would not carry off the water fast enough.

All hands,

Marshall included, went to work to remove obstructions in the tail race. His eye was attracted by particles of yellow matter. He secured about an ounce and decided it was gold. He took it to Sutter, who gave Marshall to understand that he thought him crazy, sent him back to the mill with orders to keep the matter secret, but at the same time dispatched his messengers to Gov. Mason to see about the confirmation of his titles.

Sherman found that in July, 1848, the Mormons, at Mormon Island, were the most numerous pioneers in the gold regions, and the most industrious and successful. They had been in that section before as soldiers, and therefore it was like a return to a section with which they were acquainted. The whole region skirting the American River was filled with mining camps, and the greatest activity prevailed. But the greatest activity was that of the imagination, and tales of fabulous discoveries and marvelous wealth were on the tongues of every one they met.

After making the tour of the mining section, and ascertaining that gold actually existed, the party returned to Sutter's Fort, and back to Yerba Buena, which by this time was throwing off its old Spanish name, and fast coming into prominence as San Francisco, a place on more lips throughout the civilized world than any other, and soon to be one of the wildest speculative centres on the globe. By easy marches Sherman reached Monterey, where dispatches informed him that the Mexican War was over, and that the treaty of Guadaloupe Hidalgo was under way. It was well that this was the case, for such was the intensity of the gold fever at that juncture, that no officer could have kept an army of volunteers on duty.

Even the regulars deserted in numbers from Col. Mason's command, and there were times when a body servant could not be had for five prices in gold.

In September, 1848, official news of the treaty with Mexico reached Gov. Mason, and he immediately mustered out all his volunteers, leaving in California only a company of artillery at Monterey, and one of dragoons at Losi Angeles. All the thought and energy of the country were) turned toward the mines, and during the Fall of 1848, Col. Mason, Sherman, and a few others, made a visit to the Sonora region, which was then dividing honors with the Mormon Island and Coloma section. These visits were the basis of a report to the Government, and Sherman prepared the report with great care. Lieut. Loeser was deputed to carry the report and specimens of gold to Washington. The President made the report the subject of a special message to Congress, and thus gave official sanction to what had before been conjectural. This report and message laid the ground work of that phenomenal migration and mighty spirit of adventure which characterized the following year, and rendered the name of "forty-niner" historic.

Even Sherman himself could not escape the speculative fever of the hour, for we find him back again at Coloma, in the Winter of 1848, and a partner in a store, out of which he cleared fifteen hundred dollars in a short time. One of his companions on this trip, Warner, surveyed the site of Sacramento, and the city came into existence by magic.

California was now one of the most active fields on the continent. It became the policy of the Government to centre there a sufficient body of troops for protection, and they came by sea and land. The headquarters at Monterey became the scene of many official gatherings, and life was pleasant through the latter part of the winter of 1848-49.

The arrival of the steamer California, in March, 1849, was the beginning of a new epoch on the Pacific coast. It brought a rare coterie of new officers, and gave those who were dissatisfied with their fortunes a chance to change them. Sherman tendered to General Smith, who had just arrived, his resignation of Adjutant-General of the Depart. ment of California, determined to take advantage of one of the many offers of employment and partnership which had been made him. But Smith would not have it so, because, as a new commander, the experience of Sherman would be invaluable to him. Sherman therefore went to San Fran. cisco with General Persifer F. Smith, and became a part of his military family. He parted regretfully with Col. Mason, whom he regarded as a man of sterling honor, and proof against the seductions and intrigues of the place and time.

The condition of General Smith and his staff became pitiable soon after their arrival in San Francisco. Soldiers and servants deserted, and it was with difficulty that a single meal a day could be provided. The rains were heavy and the mud fearful. There were no safe streets and no sidewalks. Gambling was a pastime. All sorts of houses were being thrown together, and rents were such as that an army officer could not touch them. But for Sherman's fifteen hundred dollars, made in the little Coloma store, he would have starved.

In April, 1849, the mail steamer Oregon arrived from Panama. This was the beginning of something like regular steamship communication with the Isthmus, and the Panama route to California grew in favor. By the Oregon came the commission of naval officers who were to select the site of the future navy yard of the Pacific. They selected Mare Island, which is now the stronghold on the Pacific. As it was manifest that army officers could not live in San Fran

cisco on their small pay, General Smith transferred his headquarters back to Monterey, whither Sherman went. This change would cheapen living and promote health, but it would necessitate long lines of travel. For these Sherman prepared by improvising a swift-footed train of horses and mules.

Desertions grew so frequent at the garrison that the offi cers decided an example would have to be set before the men. One day's tally alone showed the departure of twentyeight men for the diggings. They had not only deserted, but had walked off with well-stored knapsacks, and in defiant mood. That night Sherman and seven other officers started in pursuit, and succeeded in capturing and returning twenty-four of the offenders. This checked desertion for a little while, but it seemed as if nothing but death itself could stay the terrible gold fever, which not only justified desertion from the army and navy, but from creed, politics, morals and all business principles.

Major Joseph Hooker now came from the East, and took Sherman's place as Adjutant-General of the Pacific Division. Sherman then became one of General Smith's regular aides. Headquarters were changed to Sonoma. There was but little to do, and many of the officers took advantage of their leisure to patch out their salaries with business ventures. Sherman took a contract to survey Colonel Stevenson's projected city, the "New York of the Pacific," at and about Benicia. His share in this work netted him five hundred dollars in cash and fifteen town lots, which last he sold for five hundred dollars. He next surveyed a ranche for Mr. Hartwell, in the Sacramento Valley. His pay for this was in land, out of which he realized about three thousand dollars. This he invested in Sacramento lots, and again turned a handsome profit. His leave of absence had now expired,

and he returned to camp at Sonoma, to witness the inpour. ing of pioneers and adventurers from all parts of the world, and the establishment of a regular line of steamers from San Francisco to Sacramento. While the country was filling up with miners, it was also bearing a crop of politicians who were intriguing for power in what was now a prospect (ive State. The preliminary elections were duly held, and a Convention to frame a Constitution met at Monterey. General Smith sent Sherman down to watch the proceedings. He found the Convention harmonious, except as to the question of slavery. But the majority in favor of freedom was so large that the clause excluding slavery was quickly adopted. The first Legislature of the new State convened in San José, in October, 1849, and elected Fremont and Gwin as U. S. Senators.

On Sherman's return to Monterey he was sent by General Smith to Sacramento, to instruct his engineers to push their surveys of the Sierra Nevadas, to ascertain the practicability of passing through them by rail, a subject which then elicited great interest. This body of engineers, under Warner, was afterwards massacred by the Indians. During all the Fall of 1849 General Smith kept his officers busy organizing and sending out relief expeditions for adventurers who had given out and gotten belated in their weary marches across plains and over mountains. He then took a trip to Oregon to complete his observations and reports on the Pacific coast, and while he was gone Sherman spent most of his time in San Francisco.

About Christmas Smith sent important dispatches from Oregon to San Francisco, with orders to Sherman to deliver them in person to General Winfield Scott, in New York City. This was a welcome mission for Sherman, who had long desired just such an opportunity to go East. He paid