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pen and level that a rabbit could not cross without being seen； that the deserters could not go to the mines without crossing that plain； and could not reach it before daylight。 All agreed that the whole regiment would desert if these men were not brought back。 Several officers volunteered on the spot to go after them； and； as the soldiers could not be trusted； it was useless to send any but officers in pursuit。 Some one went to report the affair to the adjutant…general； Canby； and he to General Riley。 I waited some time； and； as the thing grew cold； I thought it was given up； and went to my room and to bed。
About midnight I was called up and informed that there were seven officers willing to go； but the difficulty was to get horses and saddles。 I went down to Larkin's house and got General Smith to consent that we might take the horses I had bought for our trip。 It was nearly three o'clock a。m。 before we were all mounted and ready。 I had a musket which I used for hunting。 With this I led off at a canter； followed by the others。 About six miles out； by the faint moon； I saw ahead of us in the sandy road some blue coats； and； fearing lest they might resist or escape into the dense bushes which lined the road； I halted and found with me Paymaster Hill； Captain N。 H。 Davis； and Lieutenant John Hamilton。 We waited some time for the others； viz。； Canby； Murray； Gibbs； and Sully； to come up； but as they were not in sight we made a dash up the road and captured six of the deserters； who were Germans； with heavy knapsacks on； trudging along the deep； sandy road。 They had not expected pursuit； had not heard our horses； and were accordingly easily taken。 Finding myself the senior officer present； I ordered Lieutenant Hamilton to search the men and then to march them back to Monterey； suspecting； as was the fact； that the rest of our party had taken a road that branched off a couple of miles back。 Daylight broke as we reached the Saunas River； twelve miles out； and there the trail was broad and fresh leading directly out on the Saunas Plain。 This plain is about five miles wide； and then the ground becomes somewhat broken。 The trail continued very plain； and I rode on at a gallop to where there was an old adobe…ranch on the left of the road； with the head of a lagoon； or pond； close by。 I saw one or two of the soldiers getting water at the pond； and others up near the house。 I had the best horse and was considerably ahead； but on looking back could see Hill and Davis coming up behind at a gallop。 I motioned to them to hurry forward； and turned my horse across the head of the pond； knowing the ground well； as it was a favorite place for shooting geese and ducks。 Approaching the house； I ordered the men who were outside to go in。 They did not know me personally； and exchanged glances； but I had my musket cocked； and； as the two had seen Davis and Hill coming up pretty fast； they obeyed。 Dismounting； I found the house full of deserters； and there was no escape for them。 They naturally supposed that I had a strong party with me； and when I ordered them to 〃fall in〃 they obeyed from habit。 By the time Hill and Davis came up I had them formed in two ranks； the front rank facing about； and I was taking away their bayonets； pistols； etc。 We disarmed them； destroying a musket and several pistols； and； on counting them； we found that we three had taken eighteen； which； added to the six first captured； made twenty…four。 We made them sling their knapsacks and begin their homeward march。 It was near night when we got back； so that these deserters had traveled nearly forty miles since 〃tattoo〃 of the night before。 The other party had captured three； so that only one man had escaped。 I doubt not this prevented the desertion of the bulk of the Second Infantry that spring； for at that time so demoralizing was the effect of the gold…mines that everybody not in the military service justified desertion； because a soldier； if free； could earn more money in a day than he received per month。 Not only did soldiers and sailors desert； but captains and masters of ships actually abandoned their vessels and cargoes to try their luck at the mines。 Preachers and professors forgot their creeds and took to trade； and even to keeping gambling…horses。 I remember that one of our regular soldiers； named Reese； in deserting stole a favorite double… barreled gun of mine； and when the orderly…sergeant of the company； Carson； was going on furlough； I asked him when he came across Reese to try and get my gun back。 When he returned he told me that he had found Reese and offered him a hundred dollars for my gun； but Reese sent me word that he liked the gun； and would not take a hundred dollars for it。 Soldiers or sailors who could reach the mines were universally shielded by the miners； so that it was next to useless to attempt their recapture。 In due season General Persifer Smith； Gibbs； and I； with some hired packers； started back for San Francisco； and soon after we transferred our headquarters to Sonoma。 About this time Major Joseph Hooker arrived from the Eastthe regular adjutant…general of the divisionrelieved me； and I became thereafter one of General Smith's regular aides…de…camp。
As there was very little to do； General Smith encouraged us to go into any business that would enable us to make money。 R。 P。 Hammond； James Blair； and I； made a contract to survey for Colonel J。 D。 Stevenson his newly…projected city of 〃New York of the Pacific；〃 situated at the month of the San Joaquin River。 The contract embraced； also； the making of soundings and the marking out of a channel through Suisun Bay。 We hired； in San Francisco； a small metallic boat； with a sail； laid in some stores； and proceeded to the United States ship Ohio； anchored at Saucelito； where we borrowed a sailor…boy and lead…lines with which to sound the channel。 We sailed up to Benicia； and； at General Smith's request； we surveyed and marked the line dividing the city of Benicia from the government reserve。 We then sounded the bay back and forth； and staked out the best channel up Suisun Bay； from which Blair made out sailing directions。 We then made the preliminary surveys of the city of 〃New York of the Pacific；〃 all of which were duly plotted； and for this work we each received from Stevenson five hundred dollars and ten or fifteen lots。 I sold enough lots to make up another five hundred dollars； and let the balance go； for the city of 〃New York of the Pacific〃 never came to any thing。 Indeed； cities at the time were being projected by speculators all round the bay and all over the country。
While we were surveying at 〃New York of the Pacific；〃 occurred one of those little events that showed the force of the gold…fever。 We had a sailor…boy with us； about seventeen years old； who cooked our meals and helped work the boat。 Onshore； we had the sail spread so as to shelter us against the wind and dew。 One morning I awoke about daylight； and looked out to see if our sailor…boy was at work getting breakfast； but he was not at the fire at all。 Getting up； I discovered that he had converted a tule…bolsa into a sail boat； and was sailing for the gold…mines。 He was astride this