an army (the Army of the West), marches 800 miles
beyond its base its communications liable to be cut off by the slightest effort of the enemy, mostly through a desalt, the whole distance almost totally destitute of resources, to conquer a territory of 250,000 square miles, without a military chest. The people of the territory are declared citizens of the United States, and the invaders are thus debarred the rights of war to seize needful Supplies. They arrive without food before the capital (Santa Fl), a city 240 years old, habitually gar-
risoned by regular troops This is the art of war, as practised in America." The suceossful progress of the Americans, though in some degree attributable to the wretched cowardice of the Spanish inhabi- tants, affords a most remarkable instance of the courage and endurance which, under all similar circumstances, have marked the conduct of the Anglo-Saxon race. The difficulties and discouragernonts which General Cooke and his fellow-officers—especially General liea.rney- met with on the route to the boundaries of California were very great, and the story vies in interest with the tale of the Ten Thou- sand. On several occasions, the troops were reduced to the utmost extremity from the loss of transport and the went of water, and the manner in which these trials were encountered and overcome reflects great credit on thp tact and good management of the American Generals. Some very interesting information is given of the condi- tion and character of the Indian tribes at that time inhabiting New Mexico. The report of General Cooke is for the most part favourable, alike to their intelligence and moral qualities. It is painful to read his tale of the cruelty to which these unoffonding people wore sub- jected, both by Mexicans and lawless Americans :- "There occurred," at a place called by the Mexicans Les Playas, "a very extraordinary and treacherous massacre. An American, named Johnson, with seventeen men or various nationalities had come from Sonora on a plundering expedition against the Apaches, and for their scalps, for which, fifty dollars each wore then offered by the Government of Somai. Johnson met here above a hundred men, besides women and children of the Apaches, for trade ; they had gathered round close, and unsuspected, he had concealed a swivel between two bags of flour; it was loaded to the muzzle with balls and chain. A man sat smoking, and at the signal uncovered the breech and fired. This was followed by two rapid discharges of small-arms. At this explosion, seemingly from the ground, and un- expected as an earthquake, the Indians not mangled or killed fled in consternation Johnson still lives in Sonora."
The sequel of the military conquest of California is told with some force in the last words of General Cooke's narrative :— " The poor natives of that great country, and all their discontent
and restlessness, their hatreds, threats, and seditious [they had not submitted to the conquerors as quietly as the New Mexicans], were soon to be overwhelmed and extinguished as by the stroke of Fate. Two men, discharged from the Mormon battalion, and employed by Captain Sutter to dig a mill-race, a few months later discovered, in prodigal abundance, placer GOLD 1"
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