Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present, Part 15

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

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made it unchanged by the hand of man. Such was the highway over which Flaco's steeds "stretched away with utmost speed." Harassed and pursned by the enemy, facing deatlı night and day, with scarcely a stop or a stay to eat or sleep, Juan Flaco rode 600 miles.

"Of all the rides since the birth of time, Told in story or sung in rhyme, The fleetest ride that ever was sped,"

was Juan Flaco's ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Longfellow has immortalized the "Ride of Paul Revere," Robert Browning tells in stirring verse of the riders who brought the good news from Ghent to Aix, and Buchanan Read thrills us with the heroic measures of Sheridan's Ride. No poet has sung of Juan Flaco's wonder- ful ride, fleeter, longer and more perilons than any of these. Flaco rode 600 miles through the enemy's country, to bring aid to a besieged gar- rison, while Revere and Jorris and Sheridan were in the country of friends or protected by an army from enemies.

Gillespie's situation was growing more and more desperate each day. B. D. Wilson, who with a company of riflemen had been on an ex- pedition against the Indians, had been ordered by Gillespie to join him. They reached the Chino ranch, where a fight took place between them and the Californians. Wilson's men being out of ammunition were compelled to surrender. In the charge upon the adobe, where Wilson and his men had taken refuge, Carlos Ballestaros had been killed and several Californians wounded. This and Gillespie's stubborn resistance liad en1- bittered the Californians against him and his men. The Chino prisoners had been saved from massacre after their surrender by the firmness and bravery of Varela. If Gillespie continued to hold the town his obstinacy might bring down the vengeance of the Californians not only upon him and his men, but upon many of the American residents of the South, who had favored their countrymen.

Finally Flores issued his ultimatum to the Americans-surrender within twenty-four hours or take the consequence of an onslaught by the Californians, which might result in the massacre of the entire garrison. In the meantime he kept his cavalry deployed on the hills, completely in- vesting the Americans. Despairing of assistance from Stockton, on the advice of Wilson, who had been permitted by Flores to intercede witlı Gil- lespie, articles of capitulation were drawn up and signed by Gillespie and the leaders of the Califor- nians. On the 30th of September the Americans

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

marched out of the city with all the honors of war-drums beating, colors flying and two pieces of artillery mounted on carts drawn by oxen. They arrived at San Pedro without molestation and four or five days later embarked on the mer- chant ship Vandalia, which remained at anchor in the bay. Gillespie in his march was accom- panied by a few of the American residents and probably a dozen of the Chino prisoners, who had been exchanged for the same number of Califor-

nians, whom he had held under arrest most likely as hostages.

Gillespie took two cannon with him when he evacuated the city and left two spiked and broken on Fort Hill. There seems to have been a pro- viso in the articles of capitulation requiring him to deliver the guns to Flores on reaching the em- barcadero. If there was such a stipulation Gil- lespie violated it. He spiked the guns, broke off the trunnions and rolled one of them into the bay.

CHAPTER XVIII.

BATTLE OF DOMINGUEZ RANCH-FLORES GOVERNOR.

F THE notable events occurring during the conquest of California there are few others of which there are so contradictory accounts as of that known as the battle of Dominguez Ranch. Capt. William Mervine, who com- mianded the American forces in the fight, made 110 official report, or if he did, it was not pub- lished. Historians, in their accounts of the battle, have collected their data from hearsay and not from written reports of officers engaged in it. In regard to the number engaged and the num- ber killed and wounded, even Bancroft, usually the most reliable of California historians, has no accurate report. The number engaged ou the American side varies with different authors from 250 to 400; and the number killed from four to fifteen. It has been my good fortune, through the kindness of Dr. J. E. Cowles of this city, to obtain a log book of the U. S. frigate Savannah, kept by his uncle, Robert C. Duvall, who was an officer on that vessel. Midshipman and Acting Lieutenant Duvall had command of a company of Colt's Riflemen in the battle. After his return to the ship he wrote a full, clear and accurate report of the march, battle and retreat. I tran- scribe the greater portion of liis account. It is undoubtedly the best report of that affair in exist- ence. It will be recollected, as stated in a previous chapter, that Lieutenant Gillespie had been left by Commodore Stockton with a force of fifty men to garrison Los Angeles, An insur- rection, headed by Flores and Varela, broke out. After a siege of five or six days Gillespie and his

men evacuated the city and retreated to San Pedro. Lieutenant Gillespie, during the siege, sent a messenger to Stockton at San Francisco asking for reinforcements. Juan Flaco, the courier, reached San Francisco after a ride of 600 miles in five days. Commodore Stockton re- ceived the dispatches, or rather the message, of Gillespie's courier on the 3otli of September. Early on the morning of October ist the Savannah, Capt. William Mervine, was ordered to get under way for San Pedro with a force to relieve Captain Gillespie.

