Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/560



mistakes; not to use his artillery except when he thought it would be effective; and to hold every inch of ground gained. "Tell your men," he said, "to remember General Canby, Sherwood, and the flag."

The movement began at midnight, and before daylight the troops were in position, about 400 yards east of the stronghold, the right infantry, under Captain BurtoL, resting on the lake, and on the left the cavalry, dismounted, under Captain Bernard, a section of mountain howitzers under Lieutenant Chapin being held subject to special order. The men had thrown up breastworks of stone to conceal their exact position from the enemy. Soon after daylight the howitzers opened fire, and skirmishing conmienced.

On the west side Perry and Cranston of the cavalry moved at two o'clock in the morning to a point beyond the main portion of the stronghold on the south, where they concealed their men, waiting to be joined at daylight by the infantry and artillery under Miller and Throckmorton, with Green and staff. These left camp at seven o'clock, and soon united with Perry's command. Miller had the extreme right, Throckmorton on his left, and two companies of infantry in the centre; while the cavalry were on the extreme left, touching the lake, the intention being to close in gradually on the stronghold from every side.

The day was warm and still, and it could be no longer said, in defence of failure, that ignorance of the nature of the ground or obscurity from fog prevented success; besides, every man had a personal interest in retrieving the honor of the army from the humiliation of the 17th of January. The first opposition was encountered a mile and a half from Jack's camp, when straggling shots at long range began to fall among the troops, who advanced in open skirmish order along the lake shore, sheltering themselves as best they could under cover of the rocks in their wsiy. On reaching the gorge under the bluff, a galling fire