An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 4

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 4
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 4
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 4
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 4

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In September, 1834, anchored at San Diego the brig Natalia, bearing many colonists of the Hijar-Padre's expedition. This was a colonizing organization, fostered by Gomez Farias, then vice-president of Mexico, whose purpose was to build up in the province of California a stronghold for the liberal party. But President Santa Ana, seeing in this movement a menace to his own most conservative designs, despatched a courier to the local officials of California, in- structing them to withhold from the new-comers those powers demanded for them by the vouch- ers of Gomez Farias. Thus the colonists found themselves in a strange and thinly populated country, themselves discreditably repudiated and left without resources, owing to the confiscation of their effects by some of the over-zealous of the local officials. They would seem, however, to have been made very welcome during their short stay at San Diego. There were many progressive and practical-minded men among these people, who immediately set about main- taining themselves and their families by inde- pendent effort, and to them are due many im- proved methods and features in the community. Their descendants are among the most re- spected families of present times in Southern California.

ORGANIZATION OF THE PUEBLO.

Civil government, as distinct from military rule, began when the pueblo of San Diego was organized on January 1, 1835, installing the officers elected by the people on December 21, 1834. The following is a list of the officers of this the first ayuntamiento, or town council: Alcalde, Jnan Maria Osuna; First Regidor, Juan Bautista Alvarado; second regidor. Juan Maria Marron; sindic, Henry D. Fitch. At this the first municipal election in San Diego, the whole number of votes cast was thirteen.

MISSION SAN LUIS REY.

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Don Pio Pico, afterwards Governor of Califor- nia, under Mexican rule, was the opposing can- didate for alcalde.

It was not till ten years later that the town lands were surveyed and mapped by Captain Fitch, and the Mexican government then granted to the municipality a tract that com- prised 47,000 acres. When California became subject to the United States government (July 7, 1846), the pueblo organization was continued and the city's title to the pueblo lands was guaranteed by the treaty of 1848 with Mexico, and the United States Board of Land Commis- sioners confirmed it in 1853.

In 1836 San Diego was visited by the ship Alert, on board of which came Richard Henry Dana, then a youthful collegian, whose " Two Years Before the Mast," not only graphic and picturesque, but also accurate within its lim- itations, is very deservedly still a standard au- thority on the conditions in California in those days. This epoch witnessed many local ebulli- tions in the caldron of local politics in Califor- nia due partly to sectional, and partly to personal, jealousies, and San Diego was very far from being the point of least agitation, but finally fell into line under Carrillo, and shared in the uproar of his incumbency.

By 1839 the presidial establishment was ut- terly disorganized, one man constituting the military force in that year at San Diego; and eight that at San Luis. These, however, in September left the service, to save themselves from starving. The presidio buildings, aban- doned during the decade, were in ruins before 1840, much of their material probably having been employed in the little town, of thirty or forty houses. In January, 1840, the remains at the fort were sold for $40; a part of the guns appear to have been removed at this time. There are no statistics for this decade as to pop- ulation, but it diminished greatly, and probably numbered not over 150 in 1840. In this year there were ten foreigners ( ¿. e. not native nor Mexican), three of whom had families. As to the native population there are no statistics

after secularization, but it would seem to have dropped from 5,200 in 1830 to 2,250 in 1840. A number of private citizens at this time occu- pied ranchos, most of which were at some time abandoned because of raids by Indians. The townspeople were still pasturing their stock and raising crops, as before, on lands considered as community property, mostly in the Soledad valley. There was no right in the land claimed, but by usage the tiller of a certain piece in one year was regarded as having the first choice of it the following season. The town lots were as- signed at first by the Commandant; and it is said that the first written title from the alcalde was issued in 1838.

There were still some 800 neophytes nomi- nally under control of the priests at Mission San Diego, thongh but fifty were at the mission proper. The population at Mission San Luis Rey had gained somewhat during the earlier lustrum of this decade or prior to secularization in 1834. In 1840 there were some 1,000 ex- neophytes at the mission and local pueblos and ranchos.

