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SIGILLVM -
IFORNIENSIS
LVX
FIAT
MD
EX LIBRIS
BANCROFT LIBRARY
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BRIG. GEN . KEARNY .
. Wearny
THE CONQUEST OF
CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO
J. b. Fremont,
BY J. MADISON CUTTS.
PHILADELPHIA
PUBLISHED BY CAREY AND HART.
THE
CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA
AND
NEW MEXICO,
BY THE FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES,
IN THE YEARS 1846 & 1847.
BY
JAMES MADISON CUTTS.
WITH ENGRAVINGS, PLANS OF BATTLE, ETC.
PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY CAREY & HART. 1847.
E405 2
×
Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1847, by CAREY AND HART, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
STEREOTYPED BY L. JOHNSON AND CO. PHILADELPHIA. PRINTED BY T. X. AND P. G. COLLINS.
1 1001
19770
INTRODUCTION.
THE AUTHOR'S PURPOSE.
WHETHER by emigration or by war-by conquest or by purchase-New Mexico, and the Californias, one or all, are to become territories of the United States of North America, is no part of this work to discuss. Their geographical position and the course of events may tend to this result. It is, how- ever, left to others to canvass the possibilities or probabilities, along with the policy of such consummation.
A general outline of the geography of these countries, together with a concise and continuous narrative of recent military and naval operations connected with the Conquest of California and New Mexico, embodying marches and exploits " among the most wonderful of the age,"* is appa- rently demanded by their romantic and " almost fabulous" interest, as well as by the universal attention bestowed upon the Mexican war, and its consequences.
The purpose is here to sketch the geographical and histo-
* Senator Benton.
3
4
INTRODUCTION.
rical outlines with entire impartiality, and with such fidelity as the records now admit of; so that the Public may have before them an unpretending, yet useful compendium. At least, such is the Author's only design, and this he hopes to accomplish satisfactorily, the more that he makes no literary pretensions, and that it must be obvious to all, that the mate- rials of history are not sufficiently developed for the more studied and philosophical research, which may hereafter oc- cupy the minds of some of those historians of whose fame America is so justly proud.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Historical Summary of Mexico-National Boundary-Departments and Population-Yucatan and Texas-Mountains and Table-land of Mexico -Salubrity - Rivers-Lakes-Volcanoes-Harbours - Mixed Races- Slavery-Commerce-Manufactures-Mines-Military Force-Revenue -Debt - 9
CHAPTER II.
.
Geographical Outline of California and New Mexico - 16
CHAPTER III.
Principal Military and Naval events of the Mexican War, antecedent to and cotemporaneous with the operations of the forces in California and New Mexico -
- 29
CHAPTER IV.
" Army of the West"-Purpose of the greatest importance-Gen. Kearny -Orders and instructions for New Mexico and Upper California-Civil governments-Forces organized at Fort Leavenworth-Capture of Santa Fé-Proclamations, &c .- Legislative and Executive Action thereon- Expedition-Fort-Treaties with Indians, &c .- Orders to Col. Doniphan, &c .- Marches for Upper California -
32
CHAPTER V.
Combination of forces employed in the Conquest of California and New Mexico, Military and Naval-Reinforcement of a Regiment and of a Bat- talion of Mounted Volunteers, under Col. Price, to " Army of the West" -Mormon Battalion-Nauvoo difficulties and emigrants-New York Regiment under Col. J. D. Stevenson-Capt. C. Q. Tompkins's Com- pany of Third Artillery-Orders and instructions-Co-operation with the Naval forces-Col. Mason-Departures and Arrivals -- Unexpected Co- operation. A 2 5
- 68
6
CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAPTER VI.
