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prevented. One of the enemy's mules was shot, and, proving fat, was butchered and
eaten and proved, in the lan-
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guage of Dr. Griffin, "a godsend." The wounded were now improving, and Dr. Griffin reported
that most of them could ride. General Kearny therefore determined to move the
next day. About two o 'clock the next morning, however, when everything was quiet in
camp, one of the sentries reported that he heard voices speaking in English. This was
shortly followed by the tramp of feet, and soon Lieutenant Gray and his men were welcomed
into camp with joy. They busied themselves until day in distributing food and caring
for the wants of their comrades. The jack-tars were delighted with the adventure and
only sorry they had no opportunity to fight. When the sun rose the enemy had disappeared,
leaving the cattle behind. At ten o'clock, camp was broken and the march commenced,
in close order. At night they arrived at Alvarado's Peñasquitos rancho, where
they camped and made free with the turkeys, chickens, goats, and wine. A good night's
rest followed, and on the morning of the 12th they set out gaily for San Diego, which
they reached about 4 P. M. and received a warm welcome from the troops and inhabitants.
The wounded men were distributed among the private families in San Diego,
taken in charge by Dr. R. F. Maxwell, surgeon of the Cyane, and very tenderly nursed
back to health. All but two recovered: Streeter, who was cut in sixteen places and Kennedy,
who died December 21st. Wm. Heath Davis, who visited the invalids, says that
they all had the utmost horror of the Californians. He spoke particularly of one young
man who lapsed into delirium during his visit and called out in terror, thinking the Californians
were upon him.
How shall Kearny's encounter with Pico be characterized? Kearny himself called
it a "victory," and thought it might "assist in forming the wreath of our national glory."
Looking back to it over a period of sixty years, it is impossible to regard it otherwise than
as a defeat, even though it is true that the Americans finally reached San Diego, which
was their objective, with the major portion of their forces. The performance of a commander
must be judged by the use he makes of his opportunities, and it is difficult to
imagine how General Kearny could have made worse use of the opportunity which he
had, after the union of his forces with the first relief party, under Gillespie, to overwhelm
the Mexican commander and end the war in California at San Pasqual.
Had he chosen to avoid a fight he might have found excuse for such a course in
the fact that his men and horses were utterly worn out by a long and arduous journey
across the deserts, and that the way was open, as shown by Gillespie's march There
are times when the avoidance of battle is good generalship). Beale advised this course
and there were surely some
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arguments in its favor, yet it seems clear that most commanders in General Kearny's
situation would have chosen the opportunity to strike a decisive blow at the enemy and
thus crown the long adventure of the Army of the West with a victory of lasting importance.