range of his rifle, when he fired, and killed the would-be thief.
No other game could be found, so the hunters returned, and the whole
party retired to rest supperless, and arose the next morning to fast
again. That day, however, they found and killed some game, and for the
time being, their appetites were once more appeased. Fremont was now
on his way to Peter Lawson's Fort, where he arrived safely, after
several days of hard traveling. At this place the party rested
for about one week; but the desire to have an active share in the
approaching hostilities, caused Fremont to delay no longer than was
absolutely necessary; hence, he started and went to a point lower down
on the Sacramento, known to the mountaineers under the name of the
Buttes. Here, a camp was made, and here Fremont had decided to wait
positive orders concerning the war; and, until these instructions
should arrive, he employed his men in hunting. After several days
spent in this way, he began to weary of inactivity. He thought that,
in all probability, war had commenced; and, finally, he decided to
take the responsibility of sending a part of his force to surprise
Sonoma--a Mexican military post that had but a weak garrison. This the
party accomplished to the entire satisfaction of their commander. They
captured and made prisoners of war at this fort, one general and two
captains, besides taking several cannon and quite a quantity of small
arms. It was about this time that news reached Fremont which convinced
him that hostilities had already commenced, and that both countries
were taking active measures to carry the war on with vigor. He set out
immediately, on the receipt of this information, and joined his detail
of men at Sonoma. During his stay at this fort, General Castro
sent one of his captains, with a large force of Mexicans, from San
Francisco, with orders to drive the Americans out of the country. This
command came, and accidentally fell upon and butchered two men whom
Fremont had sent out as messengers to inform all American settlers
that Sonoma had been taken by him, and that thither they could fly
for safety. The gallant Mexican captain, on seeing and hearing that
Fremont's forces were anxious to meet him, becoming disheartened,
began to retreat, and was pursued by the exploring party. For six days
they thus followed the retreating enemy, whose courage had evidently
deserted them though they had triple the force of their pursuers. So
hot wa