Colonel Doniphan-Missouri Volunteers-Command at Santa Fé-Orders Campaign in the Navaho country-March on Chihuahua-Route-Battle of Brazito-El Paso-Major Clark's artillery-Capt. Weightman-Battle of Sacramento-Occupation of the City of Chihuahua-American Traders -A Lady-Orders from Gen. Wool-Capt. Reid's gallant action with Indians-Capital of Durango-Route to Saltillo-Gen. Wool-Gen. Taylor and Trophies-Arrival at New Orleans-Arrival at St. Louis- Enthusiastic Reception-Senator Benton's Speech-Col. Doniphan's reply and adieu to his companions in arms - . 75
CHAPTER VII.
Pacific Squadron-Com. Sloat-Any Emergency-Distance and Difficulty of Communication-Orders and Instructions-Operations commenced- Bay of Monterey occupied-Proclamation-Bay of San Francisco-Capt. Fremont-Enrolment of Militia-British Man of War-Company of Dragoons-Com. Sloat returns to the United States-Com. Stockton- Operations and Despatches-Proclamation-Tariff and Civil Government -Newspaper established-Com. Stockton and Fremont-Despatch-Fre- mont Governor-Insurrection-Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-Battle- Military and Naval Operations-Settlements and Towns-Com. Stock- ton's Despatches-Gen. Kearny and Battles of Los Angeles-Fremont and Capitulation-Com. Stockton-Gen. Kearny and Col. Fremont meet at Los Angeles and separate-Com. Shubrick arrives-Capt. Tompkins's Artillery, and Col. Stevenson's Regiment-Com. Shubrick, Gen. Kearny and Joint-Circular-Col. Mason, of First Dragoons, Governor and Com- mander-in-chief of the Land Forces-Gen. Kearny, Com. Stockton, and Col. Fremont returns-American flag waves over California - - 103' .
CHAPTER VIII.
Unexpected and gallant movement-J. Charles Fremont-Scientific ex- ploration-Gen. Castro threatens-American flag hoisted-United States Consul, T. O. Larkin, Esq .- Correspondence-Fremont's note-With- draws-The country raised-Attacked by Tlamath Indians-Determi- nation-Capture of Castro's horses-Sonoma surprised and taken-Pri- soners-Fights de la Torre-Men cut to pieces alive-Mexicans shot- Declaration of Independence and War-Com. Sloat-Pursues Castro- Ordered to Monterey-Com. Stockton in command-Major of California- Mounted Riflemen-Embarks for San Diego-Joins Com. Stockton's
7
CONTENTS.
PAGE
forces-Occupation of " City of the Angels"-Again pursues Castro- Capt. Gillespie-Com. Stockton appoints Fremont Governor-Lieut. Tal- bot-Com. Stockton officially announces the capture of California-Cali- fornians revolt-Los Angeles and Santa Barbara evacuated-Fremont -March on Los Angeles-Captures and pardons Don J. Pico-Capitu- lation-Previous Battles of Gen. Kearny and Com. Stockton-Com. Stockton's Despatches-Meeting of Fremont, Stockton, and Kearny- Separate-Fremont Governor and Commander-in-chief-His Circular- Kit Carson-Interviews with Com. Shubrick and Gen. Kearny-Adheres to his position-Fremont returns to the United States. - 142
CHAPTER IX.
Gen. Kearny-Upper California-Orders and Instructions-Departure from Santa Fé-Captain Johnston's Journal of the March-Meets Kit Carson- March renewed-Incidents of the Journey-Visit to Copper-mines- Apaches-Aztec Ruins-Casa de Montezuma-Pimos and Cocomaricopas Indians-Provisions fail-Capture of Castro's Horses, and of the Mail- Junction of the Gila and Colorado-Desert-Approach California-Signs of the Enemy-Letter to Com. Stockton-Capt. Gillespie-The Enemy -Battle of San Pasqual-Death of Captains Johnston and Moore, and Lieut. Hammond-Gen. Kearny, Lieut. Warner, Captains Gillespie and Gibson, wounded-Com. Stockton-Sailors and Marines-The Enemy -- Battles of 8th and 9th January-Killed and Wounded-Occupation of City of the Angels-Col. Fremont joins Gen. Kearny-Joint Circular with Com. Shubrick -- Lieut. Col. Cooke and Mormon Battalion-Pro- clamation of Lieut. Emory and Despatches-Capt. 'Tompkins's Artillery Company-Col. Stevenson's Regiment-Settlements and Towns, &c .- . Decree of Gen. Kearny-Government established-Orders to take pos- session of Lower California-Gen. Kearny returns to United States- Route homewards-Dead Emigrants-Arrival-Reception - - 178
CHAPTER X.
