USA > California > Los Angeles County > An historical sketch of Los Angeles county, California. From the Spanish occupancy, by the founding of the mission San Gabriel Archangel, September 8, 1771, to July 4, 1876 > Part 4
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY.
9th .- At leaving camp we saw few of the enemy, although he had encamped within a mile the evening before. Proceeding, he appeared in considerable force on our right flank. The artillery exchanged shots. What damage we did I do not know; on our side, a dragoon (Childs) and a sailor were slightly wounded, and Captains Gillespie and Rowan, of the navy, were hit by spent balls. For two miles over this mesa, the Mexican artillery fire continued. We were obliged to march slow, in consequence of the broken down condition of the ox teams; nor could we leave the baggage to charge their guns, which we could have easily captured. At length the enemy drew up in open order, at some distance out of gun shot, threatening our right rear and left front. Finally they charged, received an effective fire in return, withdrew, and marched in the direction of the town.
We encamped on the stream, two miles below the city, in which everything was quiet through the night. Occasionally a light could be seen passing about, but no demonstration against us was made.
10th .- About nine o'clock A. M., a flag of truce came out, with information that our entry would not be opposed, since they did not wish the place to be destroyed. We however marched up in line of battle, prepared for action.
The army passed from the river into Main street near the old "Celis house," thence up Main street to the Plaza. Two guns with a couple of hun- dred men, were stationed on the hill overlooking Main street; the rest quar- tered as comfortably as possible. On the 14th, Colonel J. C. Fremont marched in from Cahuenga, his battalion, the Journal says, "a body of fine- looking men in general on good horses and armed with rifles." Eleven hun- dred of United States troops were now in the city. Upon the hill at once was commenced a Fort, on which the patriotic sailors worked cheerily, although they had begun to talk of their ships, and the term of service of many of them had expired. It was finished by the Mormons. It has been said that a small entrenchment at this spot existed, made in the time of Gov- ernor Micheltorena. This is a mistake. Before 1846 it had been the play- ground of the children, favorite resort of lovers, the place for picnics or rec- reation on days of festival. In 1850 and several years thereafter, hundreds of persons every fine Sunday afternoon of early Spring, might be seen there, culling the wild flowers or gazing over the beautiful panorama of mountain and plain and sea. A very long time passed before it began to have charm- ing residences as now. January eighteenth, General Kearny, with his dra- goons afoot and almost shoeless, and after the casualties of their hard cam- paign, scarcely more than fifty in number, marched for San Diego. Cap- tains Emory and Turner, Lieutenants Davidson and Warner, and Dr. Griffin, returned with him. Commodore Stockton followed the next day.
The battle-ground of January eighth, is at present "Pico Crossing;" by the Californians always named CURUNGA. General Jose Maria Flores commanded the Californians. He had ordered the charge to be made by a squadron. The company advanced, under Captain Juan Bautista Moreno. Don Francisco Cota, bearing the Mexican standard, placed himself at its head, and the column dashed down the precipitous hill, about seventy in number, upon the close ranks of Stockton. The sailors received them with a terrible fire. The other company reached the brow of the hill to follow their comrades; when Don Diego Sepulveda, acting upon his own judgment, ordered a halt, advanced alone, and commanded a retreat. He was aid of Flores. This feat was accomplished by Captain Moreno, under heavy fire, but without further loss than a severe wound which he received. Two had been mortally wounded by the first fire of the sailors; namely, Ygnacio Sepulveda ('El Cuacho'), brother of Don Diego, and Francisco Rubiou ('Bachico '). They died of their wounds, at San Gabriel. Californians still speak of their strange emotions, retired only about a thousand yards, at the music of Stockton's Band, when the heights were taken and their late camp occupied by him. In the artillery duel of the MESA, Alferez Jose Maria Ramirez was slightly wounded, and a youth named Ignacio ' El Guaimeno,' killed. Their entire force did not exceed four hundred. Solely on a point of honor, they say, were made the demonstrations of this second day, not from any serious plan or design to give battle. At the distance, it was easy for the American army to be misled as to the effect of its shots, owing to the habit of Californians, so agile on horseback, to hang themselves on their sad- dles over their horses, on either side from the danger. 'El Guaimeno,' that is to say, 'of Guaimas,' was a Yaqui Indian, born on the river of that name. In a battle against the Yaquis, a soldier had captured him, then a child, and was
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about to kill him. Don Santiago Johnson interposed, bought him of the soldier for twelve dollars, and finally brought him in his family to California.
