　for　about　a　month。　　This　cost　us　nearly　a　day　of　delay；　but；　when　damages　were　repaired；　we　harnessed　up　again；　and　reached　the　crossing　of　the　Cosumnes；　where　our　survey　was　to　begin。　　The　expediente；　or　title…papers；　of　the　ranch　described　it　as　containing　nine　or　eleven　leagues　on　the　Cosumnes；　south　side；　and　between　the　San　Joaquin　River　and　Sierra　Nevada　Mountains。　　We　began　at　the　place　where　the　road　crosses　the　Cosumnes；　and　laid　down　a　line　four　miles　south；　perpendicular　to　the　general　direction　of　the　stream；　then；　surveying　up　the　stream；　we　marked　each　mile　so　as　to　admit　of　a　subdivision　of　one　mile　by　four。　　The　land　was　dry　and　very　poor；　with　the　exception　of　here　and　there　some　small　pieces　of　bottom　land；　the　great　bulk　of　the　bottom…land　occurring　on　the　north　side　of　the　stream。　　We　continued　the　survey　up　some　twenty　miles　into　the　hills　above　the　mill　of　Dailor　and　Sheldon。　　It　took　about　a　month　to　make　this　survey；　which；　when　finished；　was　duly　plotted；　and　for　it　we　received　one…tenth　of　the　land；　or　two　subdivisions。　　Ord　and　I　took　the　land；　and　we　paid　Seton　for　his　labor　in　cash。　　By　the　sale　of　my　share　of　the　land；　subsequently；　I　realized　three　thousand　dollars。　　After　finishing　Hartnell's　survey；　we　crossed　over　to　Dailor's；　and　did　some　work　for　him　at　five　hundred　dollars　a　day　for　the　party。　　Having　finished　our　work　on　the　Cosumnes