USA > California > El Dorado County > Historical souvenir of El Dorado County, California : with illustrations and biographical setches of its prominent men & pioneers > Part 5
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CHAPTER V.
CALIFORNIA UNDER MEXICAN REGIME. (Continued.)
Micheltorena Restoring the Missions to the Fathers-Alvarado, Vallejo and Castro again United-Capture of the Mission San Juan, the Governor's Store of Ammunition-A Little Band of Foreigners on the War Path-Micheltorena Forced to Surrender -- Sutter Induced to Come to His Assistance -- Captain Weber on a Visit to Sutter's Fort Taken for a Spy and Put in Irons-Captain Sutter's Force -- Dr. Marsh's Views of the Policy Foreigners Had to Take-J. A. Forbes Warning Sutter not to go to Monterey-Sutter Meets Mich- eltorena on the Salinas Plains-Composition of Both Forces-Forbes's Letter-The Battle - Capitulation of Micheltorena-Pio Pico Governor.
Under Governor Micheltorena's protection the mis- sions were restored to the Fathers, after an interreg- num of six years, but all diligence and exertion spent by the Fathers was in vain, for, when at the end of two years things began to improve and the outlook gave an idea of making the work of the Fathers pay in the future, just then Governor Pio Pico, who mean- time had succeeded Micheltorena in 1845, got orders from the Mexican government to dispose of the mis- sions either by sale or rental to white settlers, and the property was disposed of at public auction.
The position Micheltorena took with his first acts
these requests, appointing General Micheltorena to fill brought dissatisfaction in the other camp and resulted the offices of general and governor. He arrived at in banding the native California officials, Alvarado, Vallejo and Castro together again, being all equally desirous to expel the new governor. They opened hostilities in November, 1844, with the capture of the mission of San Juan, where the governor had stored his ammunition, etc. After the capture of the maga- zine stores the insurrectionary army, under Castro's command, fell back towards San Jose and up on the east side of San Francisco bay to about the present site of Oakland. They were only a couple of days' march in advance of Micheltorena, and evidently afraid to meet him.
Up to this time the foreigners had not openly ap- peared in the contest, although W. G. Ray, who with J. A. Forbes, was in charge of the Hudson Bay Com- pany's business in California, had become heavily involved in secretly aiding the forces under Castro to arm themselves. But about twelve miles from San Jose there suddenly appeared in front of Micheltorena's advancing columns a little band of brave men, the irrepressible foreigner, who caused them to halt in their march. The circumstances that caused this obstruc- tion in the governor's line of advance, as well as the results, arc related in the history of San Joaquin county written by T. F. Gilbert in 1878, and were given him by Captain C. M. Weber, the leader of that little company of brave men, himself. We quote only the following passages :
"The Captain (Weber) was in business at the pueblo of San Jose when the war broke out, and was acquainted with and personally friendly with Michel- torena and Castro. He had a very large stock of goods in the place and was anxious on account of it, because he knew that the soldiers under Micheltorena were mostly convicts, turned loose from the prisons in Mexico, and were dependent on the meager revenue derived from forced loans and plunder for their pay. His goods would be a rich prize, and if they once entered San Jose they would be sure to help them- selves to what he had, consequently all his interests were opposed to the occupation of the town by such a body of men. As Micheltorena advanced, Jose Castro became alarmed, and leaving the village to its fate, retreated up the valley towards Oakland with his forces; therefore Captain Weber addressed a commu- nication to the commander of the advancing forces, stating that Castro had left there and asking him if he would not pass to one side of the pueblo and not enter it with his troops. Micheltorena replied that he found it necessary to pass through San Jose in pursuit of Castro. In the meantime the captain received prompt information to the effect that the governor had lost control of his soldiers, who insisted on entering
19
CALIFORNIA UNDER MEXICAN REGIME.
the village for plunder, whereupon he caused the toc- sin of war to be sounded through the streets. The people assembled and the captain presented the position of affairs, and told them that he believed with a force composed of citizens and foreigners in the place, the advancing army could be checked and forced to take a different route in their line of march after Castro. A company was immediately formed, placed under his command, and moved out to meet the enemy-a handful against a host. He sent a courier in advance to Micheltorena advising him of what he was doing, and that it was done not in a spirit of opposition to him personally or the cause he repre- sented, but with a determination to protect their homes from plunder. The forces met some twelve miles out from the village, and for several days the entire army, numbering several hundred, were held in check by the little band of daring men, under Captain Weber. Castro hearing of the fact, became ashamed of himself, turned back from his retreat, joined the captain with his forces, took command of the army, and forced Micheltorena to surrender and finally to agree to leave California and return to Mexico."
