Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/627

Rh and Andrés Pico becoming alférez in 1839. Salazar was habilitado, and more often than any other during the decade is named as acting commandant, though every other officer of the company held the command at times.

The military organization was, however, but a shadow of its former strength. In 1830, as we have seen, the total force was about 120 men. During the first half of this decade the presidial cavalry company shows a muster-roll varying from 35 to 25. Six artillerymen and three Mazatecos are mentioned in 1833; nine and 17 of the same classes in 1836. In 1835, of the 27 soldiers 11 were on duty at the presidio, 13 at San Gabriel, and one at San Juan. In 1837 the troops were sent north in the sectional disputes, and never returned as a body. From that date the presidio was abandoned, though a force of one soldier is reported in 1839. The organization had, however, been kept up at San Luis, where in September 1839 the remaining eight soldiers quit the service to save themselves from starvation. Pay-rolls of the company show a theoretical expenditure of from $800 to $900 per month, never paid. It appears that a sum of $500 was sent down from the capital in 1833; the commandant was notified in 1839 that there was $1,000 in the treasury for his company; and presumably the men did not live without occasional rations. Military correspondence is devoted almost exclusively to complaints of destitution.