treasonous nature at Puebla. A conspiracy had been formed there by General Rea, and some of his associates, to assassinate Don Raphael Isunza, the Mexican governor of state, and murder such of the inhabitants as were in favour of peace with the United States. The object of this movement was to abolish the existing government, and proclaim Rea dictator. Colonel Childs immediately took efficient measures to prevent the execution of this diabolical plot, and issued a proclamation ordering all spies to leave the city, and rendering it penal for any of the inhabitants to hold communication with the guerrillas. No attempt was made to carry the plan into execution.

On the 7th of February, two large trains left Vera Cruz, one for Orizaba, and the other for the city of Mexico. The first was escorted by sixteen hundred men, under Colonel Bankhead, who, since the 16th of December, had been civil and military governor of Vera Cruz. Both trains arrived safely at their destination, although keenly watched by the guerrillas. A short time previous to this, [December 12, 187,] General Scott had issued an order against the guerrillas by which every American post established in Mexico was authorized to push daily detachments as far as practicable upon the roads, in order to protect them from the marauding parties. "No quarters," says the order, "will be given to known murderers or robbers,

whether called guerrillas or rancheros, and whether serving under Mexican commissions or not. They are equally pests to unguarded Mexicans, foreigners, and small parties of Americans, and ought to be exterminated. Offenders of the above character, accidentally falling into the hands of the American troops, will be momentarily held as prisoners, that is, not put to death without due solemnity. Accordingly, they will be reported to commanding officers, who will, without delay, order a council of war for the summary trial of the offenders, under the known laws of war applicable to such cases.

"A council of war may consist of any number of officers not less han three nor more than thirteen, and may, for any flagrant violation of the laws of war, condemn to death, or to lashes, not exceeding fifty, on satisfactory proof that such prisoner, at the time of capture, actually belonged to any party or gang of known robbers o murderers, or had actually committed murder or robbery upon any American officer or soldier, or follower of the American army."

This order called forth active operations from the different portions of General Scott's army, and several guerrilla parties were entirely broken up, or driven from the neighbourhood. Yet such was the recklessness of these marauding bands, that the roads continued to be infested, and travellers or stragglers from the American army to be murdered. Arrests were made, and the prisoners executed, until the close of the war.

has received the most ample confirmation during the Mexican war, wherein the Mexicans have been protected in life, religion, and property, and yet look upon their protectors as robbers of the most aggravated character. Although California has never professed any

other than a nominal allegiance to the Mexican government, and frequently has declared against her, yet is this feeling against the Americans as strong there as in the central provinces; and from the moment of Fremont's entrance into the territory, until the close of the war, this region was held only by the strict hand of military power.

In July, 1847, three companies of the 7th regiment of New York volunteers under Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, arrived in the vicinity of La Paz, Lower California. They numbered about one hundred men, with two pieces of artillery. Towards the close of September, the sloop of war Dale sailed from La Paz to Mulege, a port near the head of the Californian gulf, where a party of Mexicans, with arms and ammunition, were reported to be collected for the purpose of raising a revolution. On entering, the Dale hoisted her colours, and sent a flag on shore, requesting the surrender of the town. The Mexican authorities answered, that acting as they did under advice from government, they could not listen to the demand, and that if the sloop approached within gun range, she would be fired upon. On receiving this reply, the Dale entered the port, but was not fired upon. Next day eighty men were sent on shore, who were fired upon while landing, but afterwards chased a party of Mexicans for two or three miles; night coming on, they were withdrawn. At the same time, a few shells were thrown into the town, and a schooner burnt. On the following morning, the Dale left for La Paz, bringing the information that two hundred Mexicans were marching towards that place, and might be expected in a few days. This report, however, proved incorrect.

I

N the latter part of October, Commodore

Shubrick arrived at San Jose, and ordered the Dale to Guaymas, to relieve the Portsmouth. This deprived Colonel Burton of all naval assistance, and entirely cut off his retreat, in case of necessity. Unwilling to remain in this situation, the colonel proceeded to San Jose, in order to obtain from the commodore two hundred men with which he hoped to quiet the country. His request was refused, and the commodore sailed for Mazatlan.

Meanwhile, the enemy were using the most strenuous efforts to raise a force sufficient to rid themselves of the American troops. Leaving Mulege, they passed through the country, robbing ranchos, and committing the greatest depredations upon the property even c their own citizens. Several of these marauding bands, after securing

BATTLE OF LA PAZ.

623

all the arms, provisions, money, and stores they could possibly raise, concentrated at San Antonio, formed a territorial junta or congress, and issued proclamations to the inhabitants. These movements had the effect of bringing out the whole region against the little garrison at La Paz. Those who had hitherto taken no active part in military operations, now engaged in the campaign with the zeal of crusaders. Between one and two o'clock of the morning of November 16th, Burton's men were wakened by a loud roll of musketry, followed by shouts from an unseen enemy. Thus suddenly roused, each man sought his post amid a shower of balls. The night was so excessively dark, that they gained knowledge of the enemy's position only by the flash from their guns, and the Mexicans' battle cry. The enemy's balls continued to whistle among the garrison, until the Americans brought their cannon within range, when a few volleys were followed by a dead silence. Expecting, momentarily, a renewal of the attack, the troops remained in position until daylight, when they discovered that the enemy, about three hundred in number, had entered the town and posted themselves on a hill, about a quarter of a mile disHere they were awaiting the removal of the women and children, in order to begin the main attack.

tant.

Mexicans were several hundred yards off, the garrison lay down, in order to entice them nearer; but, being posted with perfect security in an old building near a grave yard, the enemy would not approach, and tous an idle fire was maintained until noon. The Americans had one man killed.

At four o'clock, P. M., the enemy concentrated their forces, entered the town, and set fire to a number of houses belonging to those who had favoured the Americans. In returning from this barbarous proceeding, they passed a low hill in front of the American barracks, which immediately opened upon them. A shower of grape and