Atthetimeofourvisit，GeneralKearneywasmakinghispreparationstoreturnoverlandtotheUnitedStates，andhearrangedtosecureavolunteerescortoutofthebattalionofMormonsthatwasthenstationedatSanLuisRey，underColonelCookeandaMajorHunt。Thisbattalionwasonlyenlistedforoneyear，andthetimefortheirdischargewasapproaching，anditwasgenerallyunderstoodthatthemajorityofthemenwantedtobedischargedsoastojointheMormonswhohadhaltedatSaltLake，butalieutenantandaboutfortymenvolunteeredtoreturntoMissouriastheescortofGeneralKearney。Theseweremountedonmulesandhorses，andIwasappointedtoconductthemtoMontereybyland。LeavingthepartyatLosAngelestofollowbyseaintheLexington，IstartedwiththeMormondetachmentandtraveledbyland。Weaveragedaboutthirtymilesaday，stoppedonedayatSantaBarbara，whereIsawColonelBurton，andsoonbytheusuallytraveledroadtoMonterey，reachingitinaboutfifteendays，arrivingsomedaysinadvanceoftheLexington。Thisgavemethebestkindofanopportunityforseeingthecountry，whichwasverysparselypopulatedindeed，exceptbyafewfamiliesatthevariousMissions。Wehadnowheeledvehicles，butpackedourfoodandclothingonmulesdrivenahead，andwesleptonthegroundintheopenair，therainyseasonhavingpassed。Fremontfollowedmebylandinafewdays，and，bytheendofMay，GeneralKearneywasallreadyatMontereytotakehisdeparture，leavingtosucceedhimincommandColonelR。B。Mason，FirstDragoons。OurCaptain（Tompkins），too，hadbecomediscontentedathisseparationfromhisfamily，tenderedhisresignationtoGeneralKearney，andavailedhimselfofasailing—vesselboundforCallaotoreachtheEast。
ColonelMasonselectedmeashisadjutant—general;andontheverylastdayofMayGeneralKearney，withhisMormonescort，withColonelCooke，ColonelSwords（quartermaster），CaptainTurner，andanavalofficer，CaptainRadford，tookhisdeparturefortheEastoverland，leavingusinfullpossessionofCaliforniaanditsfate。
FremontalsoleftCaliforniawithGeneralKearney，andwithhimdepartedallcauseofconfusionanddisorderinthecountry。FromthattimeforthnoonecoulddisputetheauthorityofColonelMasonasincommandofalltheUnitedStatesforcesonshore，whiletheseniornavalofficerhadalikecontrolafloat。ThiswasCommodoreJamesBiddle，whohadreachedthestationfromChinaintheColumbus，andheinturnwassucceededbyCommodoreT。ApCatesbyJonesintheline—of—battle—shipOhio。AtthattimeMontereywasourheadquarters，andthenavalcommanderforatimeremainedthere，butsubsequentlySanFranciscoBaybecamethechiefnavalrendezvous。
ColonelR。B。Mason，FirstDragoons，wasanofficerofgreatexperience，ofsterncharacter，deemedbysomeharshandsevere，butinallmyintercoursewithhimhewaskindandagreeable。Hehadalargefundofgoodsense，and，duringourlongperiodofservicetogether，Ienjoyedhisunlimitedconfidence。Hehadbeeninhisdayasplendidshotandhunter，andoftenentertainedmewithcharacteristicanecdotesofTaylor，Twiggs，Worth，Harvey，MartinScott，etc。，etc，whoweretheninMexico，gaininganationalfame。Californiahadsettleddowntoaconditionofabsoluterepose，andwenaturallyrepinedatourfateinbeingsoremotefromthewarinMexico，whereourcomradeswerereapinglargehonors。MasondweltinahousenotfarfromtheCustom—
House，withCaptainLanman，UnitedStatesNavy;Ihadasmalladobe—housebackofLarkin’s。HalleckandDr。Murrayhadasmalllog—housenotfaroff。Thecompanyofartillerywasstillonthehill，underthecommandofLieutenantOrd，engagedinbuildingafortwhereontomountthegunswehadbroughtoutintheLexington，andalsoinconstructingquartersoutofhewnpine—logsforthemen。LieutenantMinor，averycleveryoungofficer，hadtakenviolentlysickanddiedaboutthetimeIgotbackfromLosAngeles，leavingLieutenantsOrdandLoeseralonewiththecompany，withAssistant—SurgeonRobertMurray。CaptainWilliamG。Marcywasthequartermasterandcommissary。Naglee’scompanyofStevenson’sregimenthadbeenmountedandwassentoutagainsttheIndiansintheSanJoaquinValley，andShannon’scompanyoccupiedthebarracks。ShortlyafterGeneralKearneyhadgoneEast，wefoundanorderofhisonrecord，removingoneMr。Nash，theAlcaldeofSonoma，andappointingtohisplaceex—GovernorL。W。Boggs。A