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Show 110 PERSONAL ADVENTURES son1e distance from the fort. These expeditions, although cautiously managed, were attended with great danger, the Californian sharp-shooters lurking under every available cover in the neighbourhood, in order to surprise and bring down the Americans. On one occasion, a small party of the Yankees, about seven or eight in number, headed by Lieutenant Duncan, was completely surrounded by a ]arge body of the enemy. It ,vas proposed that they should endeavour to cut their way through them, but the lnajority considered that it would be madness oo think of it, and resolved on yielding themselves prisoners. They were in1mediately sent off into the interior of the country. Encouraged by this partial success, the CalifornianR kept up the attack on the fort with great spirit, but made little or no progress. Lieu· tenant M'Clanahan, who stood at the base of the flag-staff, on the parapet of the fort, carried away by the enthusiasm of the moment, jumped upon the rampart, and waved his sword in_ defiance. He was instantly struck IN CALIFORNIA. Ill in the head by a ball, and fell back a corpse. There was only one really brave man amongst the natives-a Colonel, whose name I cannot at this moment call to mind, but which deserves to be remembered \Vith honour. This gentleman determined to take the fort by storm, and accordingly made a desperate attack, in which he distinguished hi1nself by his reckless bravery. At the very mornent when his efforts seemed on the point of being crowned with success, he was killed by a musket-ball, and his death had such a dispiriting effect on his men, that they instantly beat a precipitate retreat. The natives had now retired into their strongholds in the mountains, l1aving lost a great nutnber of their n1en, both by death and capture; and the first thing we heard on our arrival was, that they were preparing for a general and simultaneous attack. Ther crew of the Ciane having, in the mean tiine,:. come to the assistance of the garrison, the Americans considered themselves in full and permanent possession of the town. Our services |