Taber Photo.

W. C. BURNETT.

severely wounded in doing so." General Quitman in his statement to the committee, after describing the desperate charge on the Garita, says:

"Anxious to wave up the whole column, with the view of entering the citadel pell-mell with the retreating enemy, I called for colors. The Palmetto flag was the first reported to me, and by my orders, Lieutenant Selleck of the South Carolina Regiment was ordered to display that flag on the Garita. In doing so, he was severely wounded."

General Quitman, in his official report of this eventful day, beginning with the storming of the heights of Chapultepec and ending with the capture of the Belen gate of the City of Mexico, says, "Captain Blanding, whose conduct happened to fall under my own eyes, was conspicuous for his bravery and efficiency."

As is well known, the result of this

memorable day's conflict was the surrender of the City of Mexico, followed by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ceded California to the United States. Captain Blanding accompanied Messrs. Sevier and Clifford, the United States commissioners, to Queretaro, and was present at the discussions in the Mexican Congress and at the signing of that treaty. Before the close of the war, President Polk offered him a commission in the regular army, which he declined, preferring a lower rank in his own regiment and a return to his profession in time of peace. In acknowledgement of his services he received from the State of South Carolina a gold medal, another from the military of Charleston, and an elegant sword from the city council of Charleston. He had with him, in this campaign, two brothers and two cousins. Of the five, three were captains, one a lieutenant, and the other sergeant-major of the regiment. Three were wounded at Churubusco.

Colonel A. Andrews, a citizen always in the forward ranks of civic activity, not only fought in Mexico but continued in the line of promotion in the army. He was born in London early in the second quarter of the century. His courage is his by inheritance from his father, who served as a corporal under Napoleon Bonaparte. In childhood Colonel Andrews came to the United States with his mother, his father having died. A home was found in New Orleans and before he came of age, young Andrews was in active service in Company A, Second Ohio Regiment. He held a lieutenant's commission, rose to a captaincy, and was specially commended for gallantry by General Scott.

At the close of the war he went into business in St. Louis and on the announcement of the discovery of gold in California, tempted by its bright promises,

he came to the new El Dorado. He selected Sacramento for his first financial ventures and after successes and reverses, - among the latter the ravages of fire, he left the Coast. After a stay in New York and a taste of the Civil War, he received the appointment of major in the second cavalry regiment, an experience of life in Chile and Peru, a tour of Europe, and a visit to Asia, he again came to San Francisco and established himself in the jewelry business, which he still conducts.

Thors Photo.

WILLIAM A. PIPER.

investigations of the mineralogical resources and geological formations. The investigation was undertaken by the government to meet some misstatements made by Daniel Webster before the Congress. Mr. Singer's report was published by the War Department, and copies placed, without comment, upon the desks of the members in the House.

After the breaking out of hostilities, Major Singer found himself on several occasions in very critical positions. At one time, when halting with the troops near Las Vegas, he was the custodian of two hundred thousand dollars of government money. He had been with Colonel Lane's detachment, but the forces had been withdrawn, leaving Major Singer protected by fifty Germans, poor cavalrymen unaccustomed to horses. Thus situated, the Major was told by some American traders that a party of guerrillas and other Mexicans were preparing

CAPTAIN WILLIAM DUNCAN,

to make an attempt to capture the money. His only hope of assistance was from Major Reynolds of the Missouri Volunteers, who was guarding the storage trains in that district. Dispatching a messenger, Major Singer prepared to make a valiant defense. Marching his raw protectors out of a cañon, where they would be commanded from the heights directly over them, he advanced towards a small valley into which the guerrillas, headed by their red uniformed chief, had entered. The first rush was made upon the surprised enemy about sundown. Two sallies were made to invite the enemies' fire, but economy was used in ammunition which was a scarcity. In the midst of the grave distress the bugle notes from Major Reynolds's detachment were heard ; the men were encouraged and the enemy routed. Major Singer pursued them and did not reach Santa Fé for two days.

In the meantime some discharged soldiers left for the United States and car

ried the news of the supposed killing of Major Singer by the guerrillas. A flattering obituary appeared in the Pittsburg Dispatch, the recollection of which causes vast amusement to the aged veteran who has lived to take pleasure in telling of what happened a half century ago.

Major Singer started for California in 1851. He first tried mining, but finally established himself in Marysville where he filled the offices of justice of the peace and mayor. He was a member of the Court of Sessions, a body of which Justice Field was also a member. Later, he made his home in Sacramento, and in San Francisco.

Away out at Ocean View, in a neat little cottage with blooming garden beds in front, lives Sergeant John W. McKenzie, of Battery A, Second Regiment, U. S. Artillery, the man who fired the first gun at Palo Alto. Of that battle and the one immediately following, Resaca de la Palma, Sergeant McKenzie says, "These two battles were without any doubt the index of the whole war, for from Palo Alto to the halls of the Montezumas, they (the Mexicans) never won a battle." Of the defeat of the enemy at Resaca de la Palma with all the pardonable exultation of a true veteran, his words spiced with a little bit of humor, he remarks: "The enemy fled in every direction, throwing away their arms and accouterments in their wild flight. Their lines of retreat must have been perfect, for they vanished before us like a dream. We captured all of their camp equipage, their ammunition, stores, and six thousand Mexican dollars. And did we not do justice to their forced and hurried hospitality!"