This account of tlfe engagements, except as to the origin of 'El Guai- meno,' is derived from Don Agustin Olvera, who was present as " Capitan Auxiliar," and also as a member of the Departmental Assembly. It seems to have been thought, that the personal eclat of some of the higher func- tionaries would inspire the rank and file with greater enthusiasm. Certainly common sense will not undertake to judge them, as regular soldiers. Mag- nificent horsemen they were, and by a simple and active life, made hardy for campaigns, but never had rigid military training. Most of them were very young. This revolucion owed much to the patriotic zeal of the women of the country, by fervent appeal and indignant upbraiding impelling father, brother, husband, lover, to resistance. Happily they the first in January to bow gracefully to destiny-a gentle influence so new-born, like the rainbow at the close of the storm. Many of the graver inhabitants felt that they were not able to cope with the United States; their men undisciplined, and with- out any resources to wage war. So thought General Flores, we may well believe, with his reputation for experience and skill; and the like conviction has often been attributed to General Andres Pico. But the untamed spirit of the majority at first did not stop to reason upon the consequences. Honor and love of country threw away cold calculation and military caution.
General. Jose Maria Flores was born at the Hacienda de los Ornos, in the department of Coahuila. IIe had been aid to Governor Micheltorena. He died at Mazatlan, in April or May, 1866. His wife was a native of Cali- fornia-Dona Dolores Zamorano, daughter of Don Agustin Zamorano, who had been Secretary of Governor Jose Maria Echeandia from 1825, and after- ward, in 1833, of Governor Jose Figueroa; he was born in Florida. Her grandfather was Don Santiago Arguello, formerly Military Commandant at San Diego, and from 1840 until 1843, Prefect at Los Angeles, whose eldest son, Don Santiago E., was captain of the native Californian company. on the American side, at the battle of Curunga. General Flores was thirty years of age, at the date of these events.
From September, 1846, this city was the centre of exciting operations. Late in October, Don Leonardo Cota, at the head of one hundred men, raised in and around Los Angeles, marched for San Diego, of which port Commo- dore Stockton, in the frigate Congress, a short time before had taken possess- ion. After an unimportant demonstration on the Old Presidio hill, and a trifling skirmish at the Mission San Diego, he withdrew to the little valley of Soledad, twelve miles north of the town, near enough to avail himself of any opportunity that might offer to renew the attack. His officers were Enrique Abila, Ramon Carrillo, Jose Maria Cota, Carlos Dominguez, Nicolas Her- mosillo (a Sonoranian), all of this city ; Jose Alipaz of San Juan Capistrano, and Ramon O. Suna of San Diego. Meanwhile a Commission that had been sent by Flores to Castro, in Sonora, had despatched information to Los Ange- les, that a large body of armed men had been seen on the river Gila. In consequence of this report, about November twenty-second, General Andres Pico was sent, with one hundred men, to protect Cota and oppose the entry of any hostile force. General Pico first took post at San Luis Rey Mission; finally moved to the pretty valley of San Pascual. He then had eighty men ; having lost some stragglers, but gained reinforcements of ten from San Diego county, among them Don Leandro Osuna. His officers were Captain Juan Bautista Moreno, Tomas A. Sanchez, Pablo Vejar, Manuel Vejar, and others. The reader will not confound this point with the Rancho of San Pascual, about twelve miles from the City of Los Angeles, where subse- quently, about the date of the Cahuenga negotiation, General Pico had a camp. San Pascual of battle memory is thirty-four miles northeast from the City of San Diego, close to the foot of the mountains. This is one of the three Indian pueblos established after the secularization of the Missions. It had then a small population, originally of emancipated Neophytes of the Mission of San Diego, who have been reduced in numbers during the last thirty years. It exists still, but misses the governing hand of " Old Panto," who died two or three years ago.
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY.