An ex-neophyte pueblo, Las Flores, was formed here in 1833, with a small population. After secularization the Indians were able to retain partial control of the rich mission ranchos, Santa Margarita, Pala, Santa Ysabel, Temécula and San Jacinto, but only till the end of the decade.

In 1841, the hrst Bishop of California, Fra Francisco Garcia Diego, arrived at San Diego, which had been appointed as his residence, though he presently removed to Santa Barbara.

In 1846 Colonel J. J. Warner obtained from the Mexican government a valuable grant of land adjoining the San Luis Rey Mission, and skirting the old through wagon road to Yuma from San Diego. The tract contained six square leagnes, or 36,000 acres.

In December, 1846, the Pauma Indians mas- sacred, for some cause which has not been sat- isfactorily explained, some eleven or twelve Californians, in consequence of which a cam- paign was instituted against the Indians the next month.

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

THE WAR WITH MEXICO.

When war broke out in 1846 between the United States and Mexico, many of those Mex- icans who were natives of California espoused with the utmost enthusiasin and ardor the cause of their countrymen. On the other hand, there was a very respectable contingent who sided with the Americans, and rendered them every possible assistance. Among these were not a few of San Diego's best-known and most prom- inent native families, including such people as the Bandinis and Arguellos. Many of their compatriots made cause of reproach and accusa- tion of disloyalty in this partizanship with the Americans. But the reasons these citizens had for accepting the situation, and urging others to do, were certainly logical enough. Their arguments rested on the long neglect that Mexico had dis- played toward California, and the consequent obsenrity and misfortune of that province; on the separation from Mexico, which was inevit- able and a question of time only ; on the impos- sibility of resisting the American forces; and the necessity of self-preservation; and on the pros- perity which California was sure to enjoy in the future, under a government so strong, so liberal, and so fraternal as as that the United States.

On July 29, 1846, John C. Fremont reached San Diego with his battalion in the Cyane, took possession, and raised the American flag witlı- out known opposition; and after a week spent in procuring horses, which were very scarce, he marched northward with the rest of the battal- ion, some 120 strong, on August 8. Aceord. ing to some, he left a garrison of forty men at San Diego, while others aver that not until the middle of September had the place a guard, which was then composed of a dozen inen under Ezekiel Merritt.

When Stockton, who had been operating from Los Angeles, sailed again for the north from San Pedro, early in September, 1846, he left a garrison under Lieutenant A. H. Gilles- pie, as commandant of the southern depart- ment, instructing him to maintain martial law, and enforce the observation of Stockton's

proclamation of August 17. This proclamation merely announced that the country now be- longed to the United States, and that as soon as practicable it would be governed in the same manner as the other territories of that nation. Meanwhile the government would be by mili- tary law, the people, however, being invited to choose their local civil officers if the then in- cumbents declined to continue in service. Pro- per provision was therein made, moreover, for the protection of life and property, and for the punishment of evil-doers. With Gillespie was left a garrison of fifty men at Los Angeles. It appears that no garrison was left at San Diego, but a few men were sent down thither later on, and varions citizens accepted office under the new régime. Pedro C. Carrillo was among these, he accepting Stockton's appointment as Collector of Customs. Miguel de Pedrorena accepted, as a temporary arrangement, the office of justice of the peace.

When Gillespie was left by Commodore Stockton as military commandant of the south- ern department, with headquarters at Los An- geles, he was under instructions to maintain military rule with as much leniency and as little friction as possible, being authorized to grant at discretion exemption from burdensome restric- tions in the cases of orderly and well-disposed citizens. This was not a man qualified by nature and training to treat with the elements at hand. The Los Angeles people were quiet enough, with no disposition to revolt against the new administration. But there was in the town, on the other hand, an element of the population, both foreign and native Mexican, of lawless snd turbulent instincts and antecedents. The new euminandant not only had not the force needful for the controling and subduing of this class, but he was also lacking in the tact and perception necessary to distinguish between these people and the native Mexican families of the better class, who were of a vastly different order. Because the Mexicans, all unarmed and unprepared as they were for a military contest, had had the prudence to yield a quiet submis-

