attached to, and, on the instant, made off with one of the guns. On
reaching a distance of three hundred yards, they halted and prepared
to turn the fire of the howitzer upon the Americans. From some
unaccountable reason, it would not go off. Lieutenant Davidson did
his utmost to prevent the loss of this gun, and after several narrow
escapes from dangerous lance wounds, as his clothing and saddle
sufficiently attested, he was finally stricken down, and nearly gave
his life a sacrifice to his heroism.

After being thus badly cut up, and with not more than one or two
officers left who had not been either killed or wounded, while the men
had been handled with equal severity, the Americans were obliged to
take refuge at a point of rocks which chanced to be near where
their advance had been defeated. A rally was made at this place. The
Mexicans, however, did not venture to attack them. Both sides were
apparently weary of fighting for that day. The firing ceased, and soon
after, night closed over the scene of the battle field.

These California Mexicans, previous to the war with the United States,
were considered by the mountaineers as the bravest Spanish blood in
the Mexican provinces. During the war, they proved that they had not
been over-estimated, as they met their foes, at the commencement of
hostilities, with a determination to win, or sell their lives dearly.
The reason of this difference of courage in their favor over their
countrymen who inhabited the internal States, is supposed to be owing
to their opportunities for intercourse with the bold mariners from
different countries who visited them in ships for the purpose of
trade. This commerce consisted in the transporting into the country of
such articles as arms, ammunition, groceries, and dry goods, for which
were bartered, hides, tallow, and furs. The currency of California