CHAPTER XXX.
Capture of Los Angeles--Court Martial of Fremont--Carson Appointed a Bearer of Dispatches to Washington--His Journey to St.Louis--Visits Washington--Appointed Lieutenant by President Polk--Ordered Back Across the Continent--His Journey--Assigned to Duty at Tajon Pass--Again Ordered to Washington--His Appointment not Confirmed by the United States Senate--Visit to Washington--Return to New Mexico.
The chief force of the Mexicans was at Los Angeles over a hundred miles to the north of San Diego.

They numbered six or seven hundred and were strongly intrenched.

General Kearney and Commodore Stockton joined their commands and marched to attack them.

Arriving in front of the town, they scattered the Mexicans intrenched on the outside, and then marched into the place.

But the enemy had fled and gone northward to meet Fremont who was on his way from Monterey with four hundred men to attack Los Angeles.
The Mexicans had not long to search when they found Fremont, but, instead of giving him battle, their commander surrendered, possibly preferring to give him the honor, instead of selecting the other commanders.