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

sion to disciplined and superior forces, the new local rulers, principal and subordinates, deemed them of an inferior race and cowardly, and were inclined to treat them with as much arbi- trariness as they would have shown in dealing with barbarians or children. From the first Gillespie directed the enforcing of regulations and measures needlessly and foolishly oppress- ive, interfering in the most petty and individual matters, displaying absurd suspicions, and by his objectionable personal bearing and manners offending the people of a race notable for its suavity of manner, its forms of courtesy, and its strict observance of all the conventionalities. Thus it was that within a brief period he had angered and estranged many good citizens, con- tent enough with the change of government, who under tactful and judicious treatment would have become fully Americanized in due time. The people became excited and made demonstra- tions which Gillespie was only too ready to give an exaggerated importance, and punish accord- ingly. Then certain Mexicans with ambitions of leadership inade this their opportunity, and other parties of outlaw antecedents joined their efforts to the general uprising. At last the garrison, weakened by the absence of the de- tachment sent to San Diego, was attacked by a small force, on September 23, and although the assailants were repulsed, they very soon ill- creased their forces, which were duly divided into bands, under regular leadership. Captain José Maria Flores was chosen to act as general commander, José Antonio Pico was second in command, with rank of major-general, and Captain Andres Pico, as chief of squadron, held the third place. The new organization went into camp, and in its turn issued a proclamation reciting the wrongs that had been suffered, and avowing intention to avenge them. A inessen- ger was promptly despatched to carry the news of the situation to Monterey and San Francisco, but before the result of his journey could be known, Gillespie had submitted to abandon the field, and embarked with his people on the Van- dalia.

The account of this revolt is here pertinent, as leading up to the subsequent movements at San Diego, whither, it will be remembered, Gil- lespie had sent, at the request of Henry D. Fitch, a dozen mnen under Ezequiel Merritt. Immediately after the retreat of Gillespie from Los Angeles, Francisco Rico marched toward San Diego with fifty men. On his approach, Bidwell left San Luis Rey and joined forces with Merritt. Then they all, together with a few Mexican citizens, very hastily embarked on the Stonington, a whaler that was at anchor in the harbor. They took with them some cannon which had been dug up at the old fort, and there the valiant invaders remained for some twenty days, under the dreadful menace of a few Californian horsemen, who now and then ap- peared on the hills in hostile demonstration, Rico having been recalled while on the way thither. Bidwell, in a boat with four men, went up to San Pedro for supplies, the trip being long and perilous. The word he carried caused reinforcements to be sent to San Diego, which was accordingly then reoccupied by the Americans. The California Mexicans opposed to them pursued here, as elsewhere, the tactics of their almost unweaponed and ammunition- less condition, namely, driving off live stock, cutting off supplies, and otherwise harassing the foe, besides reporting to the center of oper- ations their movements and stimulating the patriotism of the other sons of the country.

On October 8 took place the action at the Dominguez Rancho, the details of which are not entirely germane to the present work.

Stockton left Monterey on October 19, and on the 23d he arrived at San Pedro, and early in November he went down to San Diego with the Congress, finding the town in a state of siege, and the inhabitants, women and children, in lamentable straits. He remained about a month, recruiting, gathering horses, and strengthening the defenses. The men had all left the town, and the non-combatants were thrown upon the Americans for food and pro- tection. No beef could be had, nor horses for

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

the transportation of the guns and ammuition, and the Californians were masters of the sur- rounding section. A portion of Stockton's re- port ran as follows: "On the afternoon of our arrival, the enemy, irritated I suppose by the loss of his animals, came down in considerable force, and made an attack; they were, however, soon driven back with the loss of two men and horses killed and four wounded. These skir- mishes or running fights are of almost daily occurrence; since we have been here (up to No- vember 23) we have lost as yet but one man killed and one wounded." While thus engaged, an Indian was sent to ascertain the camping place of the main body of the insurgents; and he brought back the news that a force of some fifty strong was encamped at San Bernardo, abont thirty miles from San Diego. Ou Decem- ber 3, a messenger brought news of the ap- proach of a body of soldiery nnder General Kearny, who desired Stockton to open com- munications with him, and inform him of the conditions in California. Captain Gillespie ac- cordingly left San Diego that evening with a force he had in readiness, and taking with him a deserter from the Californians, who was to guide General Kearny to the camp of the in- snrgents.