The fight of DECEMBER SIXTH was due to the impetuosity of General Kearny. General Pico was ill-prepared for it on that night. Warned by Indian runners, coming into his camp, of forces marching from Santa Maria Rancho, yet his horses had been left grazing loose, up San Pascual Valley, until very near the moment of attack. The Californian account gives a loss of two prisoners-one of whom was wounded-none killed. The prisoners were Don Pablo Vejar, and the wounded man, Juan Lara, whose leg, six months afterward, was amputated at San Diego by a French physician, and who for a long time continued to live at Los Angeles. Don Leandro Osuna killed Captain Moore with a lance. In the last flerce onslaught, par- ticularly conspicuous were Juan Lobo, a ranchero of Mision Vieja, Dolores Higuera, commonly called " El Guero," and son of Salvador Higuera-these were privates-and Captain Moreno. Pablo Apis, Indian Chief of Temecula, was not there, nor any other Indians. The scence of conflict being at the Rancheria of Panto, Chief of San Pascual, he had rendered some aid to General Pico. The first shots were fired close to his house-within three hundred yards of which fell Captain Johnston, in the first charge. It is admitted that Phillip Crosthwaite, a San Diego volunteer under Gillespie, saved the life of Don Pablo Vejar, whom one of the two Delaware Indians of Kit Carson was on the point of killing. On the morning after the fight, Don Leonardo Cota incorporated his company with that of General Pico, at the Rancho of San Bernardo, which place, a few hours afterward, was occupied by General Kearny.
After the first shock, at the Indian village, it is evident that the Califor- nians retreated rapidly down the road, except a few who escaped over the hills. Captain Moore and men followed on the second charge, pell mell, one after another, in utter confusion; their fire arms in general useless-from the cold, their sabres almost impotent, and the bugler unable to sound a call. Lieutenant Hammond was heard to say, by William B. Dunne: "For God's sake, men, come up!" In vain, in the manner they were mounted. At the distance of half a mile a sharp, rocky spur makes out from the range of hills. There were a few Americans dead or wounded. Day broke, but with a dense fog. A goodly number, including General Kearny, Captain Moore, Lieutenant Hammond, and Captain Gillespie, had passed by and out into the little plain that spreads beyond toward San Bernardo and Rincon Ranchos. A body of lancers suddenly rushed upon them from behind the north side of this spur. Five minutes completed the massacre. None had been killed or wounded on the way from the Indian village. The howitzer was captured by Guero Higuera and another. He then attacked Captain Gillespie. In 1856, at San Francisco, that officer described to Don Agustin Olvera the inci- dents of this encounter. He received first a slight wound in the chest, followed up with his sword, and parried other thrusts; at last Higuera's lance struck him full in the mouth with such force as to knock out two teeth. He fell from his horse to the ground, and feigned to be dead. His fine zerape and horse and saddle Higuera seized, and galloped off. When Captain Emory got the other howitzer in place, the men returning from the plain formed in a circle around it, a few Californians still riding near. Presently the fog rose, and they were visible distinctly all making off toward the Soto IIill. Captain Moore was killed, at the distance of several hundred yards on the plain, near a pond of water; his sword hilt was in his hand in death ; the blade was found in two pieces. At the point of the spur, above referred to, among the rocks and cactus, the hospital was established; the wounded were brought in from the plain, and the dead were sought for and gathered. In his Report, Captain William H. Emory says : "When night closed in, the bodies were buried under a willow to the east of our camp. Thus were put to rest together, and forever, a band of brave and heroic men. The long march of 2,000 miles had brought our little band to know each other well. Commu- nity of hardships, danger, and privations had produced relations of mutual regard which caused their loss to sink deeply into our memories." The saddest reflection of a calm judgment, after the lapse of years, is that, with the character of the Californians, so easily satisfied and so conciliable always, and the known disposition of their commander, General Andres Pico, in the actual circumstances of his country-if General Kearny had marched into
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the valley of San Pascual, in open daylight and according to military rules, his advent would have been the signal for a treaty of peace and prompt sub- mission to his authority ; at any rate, he would have reached San Diego, it is easy to believe from all the circumstances, without the loss of blood on either side.
Three days before the battle of San Pascual, a portion of the men under General Flores, chiefly "Barbarenos" (i. e., of Santa Barbara), rebelling at the proposal to send them to Mexico with certain American prisoners-from an aversion to go out of their native California-rose against him and put him in confinement. The Departmental Assembly met next day, adopted a decree recognizing Flores in supreme command. This was published on the fifth, and tranquility so restored. £ During these occurrences the white population of this city, is estimated by thoughtful persons then living here, at not over one thousand, which was the estimate of the United States officers when they entered, January, 1847.