McKenzie saw five years service in Mexico. He was at Corpus Christi when the war cloud actually broke. He went down from there with the United States troops to be provisioned at Point

Isabel, and was present at the construction of Fort Brown. He was with the army in thirteen battles, and he manned and fired a gun when every comrade who had been in position near it lay dead or dying by its side.

A soldier by inheritance, his grandfather was a petty officer under Nelson at Trafalgar and his father was with Jackson at New Orleans, - he himself was inured to the scenes of the battle field when but nineteen years of age. His war record is one of bravery and honorable endurance.

In 1850 he came to California, and during the prime of life held many responsible positions. In 1852 he was Superintendent of the United States prison ship at Angel Island. He was elected Chief of Police in 1854, was appointed Notary Public under Governor Low and again by Governor Haight, and in 1889 was in charge of the State Prison.

Many names woven in the history of the State can be traced back until their owners are found carrying arms on the battle grounds of Mexico or serving the United States during the years of that conflict. One of the most important and prominent fortifications of the Bay of San Francisco - Fort Point, as it is familiarly called-is officially named Fort Winfield Scott. A couple of time worn guns, trophies of the war, star. at the entrance to the old Fort building, which at present is considered of little military value. Two other guns with their silent mouths well buried in the ground form historic and quaintly esthetic posts on each side of pretty, garden-surrounded Fort Mason (Black Point).

General Frémont, whose widow is peacefully spending her closing years in Los Angeles, cannot be omitted from mention with those who had part in the troublesome days just previous to the

MAJOR R. P. HAMMOND.

acquisition of California. General Halleck for a number of years made his home on Rincon Hill in San Francisco. General Baker, who fell at Ball's Bluff, gained his first military honors in Mexico and had a residence in San Francisco for a time out on Pacific Street near where it widens into Pacific Avenue. Descendants of Major Ringgold still make a home. here. Colonel J. C. Hays,' well known to early Californians; Mr. Eastland, father of Joseph G. Eastland, the well known capitalist; William A. Boggs of Napa; General John Bidwell of Chico; Colonel Hooper of Sonoma County; Colonel Jonathan Stevenson; Major Platt; Captain John B. Frisbee; Calhoun Benham; Samuel Deal; Lansing B. Mizner; David Scannel, of the San Francisco Fire Department fame; Sidney I. Loop; Colonel John C. C. Cremony, held in

sce OVERLAND for December, 1891.

Dames & Hayes Photo.

WILLIAM SINGER

tender memory by the members of the Bohemian Club; Selim Woodworth; William K. Benjamin; William L. Dickinson, and John D. Callaghan, are among those -many gone to rest; some passed into the shade of many numbered years, others still in active life who after the war selected California, one of the brightest results of that conflict, as their abiding place.

Another very prominent San Franciscan who won his spurs in the Mexican War was Major Richard P. Hammond. Born in New York in 1820, he graduated from West Point in 1841. When the war began he was a first Lieutenant and was made acting assistant adjutant general to General Shields. He was at the siege of Vera Cruz, was breveted captain "for gallant and meritorious conduct" at Cerro Gordo, and major "for heroic services" at Contreras and Churubusco. He had a horse shot under him and was slightly wounded at Chapulte

pec, and on the entry into the City of Mexico, was made military secretary and acting judge advocate. He was one of the early members of the Aztec Club, the Cincinnati of the Mexican War, and always wore its button.

In 1849 he came to California in command of a party of United States engineers. In 1852, in conjunction with Captain Weber he laid out the city of Stockton and was made speaker of the Assembly in the Legislature of 1853. Many honors came to him, he was collector of the port of San Francisco, president of the Board of Education, regent of the State University, and president of the Pacific Union Club. His most notable civic services were rendered as first president of the Board of Police Commissioners. His military education and strong character enabled him to make a lasting impress on the city's police force. His wife was a sister of Colonel Jack Hays, also of blessed memory in Mexican War annals, and his sons have all made their mark: John Hays Hammond is the well known mining expert, now in Southern Africa; the late Colonel Harry T. Hammond left a brief but brilliant record in the army; William H. is a prominent. citizen of Visalia; and Richard P. Jr. has been U. S. Surveyor General for California and a notable Park Commissioner.

They were heroes, those men of 1846 and 1847; for, many of them mere boys, they went to fight in a strange country and against a people differing from them. in language, customs, methods, and ambitions. Nor did they find an enemy unworthy of their zeal and steadfastness. Watch a veteran of that war, as he tells of his experiences, and invariably his features will light up, and his voice sound with awakened enthusiasm, as he adds: "And they were right brave fellows,