memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第9章

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ted　us　where　to　cross。　　Our　knowledge　of　the　language　was　limited；　but　we　managed　to　understand；　and　to　founder　through　the　sand　and　water；　and　reached　a　small　adobe…horse　on　the　banks　of　the　Salinas；　where　we　spent　the　night：　The　house　was　a　single　room；　without　floor　or　glass；　only　a　rude　door；　and　window　with　bars。　　Not　a　particle　of　food　but　meat；　yet　the　man　and　woman　entertained　us　with　the　language　of　lords　put　themselves；　their　house；　and　every　thing；　at　our　　〃disposition；〃　and　made　little　barefoot　children　dance　for　our　entertainment。　　We　made　our　supper　of　beef；　and　slept　on　a　bullock's　hide　on　the　dirt…floor。　　In　the　morning　we　crossed　the　Salinas　Plain；　about　fifteen　miles　of　level　ground；　taking　a　shot　occasionally　at　wild…geese；　which　abounded　there；　and　entering　the　well…wooded　valley　that　comes　out　from　the　foot　of　the　Gavillano。　We　had　cruised　about　all　day；　and　it　was　almost　dark　when　we　reached　the　house　of　a　Senor　Gomez；　father　of　those　who　at　Monterey　had　performed　the　parts　of　Adam　and　Eve。　　His　house　was　a　two…story　adobe；　and　had　a　fence　in　front。　　It　was　situated　well　up　among　the　foot…hills　of　the　Gavillano；　and　could　not　be　seen　until　within　a　few　yards。　　We　hitched　our　horses　to　the　fence　and　went　in　just　as　Gomez　was　about　to　sit　down　to　a　tempting　supper　of　stewed　hare　and　tortillas。　　We　were　officers　and　caballeros　and　could　not　be　ignored。　　After　turning　our　horses　to　grass；　at　his　invitation　we　joined　him　at　supper。　　The　allowance；　though　ample　for　one；　was　rather　short　for　three；　and　I　thought　the　Spanish　grandiloquent　politeness　of　Gomez；　who　was　fat　and　old；　was　not　over…cordial。　However；　down　we　sat；　and　I　was　helped　to　a　dish　of　rabbit；　with　what　I　thought　to　be　an　abundant　sauce　of　tomato。　　Taking　a　good　mouthful；　I　felt　as　though　I　had　taken　liquid　fire；　the　tomato　was　chile　colorado；　or　red　pepper；　of　the　purest　kind。　　It　nearly　killed　me；　and　I　saw　Gomez's　eyes　twinkle；　for　he　saw　that　his　share　of　supper　was　increased。　I　contented　myself　with　bits　of　the　meat；　and　an　abundant　supply　of　tortillas。　　Ord　was　better　case…hardened；　and　stood　it　better。　　We　staid　at　Gomez's　that　night；　sleeping；　as　all　did；　on　the　ground；　and　the　next　morning　we　crossed　the　hill　by　the　bridle…path　to　the　old　Mission　of　San　Juan　Bautista。　　The　Mission　was　in　a　beautiful　valley；　very　level；　and　bounded　on　all　aides　by　hills。　　The　plain　was　covered　with　wild…grasses　and　mustard；　and　had　abundant　water。　　Cattle　and　horses　were　seen　in　all　directions；　and　it　was　manifest　that　the　priests　who　first　occupied　the　country　were　good　judges　of　land。　It　was　Sunday；　and　all　the　people；　about；　a　hundred；　had　come　to　church　from　the　country　round　about。　　Ord　was　somewhat　of　a　Catholic；　and　entered　the　church　with　his　clanking　spars　and　kneeled　down；　attracting　the　attention　of　all；　for　he　had　on　the　uniform　of　an　American　officer。　　As　soon　as　church　was　out；　all　rushed　to　the　various　sports。　　I　saw　the　priest；　with　his　gray　robes　tucked　up；　playing　at　billiards；　others　were　cock　fighting；　and　some　at　horse…racing。　　My　horse　had　become　lame；　and　I　resolved　to　buy　another。　　As　soon　as　it　was　known　that　I　wanted　a　horse；　several　came　for　me；　and　displayed　their　horses　by　dashing　past　and　hauling　them　up　short。　　There　was　a　fine　black　stallion　that　attracted　my　notice；　and；　after　trying　him　myself；　I　concluded　a　purchase。　　I　left　with　the　seller　my　own　lame　horse；　which　he　was　to　bring　to　me　at　Monterey；　when　I　was　to　pay　him　ten　dollars　for　the　other。　　The　Mission　of　San　Juan　bore　the　marks　of　high　prosperity　at　a　former　period；　and　had　a　good　pear…orchard　just　under　the　plateau　where　stood　the　church。　　