"At 9.30 A. M.," says Lieutenant Duvall, "we commenced working out of the harbor of San Francisco on the ebb tide. The ship anchored at Saucelito, where, on account of a dense fog, it remained until the 4th, when it put to sea. On the 7th the ship entered the harbor of San Pedro. At 6.30 P. M., as we were standing in for anchorage, we made out the American merchant ship Vandalia, having on her decks a body of met. On passing she saluted with two guns which was repeated with three cheers, which we returned. **

* Brevet Captain Archibald Gillespie came on board and reported that he had evacuated the Pueblo de Los Angeles ou account of the overpowering force of the enemy and had retired with his men on board the Vandalia after having spiked his guns, one of which he threw into the water. He also reported that the whole of California below the pueblo had risen in arms against our authorities, headed by Flores, a Mexican captain on fur-

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

lough in this country, who had but a few days ago given his parole of honor not to take up arms against the United States. We made prepara- tions to land a force to march to the pueblo at daylight.

"October 8th, at 6 A. M., all the boats left the ship for the purpose of landing the forces, num- bering in all 299 men, including the volunteers, under command of Captain Gillespie. At 6:30 all were landed without opposition, the enemy in small detachments retreating toward the pueblo. From their movements we apprehended that their whole force was near. Captain Mervine sent on board ship for a reinforcement of eighty men, under command of Lient. R. B. Hitchcock. At 8 A. M. the several companies, all under con1- mand of Capt. William Mervine, took up the line of march for the purpose of retaking the pueblo. The enemy retreated as our forces advanced. (On landing, William A. Smith, first cabin boy, was killed by the accidental discharge of a Colt's pistol. ) The reinforcements under the command of Lieut. R. B. Hitchcock returned on board ship. For the first four miles our marchi was through hills and ravines, which the enemy might have taken advantage of, but preferred to occupy as spectators only, until our approach. A few shots from our flankers (who were the volunteer riflemen) would start them off; they returning the compliment before going. The remainder of our march was performed over a continuous plain overgrown with wild mustard, rising in places to six or eight feet in height. The ground was excessively dry, the clouds of dust were suffocating and there was not a breatlı of wind in motion. There was no water on our line of march for ten or twelve miles and we suf- fered greatly from thirst.

"At 2.30 P. M. we reached our camping ground. The enemy appeared in considerable numbers. Their numbers continued to increase until towards sundown, when they formed on a hill near us, gradually inclining towards our camp. They were admirably formed for a cav- alry charge. We drew up our forces to meet them, but finding they were disposed to remain stationary, the marines, under command of Captain Marston, the Colt's riflemen, under command of Lieut. I. B. Carter and myself, and the volunteers under command of Capt. A. Gillespie, were ordered to charge on them, which we did. They stood their ground until our shots commenced 'telling' on them. when they took to flight in every direction. They continued to annoy us by firing into our camp through the night. About 2 A. M. they brought a piece of artillery and fired into our camp, the shot striking the ground near ts. The marines, riflemen and volunteers were

sent in pursuit of the gun, but could see or hear nothing of it.

"We left our camp the next morning at 6 o'clock. Our plan of march was in column by platoon. We had not proceeded far before the enemy appeared before us drawn up on each side of the road, mounted on fine horses, each man armed with a lance and carbine. They also had a field piece (a four-pounder), to which were hitched eight or ten horses, placed on the road ahead of us.

"Captain Mervine, thinking it was the enemy's intention to throw us into confusion by using their gun on us loaded with round shot and copper grape shot and then charge us with their cavalry, ordered us to form a square-which was the order of march throughout the battle. When within about four hundred yards of them the enemy opened on us with their artillery. We made frequent charges, driving them before us, and at one time causing them to leave some of their cannon balls and cartridges; but owing to the rapidity with which they could carry off the gun, using their lassos on every part, enabled them to choose their own distance, entirely out of all range of our muskets. Their horsemen kept out of danger, apparently content to let the gun do the fighting. They kept up a constant fire with their carbines, but these did no harm. The enemy numbered between 175 and 200 strong.