A vivid picture of march and battle is presented in Dr. Griffin's Journal :
" 1846-November 22 .- We discovered the trail of a large body of horse. Kit Carson saw the tracks of women on the sand. Lieutenant Emory went out with a party of twenty men, and about 1212 P. M., brought in three or four Mexicans, from whom we learned that they were a party of traders, or rather refugees from California to Sonora. They had five hundred horses and mules. They told us of Flores; that Roubidoux was a prisoner; advised us not to lose time, as our presence would be of great benefit to our countrymen. (I think, not many minutes will be lost.) * # Our men are nearly naked and barefooted, their fect sore, and leg-weary. Only the sick have been allowed to ride lately. We are a mile and a half above the mouth of the Gila. .
" 23d-A child born to night, in the Mexican camp. We all contributed tea, sugar, and coffee to the mother.
" 24th .- Lieutenants Emory and Warner (Topographical Engineers), while out making observations, came across a Mexican in the bottom; searched him, and found several letters addressed to Castro. Crossed the Colorado River, so as to take the desert to-morrow.
* *
" December 2d .- About 4 P. M. arrived at Warner's-the extreme frontier settlement of California. He is living very comfortably; seems to have plenty of cattle, horses and sheep, and certainly has a fine range for them. An Irish- man there informed us * * * that there were detached parties of the enemy between ns and San Diego, and that a Mexican force, escorting prisoners out of the country to Mexico, would probably arrive in our neighborhood to-night.
"3d .- This is called Agua Caliente-a boiling spring-a vineyard. We obtained some of the grapes dried; they were nearly as sweet as raisins, and of fine flavor; also, watermelons from the Indians. Last night had a visit from an Englishman, by name Stokes; he has remained neutral during the difficulties. He consented to carry a letter to Commodore Stockton, at San Diego. About one P. M., Lintenant Davidson returned with some hundred young mules and horses, the major portion utterly worthless to us. Rain all day. Camped at Stokes' Ranch in the evening-Santa Ysabel.
"4th .- This was a Mission; the buildings much better than at Warner's; everything of neater appearance. An Indian village was near the house. The Chief made a speech to the General last evening, in which he declared his wish not to engage in the war in any manner, but that he was perfectly willing to go to work. The General advised him to keep at peace and work hard, and he would be well treated. Stokes seems to have a large stock. His Major-domo gave the officers a supper. He gave the General information of a party of Mexicans at some mission on our road, with 500 animals.
"5th-Marched from Stokes' Ranch with Senor Bill-William Williams --- the Major-domo, for guide. He drank pretty freely the night before; chasing wild horses, presently he was thrown, and sald he would go no further. The General had him mounted on a mule, with two of the guard by his side. Bill took us once on the wrong road, but soon corrected the mistake. After a few miles we met Captain Gillespie's party, from San Diego-35 men and one four- pounder. They soon encamped. We marched about 10 miles, to a grove of live oak, with no water, except that which was falling from the heavens. It rained heavily. A party of the enemy being reported in our vicinity, it was first deter- mined that Captain Moore should take sixty men and make a night attack. For some reason the General altered his mind, and sent Lieutenant Hammond, with three men, to reconnoitre. Hammond found the enemy at some ten miles dis- tant, but was discovered. As he galloped off with his party, the Mexicans gave three cheers.
"December 6th-At two P. M. we were all afoot, and expected to surprise the Mexicans. Although we had rain all night our arms were not reloaded; but ' boots and saddles' was the word, and off we went-in search of adventure. Two miles from camp we overtook Gillespie's company, which fell in in the rear. Major Swords was left back with the baggage and thirty men. Another party remained behind with Gillespie's four-pounder. This reduced our fighting men to eighty-five, all told. With these and two howitzers we marched forward.
4
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY.
The morning was excessively cold. We felt it the more, as most of us were wet to the skin. Passing over a mountain, and traveling as near as I can judge ten or eleven miles, we came in sight of the enemy's fires.