" Micheltorena immediately withdrew with his forces to Monterey, as Castro supposed to embark for Mex- ico, according to the armistice. This was not, how- ever, a part of the governor's plan. He had sent post to Sutter, at the fort on the northern frontier, offering him as inducement to come with a force to his assistance, to confirm all the grants of land that Sutter, as a justice, had recommended. Immediately the latter set on foot active operations to raise a bat- talion to march to the governor's relief, not knowing at the time that many of the foreign population were in active operation with Castro and the native Califor- nians."
"Captain C. M. Weber, supposing that the war had ended, made a visit to Yerba Buena (now San Fran- cisco), and while there learned that some families had come from over the plains to Sutter's Fort, among whom were young ladies ; and, said the captain, “I became possessed with a desire to look upon the face of a lady fresh from civilization." Accordingly, ac- companied by a friend, he visited the fort, and there saw for the first time the woman who became his wife. She was a sister of the Murphys of San Jose. He found a very unexpected state of things existing on the frontier. Everybody was in active preparation for a renewal of hostilities; and instead of being received as a friend, he found himself viewed with mistrust that culminated in his being placed under arrest."
A council of war was called, and supposing that he had come among them as a spy, in the interest of Castro, they signed the following document as the
result of their deliberations :
"We, the subscribers, chosen as a council of war, have unanimously resolved the following :
Ist. That Mr. Weber be put in irons and detained in the fort (New Helvetia) until such time as we may receive orders from his excellency, the governor (Micheltorena) as regards his disposal.
2d. That Mr. Pearson B. Reading be requested to keep Mr. Weber in a convenient room and afford him such necessaries as circumstances may admit, and his safe detention may require."
J. A. SUTTER, JOHN TOWNSEND, WM. DICKE, ISAAC GRAHAM,
EDWARD MCINTOSH, JASPER O'FARRELL, S. J. HENSLEY.
J. BIDWELL, Secretary.
For thirty-three years this document, in which the founder of Sacramento orders the founder of Stock- ton put in irons, has been kept by the latter, almost forgotten, among his choice papers, and was with others, kindly photographed for us in 1878, by his orders. The personal feeling existing at that time between these two men was friendly, but Sutter as well as the others, feared to risk the possible result of turning loose so formidable an opponent as Mr. Weber had proved that he could be if he felt so dis- posed.
Lieutenant David T. Bird, who later was for many years a resident of Yolo county, accompanied Captain Sutter on the expedition, and remained with him until his return to the fort. To the lieutenant, also, to J. Alexander Forbes, who was a strong supporter of Castro and a friend of the captain we are indebted for many of the facts incident to the campaign that resulted in the surrender of Micheltorena at San Fer- nando. It was in January, 1845, that the force under command of Captain John A. Sutter took up its line of march to join the Mexican governor at Monte- rey. The command consisted of about one hundred and fifty Indians, armed with muskets, under the leadership of Raphero, a Mokelko chief, and some sixty frontiersmen, armed with hunting rifles, com- manded by Captain Gant. There were no lieutenants or sub officers, Sutter and Gant being the only ones having any authority among the whites. But three persons from the west side of the Sacramento river -Wm. Knight, D. T. Bird and Granville Swift- were accompanying the expedition.
There was one brass field-piece, mounted on trucks, taken along that was not brought back.
As the little army moved south it camped at the place
20
HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
where Stockton now stands, one night, and Thomas Lindsey, the only inhabitant of that place, joined them, and Stockton was left depopulated. At that time Lindsey's tule house and the cabin of a man named Sheldon, on the Cosumnes river, above the Spanish trail, were the only habitations between Sut- ter's fort and the residence of Dr. Marsh, at the base of Mount Diablo. Mr. Lindsey, returned a few weeks later from San Fernando, and was murdered at Stockton by Polo Indians, within a few days after his arrival. The expedition camped one night at the ranch of Dr. Marsh, whose sympathies were with Castro, and who believed that the property of Cali- fornia demanded the expulsion of Micheltorena; yet he considered the true policy of foreigners to be of non-intervention, and for them to join either party was contrary to the best interest of the majority, and might prove fatal to many who were isolated or scat- tered over the territory. The doctor however, accom- panied Sutter south as an interpreter.
