During the Mexican War, the Army sent from Santa Fe to occupy California was met and defeated by Mexican forces at San Pasquale. The American forces were driven onto a butte in the desert where there was no water and were surrounded by Mexican forces. Edward F. Beale and Kit Carson, both famous explorers of the West, volunteered to get through the Mexican lines and obtain reinforcements from Stockton’s fleet at San Diego. They crawled past three cordons of Mexican sentries during the night, then hid in ravines by day and traveled by night until they reached Stockton’s fleet after enduring great hardships.

Photo: Syd Whittle

Photo: Syd Whittle

Photo: Syd Whittle

Photo: Syd Whittle

Photo: Syd Whittle