Thirteen beeves are slaughtered every afternoon for the consumption of the battalion.  These beeves are generally of good size, and in fair condition.  Other provisions being entirely exhausted, beef constitutes the only subsistence for the men, and most of the officers.  Under these circumstances, the consumption of beef is astonishing.  I do not know that I shall be believed when I state a fact, derived from observation and calculation, that the average consumption per man of fresh beef is at least ten pounds per day.  Many of them, I believe, consume much more, and some of them less.  Nor does this quantity appear to be injurious to health, or fully to satisfy the appetite.  I have seen some of the men roast their meat and devour it by the fire from the hour of encamping until late bed-time.  They would then sleep until one or two o’clock in the morning, when, the cravings of hunger being greater than the desire for repose, the same occupation would be resumed, and continued until the order was given to march.  The Californian beef is generally fat, juicy, and tender, and surpasses in flavour any which I ever tasted elsewhere.  Distance 10 miles.

December 5.—­I rose before daylight.  The moon shone brightly.  The temperature was cold.  The vapour in the atmosphere had congealed and fallen upon the ground in feathery flakes, covering it with a white semi-transparent veil, or crystal sheen, sparkling in the moonbeams.  The smoke from the numerous camp-fires soon began to curl languidly up in graceful wreaths, settling upon the mountain summits.  The scene was one for the pencil and brush of the artist; but, when the envious sun rose, he soon stripped Madam Earth of her gauzy holiday morning-gown, and exposed her every-day petticoat of mud.

Our march to-day has been one of great difficulty, through a deep brushy mountain gorge, through which it was almost impossible to force the field-pieces.  In one place they were lowered with ropes down a steep and nearly perpendicular precipice of great height and depth.  We encamped about three o’clock, P.M., in a small valley.  Many of the horses gave out on the march, and were left behind by the men, who came straggling into camp until a late hour of the evening, bringing their saddles and baggage upon their shoulders.  I noticed, while crossing an elevated ridge of hills, flakes of snow flying in the air, but melting before they reached the ground.  The small spring-branch on which we encamped empties into the Salinas River.  The country surrounding us is elevated and broken, and the soil sandy, with but little timber or grass upon it.  Distance 12 miles.

December 6.—­Morning clear and cool.  Crossed an undulating country, destitute of timber and water, and encamped in a circular valley surrounded by elevated hills, through which flows a small tributary of the Salinas.  The summits of the mountains in sight are covered with snow, but the temperature in the valleys is pleasant.  Distance 15 miles.