BATTLE OF SAN GABRIEL.
General Kearney with his small, and almost worn-out force, reached San Diego just in time to join Commodore Stockton in carrying out a plan for reducing the Californians to submission. On the 29th of December, the little army, consisting of about six hundred men—the greater part of them being seamen, started from San Diego, to march toward Puebla de los Angelos, the capital and chief city of California. They had proceeded about one hundred and ten miles toward the Rio San Gabriel, when they found about six hundred mounted men, with four pieces of artillery, drawn up to dispute the passage of the river. On the 8th of January, 1847, the necessary arrangements having been made, the Americans waded across the river, reserved their fire until they reached the opposite bank, repelled a charge of the enemy, and then charged them in gallant style. After an action of an hour and a half, the enemy were driven from the field, on which the conquerors encamped for the night. The loss of the Californians was severe.
This battle, fought by the seamen and marines of Commodore Stockton, is justly regarded as one of the most extraordinary exploits of the whole Mexican war, which, as we have seen, abounded in all sorts of romantic and heroic achievements.
GENERAL SHIELDS AT CERRO GORDO.