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ndant supply of tortillas。 Ord was better case…hardened； and stood it better。 We staid at Gomez's that night； sleeping； as all did； on the ground； and the next morning we crossed the hill by the bridle…path to the old Mission of San Juan Bautista。 The Mission was in a beautiful valley； very level； and bounded on all aides by hills。 The plain was covered with wild…grasses and mustard； and had abundant water。 Cattle and horses were seen in all directions； and it was manifest that the priests who first occupied the country were good judges of land。 It was Sunday； and all the people； about； a hundred； had come to church from the country round about。 Ord was somewhat of a Catholic； and entered the church with his clanking spars and kneeled down； attracting the attention of all； for he had on the uniform of an American officer。 As soon as church was out； all rushed to the various sports。 I saw the priest； with his gray robes tucked up； playing at billiards； others were cock fighting； and some at horse…racing。 My horse had become lame； and I resolved to buy another。 As soon as it was known that I wanted a horse； several came for me； and displayed their horses by dashing past and hauling them up short。 There was a fine black stallion that attracted my notice； and； after trying him myself； I concluded a purchase。 I left with the seller my own lame horse； which he was to bring to me at Monterey； when I was to pay him ten dollars for the other。 The Mission of San Juan bore the marks of high prosperity at a former period； and had a good pear…orchard just under the plateau where stood the church。 After spending the day； Ord and I returned to Monterey； about thirty…five miles； by a shorter route； Thus passed the month of February； and； though there were no mails or regular expresses； we heard occasionally from Yerba Buena and Sutter's Fort to the north； and from the army and navy about Los Angeles at the south。 We also knew that a quarrel had grown up at Los Angeles； between General Kearney； Colonel Fremont； and Commodore Stockton； as to the right to control affairs in California。 Kearney had with him only the fragments of the two companies of dragoons； which had come across from New Mexico with him； and had been handled very roughly by Don Andreas Pico； at San Pascual； in which engagement Captains Moore and Johnson； and Lieutenant Hammond； were killed； and Kearney himself wounded。 There remained with him Colonel Swords； quartermaster； Captain H。 S。 Turner； First Dragoons； Captains Emory and Warner； Topographical Engineers； Assistant Surgeon Griffin； and Lieutenant J。 W。 Davidson。 Fremont had marched down from the north with a battalion of volunteers； Commodore Stockton had marched up from San Diego to Los Angeles； with General Kearney； his dragoons； and a battalion of sailors and marines； and was soon joined there by Fremont； and they jointly received the surrender of the insurgents under Andreas Pico。 We also knew that General R。 B。 Mason had been ordered to California； that Colonel John D。 Stevenson was coming out to California with a regiment of New York Volunteers； that Commodore Shubrick had orders also from the Navy Department to control matters afloat； that General Kearney； by virtue of his rank； had the right to control all the land…forces in the service of the United States； and that Fremont claimed the same right by virtue of a letter he had received from Colonel Benton； then a Senator； and a man of great influence with Polk's Administration。 So that among the younger officers the query was very natural； 〃Who the devil is Governor of California？ 〃 One day I was on board the Independence frigate； dining with the ward…room officers； when a war…vessel was reported in the offing； which in due time was made out to be the Cyane； Captain DuPont。 After dinner； we were all on deck； to watch the new arrival； the ships meanwhile exchanging signals； which were interpreted that General Kearney was on board。 As the Cyane approached； a boat was sent to meet her； with Commodore Shubrick's flag…officer； Lieutenant Lewis； to carry the usual messages； and to invite General Kearney to come on board the Independence as the guest of Commodore Shubrick。 Quite a number of officers were on deck； among them Lieutenants Wise； Montgomery Lewis； William Chapman； and others； noted wits and wags of the navy。 In due time the Cyane anchored close by； and our boat was seen returning with a stranger in the stern…sheets； clothed in army blue。 As the boat came nearer； we saw that it was General Kearney with an old dragoon coat on； and an army…cap； to which the general had added the broad vizor； cut from a full…dress hat； to shade his face and eyes against the glaring sun of the Gila region。 Chapman exclaimed： 〃Fellows； the problem is solved； there is the grand…vizier （visor） by G…d！ He is Governor of California。〃