On November 22, Captain Andres Pico had been sent southward to cut off the retreat of a party of Americans reported to have started toward Santa Ysabel from San Diego; but the Americans had returned before his arrival. He still remained in the south, making his head- quarters at San Luis Rey and Santa Margarita, and co-operated with Captain Cota, in keeping supplies from reaching the enemy, while await- ing the approach of stores with the main force to resist Stockton's expected advance. His force numbered not more, but probably less, than eighty. Nothing is known in detail of his movements until December 5, when he was en- camped at the Indian pueblo of San Pascual, with the purpose to cut off the retreat of Gil- lespie, who they knew had left San Diego two days previons. Pico had no idea of meeting

any Americans except those with Gillespie, whom he supposed to have gone out to procure cattle and horses. Before night on the 5th, the Indians brought in reports that a large force was approaching not far away; but little heed was taken of these tidings, which did not seem to tally with the facts known to Pico. After a night in which several alarıns were experienced, at early dawn was announced the near approach of the Americans, and the Californians were barely mounted when the enemy was riding down the hill, charging at full speed upon them.

Kearny's command broke camp at Santa Maria at two o'clock on the morning of the 6th, and marched nine miles before daybreak. Kear- ny's men numbered 160, and their order of march was as follows: First rode an advanced guard of twelve dragoons, mounted on the best horses, and commanded by Captain Johnston ; close behind followed General Kearny with Lientenants Emory and Warner of the engi- neers, with four or five of their men; then Captain Moore and Lieutenant Hammond with about fifty dragoons, mostly mounted on mnles; these were succeeded by Captains Gillespie and Gibson with twenty volunteers of the Califor- nia battalion; next followed Lieutenant David- son in charge of the two howitzers, drawn by mules, and with him a few dragoons to manage the guns; last of all came fifty to sixty men under Major Swords, protecting the baggage, and in turn protecte l by the field-piece brought by Gillespie. They were all badly demoralized by the fatignes of a long journey, and the long night's cold and rain. As they came in sight of the enemy's camp at the Indian village, in the cold gray light of early morning, they awakened, however, to something like animation, when the General ordered a charge, and Captain Johnston with his men dashed down the hill at a gallop. The Californians stood firm, and discharged the very few firearms in their pos- session, and then received the charging dragoons npon their lances. Captain Johnston fell life- less, with a musket-ball in his head, and a dra- goon fell also, badly wounded. Then there was

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

a hand to hand fight, a scene of great confusion, from which the Americans presently fell back just far enough to meet Kearny's main force; at sight of which Pico's men in their turn fled, pursned by the gallant Captain Moore, with all that were at hand of his own force and Gilles- pie's, many of the men being kept back by the condition of their animals. It is difficult to say what were Don Andres Pico's motives and tactics; but, after running about a half mile, he suddenly wheeled his column and rushed back to meet the pursuers. Skillful horsemen were his meu, and very expert lancers; and, whatever the result, it is much to say for the valor of the Americans that they stood their ground against such fearful and unfamiliar warfare. For not over ten minutes the combat raged most fiercely; then, as the howitzers were brought up, the Californians made off again. After them plunged, mad with fright, the mules drawing one of the cannon, so that Pico's men captured the gun, and killed the gunner. So ended the battle of San Pascual, which it has seemed well to record thus somewhat at length, since it was the most famous, the most impor- tant, and the most deadly that has occurred in the history of California.

