doc241 - Schoenherr Home Page in Sunny Chula Vista

proceeded to drive them along, moving toward the bed of the stream in the hope of finding
grass. About a mile from the ranch house, near the foot of a detached hill, the Californians
suddenly appeared in the rear and a body of thirty or forty of them dashed off to
take possession of the hill. Kearny sent Captain Gibson with six or eight volunteers, who
drove these horsemen from the hill with a few volleys and without loss. The booty in this
skirmish consisted of three spears, abandoned by the foe. The cattle had been lost in
this movement, and as it appeared that any attempt at a further advance would bring on
a fight and might cause the loss of the wounded and the baggage, it was determined to
halt for the night. The men were now dismounted with the intention of performing the
rest of the journey on foot. An insufficient supply of water was secured by digging and
the fattest of the mules was killed for meat. The enemy took up a position across the
creek and threw out pickets and the siege began.
Page 220
Early the next morning (December 8th) a ranger came in with a flag of truce,
bringing some sugar, tea, and a change of clothing for Captain Gillespie, sent by his
servant from San Diego. He also brought from Pico a proposal for the exchange of prisoners.
Godey, Burgess, and their companion had been captured by the Californians.
Pico treated these prisoners well and inquired for the welfare of the wounded, particularly
for Captain Gillespie, whom he knew. He had four prisoners, Godey, Burgess, their
unnamed companion, and the man captured with the howitzer. Kearny had only Véjar
and the wounded Lara.
Emory's simple and straightforward account reads as follows: "In the morning a
flag of truce was sent into our camp, informing us that Andrés Pico, the commander of
the Mexican forces, had just captured four Americans, and wished to exchange them for
a like number of Californians. We had but one to exchange (this was Pablo Véjar), and
with this fellow I was sent to meet Andrés Pico, whom I found to be a gentlemanly looking
and rather handsome man. The conversation was short, for I saw the man he
wished to exchange was Burgess, one of those sent in the morning of the 6th to San
Diego, and we were very anxious to know the result of his mission. Taking rather a contemptuous
leave of his late captors, he informed us of the safe arrival of himself and
Godey at San Diego. He also stated that when captured, his party, consisting of himself
and two others, on their return from San Diego, had previously "cached" their letters under
a tree, which he pointed out; but on subsequent examination, we found the letters
had been abstracted."
The remaining prisoners were sent to Los Angeles by Pico. The letters buried by
Godey and his comrades to keep them from falling into the enemy's hands, having been
found and seized; Kearny failed to receive them; and Burgess, ignorant of their contents,
gave the general to understand that help was refused. The situation now seemed
more desperate than ever. The wounded were in no condition to move, and starvation
was drawing near. It was therefore determined to send another party to San Diego with
despatches, in the hope of having Stockton understand the true situation, and of prevailing
upon him to come to their relief. Lieutenant Beale volunteered for this service, and
Carson and the Indian alcalde Panto were also sent. The command settled down to
await the result of this mission, though not hopeful of its outcome, and determined to cut
their way through as soon as the wounded were in condition to move. In the meantime,