"Finding it impossible to capture the gun, the retreat was sounded. The captain consulted with his officers on the best steps to be taken. It was decided unanimously to return on board ship. To continue the march would sacrifice a number of lives to no purpose, for, admitting we could have reached the pueblo, all communications would be cut off with the ship, and we would further be constantly annoyed by their artillery without the least chance of capturing it. It was reported that the enemy were between five and six hundred strong at the city and it was thought he had more artillery. On retreating they got the gun planted on a hill ahead of us.

"The captain made us an address, saying to the troops that it was his intention to march straight ahead in the same orderly manner in which we had advanced, and that sooner than he would surrender to such an enemy, he would sacrifice himself and every other man in his com- mand. The enemy fired into us four times on the retreat, the fourth shot falling short, the report of the gun indicating a small quantity of powder, after which they remained stationary and manifested no further disposition to molest us.

We proceeded quietly on our march to the landing, where we found a body of men under

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

command of Lieutenant Hitchcock with two nine- pounder cannon got from the Vandalia to render us assistance in case we should need it.

"We presented truly a pitiable condition, many being barely able to drag one foot after the other from excessive fatigue, having gone through the exertions and excitement in battle and afterwards performing a march of eighteen or twenty miles without rest.

"This is the first battle I have ever been en- gaged in, and, having taken particular notice of those around me, I can assert that no men could have acted more bravely. Even when their shipmates were falling by their sides, I saw but one impulse and that was to push forward, and when the retreat was ordered I noticed a general reluctance to turn their backs to the enemy.

"The following is a list of the killed and wounded :

"Michael Hoey (ordinary seaman), killed; David Johnson (o. s.), killed; Wm. H. Berry (o. s.), mortally wounded; Charles Sommers (musician), mortally wounded; John Tyre (sea- man), severely wounded; John Anderson (sea- man), severely wounded; recovery doubtful. The following-named were slightly wounded: Wm. Conland (marine); Hiram Rockvill (mar.); H. Linland (mar.); Jas. Smith (mar.).

"On the following morning we buried the bodies of Wmn. A. Smith, Chas. Sommers, David Johnson and Michael Hoey on an island in the harbor.

"At II A. M.the captain called a council of com- missioned officers regarding the proper course to adopt in the present crisis, which decided that no force should be landed, and that the ship remain here until further orders from the commodore, who is daily expected."

Entry in the log for Sunday, 11th: "Wmn. H. Berry (ordinary seaman) departed this life from the effect of wounds received in battle. Sent his body for interment to Dead Man's Island, so nanied by us. Mustered the command at quar- ters, after which performed divine service."

From this account it will be seen that the number killed and died of wounds received in battle was four; number wounded six, and one accidentally killed before the battle. On October 22d Henry Lewis died and was buried on the island. Lewis' name does not appear in the list of the wounded. It is presumable that he died of disease. Six of the crew of the Savannah were buried on Dead Man's Island, four of whom were killed in battle. Lieut. Duvall gives the following list of the offi- cers in the "Expedition on the march to retake Pueblo de Los Angeles":

Captain William Mervine, commanding.

Captain Ward Marston, commanding marines.

Brevet Captain A. H. Gillespie, commanding volunteers.

Lieut. Henry W. Queen, adjutant.

Lieut. B. F. Pinckney, commanding first com- pany.

Lieut. W. Rinckindoff, commanding second company ..

Lieut. I. B. Carter, Colt's riflemen.

Midshipman R. D. Minor, acting lieutenant second company.

Midshipman S. P. Griffin, acting lieutenant first company.

Midshipman P. G. Walmough, acting lieuten- ant second company.

Midshipman R. C. Duvall, acting lieutenant Colt's riflemen.

Captain Clark and Captain Goodsall, com- manding pikeman.

Lieut. Hensley, first lieutenant volunteers.

Lieut. Russeau, second lieutenant volunteers.

The piece of artillery that did such deadly exe- cution on the Americans was the famous Old Woman's gun. It was a bronze four-pounder, or pedréro (swivel-gun) that for a number of years had stood on the plaza in front of the church, and was used for firing salutes on feast days and other occasions.