Col. Sterling Price-Lieut. Col. Willock-Missouri mounted Volunteers -Gen. Kearny-Col. Doniphan-Col. Price remains at Santa Fé- Conspiracy-Gov. Bent's Proclamation-Organization of Government- Sickness of Troops-Enterprise and Amusements-Revolution-Murder of Gov. Bent and others-Americans to be put to death-Letters inter- cepted-Enemy approaching Santa Fé-Troops called together-Advance on the Enemy-Battles of Canada and Embudo-Battle of the Pueblo
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CONTENTS.
PAGE
de Taos-Death of Capt. Burgwin-Funerals and Graves of Bent and Burgwin-People urged to rise-Massacres-Fight at Moro-Capt. Henley killed-Capt. Morin destroy's the Town-The Father-in-law of Archuleta-Leaders delivered up-Tried and Executed-State of Affairs in New Mexico-Revolutionary Spirit-Route between Santa Fé and Fort Leavenworth dangerous-Lieut. Peck-Incidents of the Desert- Indians very Hostile-Engagement with Apaches-Lieut. Brown killed -Surprise and Capture of Los Pias-Loquesta, &c .- Prisoners-Exe- cutions-Expiration of Terms of Service of Volunteers-Lieut. Love's Battle with the Indians-Indian Aggression-Measures taken to Repress and Punish-No organized resistance in New Mexico-Arrival of new Levies-Col. Price created a Brigadier-general-Visits Missouri to return to Santa Fé
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APPENDIX
- - 245
THE CONQUEST
OF
CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO.
CHAPTER I.
Historical Summary of Mexico-National Boundary-Departments and Popula- tion-Yucatan and Texas-Mountains and Table-land of Mexico-Salubrity- Rivers-Lakes-Volcanoes-Harbours-Mixed Races-Slavery-Commerce -Manufactures-Mines-Military Force-Revenue-Debt.
MEXICO, once the powerful and populous empire of Montezuma, chief of the native Aztec race; afterwards, by the conquest of Cortez, in 1521, one of the brightest gems in the Spanish crown, asserted, in 1810, her independence, and at the end of a prolonged and bloody struggle, in which some 500,000 perished, adopted, in 1824, a constitution of government formed nearly on the model of the United States, with two essential exceptions. One which established the Catholic Roman Apostolic Religion, and declared that the nation will protect it by wise and just laws, and prohi- bited the exercise of any other. The second, whereby their Con- gress was authorized, in times of national danger, to create a dictator, for a limited time ; or, in other words, "to grant extraor- dinary powers to the executive, for a limited time, upon a full knowledge of the cause.".
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Amid civil dissensions, this constitution preserved a nominal existence until 1835, when the general.Congress suppressed the state legislatures, and provided for the division of the country into departments ; the president to be chosen by an indirect vote, and the two houses of Congress by direct popular vote ; the executive head of each department to be appointed by the supreme national government.
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HISTORICAL SUMMARY.
Successive revolutions, headed by military chiefs who more or less exercised unlimited power, or claimed to restore the constitu- tion of 1824, followed, until, the republican party once more in apparent ascendency, the re-establishment of the constitution of 1824 was, on the 22d August, 1846, decreed, and with it the dis- solution of the departmental assemblies and the reorganization of the several departments into sovereign and independent states.
On the 20th of April, 1847, the Mexican Congress conferred on the executive-then General Santa Anna-"extraordinary powers" restricted by the following provisoes : that it shall not have power to make peace ;- to conclude a negotiation with foreign powers ;- to alienate the territory of the republic ;- to enter into coloniza- tion contracts ;- to impose penalties ;- or lastly, to confer other civil and military employments than those expressly sanctioned by the constitution of 1824.