It was here, at Dr. Marsh's ranch, that Sutter first learned the true state of the conflict. J. Alexander Forbes, who on July 15, 1843, had been appointed English Consul, and at the time was, in connection with W. G. Ray, agent for the Hudson Bay Company, riding with great dispatch from San Francisco, met the captain at that point and in vain sought to dissuade him from joining the Mexicans at Monterey. Forbes informed him of the extent of the general insurrection, and told him that if he per- sisted it would only result in disaster to himself and friends, and array the foreign element in hostility to itself, as a large number of immigrants of English, Amer- ican, Scotch, and other nationalities were centering at Los Angeles to assist Castro. The reply of the captain was that he had gone too far and could not return back without dishonor to himself, but from that time forward a shadow rested upon his command. The men had come to suspect that there was something of which they were left uninformed that materially con- cerned them.
The junction of the Micheltorena and Sutter forces took place on the Salinas plains, a short distance out from Monterey, the latter being received with military honors, with banners waving, bands playing, and salvos of artillery. The governor was now sanguine of success, and he had cause to be, for the two hun- dred men that Sutter had added to his command in- cluded Raphero, the ablest chief then living among the northern tribes, and Jose Jesus, the chief of the Si-Yak-um-nas, whose name had become a household terror among the native Californians. These chiefs, at the head of a hundred and fifty of their warriors, armed, not with bows and arrows, but with muskets, all
nursing a hatred born of old grievances that had for a lifetime rankled in their bosoms against those they were going out to fight, made valuable allies and form -- idable foes. The white men that accompanied them included Isaac Graham among their number, the man whom Castro had taken to San Blas in irons, and whose company of rifles had overthrown one Califor- nia governor. Those sixty men were all brave fron- tiersmen who followed the unfortunate Sutter and were a host within themselves. But, when Greeks. joined Greeks, then was the tug of war. Castro had a similar force assembling at Los 'Angeles, under the brave Mckinley, to assist him.
The next day after the reception Micheltorena moved north, Castro falling back before his advance, towards Los Angeles. To give a description of the movements and positions of both enemical forces, we reproduce in the following a letter of the late Hon .. J. Alexander Forbes who was an eye-witness of the affair.
"The forces under Micheltorena were at San Buenaventura, and Castro, with the force of Califor- nians, at a narrow pass eight leagues beyond. On the morning of February 15th, Castro's rear guard fell suddenly on Micheltorena's advance, consisting of fourteen Americans, made prisoners of all of them without firing a shot, and conducted to the field where Castro had halted his forces. After making a speech to them he supplied them with provisions and money and requested them to see their countrymen in Los Angeles. He told them they were all equally inter- ested in expelling the wretched Mexicans from Cali- fornia, and taking kindly leave of them, sent them back to Sutter to whom this politic move was a second cause of sorrow. I have mentioned the first to you. (Mr. Forbes here refers to the interview between him- self and Sutter at Dr. Marsh's ranch, when the cap- tain first learned that he would have to meet in the field his friends, the foreigners, unless he turned back.) The forces of Micheltorena continued their march ostensibly in pursuit of Castro, who soon reached Los Angeles, where he was reinforced by the native Cali- fornians and Americans, under a Scotchman named Mckinley. Meantime the forces of Micheltorena reached the plains of San Fernando. The rein- forced party of Castro took up a favorable position on the field, the Americans under McKinley, in a ditch, forming natural rifle-pits, and the mounted Califor- nians on the flank of the Mexican forces. Wild firing began by the latter, with grape and canister, without effect, and soon the rifle-shots from Mckinley's men began to tell upon the Mexican artillery, but not a shot was fired against Sutter's men. Mckinley had staked his all on the issue, having delivered his
21
CALIFORNIA UNDER MEXICAN REGIME.
store of. goods of all kinds, worth more than $5,000 to the California party gratis, and now he had come on that field to offer his life in their cause. The Americans under Sutter were advantageously posted regarding the position of their countrymen in the Cal- ifornia party, escaping the protection afforded the lat- ter by the ditch. The Mexican infantry kept up a fire of musketry at McKinley's party, and he, impatient to delay, desiring to speak to many of his friends in Sutter's party, left his own men, and rushing out on the plain with his rifle in one hand and waving his hat with the other, passed on a run under a storm of musket-balls from the Mexican infantry, and unhurt, was received by his friends in Sutter's party, where his cogent argument soon caused their defection from the Mexican cause, and the result was the capitulation of which you have the copy translation.
The Mexican army, General Micheltorena com- mander, embarked at San Pedro for Monterey two days after the surrender and sailed from the latter place without delay for Mexico.
Capitulation of General Micheltorena on the field of San Fernando, Febuary 22, 1845.