After　spending　the　day；　Ord　and　I　returned　to　Monterey；　about　thirty…five　miles；　by　a　shorter　route；　Thus　passed　the　month　of　February；　and；　though　there　were　no　mails　or　regular　expresses；　we　heard　occasionally　from　Yerba　Buena　and　Sutter's　Fort　to　the　north；　and　from　the　army　and　navy　about　Los　Angeles　at　the　south。　　We　also　knew　that　a　quarrel　had　grown　up　at　Los　Angeles；　between　General　Kearney；　Colonel　Fremont；　and　Commodore　Stockton；　as　to　the　right　to　control　affairs　in　California。　　Kearney　had　with　him　only　the　fragments　of　the　two　companies　of　dragoons；　which　had　come　across　from　New　Mexico　with　him；　and　had　been　handled　very　roughly　by　Don　Andreas　Pico；　at　San　Pascual；　in　which　engagement　Captains　Moore　and　Johnson；　and　Lieutenant　Hammond；　were　killed；　and　Kearney　himself　wounded。　There　remained　with　him　Colonel　Swords；　quartermaster；　Captain　H。　S。　Turner；　First　Dragoons；　Captains　Emory　and　Warner；　Topographical　Engineers；　Assistant　Surgeon　Griffin；　and　Lieutenant　J。　W。　Davidson。　　Fremont　had　marched　down　from　the　north　with　a　battalion　of　volunteers；　Commodore　Stockton　had　marched　up　from　San　Diego　to　Los　Angeles；　with　General　Kearney；　his　dragoons；　and　a　battalion　of　sailors　and　marines；　and　was　soon　joined　there　by　Fremont；　and　they　jointly　received　the　surrender　of　the　insurgents　under　Andreas　Pico。　　We　also　knew　that　General　R。　B。　Mason　had　been　ordered　to　California；　that　Colonel　John　D。　Stevenson　was　coming　out　to　California　with　a　regiment　of　New　York　Volunteers；　that　Commodore　Shubrick　had　orders　also　from　the　Navy　Department　to　control　matters　afloat；　that　General　Kearney；　by　virtue　of　his　rank；　had　the　right　to　control　all　the　land…forces　in　the　service　of　the　United　States；　and　that　Fremont　claimed　the　same　right　by　virtue　of　a　letter　he　had　received　from　Colonel　Benton；　then　a　Senator；　and　a　man　of　great　influence　with　Polk's　Administration。　　So　that　among　the　younger　officers　the　query　was　very　natural；　〃Who　the　devil　is　Governor　of　California？　〃　One　day　I　was　on　board　the　Independence　frigate；　dining　with　the　ward…room　officers；　when　a　war…vessel　was　reported　in　the　offing；　which　in　due　time　was　made　out　to　be　the　Cyane；　Captain　DuPont。　　After　dinner；　we　were　all　on　deck；　to　watch　the　new　arrival；　the　ships　meanwhile　exchanging　signals；　which　were　interpreted　that　General　Kearney　was　on　board。　　As　the　Cyane　approached；　a　boat　was　sent　to　meet　her；　with　Commodore　Shubrick's　flag…officer；　Lieutenant　Lewis；　to　carry　the　usual　messages；　and　to　invite　General　Kearney　to　come　on　board　the　Independence　as　the　guest　of　Commodore　Shubrick。　　Quite　a　number　of　officers　were　on　deck；　among　them　　Lieutenants　Wise；　Montgomery　Lewis；　William　Chapman；　and　others；　noted　wits　and　wags　of　the　navy。　　In　due　time　the　Cyane　anchored　close　by；　and　our　boat　was　seen　returning　with　a　stranger　in　the　stern…sheets；　clothed　in　army　blue。　　As　the　boat　came　nearer；　we　saw　that　it　was　General　Kearney　with　an　old　dragoon　coat　on；　and　an　army…cap；　to　which　the　general　had　added　the　broad　vizor；　cut　from　a　full…dress　hat；　to　shade　his　face　and　eyes　against　the　glaring　sun　of　the　Gila　region。　　Chapman　exclaimed：　〃Fellows；　the　problem　is　solved；　there　is　the　grand…vizier　（visor）　by　G…d！　　He　is　Governor　of　California。〃

All　hands　received　the　general　with　great　heartiness；　and　he　soon　passed　out　of　our　sight　into　the　commodore's　cabin。　　Between　Commodore　Shubrick　and　General　Kearney　existed　from　that　time　forward　the　greatest　harmony　and　good　feeling；　and　no　further　trouble　existed　as　to　the　controlling　power　on　the　Pacific　coast。　General　Kearney　had　dispatched　from　San　Diego　his　quartermaster；　Colonel　Swords；　to　the　Sandwich　Islands；　to　purchase　clothing　and　stores　for　his　men；　and　had　come　up　to　Monterey；　bringing　with　him　Turner　and　Warner；　leaving　Emory　and　the　company　of　dragoons　below。　