On the 6th of June, 1847, a coalition of the states of Jalisco, San Louis Potosi, Zacatecas, Mexico, Queretara and Aguasca- lientes was formed at Largos, which, looking to the fall of the capital, was prepared to maintain their independence and the fede- ral system through all the vicissitudes of war and to the resist- ance to peace.
Lord Palmerston had, May 31, 1847, assured the minister of the Mexican republic, Don Joaquin Mora, "In regard to the con- templated abandonment of the Mexican capital by the executive, to which Señor Mora refers in his letter, the undersigned (Pal- merston) has the honour of assuring Señor Mora, that the English minister accredited to the Mexican government, will consider it his duty to follow the government, and maintain his relations with it, in whatever part of the Mexican territory said government may fix its residence." From whatever causes, whether from corrup- tions and abuses of power introduced into the administration ; from the mixture of races ; want of education and enlightenment among the masses, it has happened that Mexico, since her eman- cipation from Spain, has exhibited the spectacle of a republic con- vulsed by the disputes of political parties and of rival chiefs, ending at times in sanguinary struggles and civil warfare ; in fact,
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DEPARTMENTS AND POPULATION.
"peace seems not to be the element in which Mexican statesmen gain or maintain their personal ascendency."
The Mexican nation or republic is now bounded on the north by the Oregon Territory of the United States; on the south by Yucatan and Guatamala :'on the east by the United States, and the Gulf of Mexico; and on the west and south-west by the Pacific ocean. This territory extends from latitude 15° to latitude - 42º north, or about 1800 miles from north to south.
Geographical and political details of the original divisions, and of the subsequent territorial subdivisions, cannot find space in this work ; sufficient to state that, on 10th November, 1843, a decree for the election of delegates to the new Congress to convene in the city of Mexico on 1st June, 1844, fixed the ratio of representa- tion as one delegate for 70,000 souls, agreeably to the census pre- pared by the National Institute of Geography and Statistics, and named the departments as follows :-
Departments.
Population.
Mexico,
1,389,520
Jalisco,
679,111
Puebla,
661,902
Yucatan, .
580,948
Guanaxuato,
513,606
Oajaca,
500,278
Michoacan,
497,906
San Louis Potosi,
321,840
Zacatecas,
273,575
Vera Cruz,
254,380
Durango,
162,618
· Chihuahua,
147,600
Sinaloa,
147,000
Chiapas,
141,206
- Sonora,
124,000
Queretara,
120,560 ¥
Neuvo Leon, .
101,108 /
Tamaulipas,
100,068
Coahuila,
75,340 V
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MOUNTAINS AND RIVERS.
Aguascalientes, .
69,693
Tabasco,
63,580
. Neuvo Mexico, .
57,026
· Californias,
33,439
Texas,
27,800
Total,
7,044,140
Yucatan has since dissolved the connection. Texas had de- clared and conquered her independence at the time, and claims, as embraced within her boundaries, the parts lying east of the Rio Grande, of four of the departments enumerated above ; namely, of New Mexico, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas.
The vast ridge which runs through Mexico connects the Andes of the south and the Rocky Mountains of the north. In the centre of Mexico, this chain presents a broad table-land from 6000 to 8000 feet in height, diversified by detached mountains, rising into the regions of perpetual snow, while it falls off rapidly as it spreads towards the eastern and western sea-coasts. Hence, on an almost continuous level, wheel carriages may run from the - capital to Santa Fé, in New Mexico, while laterally the commu- nication is extremely difficult, and, in most cases, can be carried on only by mules.
The summit of this vast table-plain is devoid of vegetation from the absence of moisture ; its first slopes afford a vegetation of un- common strength and beauty, while the narrow plain along the sea-coast produces the richest tropical productions, with a luxuri- ance scarcely to be paralleled.
On the other hand, health and salubrity of air retrograde with as decided steps as fertility advances towards the coasts.