[TRANSLATION. ]
Agreement made on the field of San Fernando be- tween Don Manuel Micheltorena, General of Brigade and Commander-in-Chief of this department, and Don Jose Castro, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forces opposed to the Troops of General Micheltorena.
ARTICLE I. Whereas, no decision of the central government of Mexico has been received in reply to the permission solicited by General Micheltorena, through his British Major Don Raphael Telles,. for the withdrawal of the general and his troops from this department for the purpose of returning to the inte- rior of the republic, Wherefore, in consequence of the present united armed opposition of the inhabitants of California to the said troops, against hostile move- ments, the general, with his small force and scarcity of resources can no longer contend, he agrees to march forthwith to San Pedro, accompanied by his soldiers, where Colonel Castro will provide a vessel duly victu- ated for transporting the general and his troops to Monterey.
ARTICLE II. The soldiers who may desire (volun- tarily) to remain in California, shall on their arrival at San Pedro, deliver up their arms to the officer of their escort and remain as citizens under the protection of the existing authorities.
ARTICLE III. The soldiers who may choose to follow General Micheltorena shall embark with him at San Pedro, carrying their arms with them; and on the arrival of the transport at Monterey the Mexican sol- diers that now occupy that post shall embark thereon
also with their arms ; and in case of insufficiency of room for all the said soldiers in one vessel or vessels, shall sail for any Mexican port the general may choose to direct.
ARTICLE IV. The officers who may choose to remain in California shall be respected in their rank as officers of the Mexican army ; their lives and prop- erty shall be guaranteed and their salaries shall be paid from the department treasury.
ARTICLE V. The same privileges shall be enjoyed by all the citizens who, in the present difficulties, have given aid to General Micheltorena.
ARTICLE VI. All the army, ammunition and war- like implements, actually existing in the armory of Monterey, shall be delivered to the Commander Castro of the opposing forces, in order that with them he may defend the entire department and the national independence encharged by General Micheltorena.
ARTICLE VII. That henceforward the civil gov- ernment of this department shall be vested in the presiding member of the assembly, as ordered by that corporation, according to law, for which object Gene- ral Micheltorena will deliver a circular order to the chief of the opposing forces for immediate publica- tion throughout the department.
ARTICLE VIII. In like manner, General Michel- torena will issue another order that Don Jose Castro, lieutenant-colonel of the army, be duly acknowledged as the commanding general of this department.
The commissioners appointed on said field for sub- mitting these stipulations to the respective chiefs for their approbation or rejection, were, on the part of General Micheltorena, Don Felix Valdaz, battalion commander, and Don Jose Maria Castanares, colonel of infantry, and on the part of Colonel Castro, Don Jose Antonio Carillo and Lieutenant Don Manuel Castro.
On the field of San Fernando, February 22, 1845
Signed, FELIX VALDAZ,
JOSE MARIA CASTANARES.
Approved, MICHELTORENA,
Signed, JOSE ANTONIO CARILLO,
MANUEL CASTRO.
Approved,
CASTRO.
Additional Article .- The division of General Mich- eltorena will march with all the honors of war, their flags flying, drums and trumpets sounding, two field- pieces-six-pounders, and one four-pounder culverin- with matches lighted, and will be saluted by the opposing forces, under Lieutenant-Colonel Don Jose Castro, with colors flying and drums beating. And on the arrival of Micheltorena at San Pedro, the said three field-pieces with all their caissons and ammuni-
22
HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
tion shall be delivered to the officer encharged by Colonel Castro to receive them.
Signed,
MICHELTORENA, CASTRO
I hereby certify that the preceding is a correct trans- lation made by me of a certified copy of the original.
J. ALEXANDER FORBES.
After Micheltorena's expulsion the territorial depu- tation declared Pio Pico governor, and he held the office until California became a part of the United States.
Governors of California under Spanish regime :
FROM
TO
Gasper de Portala appointed 1769
1771
Felipe Barri.
1771
Dec., 1774
Felipe de Neve . Dec., 1774
Sept., 1782
Pedro Fages . . Sept., 1782
Sept., 1790
Jose Antonio Romeri Sept., 1790 April,
I792
Diego de Borcica .... May, 1794 1800
Jose Joaquin de Arrillaga. . 1800
1814
Jose Arguello. 1814
1815
Pablo Vincente de Sola .. 1815
1822
Under the Mexican Republic, appointed by the Mexican Government:
FROM
TO
* Pablo Vincente de Sola. 1822
1823
Luis Arguello 1823
June 1825
t Jose Maria Echeandia June 1825
Jan. 1831
Manuel Victoria.
