and to-night would see the end of my struggle with the

for the Atlantic coast to join my new regiment. A two days' ride

brought me down to Portland, whence I sailed to San Franciso, and at

that city took passage by steamer for New York via the Isthmus of

Panama, in company with a number of officers who were coming East

under circumstances like my own.

At this time California was much agitated--on the question of

secession, and the secession element was so strong that considerable

apprehension was felt by the Union people lest the State might be