California '46 to '88

These are excerpts from the book by Jacob Wright Harlan of his memories as a California pioneer.

CHAPTER 17: JOINING FREMONT'S BATTALION

WE returned to the pueblo of San Jose, where I met L. W. Hastings.  He had just finished raising a company of eighty-seven mounted riflemen to join Fremont, and they were ready to march southward. He asked me to join his company, saying that he had one man who had been with him for one month and had a month's pay due him; that this man was sick, and could not go, and that if I would take his place the man would give me that month's pay, and that from the time of my joining I would get $25 per month. I reflected that I had done all that my uncle had required me to do, and I was free to do what I thought best for myself. So I enlisted with Hastings on the above terms. 

The captain gave me a new rifle, and I went with the company to the mission of San Juan Bautista. Here we met Captain Burris' company retreating from the native Californian force, with which they had been fighting on the Salinas plains near where the town of Salinas now is.
Captain Burris had been killed in the fight with six others of his company, two of whom had crossed the plains with me. Several others had been badly wounded by the lance. In this fight Burris was outnumbered, having about sixty men, while the native Californians numbered over one hundred and fifty. 

On our arrival the natives dispersed or retired. Lieutenant Thompson took the place of Burris as captain. On the next day we took up our march for Monterey to join Fremont's battalion, which, with our arrival, was completed, and consisted of five hundred and forty officers and privates. Of the field officers I only remember by name Colonel Fremont and Major Reading, who was paymaster, and  Major Russell, who was Fremont's aid-de-camp, and also had some charge of the arms and ammunition. The force may have been a few less, as some were away on detached duty. 

The captains I knew better than the field officers. Company A was the best company in the battalion. It was composed of Fremont's old overlanders and trappers, and was commanded by Captain Owens, who had been with him during his explorations in the mountains. If I remember rightly, this company also acted as guard of the artillery; then Captain Ford, company B; Captain Swift, company C; Captain Sears, company D; Captain Grigsby, company E; Captain Hastings, company F; Captain Thompson, company G; Captain Truckee, company H. 

I was in F company under Captain Hastings. H company was made up mostly of Oregon Indians, the chief, Truckee, being in command, but with him were also some white officers, whose name I do not recall.

WITH FREMONT