He　was　delighted　to　find　a　full　strong　company　of　artillery；　subject　to　his　orders；　well　supplied　with　clothing　and　money　in　all　respects；　and；　much　to　the　disgust　of　our　Captain　Tompkins；　he　took　half　of　his　company　clothing　and　part　of　the　money　held　by　me　for　the　relief　of　his　worn…out　and　almost　naked　dragoons　left　behind　at　Los　Angeles。　　In　a　few　days　he　moved　on　shore；　took　up　his　quarters　at　Larkin's　house；　and　established　his　headquarters；　with　Captain　Turner　as　his　adjutant　general。　　One　day　Turner　and　Warner　were　at　my　tent；　and；　seeing　a　store…bag　full　of　socks；　drawers；　and　calico　shirts；　of　which　I　had　laid　in　a　three　years'　supply；　and　of　which　they　had　none；　made　known　to　me　their　wants；　and　I　told　them　to　help　themselves；　which　Turner　and　Warner　did。　　The　latter；　however；　insisted　on　paying　me　the　cost；　and　from　that　date　to　this　Turner　and　I　have　been　close　friends。　　Warner；　poor　fellow；　was　afterward　killed　by　Indians。　　Things　gradually　came　into　shape；　a　semi…　monthly　courier　line　was　established　from　Yerba　Buena　to　San　Diego；　and　we　were　thus　enabled　to　keep　pace　with　events　throughout　the　country。　　In　March　Stevenson's　regiment　arrived。　　Colonel　Mason　also　arrived　by　sea　from　Callao　in　the　store…ship　Erie；　and　P。　St。　George　Cooke's　battalion　of　Mormons　reached　San　Luis　Rey。　　A。　J。　Smith　and　George　Stoneman　were　with　him；　and　were　assigned　to　the　company　of　dragoons　at　Los　Angeles。　　All　these　troops　and　the　navy　regarded　General　Kearney　as　the　rightful　commander；　though　Fremont　still　remained　at　Los　Angeles；　styling　himself　as　Governor；　issuing　orders　and　holding　his　battalion　of　California　Volunteers　in　apparent　defiance　of　General　Kearney。　　Colonel　Mason　and　Major　Turner　were　sent　down　by　sea　with　a　paymaster；　with　muster…rolls　and　orders　to　muster　this　battalion　into　the　service　of　the　United　States；　to　pay　and　then　to　muster　them　out；　but　on　their　reaching　Los　Angeles　Fremont　would　not　consent　to　it；　and　the　controversy　became　so　angry　that　a　challenge　was　believed　to　have　passed　between　Mason　and　Fremont；　but　the　duel　never　came　about。　　Turner　rode　up　by　land　in　four　or　five　days；　and　Fremont；　becoming　alarmed；　followed　him；　as　we　supposed；　to　overtake　him；　but　he　did　not　succeed。　　On　Fremont's　arrival　at　Monterey；　he　camped　in　a　tent　about　a　mile　out　of　town　and　called　on　General　Kearney；　and　it　was　reported　that　the　latter　threatened　him　very　severely　and　ordered　him　back　to　Los　Angeles　immediately；　to　disband　his　volunteers；　and　to　cease　the　exercise　of　authority　of　any　kind　in　the　country。　Feeling　a　natural　curiosity　to　see　Fremont；　who　was　then　quite　famous　by　reason　of　his　recent　explorations　and　the　still　more　recent　conflicts　with　Kearney　and　Mason；　I　rode　out　to　his　camp；　and　found　him　in　a　conical　tent　with　one　Captain　Owens；　who　was　a　mountaineer；　trapper；　etc。；　but　originally　from　Zanesville；　Ohio。　I　spent　an　hour　or　so　with　Fremont　in　his　tent；　took　some　tea　with　him；　and　left；　without　being　much　impressed　with　him。　　In　due　time　Colonel　Swords　returned　from　the　Sandwich　Islands　and　relieved　me　as　quartermaster。　　Captain　William　G。　Marcy；　son　of　the　Secretary　of　War；　had　also　come　out　in　one　of　Stevenson's　ships　as　an　assistant　commissary　of　subsistence；　and　was　stationed　at　Monterey　and　relieved　me　as　commissary；　so　that　I　reverted　to　the　condition　of　a　company…officer。　　While　acting　as　a　staff　officer　I　had　lived　at　the　custom…house　in　Monterey；　but　when　relieved　I　took　a　tent　in　line　with　the　other　company…officers　on　the　hill；　where　we　had　a　mess。

Stevenson'a　regiment　reached　San　Francisco　Bay　early　in　March；　1847。　　Three　companies　were　stationed　at　the　Presidio　under　Major　James　A。　Hardier　one　company　（Brackett's）　at　Sonoma；　three；　under　Colonel　Stevenson；　at　Monterey；　and　three；　under　Lieutenant…Colonel　Burton；　at　Santa　Ba