USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume I > Part 42
USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume I > Part 42
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and a few days later Gutterez, with a few friends, sailed for Mazatlan.
Alvarado was now declared governor, but after holding his office a few months he was one day surprised to learn that Los Angeles was an enemy, and through the influence of Jose Car- rillo, delegate to the Mexican congress, his brother, Carlos Antonio Carrillo, had been ap- pointed governor. Gen. Jose Castro, the friend of Alvarado, soon put Carrillo to flight, and he wrote : "I have routed the enemy, and by favor of the night they have fled in all directions." Governor Alvarado became conceited and boast- ful, and in 1840, under the plea that the foreign- ers intended to create a revolution, he arrested and banished from the territory over thirty for- eigners, including Isaac Graham. They all re- turned, however, and they were well paid by the Mexican government for all their losses.
Alvarado, in 1839, was married by proxy, he being in the capitol, and his bride, Martina Cas- tro, in Santa Clara, and in the following year he was superseded as governor by Manuel Mi- cheltorena. The new governor came marching
up the coast with his convict army, and upon reaching San Fernando he suddenly halted and then retreated when he learned that Commodore Thomas Ap-Catesby Jones had captured Monte- rey and the stars and stripes of the United States were floating over the custom house. This little affair was soon settled and he marched on to Monterey. Micheltorena made a good gov- ernor, but the citizens would not submit to the outrages of the convicts, and as he made no ef- fort to control them the people resolved to banish both the governor and his army. Alvarado and Castro again organized an army, and, meeting on the battlefield, Micheltorena surrendered without firing a single shot and promised to leave the territory. In February, 1845, the gov- ernor and his troops embarked in the American bark Don Quixote, and Pio Pico, being primer vocal, was declared California's governor. Be- fore the Mexican congress had time to appoint a new governor the clash of arms took place along the Texas frontier, and Mexican authority in California was only a record in history.
CHAPTER III.
WAR IN MONTEREY.
IT is a remarkable fact that the nation that fought for liberty in 1776 and for the free- dom of Cuban slaves in 1896 is the same nation that coveted and stole Mexico's land in 1846. For many years previous to the Mexican war San Francisco harbor and the immense body of land west of the Rocky mountains was considered a valuable acquisition to any nation, and at least four nations were hungering for the prize. Russia had long desired to sweep down from the frozen north and seize the "Land of Sunshine and Flowers;" France had her con- stil at Monterey spying out the land; England's consul, James A. Forbes, was not asleep, and Thomas O. Larkin, representing the United States, was quietly making friends with the Mexicans and keeping the government posted re- garding the transpiring events.
Although the Mexicans were a non-aggressive people and inclined to be friendly with all na- tions, the action of the United States in sending General Taylor with his army across the Rio Grande compelled her to take one of two courses ; either to declare war against the invaders and this preserve her national dignity and honor, or cowardly submit to the accession of a large part of her territory to her stronger enemy for the extension of slavery.
Four years previous Mexico learned that the United States were scheming to force her to de- clare war by the unforeseen blunder made by Commodore Thomas Ap-Catesby Jones. The commodore at that time, 1842, was at Callao, Peru, in command of two war vessels, waiting there under instructions to sail immediately for California and seize her ports as soon as war was
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declared. Early in October, Jones believed, be- cause of a certain event, that war had been de- clared, and, hastily raising anchor, the United States and Cyane, under full sail, flew over the water to Monterey. Arriving October 19, he came to anchor within close range of the Mexi- can fort, and, sending a boat ashore, demanded the surrender of the town. There was no one in authority, Governor Alvarado being at his rancho, the Alisal, twenty miles away, and, land- ing his troops, they marched up the fort towards the Mexican flag and raised the stars and stripes, the guns of the sloop and frigate saluting the standard. That evening David Spence, in writ- ing to General Vallejo at Sonoma, said: "All is tranquil and the town is almost deserted, for many of the officials have fled to the country." Jones made a blunder. No declaration of war had been proclaimed, and, lowering the flag, raised the Mexican bars and saluted as he sailed from port.