When on the approach of Stockton's and Fre- mont's forces Castro abandoned his artillery and fled, an old lady, Doña Clara Cota de Reyes, de- clared that the gringos should not have the church's gun; so, with the assistance of her daughters, she buried it in a cane patch near her residence, which stood on the east side of Alame- da street, near First.

When the Californians revolted against Gilles- pie's rule the gun was unearthed and used against him. The Historical Society of Southern Cali- fornia has in its possession a brass grapeshot, one of a charge that was fired into the face of Fort Hill at Gillespie's men when they were posted on the hill. This old gun was in the exhibit of trophies at the New Orleans Exposition in 1885. The label on it read: "Trophy 53. No. 63, Class 7. Used by Mexico against the United States at the battle of Dominguez' Ranch, October 9, 1846; at San Gabriel and the Mesa, January 8 and 9, 1847; used by the United States forces against Mexico at Mazatlan, November 11, 1847; Urios (crew all killed or wounded), Palos Prietos, December 13, 1847, and Lower California, at San José, February 15, 1848." It should be obtained from the government and brought back to Los Angeles. Before the battle the old gun had been mounted on forward axle of a Jersey wagon, which a man by the name of Hunt had brought across the plains the year before. It was lashed to the axle by means of rawhide thongs, and was

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

drawn by riatas, as described by Lieut. Duvall. The range was obtained by raising or lowering the pole of the wagon. Ignacio Aguilar acted as gunner, and having neither lanyard or pent- stock to fire it, he touched off the gun with the lighted end of a cigarette. Never before or since, perhaps, was a battle won with such crude ar- tillery. José Antonio Carrillo was in command of the Californians. During the skirmishing of the first day he had between 80 and 90 men. Dur- ing the night of the Stli Flores joined him with a force of 60 men. Next morning Flores returned to Los Angeles, taking with him 20 men. Carril- lo's force in the battle numbered about :20 me11.

Had Mervine known that the Californians had fired their last shot-their powder being ex- hausted he could have pushed on and cap- tured the pueblo.

The expulsion of Gillespie's garrison from Los Angeles and the defeat of Mervine's force raised the spirits of the Californians, and there was great rejoicing at the pueblo. Detachiments of Flores' army were kept at Sepulvedo's Rancho, the Palos Verdes, and at Temple's Rancho of the Cerritos, to watch the Savannah and report any attempt at landing. The leaders of the revolt were not so sanguine of success as the rank and file. They were without means to procure arms and supplies. There was a scarcity of ammuni- tion, too. An inferior article of gunpowder was manufactured in limited quantities at San Ga- briel. The ouly uniformity in weapons was in lances. These were rough, home-made affairs -- the blade beaten out of a rasp or file, and the shaft a willow pole about eight feet long. These weapons were formidable in a charge against in- fantry, but easily parried by a swordsman in a cavalry charge.

After the defeat of Mervine, Flores set about reorganizing the territorial government. He called together the departmental assembly. It met in the capital (Los Angeles) October 26th. The members present-Figueroa, Botello, Guerra and Olvera -were all from the south. The assembly decided to fill the place of governor, vacated by Pico, and that of comandante-general, left vacant by the flight of Castro.

José Maria Flores, who was now recognized as the leader of the revolt against American rule, was chosen to fill both offices, and the two offices,

as had formerly been the custom, were united in one person. He chose Narciso Botello for his secretary. Flores, who was Mexican born, was an intelligent and patriotic officer. He used every means in his power to prepare his forces for the coming conflict with the Americans, but with little success. The old jealousy of the hijos del pais against the Mexican would crop out, and it neutralized his efforts. There were bickerings and complaints in the ranks and among the offi- cers. The natives claimed that a Californian ought to be chief in command.

The feeling of jealousy against Flores at length culminated in open revolt. Flores had decided to send the prisoners taken at the Chino fight to Mexico. His object was twofold -first, to enhance his own glory with the Mexican government, and, secondly, by showing what the Californians had already accomplished to obtain aid in the coming conflict. As most of these men were married to California wives, and by marriage related to many of the leading California families of the south, there was at once a family uproar and fierce de- nunciations of Flores. But as the Chino prisoners were foreigners, and had been taken while fight- ing against the Mexican government, it was necessary to disguise the hostility to Flores 1111- der some other pretext. He was charged with the design of running away to Sonora with the public funds. On the night of December 3, Francisco Rico, at the head of a party of Californians, took possession of the cuartél, or guard-house, and arrested Flores. A special session of the assen- bly was called to investigate the charges.

