After the funeral the battalion was marched a short distance to witness another scene, not more mournful, but more harrowing than the last.  The Indian captured at the rancho yesterday was condemned to die.  He was brought from his place of confinement and tied to a tree.  Here he stood some fifteen or twenty minutes, until the Indians from a neighbouring rancheria could be brought to witness the execution.  A file of soldiers were then ordered to fire upon him.  He fell upon his knees, and remained in that position several minutes without uttering a groan, and then sank upon the earth.  No human being could have met his fate with more composure, or with stronger manifestations of courage.  It was a scene such as I desire never to witness again.

A cold rain fell upon us during the entire day’s march.  We encamped at four o’clock, P.M.; but the rain poured down in such torrents that it was impossible to light our camp-fires and keep them burning.  This continued nearly the whole night, and I have rarely passed a night more uncomfortably.  A scouting party brought in two additional prisoners this evening.  Another returned, and reported the capture of a number of horses, and the destruction of a rancho by fire.  Distance 12 miles.

December 14.—­The battalion commenced its march on foot and in a heavy rain.  The mud is very deep, and we have been compelled to wade several streams of considerable depth, being swollen by the recent rains.  At one o’clock a halt was ordered, and beef slaughtered and cooked for dinner.  The march was resumed late in the afternoon, and the plain surrounding the mission of San Luis Obispo was reached in the pitch darkness of the night, a family in the canada having been taken prisoners by the advance party to prevent them from giving the alarm.  The battalion was so disposed as to surround the mission and take prisoners all contained within it.  The place was entered in great confusion, on account of the darkness, about nine o’clock.  There was no military force at the mission, and the few inhabitants were greatly alarmed, as may well be supposed, by this sudden invasion.  They made no resistance, and were all taken prisoners except one or two, who managed to escape and fled in great terror, no one knew where or how.  It being ascertained that Tortoria Pico, a man who has figured conspicuously in most of the Californian revolutions, was in the neighbourhood, a party was despatched immediately to the place, and he was brought in a prisoner.  The night was rainy and boisterous, and the soldiers were quartered to the best advantage in the miserable mud houses, and no acts of violence or outrage of any kind were committed.