Four years passed, and July 2, 1846, another surprise was given the citizens, for on that morning Commodore John D. Sloat hove in sight, and the flagship Savannah, fifty-four guns ; the Cyane and Levant, each twenty-four guns, were soon in the bay. Two days later our glo- rious Fourth of July was celebrated by the squadron, the second ever celebrated on the Pa- cific coast. (a)
Sloat, for some reason, had not been in any hurry to take possession of the capitol, but on the morning of July 7th he sent Captain Mervin ashore and he demanded the surrender of the town. The only official in sight was the old ar- tilleryman, Marino Silva, and he referred the captain to Gen. Jose Castro, then at San Juan. It was simply a form of military courtesy, and about ten o'clock two hundred and fifty marines were landed, and, marching up to the cus- tom house, they pulled down the Mexican colors and raised aloft the "Flag of the Free." It was loudly cheered by the troops and citizens, and the hill echoed and re-echoed to the booming can-
(a) The first 4th of July celebration on this coast took place in 1836 at Yerba Buena (San Francisco). It was celebrated by Jacob P. Leese, a well-known resident of Monterey.
non. Commodore Sloat then caused his procla- mation to be read aloud in English and Spanish,. declaring the territory a part of the United States and protection to all law-abiding citizens,. either American or Mexican. He then sent copies of his proclamation to Captain Mont- gomery at San Francisco, Captain Fremont at New Helvetia, and Captain Fauntleroy at San: Jose, with instructions to raise the stars and stripes and never again to lower them. July 8th Captain Mervin took possession of the custom house and Monterey became the military head- quarters of the Pacific coast. Three hundred troops were landed and went into camp beneath the pine trees; two heavy cannon were mounted on wheels ready for action at a moment's notice,. and the band was ordered to march up and down Main street, playing martial music. This delight- ed the citizens and señoritas.
In the meantime Captain Fauntleroy organized a company of dragoons and July 17th Commo- dore Sloat ordered him to march to San Juan Bautista, raise the flag, and find, if possible, the· cannon and ammunition buried by Castro before he fled to the south. On arrival he found Cap- tain Fremont at the mission, he having come from Sacramento to see Sloat and the two companies. returned to Monterey.
Fremont had under his command one hundred and sixty men, together with two field pieces,. one the famous "Sutter cannon." The command was composed of hunters, trappers, Delaware. Indians and seamen, and as they marched through the street they created a sensation. Waldpole in describing the event declared, "A vast cloud of dust appeared first, and then in long file emerged this wildest wild party. Fremont riding ahead dressed in a blouse, leggings and felt hat was followed by the men, riding two and two, the. rifle held in one hand across the pommel of the saddle. Their dress was a long, loose coat of deerskin tied in front with thongs, with pants of the same material. Their long knives, pistols and rifles glittered in the sunlight, while their untrimmed locks flowing out from under their foraging caps and their black beards and white- teeth gave them a wild, savage aspect. They were allowed no liquor and their discipline was;
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very strict. The ground seemed to tremble un- der their heavy tramp, and marching to an open space on the hills under some large firs, they took up their quarters in messes of six or seven in the open air.
A few days later Fremont and his battalion sailed on the Cyane for San Diego, there to co- operate with Commodore Stockton, who arrived July 15th on board the Congress. Several weeks passed, during which time Commodore Stockton captured Los Angeles, and leaving there Lieu- tenant Archibald Gillespie in command of fifty men, the commodore returned to Monterey and later sailed for Yerba Buena. In less than a month after his departure from Los Angeles Juan Flaco, "Lean John," came galloping into Monterey, nearly tired out, with the startling news that the Mexicans had risen in revolt and Gillespie and his men were prisoners. Charles Brown had made this remarkable ride of four hundred and sixty miles in fifty hours without · rest, and Colton says, "He was quite exhausted. I ordered him a cup of coffee and a hearty sup- per, after which he was permitted to sleep three hours. As he was the bearer of dispatches to Stockton, expecting to find him in Monterey, he was furnished a race horse by Job Dye and he hurried on to Yerba Buena."
The revolt of the Mexicans caused intense excitement in the old capitol and the Americans were in constant fear of attack. Several Mexi- cans who had been living in the town on parole now broke the pledge and hastened to their com- rades assistance. The Americans barricaded the streets, organized a night patrol and every man carried weapons. Even Rev. Walter Colton, the alcade, slept with two revolvers under his pillow and a rifle at his bed-side. Their fears were soon quieted, for Captain Maddox arrived with fifty men and went into camp. Soon afterward, October 28th, Fremont and his command sailed into the bay on the ship Stirling. They were nearly starved and the call for bread and meat aroused all the butchers and bakers of the town.