All hands received the general with great heartiness； and he soon passed out of our sight into the commodore's cabin。 Between Commodore Shubrick and General Kearney existed from that time forward the greatest harmony and good feeling； and no further trouble existed as to the controlling power on the Pacific coast。 General Kearney had dispatched from San Diego his quartermaster； Colonel Swords； to the Sandwich Islands； to purchase clothing and stores for his men； and had come up to Monterey； bringing with him Turner and Warner； leaving Emory and the company of dragoons below。 He was delighted to find a full strong company of artillery； subject to his orders； well supplied with clothing and money in all respects； and； much to the disgust of our Captain Tompkins； he took half of his company clothing and part of the money held by me for the relief of his worn…out and almost naked dragoons left behind at Los Angeles。 In a few days he moved on shore； took up his quarters at Larkin's house； and established his headquarters； with Captain Turner as his adjutant general。 One day Turner and Warner were at my tent； and； seeing a store…bag full of socks； drawers； and calico shirts； of which I had laid in a three years' supply； and of which they had none； made known to me their wants； and I told them to help themselves； which Turner and Warner did。 The latter； however； insisted on paying me the cost； and from that date to this Turner and I have been close friends。 Warner； poor fellow； was afterward killed by Indians。 Things gradually came into shape； a semi… monthly courier line was established from Yerba Buena to San Diego； and we were thus enabled to keep pace with events throughout the country。 In March Stevenson's regiment arrived。 Colonel Mason also arrived by sea from Callao in the store…ship Erie； and P。 St。 George Cooke's battalion of Mormons reached San Luis Rey。 A。 J。 Smith and George Stoneman were with him； and were assigned to the company of dragoons at Los Angeles。 All these troops and the navy regarded General Kearney as the rightful commander； though Fremont still remained at Los Angeles； styling himself as Governor； issuing orders and holding his battalion of California Volunteers in apparent defiance of General Kearney。 Colonel Mason and Major Turner were sent down by sea with a paymaster； with muster…rolls and orders to muster this battalion into the service of the United States； to pay and then to muster them out； but on their reaching Los Angeles Fremont would not consent to it； and the controversy became so angry that a challenge was believed to have passed between Mason and Fremont； but the duel never came about。 Turner rode up by land in four or five days； and Fremont； becoming alarmed； followed him； as we supposed； to overtake him； but he did not succeed。 On Fremont's arrival at Monterey； he camped in a tent about a mile out of town and called on General Kearney； and it was reported that the latter threatened him very severely and ordered him back to Los Angeles immediately； to disband his volunteers； and to cease the exercise of authority of any kind in the country。 Feeling a natural curiosity to see Fremont； who was then quite famous by reason of his recent explorations and the still more recent conflicts with Kearney and Mason； I rode out to his camp； and found him in a conical tent with one Captain Owens； who was a mountaineer； trapper； etc。； but originally from Zanesville； Ohio。 I spent an hour or so with Fremont in his tent； took some tea with him； and left； without being much impressed with him。 In due time Colonel Swords returned from the Sandwich Islands and relieved me as quartermaster。 Captain William G。 Marcy； son of the Secretary of War； had also come out in one of Stevenson's ships as an assistant commissary of subsistence； and was stationed at Monterey and relieved me as commissary； so that I reverted to the condition of a company…officer。 While acting as a staff officer I had lived at the custom…house in Monterey； but when relieved I took a tent in line with the other company…officers on the hill； where we had a mess。
Stevenson'a regiment reached San Francisco Bay early in March； 1847。 Three companies were stationed at the Presidio under Major James A。 Hardier one company （Brackett's） at Sonoma； three； under Colonel Stevenson； at Monterey； and three； under Lieutenant…Colonel Burton； at Santa Ba