Of the rivers of Mexico, not numerous or of great magnitude, the Rio Grande del Norte is the principal, running a south-east- erly course, about 1600 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. The Sa- cramento and San Joachim are large rivers of Upper California. The Colorado of the West is also a large river, and falls into the Gulf of California, after receiving the Gila. From the structure of the country, the rivers of tropical Mexico mostly become mere
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MIXED RACES.
torrents. The Panuco, the San Fernando, and the Santander, are considerable streams on the eastern coast ; and the Zacatula, Rio Grande, (or Tololotlan,) and Hiaqui on the western. The lakes of Mexico are very numerous, and appear to be the remains of others of vast extent. There are five active volcanic moun- tains, Tuxtla, Orizava, Popocatepetl, Jarullo, and Colima, con- nected by a chain of intermediate ones, evidently of similar origin.
The principal port on the Gulf of Mexico is the insecure har- bour of Vera Cruz ; Tampico is much frequented, north-east of which are several natural harbours less used, while south are Alvarado and Huascualco. On the Pacific, are the bays of San Francisco, Monterey, Tehuantepec, Acapulco, and San Blas. The want of good harbours must prevent Mexico proper from ever becoming a great maritime power. In the Gulf of Califor- nia there are tolerable harbours, but few considerable settle- ments.
The population of Mexico is variously rated, almost universally larger than the estimate given by the Mexican National Institute of Geography.
Its mixed character is singularly different from that of other countries. The following statement concisely enumerates the classes.
1. Europeans, or persons of pure Spanish blood, not natives of Mexico, powerless in a political point of view, but wealthy, though of small number.
2. Crillos or Creoles ; persons of unadulterated white blood. During the revolution, these and the first class were known as Gauchupinos, and, generally opposing the revolution, were called Realists or Royalists.
3. Meztizos, or half-bloods, the descendants of the white and aboriginal races ; this class comprises a great portion of the popu- lation of Mexico.
4. The native unmixed Indians, now rapidly being amalga- mated with the others, yet still powerful in a numerical point of view.
B
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MINES.
5. Mulattoes, as with us, the descendants of whites and Africans.
6. Africans, and persons of unmixed African blood.
7. Zambos, the descendants of Indian and African parents.
Besides, there are numerous descendants of emigrants from the Canary Islands, with a great admixture of Moorish, not African blood. Gitanos or Gipseys, and, it is said, on the Pacific coast, near Acapulco, a large proportion of the population have a mix- ture of Malay and Chinese blood.
Slavery was abolished on the 13th of July, 1824, and from that date, every imported slave was declared to be a free man from the moment he landed upon the Mexican coast. They have, however, a system of quasi servitude, called peonage.
The commerce of Mexico does not correspond with its capa- bilities of production. On the " temperate lands," the finest plants of the most genial temperate climates are produced in higher per- fection than in most other parts of the world ; while the different elevations of its great tabular mass of territory afford scope for such vast variety of productions as to render Mexico celebrated as an agricultural country.
Manufactures spread slowly among them, yet they are now being established; principally in Puebla.
The mines, however, have given the idea of unbounded wealth and romantic splendour to the name of Mexico, whence, indeed, since the first discovery, more silver has been produced than from all the rest of the world. The amount coined at the mint of Mexico, since the conquest, amounts to 443,000,000 dollars. The number of mines already known is between three and four thou- sand. Their largest yield in. any one year was, in 1796, 25,644,566 dollars, and for some years previous to 1810, the average annual yield was 24,000,000. During the revolution, the amount was greatly reduced, water having been, in many instances, allowed to rush in, the machinery destroyed, and the workmen dispersed. In 1825, numerous British capitalists un- dertook to restore and extend the produce of the mines. German companies were also formed, as also were two American; the
15
DEBT OF MEXICO.
expenses in the outset were enormous, and the results discourag- ing; their subsequent special operations are not known, further than that Europeans have now an interest in the mines of Mexico, of some twenty millions of dollars. This would appear to be a glittering prospect, but, classed with other industrial pursuits, the yield, compared to the capital and labour, may not be found to be greater than an equal amount invested in agriculture, commerce or manufactures.