Scarcely had Fremont's command settled down, when a forlorn, worn-out, half-starved guard of young mountaineers arrived in town. They were a squad who had been left under the command
of Lieutenant Talbot to guard Santa Barbara. Marching two hundred men to that point Manuel Garfias demanded the surrender of the pueblo, but Talbot, with true pluck, refused to surrender. Knowing, however, it would be useless to resist, he retired to the mountains. Again they were called upon to give up their arms and upon re- fusal the Californians set fire to the forest. Es- caping the flames they started northward for Monterey, without food, conveyance, or water on a five hundred mile journey. Fortunately they met an old Californian unfriendly to the Mexi- cans because of Governor Micheltorena's banish- ment, and he piloted the party northward some ninety miles across the mountains into the Tulare valley. Continuing up the valley after nearly a month of suffering and hardships they reached port.
In the California war, horses were a very im- portant item, and when Gen. Jose Castro, then camped upon the Salinas river, learned that Cap- tain Burroughs had just reached San Juan, driv- ing three hundred horses for Fremont's com- mand, he concluded to capture the manada, for the double purpose of waking the enemy and strengthening his own force. His endeavor to ,capture the horses resulted in the battle of Sal- inas Plains, the only serious battle save that of San Pasqual on California's soil.
While Captain Burroughs was in camp at San Juan he was reinforced by about the same num- ber of men, thirty from San Jose under the command of Captain Thompson. The following day, November 16th, Thompson with a small guard started for Monterey to confer with Fre- mont, he taking a short cut, while Burroughs, with a scouting party in advance, started with the horses over the main traveled road.
Thompson and Burroughs upon reaching the rancho of Senor Gomez were surprised to learn that Thomas O. Larkin was a prisoner in Cas- tro's camp, and Thompson hurried back to bring up his men, while Burroughs sent out scouts to learn the number and location of the enemy.
In the meantime Castro in command of one hundred and fifty men, all of them expert horse- men, but poorly armed, having only a few pistols with but a small quantity of ammunition, inef-
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fective escopetas, improvised lances and lariats, moved north. They rode in two divisions, the one commanded by Castro, the other by Chavez, about a dozen scouts riding far in advance.
About three o'clock the Mexican scouts met the American scouts and opened fire. The Amer- icans had plenty of ammunition and were well armed with rifles, but being very poor horsemen, they immediately retreated to a small grove of oak trees near by and dismounting, fought, each man for himself. The advance Mexicans were in charge of Joaquin de la Torre, and soon after they opened fire the entire army arrived and the little band of Americans were completely sur- rounded. They fought bravely, however, the fight lasting over an hour, says Larkin, who unfortunately was an eye witness; Chavez and Juan Ignaco Cantau were badly wounded, and Ben Foster killed, being riddled with bullets, and an Indian, Tom Hayes, was also badly wounded.
But Captain Burroughs, where was he? Leav- ing some fifteen men at the Gomez rancho to guard the horses, he galloped over the Salinas Plains in advance of his fifty men, riding the large handsome iron gray horse, Sacramento. (b) As his command came in sight Castro's men ad- vanced upon the plain and the battle was hot and furious. Burroughs riding rapidly within rifle shot of the enemy suddenly halted, fired and then charged with unloaded rifles. Castro, with tac- tics exactly opposite to those of Burroughs, fired at long range and, turning, began to retreat. The Americans rode after them rapidly, but it was an ill timed movement, for the thirty men from the grove now fell in behind them, and Castro advancing, the Americans were not only confronted by their enemy, but they were cut in two. The Americans finally succeeded in form- ing a solid column with their enemy in the front. Castro then retreated, not, however, without dis- astrous results to the Americans. Four were
killed, including Captain Burroughs. He was killed, it is related, by "Three Fingered Jack," who made a special mark of Burrough that he might get possession of the horse, Sacramento. Many Mexicans had been anxious for a long time to obtain this stylish animal, but even "Three Fin- gered Jack" failed; when Castro beat a hasty retreat, the riderless horse ran with them, but finding himself in bad company he stopped, and with head lifted high in the air he trotted to his old companions. Fremont soon afterward ob- tained possession of his favorite charger, together with the horses that had been collected in the Sacramento Valley.