Jan., 1831
Jan. 1832
Pio Pico Jan. 1832
Jan. 1833
Jose Figueroa. Jan. 1833
Aug. 1835
Jose Castro, August 1835
Jan.
1836
Nicholas Guitierrez Jan 1836
Mariano Chico
1836
Nicholas Guitierrez 1836
# Juan B. Alvarado 1836
1842
Manuel Micheltorena, . Dec, 1842
Feb.
1845
§ Pio Pico, Feb. 1845
1846
CHAPTER VI.
THE BEAR FLAG WAR.
Immigration in 1841-Petition to Form a Coalition of Foreign- ers-C. M. Weber Appointed Captain of Auxiliary In_ fantry-John C. Fremont's Arrival at Sntter's Fort-He Meets Castro at Monterey-Fremont Summoned to Appear Before the Alcalde at San Jose-His Response-Meeting an Officer with Eighty Lancers on the Road-Entrenched Camp on Hawk's Peak-The American Flag-Consul Th. O. Larkin Active -Resuming the Route for Oregon-Ind- ians Punished Near Lassen's Trading Post-Meeting of
Fremont and Gillespie-Retrotranslation of Secret Dis- patches to Fremont-First Hostilities Introducing the Bear Flag War-Sonoma Taken, and Prisoners Sent to Sutter's Fort-Mysterious Disappearance of Four Men of the Garrison Sent on an Errand-Cowie and Fowler's Fate -Lieutenant Ford's Skirmishing Trip-A False Spy Caught, and the California Force Allowed to Escape-Fre- mont Crosses the Bay and Spikes the Guns of the Presidio- Dr. Semple Takes Fort San Joaquin-Declaration of Inde- pendence at Sonoma-The Bear Flag-Sloat Ontruns Sey- mour-Hoisting of the American Flag at Monterey and Yerba Buena-Sloat's Proclamation.
The emigration from the Western States, across the plains, commenced to become quite a remarkable ob- ject in 1841, but to the greater part was enrouted for localities further north. Two large parties, however, arrived in that year, one by the route of Santa Fe, under charge of William Workman, reached Los An- geles in November, 1841, another came by the way of Humboldt river, and found a pass cross over the Sierra Nevada mountains, leading into the San Joa- quin valley, from where they arrived at Dr. Marsh's ranch, in Contra Costa county, November 4th, the same year. Captain J. B. Bartelson was in com- mand of this last one; and of the men who made themselves prominent in the history of California we mention William Knight, of Knight's Landing; Yolo county, Thomas Lindsey, Dr. Gamble, William Gor- don, John Roland, from the former, John Bidwell, Charles M. Weber, Joseph B. Chiles, T. Belden, Green McMahon, R. H. Thomas and others from the latter. After 1841, the immigration into the territory from the United States as well as from other countries in- creased materially, and the American consul at Mon- terey, Thomas O. Larkin, estimated the foreign pop- ulation of California in 1846, at 2,000 Americans, 3,000 foreigners, favorable to the United States, and 3,000 foreigners neutral or unfavorable to the United States.
Under date of March 27, 1845, Dr. Marsh and C. M. Weber, supported by a number of foreign citizens, circulated a petition between the foreign population, to the effect, that in case another war (broiling already in the air) should break out, and to avoid the possi- bility to place this foreign element in arms against each other to form a coalition, to stand together for themselves in the coming events, with the silent plan to wrest from the Mexican government, if not the whole of California, so at least the northern part, lim- ited by the San Francisco, San Pablo and Suisun bays to the south, and the San Joaquin river to the south- east, forming an independent 'lone-star State, to be incorporated eventually into the American Union. They felt instinctively the necessity of leaning towards a government that recognized civil equality, and had strength and power sufficient to assure protection,
* Died in 1826.
t In 1855, at the age of 70, was filling an office in the college of Mines at Mexico.
# Died in 1881, at San Pablo.
{ To conquest.
W. A. SELKIRK.
,
23
THE BEAR FLAG WAR.
something that could not be found with the Mexican government. The meeting, however, did not encour- age the petitioners to go to any more trouble.
Here we have to record an occurrence that really resulted out of the events connected with Michelto- rena ; but as entirely private, it may take place here just as well. On April 12, 1845, Jose Castro signed the appointment of Charles M. Weber as captain of auxiliary infantry, with the command of the northern frontier, as a reward for assistance rendered, resulting in the defeat of Micheltorena, near San Jose, and Weber's consequent arrest at Sutter's Fort, New Hel- vetia.
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