The following is the account of the engage- ment, as related by Major W. H. Emory: "When within a mile of the enemy, whose force was unknown," he says, "his fires shone brightly. The General (Kearny) and his party were in advance, preceded only by the advance guard of twelve men under Captain Johnston. He ordered a trot, then a charge, and soon we found ourselves engaged in a hand-to-hand conflict with a largely superior force. As day dawned the smoke cleared away, and we com- inenced collecting our dead and wounded. We found eighteen of our officers and men were killed on the field, and thirteen wounded, one of whom (Sergeant Cox) died three days later. Among the killed were Captains Moore and Johnston, and Lieutenant Hammond, of the First Dragoons. The General, Captain Gibson, Lieutenant Warner and Mr. Robideau were

badly wounded. A large body of horsemen were seen in our rear, and fears were entertained lest Major Swords and the baggage should fall into their hands. The General directed me to take a party of men and go back for Major Swords and his party. We met at the foot of the first hill. Returning, I scoured the village to look for the dead and wounded. The first object that met my eye was the manly figure of Captain Johnston. He was perfectly lifeless, a ball having passed through the center of his head. Captain Johnston and one dragoon were the only persons either killed or wounded on our side by fire-arms. (The others had been laticed and cut.) When night closed in, the bodies of the dead were buried under a willow to the east of our camp, with no other accom- paniment than the howling of myriads of wolves. 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. Com- munity of hardships, danger and privations had produced relations of mutual regard, which caused their loss to sink deeply into our memno- ries."

The relative mortality of officers here was notably great. Johnston fell, as has been seen, the first victim, shot in the first charge. Moore fell early in the second charge, after a desperate resistance, with a lance thrust through his body. It is said that it was in trying to save Moore that Hammond received the wound which caused his death in a few hours. Gil- lespie, for all his skillful swordsmanship and his brave fighting, was nnhorsed and left for dead, with three lance wonnds in his body. Lienten- ant Warner received three wounds also; Lieu- tenant Gibson was slightly wounded, and Robidean, the guide, more seriously. General Kearny had two wounds. As to the losses of the native forces, there is no little conflict of testimony. Pico, when the surgeon ot the Americans offered to attend his wounded, an- swered that he had none. There was one made prisoner by the Americans, who declared that

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

one of his countrymen had been killed, and twelve wounded, one of them fatally. The Americans camped on the field, burying the dead and caring for the wounded.

Kearny's army was still considerably harassed by the Californians on the way to San Diego, where they were hospitably received late on De- cember 12, and where they remained until De- cember 29, when the American force, in all 600 strong, marched under command of Kearny for Los Angeles.

California's share in the war with Mexico ended in January, 1847.

ANNALS, 1846-1889.

When international matters settled into tran- quillity, there were still items of excitement for the drowsy little pueblo. In the early part of 1847 the Indian campaign was on; then the town was garrisoned by the Americans, who supplied new social elements. January 29. 1847, the famous " Mormon Battalion " arrived at San Diego, leaving again February 1. By August 2 the re-enlisted corps returned here, where they seem to have ingratiated themselves with the community, probably by their labors as mechanics.

PROGRESS OF SAN DIEGO.

Shortly after the close of the war with Mexico, Major (afterward General) W. H. Emory, who had reached San Diego December 12, 1846, re- corded his impressions as follows: "The town consists of a few adobe lionses, two or three of which only have plank floors. It is situated at the foot of a high hill, on a sand flat two miles wide, reaching from the head of San Diego Bay to False Bay. A high promontory, of nearly the same width, runs into the sea four or five miles, and is connected by the flat with the main land. The road to the hide houses leads on the east side of this promontory, and abreast of them the frigate Congress and thie sloop Portsmouth are at anchor." Again Major Em- ory says: "San Diego is, all things considered, perhaps one of the best harbors on the coast

from Callao to Puget Sound, with a single ex- ception, that of San Francisco. In the opinion of some intelligent navy officers it is preferable even to this. The harbor of San Francisco has more water, but that of San Diego has a more uniform climate, better anchorage, and perfect security from winds in any direction."

Even at that early day this gentleman saw, and he was the first person to speak of, the im- portance of this harbor as a terminus of a trans- continental railway from the Mississippi, by way of the Gila river.

In 1849 San Diego, with the rest of Califor- nia, thrilled to the excitement of the gold dis- coveries, and not a few of the leading citizens of to-day were attracted to California at that period.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038