One of the amusing features of this fight was the efforts made by some of the first families to protect Lieutenant Chavez and others from arrest by the American officials. Chavez, badly wound- ed, succeeded in January, 1848, in reaching Mon- terey undiscovered by the officials. Suspecting his presence in the town, however, they soon be- gan searching for him in the Spanish homes, but failed to find him. A certain senorita was sus- pected of harboring the chief and they searched her house from garret to cellar, even entering the bed room where two lovely duennas were quietly sleeping. Chavez could not be found, but had they closely observed the bed, however, they would have found him lying under the covers between the two females. Another device was that of the fandango. The authorities were look- ing for a Spaniard who had broken his parole, and after fighting the Americans had returned to Monterey. One of his female friends, under suspicion of knowing the fugitive's hiding place, sent out invitations for a fandango. All her American friends were present, including the military officers, and while they were merrily dancing the much-wanted Spanish soldier was quietly sleeping in the bake oven just outside the house.
Shortly after this incident there was a very important arrival, the ship Lexington, January 28, 1847, having on board Company F, one hun- dred and forty men, one half of them being of German and Irish descent. The company were in camp in Monterey until August 21, 1852, at which time, on board the brig Governor Patter-
(b) This was a historic horse, and known not only on this coast, but throughout the southern states. Sac- ramento was bred by Captain Sutter, who presented him to Capt. John C. Fremont in 1842; he was taken east to Kentucky, where he was much admired. Fre- mont rode this animal in all his exploring expeditions, and returning to California in 1846, left the charger at Sonoma. Captain Burroughs was riding the horse to his owner when he was killed.
I8
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son, they sailed for San Diego and the Monterey post was abandoned. On board the Lexington were several officers famous in future life, among them Lieutenant William T. Sherman, E. O. C. Ord, Lucien Loser, Henry W. Halleck and Ser- geants James Carson and B. P. Kooser. The vessel was heavily loaded with shot and shells, several hundred barrels of powder, battery can- non, mortars, pistols, muskets, swords, and every- thing necessary in the building of fortifications, such as saws, hammers, shovels, spades, plows,
pick axes and forges, together with a saw mill and grist mill.
In the following year, August 6th, the Warren brought news that peace had been declared and California was now a part of the Union. The citizens of Monterey rejoiced, not only the Amer- icans, but the Mexicans, for the latter had long since learned that under a Federal administration they would have protection and peace, conditions unknown under the Mexican government.
CHAPTER IV. MONTEREY, THE CAPITAL.
S EVERAL months before it was known in California that peace had been declared an event took place at Coloma-the dis- covery of gold-which in less than two years caused an immigration of over a hundred thou- sand young men, nearly depopulating Monte- rey.
In town the citizens first heard of the discov- ery May 29, 1848, Colton on that date writing : "Our town was startled out of its quietness to- day by the announcement that gold was found on the American fork." Two couriers arriving from Coloma declared that gold had been found, and, showing Governor Mason about half an ounce of placer gold, they stated that Captain Sutter desired to pre-empt the land. The gov- ernor informed them that he had no authority to grant Mexican lands and the messengers re- turned to Coloma.
They returned not alone, many following after them, and, says a writer: "The month of May had carried off many of our inhabitants to the gold mines. Some had left secretly ; others, bor- dering on insanity, raved around and, after ob- taining pick-ax, shovel and pan, had started off at railroad speed." Carson was an unbeliever until May 10, he that day meeting an old ac- quaintance. His form was bent, his hair hung out of his hat, his buckskin'pants reached only to his knees, and his old flannel shirt was badly torn, but he was rich. He showed Carson a
big bag of gold, "the pieces ranging in size from a pea to a hen's egg," and this, he declared, "is what I picked out with a knife in five weeks at Kelsey's Diggings." "I looked at him a mo- ment, a frenzy seized my soul, and one hour after I was affected I was mounted on an old mule, armed with a wash basin, a fire shovel and a piece of square iron, pointed at one end; blankets, a rifle, a few yards of jerked beef and a bag of penula, and going at high-pressure mule speed for the diggings."(a)
In June a courier sent to Coloma returned two weeks later with his pockets filled with gold. July 18th an old sailor brought in a bag of gold, one hundred and thirty-six ounces, that he had taken from the Yuba river, and a month later four citizens, returning, obtained $76,844 in seven weeks, they having employed thirty In- dians to assist them.(b) "Bob," a servant of Colton's, returned from the mines with $2,000 in gold and spent it in two months. When re- proved by his employer he answered : "The gold
(a) Notice appeared January 17, 1852, in the San Joaquin Republican, that J. H. Carson was publishing a book on the gold mines, dedicating it to "Hon. An- drew Randall, Monterey, Professor of Geology and Botany."