The unsettled state of the country gives little value to its sta- tistical statements. Nothing certain can be told of its military force, nor of its annual revenue, which has been stated as about 16,000,000 dollars. The national debt is equally unascertainable- computed, however, by those most competent to determine, at about 100,000,000 dollars, subject to the addition which the pre- sent war entails. On the 13th of September, 1847, the consolida- tion and acknowledgment of the Mexican debt to English bond- holders was formally announced in London, by authority of the Mexican legation at that court, as having been consummated in Mexico, to the amount of £10,241,650 ;- represented at the Mexi- can par, as about forty-six millions of dollars. „What other foreign obligations may exist cannot be ascertained with any accuracy.
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GEOGRAPHICL OUTLINE.
CHAPTER II.
Geographical Outline of California and New Mexico.
THE conquest of California and New Mexico embodied a class of men whose intelligence, enterprise, and capacity, might well be confided in to develop the character of the country, or to dis- cover its utmost resources. Their marches and counter-marches, in a great measure, afforded occasion, if not facilities. But it was not alone that our forces embraced the profession of arms, the citizen soldier, and the anticipated emigrant, but that the govern- ment had also provided men of science, from whose reports more might be accurately known of California and New Mexico. Time has not sufficiently elapsed to hear fully from these conjoined sources of intelligent and extensive exploration much that must hereafter serve to the attainment of a certain fixed knowledge of the geography, soil, climate, &c. of these countries.
At present the accounts received vary materially. It is neces- sary, however, for the purposes of this narrative, that some gene- ral outline of the geography of the scenes of many a gallant con- test here sketched, should be given, and in this the author deems old authorities, as Humboldt, and more modern, " The United States Exploring Expedition," Greenhow, &c., as, on the whole, altogether preferable to the newspaper paragraphs which so sel- dom agree one with another. Whatever exception may be made in the compilation of the geographical outline of California and New Mexico will be accompanied with names.
"Upper California extends, upon the Pacific, from the 32d parallel of latitude, about seven hundred miles north-westward to Oregon, from which it is divided, nearly in the course of the 42d parallel-that is in the latitude of Boston-by a chain of highlands called the Snowy Mountains ; the Sierra Nevada of the Spaniards. Its boundaries on the west are not, as yet, politically determined
17
GEOGRAPHICAL OUTLINE.
by the Mexican government ; nor do geographers agree with re- gard to natural limits in that direction. By some, it is considered as embracing only the territory between. the Pacific and the sum- mit of the mountains which border the western side of the conti- nent : others extend its limits to the Colorado ; while others include in it, and others again exclude from it, the entire regions drained by that river. The only portion occupied by Mexicans, or of which any distinct accounts have been obtained, is that between the great chain of mountains and the ocean ; the country east of that ridge to the Colorado appears to be an uninhabitable desert.
"Northward from the Peninsula, or Lower California, the great westermost chain of mountains continues nearly parallel with the Pacific coast, to the 34th degree of latitude, under which rises Mount San Bernardin, one of the highest peaks in California, about forty miles from the ocean. Further north the coast turns more to the west, and the space between it and the summit line of the mountains becomes wider, so as to exceed eighty miles in some places ; the intermediate region being traversed by lines of hills, or smaller mountains, connected with the main range. The principal of these inferior ridges extends from Mount San Ber- nardin north-westward to its termination on the south side of the entrance of the great Bay of San Francisco, near the 38th degree of latitude, where it is called the San Bruno Mountains. Between this range and the coast run the Santa Barbara Mountains, termi- nating on the north at the Cape of Pines, on the south-west side of the Bay of Monterey, near the latitude 36} degrees. North of the San Bruno Mountains is the Bolbones ridge, bordering the Bay of San Francisco on the east ; and still farther in the same direction are other and much higher lines of highlands, stretch- ing from the great chain, and terminating in capes on the Pa- cific.
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