Flores expressed his willingness to give up his purpose of sending the Chino prisoners to Mexico, and the assembly found no foundation to the charge of his design of running away with the public funds, nor did they find any funds to run away with. Flores was liberated, and Rico imprisoned in turn.

Flores was really the last Mexican governor of California. Like Pico, he was elected by tlie territorial legislature, but he was not confirmed by the Mexican congress. Generals Scott and Taylor were keeping President Santa Anna and his congress on the move so rapidly they liad no time to spare for California affairs.

Flores was governor from October 26, 1846, to January 8, 1847.

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SECOND CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA.

TOCKTON with his flag ship, the Congress, arrived at San Pedro on the 23d of October. The Savannah was still lying at anchor in the harbor. The commodore had now at San Pedro a force of about Soo men; but notwithstand- ing the contemptuous opinion he hield of the Cali- fornian soldiers he did not march against the pueblo. Stocktou in his report says: "Elated by this transient success ( Mervine's defeat), which the enemy with his usual want of veracity magnified into a great victory, they collected in large bodies on all the adjacent hills and would not permit a hoof except their own horses to be within fifty miles of San Pedro." But "in the face of their boasting insolence" Stockton landed and again hoisted "the glorious stars in the presence of their horse covered hills." "The enemy had driven off every animal, man and beast from that section of the country; and it was not possible by any means in our power to carry provisions for our march to the city." The city was only 30 miles away and American sol- diers have been known to carry rations in their laversacks for a march of 100 miles. The "tran- sient success" of the insolent enemy had evident- ly made an impression on Stockton. He esti- mated the Californian force in the vicinity of the landing at 800 men, which was just about 700 too high. He determined to approach Los Angeles by way of San Diego, and on the last day of Oc- tober he sailed for that port. B. D. Wilson, Stephen C. Foster and others attribute Stockton's abandonment of an attack on Los Angeles from San Pedro to a trick played on him by José An- tonio Carrillo. Carrillo was in command of the detachment stationed at the Cerritos and the Palos Verdes. Carrillo was anxious to obtain an interview with Stockton and if possible secure a cessation of hostilities until the war then pro- gressing in Mexico should be decided, thus settling the fate of California. B. D. Wilson, one of the Chino prisoners, was sent witli a Mexican sergeant to raise a white flag as the boats of the Congress approached the landing and present Carrillo's proposition for a truce. Carrillo, with

the intention of giving Stockton an exaggerated idea of the number of his troops and thus obtain- ing more favorable terms in the proposed treaty, collected droves of wild horses from the plains; these his caballeros kept in motion, passing and repassing through a gap in the hills, which was in plain view from Stockton's vessel. Owing to the dust raised by the cavalcade it was impos- sible to discover that most of the horses were rider- less. The troops were signalled to return to the vessel, and the commodore shortly afterwards sailed to San Diego. Carrillo always regretted that he made too much demonstration.

As an illustration of the literary traslı that has been palmed off for California history I give an extract from Frost's Pictorial History of Cali- fornia, a book written the year after the close of the Mexican war by Prof. John Frost, a noted compiler of histories, who writes LL.D. after his name. It relates to Stockton's exploits at San Pedro. "At the Rancho Sepulvida (The Palos Verdes) a large force of Californians were posted. Commodore Stockton sent one hundred men for- ward to receive the fire of the enemy and then fall back on the main body without returning it. The main body of Stockton's army was formed in a triangle with the guns hid by the men. By the retreat of the advance party the enemy were decoyed close to the main force, when the wings (of the triangle) were extended and a deadly fire from the artillery opened upon the astonished Californians. More than one hundred were killed, the same number wounded and one hundred prisoners taken." The mathematical accuracy of Stockton's Artillerists was truly astonishing. They killed a man for every one wounded and took a prisoner for every man they killed. As Flores' army never amounted to more than three hundred if we are to believe Frost, Stockton had all the enemy "present or accounted for." This silly fabrication of Frost's runs through a num- ber of so-called liistories of California. Stockton was a brave man and a very energetic com- mander, but he would boast of liis achievements, and his reports are unreliable.

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Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present, Part 15

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996