(b) The Indians would dig for gold and give it away for a trifle. John A. Swain said that in his store in Monterey, he had a lot of white and blue beads, and taking them to the mines, the Indians gave him seven ounces of gold dust, $100, for the baubles worth not over twenty-five cents.
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came easily by good luck and has gone as easily as it came. I can get plenty more."
By this time the gold fever had become infec- tious and over one thousand left Monterey, this including the carpenters who were working on Colton hall, and the family who kept house for Colton, packing their goods, left for the mines. The fever reached every servant in Monterey, and "Sambo," Governor Mason's bodyguard, leaving for the mines, Colton presents the pic- ture of "a general in the United States Army (General Mason), the commander of a man-of- war (Commodore Biddle), and the alcalde of Monterey (Colton), in a smoking kitchen, grind- ing coffee, toasting a herring and pealing onions."
A fear of hardships, even death itself, did not check the exodus. Many of the officers of the navy deserted, although back pay to the amount of $10,000 was coming to them. Company F, "a fine body of men," said Swain, "nearly all deserted, carrying their arms and blankets witlı them. I don't blame them a whit; $7 a month while others are making $200 or $300 a day." Governor Mason endeavored to stop the whole- sale deserting by offering a reward of $200 for cach deserter arrested and delivered at Monte- rey, but the citizens only laughed at him.
The governor believed it his duty to investi- gate the report that millions of dollars of gold lay hidden in the soil, and if true to send the news to Washington. Visiting the mines in June, accompanied by Lieutenant Sherman, they celebrated July 4th at Sutter's Fort. The close of the war compelled his speedy return to Monte- rey, and his peace proclamation was published. Preparing a dispatch for the president and con- gress, Lieutenant Loser started for Washing- ton, August 30th, carrying the dispatch and "an oyster can full of gold."(c)
Early in 1849 discoveries were being made far south of Coloma, and in February a party of the San Miguel Mission Indians came into Monterey bringing gold, which they found on King's river, they said. William L. Gardner,
who had been in California some fifteen years, knew some of the Indians, and, believing that they had told the truth, he fitted out a mining expedition of five ox teams, with Indian drivers, and, accompanied by four Spaniards, the party started for the river. When near the Sierras they were met by a band of Indians, who volun- teered to guide the party to the gold fields. Leading them into the mountains, the Indians attacked and killed the entire party, one Spaniard escaping.
The second mining expedition that left Monte- rey consisted of eight residents, including Lovell, Harris, Curtis and Swain. They reached the upper Merced river about March 20 and they found plenty of gold. They also were attacked and driven out, and two of the party severely wounded. The third expedition comprised nine- ty-two men, well armed, with Carson and Rob- erson as leaders. Some of the party were dis- charged dragoons and teamsters who had for- merly been in Major Graham's command, and others were soldiers from Colonel Stevenson's regiment. They were not molested by the hos- tile tribes, and they found large quantities of gold.
The great human tide that rolled into the Golden Gate and down the Sierras created a chaotic condition in governmental affairs, busi- ness, society and politics. Awaiting the action of congress, the citizens of Monterey were com- pelled to adopt some form of government, and they concluded to continue to enforce the Mexi- can system until such time as a territorial or state government was organized. Commodore Stock- ton, soon after his arrival, appointed Walter Col- ton, chaplain of the congress, alcalde of Monte- rey. Under this appointment he acted as alcalde for several weeks and held almost despotic sway. He immediately prohibited any boisterous or dis- orderly conduct ; closed all the "grog shops"; (d) stopped gambling and suppressed all Sun-
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