memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第21节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
r。 He also had along with him quite a retinue of servants； hired with a clear contract to serve him for a whole year after reaching California； every one of whom deserted； except a young black fellow named Isaac。 Mrs。 Smith； a pleasant but delicate Louisiana lady； had a white maid…servant； in whose fidelity she had unbounded confidence； but this girl was married to a perfect stranger； and off before she had even landed in San Francisco。 It was； therefore； finally arranged that； on the California； I was to accompany General Smith to San Francisco as his adjutant…general。 I accordingly sold some of my horses； and arranged for others to go up by land； and from that time I became fairly enlisted in the military family of General Persifer F。 Smith。
I parted with my old commander； Colonel Mason； with sincere regret。 To me he had ever been kind and considerate； and； while stern； honest to a fault； he was the very embodiment of the principle of fidelity to the interests of the General Government。 He possessed a native strong intellect； and far more knowledge of the principles of civil government and law than he got credit for。 In private and public expenditures he was extremely economical； but not penurious。 In cases where the officers had to contribute money for parties and entertainments； he always gave a double share； because of his allowance of double rations。 During our frequent journeys； I was always caterer； and paid all the bills。 In settling with him he required a written statement of the items of account； but never disputed one of them。 During our time； California was； as now； full of a bold； enterprising； and speculative set of men； who were engaged in every sort of game to make money。 I know that Colonel… Mason was beset by them to use his position to make a fortune for himself and his friends； but he never bought land or town…lots； because； he said； it was his place to hold the public estate for the Government as free and unencumbered by claims as possible； and when I wanted him to stop the public…land sales in San Francisco； San Josh； etc。； he would not； for； although he did not believe the titles given by the alcaldes worth a cent； yet they aided to settle the towns and public lands； and he thought； on the whole； the Government would be benefited thereby。 The same thing occurred as to the gold…mines。 He never took a title to a town lot； unless it was one； of no real value； from Alcalde Colton； in Monterey； of which I have never heard since。 He did take a share in the store which Warner； Beator； and I； opened at Coloma； paid his share of the capital； five hundred dollars； and received his share of the profits； fifteen hundred dollars。 I think also he took a share in a venture to China with Larkin and others； but； on leaving California； he was glad to sell out without profit or loss。 In the stern discharge of his duty he made some bitter enemies； among them Henry M。 Naglee； who； in the newspapers of the day； endeavored to damage his fair name。 But； knowing him intimately； I am certain that he is entitled to all praise for having so controlled the affairs of the country that； when his successor arrived； all things were so disposed that a civil form of government was an easy matter of adjustment。 Colonel Mason was relieved by General Riley some time in April； and left California in the steamer of the 1st May for Washington and St。 Louis； where he died of cholera in the summer of 1850； and his body is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery。 His widow afterward married Major （since General） Don Carlos Buell； and is now living in Kentucky。
In overhauling the hold of the steamer California； as she lay at anchor in Monterey Bay； a considerable amount of coal was found under some heavy duplicate machinery。 With this； and such wood as had been gathered； she was able to renew her voyage。 The usual signal was made； and we all went on board。 About the 1st of March we entered the Heads； and anchored off San Francisco； near the United States line…of…battle…ship Ohio； Commodore T。 Catesby Jones。 As was the universal custom of the day； the crew of the California deserted her； and she lay for months unable to make a trip back to Panama； as was expected of her。 As soon as we reached San Francisco； the first thing was to secure an office and a house to live in。 The weather was rainy and stormy； and snow even lay on the hills back of the Mission。 Captain Folsom； the quartermaster； agreed to surrender for our office the old adobe custom house； on the upper corner of the plaza； as soon as he could remove his papers and effects down to one of his warehouses on the beach； and he also rented for us as quarters the old Hudson Bay Company house on Montgomery Street； which had been used by Howard & Mellua as a store； and at that very time they were moving their goods into a larger brick building just completed for them。 As these changes would take some time； General Smith and Colonel Ogden； with their wives； accepted the hospitality offered by Commodore Jones on board the Ohio。 I opened the office at the custom house； and Gibbs； Fitzgerald； and some others of us； slept in the loft of the Hudson Bay Company house until the lower part was cleared of Howard's store； after which General Smith and the ladies moved in。 There we had a general mess； and the efforts at house…keeping were simply ludicrous。 One servant after another； whom General Smith had brought from New Orleans； with a solemn promise to stand by him for one whole year； deserted without a word of notice or explanation； and in a few days none remained but little Isaac。 The ladies had no maid or attendants； and the general； commanding all the mighty forces of the United States on the Pacific coast； had to scratch to get one good meal a day for his family！ He was a gentleman of fine social qualities； genial and gentle； and joked at every thing。 Poor Mrs。 Smith and Mrs。 Ogden did not bear it so philosophically。 Gibbs； Fitzgerald； and I； could cruise around and find a meal； which cost three dollars； at some of the many restaurants which had sprung up out of red…wood boards and cotton lining； but the general and ladies could not go out； for ladies were rara aves at that day in California。 Isaac was cook； chamber…maid； and every； thing； thoughtless of himself； and struggling； out of the slimmest means； to compound a breakfast for a large and hungry family。 Breakfast would be announced any time between ten and twelve； and dinner according to circumstances。 Many a time have I seen General Smith； with a can of preserved meat in his hands； going toward the house； take off his hat on meeting a negro； and； on being asked the reason of his politeness； he would answer that they were the only real gentlemen in California。 I confess that the fidelity of Colonel Mason's boy 〃Aaron；〃 and of General Smith's boy 〃Isaac；〃 at a time when every white man laughed at promises as something made to be broken； has given me a kindly feeling of respect for the negroes； and makes me hope that they will find an honorable 〃status〃 in the jumble of affairs in which we now live。
That was a dull hard winter in San Francisco； the rains were heavy； and the mud fearful。 I have seen mules stumble in the street； and drown in the liquid mud！ Montgomery Street had been filled up with brush and clay； and I always dreaded to ride on horseback along it； because the mud was so deep that a horse's legs would become entangled in the bushes below； and the rider was likely to be thrown and drowned in the mud。 The only sidewalks were made of stepping…stones of empty boxes； and here and there a few planks with barrel…staves nailed on。 All the town lay along Montgomery Street； from Sacramento to Jackson； and about the plaza。 Gambling was the chief occupation of the people。 While they were waiting for the cessation of the rainy season； and for the beginning of spring； all sorts of houses were being put up； but of the most flimsy kind； and all were stores； restaurants； or gambling …saloons。 Any room twenty by sixty feet would rent for a thousand dollars a month。 I had； as my pay； seventy dollars a month； and no one would even try to hire a servant under three hundred dollars。 Had it not been for the fifteen hundred dollars I had made in the store at Coloma； I could not have lived through the winter。 About the 1st of April arrived the steamer Oregon； but her captain （Pearson） knew what was the state of affairs on shore； and ran his steamer alongside the line…of…battle…ship Ohio at Saucelito； and obtained the privilege of leaving his crew on board as 〃prisoners〃 until he was ready to return to sea。 Then； discharging his passengers and getting coal out of some of the ships which had arrived； he retook his crew out of limbo and carried the first regular mail back to Panama early in April。 In regular order arrived the third steamer； the Panama； and； as the vessels were arriving with coal； The California was enabled to hire a crew and get off。 From that time forward these three ships constituted the regular line of mail…steamers； which has been kept up ever since。 By the steamer Oregon arrived out Major R。 P。 Hammond； J。 M。 Williams； James Blair； and others； also the gentlemen who； with Major Ogden； were to compose a