" We marched down the mountain. So soon as we arrived on the flat below, the shont and charge commenced from the advance. After running our jaded and broken down mules and horses about three-fourths of a mile the enemy opened fire on us. The balis whistled by awhile, but the light was not sufficient for me to distinguish anything like a line of the enemy; on my left, however, there was a considerable flashing of guns. In a few minutes the enemy broke, and we found that they had made a stand in front of an Indian Rancheria, called San Pascual. Day was just breaking. At this moment a Mexican dashed by; Lieutenant Beale, of the navy, fired several shots, and he fell. Another man galloped by-he had a Mexican look; a dragoon pistol was fired at him without effect, and the dragoon was abont to cut him down with a sabre, when I recog- nized him as one of Gillespie's party. By this time we were much disordered. Some of our men had fast horses, others poor, broken down horses and mules. Captain Moore, however, ordered the charge further; it was made hurly-burly- not more than ten or fifteen men in line, and not forty altogether. On they went. The enemy continued the retreat for about half a mile, when they rallied, and came at us like devils, with their lances. Mounted on swift horses, and most of our firearms having been discharged or missed fire, from the rain of the night before, our advance was at their mercy. Our men wheeled, and a howitzer having been brought up near, rallied 'on the gun, and drove off the enemy.
" Hammond was the first wounded man I saw. He had been in the advance with Moore, and had a lance wound on the left side, between the eighth and ninth ribs. I told him to go a little further to the rear and I would attend to him. Separated at this moment from him, the General saw mne, told he was wounded, and wished my services. In a few moments Captains Gillespie and Gibson, and others, were found to be wounded. Captain Johnston, who led the first charge, was killed by a gun-shot. I was told he was the only one who received any injury from gun-shot. Moore was killed leading the second charge; and Hammond, it was said (and so he told me), in attempting to rescue Moore. One of Emory's party was killed by the name of Menard; also, one of Gillespie's men; two Sergeants, one Corporal, and eleven privates, of dragoons, and one missing, supposed to be killed. We lost one of our howitzers-the mules were wild and ran off with the piece. Of the three men with it, one was killed, the other two desperately wounded. Upon the whole, we had wounded: four officers, one Sergeant, one Corporal, ten privates, and Mr. Roubidoux, interpreter. Total killed and wounded, thirty-eight. And I should not think there were to exceed fifty men who saw the enemy. We took two prisoners.
" This was an action wherein decidedly more courage than conduct was shown. The first charge was a mistake on the part of Captain Johnston; the second, on the part of Captain Moore.
" We drove the enemy from the field and encamped.
" Dec. 7th .- Marched and took possession of a hill in front of the house of San Bernardo Rancho, after a brief contest for it. The wounded were carried in six ambulances. I sent word to General Pico that I would be most happy to attend to his wounded. He replied that he had none.
" 8th .- Made exchange of one prisoner for another. On account of the wounded the General consented to remain. Lieutenant Beale and Kit Carson were sent with despatches to Commodore Stockton. We burnt all the baggage, in order to have as little encumbrance as possible; dismounted the men, and de- termined to perform the rest of the march on foot. The enemy hovering around, but careful not to come within gun-shot.
"9th .- In camp; nothing going on; the enemy parading about on the hills on the other side of the valley. We are reduced to mule meat.
"10th .- Sergeant Cox died this morning. If reinforcements are not sent we march in the morning, at all hazards. Our animals were grazing quietly at the foot of the hill near camp. At a distance we could see a party of Mexicans driv- ing a band of wild horses toward us. Within half an hour they came on at full speed, intending thus a stampede. Certainly a beauiful sight, as they approached nearer. Waiting awhile, and not coming within gun-shot, our animals were driven out of the way, and hy a shiont the wild horses was turned-only one mule getting within gun-shot (with a great hide tied to the tail), which was struck, I was told, by forty balls, and finally butchered. A Godsend to us, this being very fat. The General ordered all things to be in readiness for marching In the morn- ing. We all went to bed firmly convinced that we should have to fight our way Into San Diego.
" Ilthi .- About two o'clock A. M., the sentinel heard a body of armed men approaching. They were hailed, and, to our great joy, found to be friends sent to our relief from San Diego. They mustered 200 strong-80 marines and 100 sallors. Captain Zielan in charge of the marines, Lleutenant Gray of the whole detach- ment. Immediately our beds were vacated, and surrendered to our tired com- rades. Awaking, at daylight, they found mule soup ready. In turn, they emptied the contents of their haversacks, consisting of jerked beef and bread, and all made a first rate breakfast. The Jack Tars seemed highly delighted with this new role of 'soldiers,' discontented only with the enemy for not having given them a fight before reaching camp. Early in the morning we started for the Rancho of Penasquitos (little stones). The hill sides were well set with wild oats, two or three inches above the surface, green as a wheat field. Collected & hundred head of cattle to-day, in fine condition; and at the ranch picked up a
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