USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 3
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Fremont, while encamped at the Buttes, near the Yuba and Feather rivers, was visited by nearly all the settlers, and gleaned vast stores of fresh information hitherto unknown to him. From them he learned that the greater proportion of foreigners in the country had become Mexican citizens, and had married native Californian ladies, for the sake of procuring land, and through them had become possessed of deep secrets supposed to be known only to the prominent people. Another was that a convention had been held at the San Juan Mission to decide which of the two nations, America or Great Britain, should guarantee pro- tection to California for certain privileges and considerations. In this regard, Lieutenant Revere says : "I have been favored by an intelligent member of the Junta with the following authentic report of the sub- stance of Pico's address to that illustrious body :--
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PICO'S ADDRESS
"EXCELLENT SIRS: To what a deplorable condition is our country reduced! Mexico, professing to be our mother and our protectress, has given us neither arms nor money, nor the material of war for defense. She is not likely to do anything in our behalf, although she is quite willing to afflict us with her extortionate minions, who come hither in the guise of soldiers and civil officers, to harass and oppress our people. We possess a glorious country, capable of attaining a phys- ical and moral greatness corresponding with the grandeur and beauty which an Almighty hand has stamped on the face of our beloved Cali- fornia. But although nature has been prodigal, it cannot be denied that we are not in a position to avail ourselves of her bounty. Our population is not large, and is sparsely scattered over valley and moun- tain, covering an immense area of virgin soil, destitute of roads, and traversed with difficulty; hence it is hardly possible to collect an army of any considerable force. Our people are poor, as well as few, and cannot well govern themselves and maintain a decent show of sovereign power. Although we live in the midst of plenty, we lay up nothing, but tilling the earth in an imperfect manner, all our time is required to provide subsistence for ourselves and our families. Thus circum- stanced, we find ourselves suddenly threatened by hordes of Yankee immigrants, who have already begun to flock to our country, and whose progress we cannot arrest. Already have the wagons of that perfidious people scaled the almost inaccessible summits of the Sierra Nevada, crossed the entire continent and penetrated the fruitful valley of the Sacramento. What that astonishing people will next undertake I can- not say, but in whatever enterprise they embark they will be sure to prove successful. Already have these adventurous land-voyagers spread themselves far and wide over a country which seems suited to their tastes. They are cultivating farms, establishing vineyards, erecting mills, sawing lumber, building workshops, and doing a thousand other things which seem natural to them, but which Californians neglect or despise. What, then, are we to do? Shall we remain supine while these daring strangers are over-running our fertile plains and gradually out- numbering and displacing us? Shall these mercenaries go on unchecked, until we shall become strangers in our own land? We cannot success- fully oppose them by our own unaided power, and the swelling tide of immigration renders the odds against us more formidable every day. We cannot stand alone against them, nor can we creditably main-
3V1
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tain our independence even against Mexico; but there is something we can do which will elevate our country, strenghten her at all points, and yet enable us to preserve our identity and remain masters of our own soil. Perhaps what I am about to suggest may seem to some faint- hearted and dishonorable. But to me it does not seem so. It is the last hope of a feeble people, struggling against a tyrannical government which claims their submission at home, and threatened by bands of avaricious strangers from without, voluntarily to connect themselves with a power able and willing to defend and preserve them. It is the right and the duty of the weak to demand support from the strong, provided the demand be made upon terms just to both parties. I see no dishonor in this last refuge of the oppressed and powerless, and I boldly avow that such is the step that I would have California take. There are two great powers in Europe which are destined to divide between them the unappropriated countries of the world. They have large fleets and armies not unpractised in the art of war. Is it not better to connect ourselves with one of those powerful nations than to struggle on without hope, as we are now doing? Is it not better that one of them should be invited to send a fleet and an army to defend and protect California, rather than we should fall an easy prey to the lawless adventurers who are over-running our beautiful country? I pronounce for annexation to France or England, and the people of California will never regret having taken my advice. They will no longer be subjected to the trouble and grievous exposure of governing themselves; and their beef and their grain, which they produce in such abundance, would find a ready market among the new-comers. But I hear some one say : 'No monarchy!' But is not monarchy better than anarchy? Is not existence in some shape better than annihilation? No monarchy! and what is there so terrible in a monarchy? Have we not all lived under a monarchy far more despotic than that of France or England, and were not our people happy under it? Have not all the leading men among our agriculturists been bred beneath the royal rule of Spain, and have they been happier since the mock republic of Mexico has supplied its place? Nay, does not every man abhor the miserable abortion christened the Republic of Mexico, and look back with regret to the golden days of the Spanish monarchy? Let us re- store that glorious era. Then may our people go quietly to their ranchos, and live there as of yore, leading a thoughtless and merry life, un- troubled by politics or cares of State, sure of what is their own, and
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safe from the incursions of the Yankees, who would soon be forced to retreat to their own country."
It was a happy thing for California, and, as the sequel proved, for the Government of the United States, that a man was found at this juncture whose ideas were more enlightened and consonant with the times than those of the rulers of his country, both civil and military. Patriotism was half his soul; he therefore could not silently witness the land of his birth sold to any monarchy, however old; and he rightly judged that, although foreign protection might postpone, it could not avert that assumption of power, which was beginning to make itself felt. Possessed at the time of no political power and having had early ad- vantages above the common order, still his position was so exalted, and his character so highly respected by both the foreign and native popu- lation, that he had been invited to participate in the deliberations of the Junta. This man was Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Born in California, he commenced his career in the army as an alferes, or en- sign, and in this humble grade he volunteered, at the suggestion of the Mexican Government, with a command of fifty soldiers, to establish a colony on the north side of the Bay of San Francisco, for the pro- tection of the frontier. He effectually subdued the hostile Indians inhabiting that then remote region, and laid the foundation of a reputa- tion for integrity, judgment, and ability unequaled by any of his countrymen. Though yet a young man, he had already filled the highest offices in the province, and had at this time retired to private life near his estates in the vicinity of the town of Sonoma. He did not hesitate to oppose with all his strength the views advanced by Pico and Castro. He spoke nearly as follows :-
GENERAL VALLEJO'S IDEAS
"I cannot, gentlemen, coincide in opinion with the military and civil functionaries who have advocated the cession of our country to France or England. It is most true that to rely any longer upon Mexico to govern and defend us would be idle and absurd. To this extent I fully agree with my distinguished colleagues. It is also true that we possess a noble country, every way calculated from position and resources to be- come great and powerful. For that reason I would not have her a mere dependency upon a foreign monarchy, naturally alien, or at least indif- ferent, to our interests and our welfare. It is not to be denied that feeble nations have, in former times, thrown themselves upon the pro-
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tection of their powerful neighbors. The Britons invoked the aid of the warlike Saxons, and fell an easy prey to their protectors, who seized their lands and treated them like slaves. Long before that time feeble and distracted provinces had appealed for aid to the all-conquering arms of imperial Rome, and they were at the same time protected and sub- jugated by their grasping ally. Even could we tolerate the idea of de- pendence, ought we to go to distant Europe for a master? What pos- sible sympathy could exist between us and a nation separated from us by two vast oceans? But waving this insuperable objection, how could we endure to come under the dominion of a monarchy? For, although others speak highly of that form of government, as a free man I can- not do so. We are republicans-badly governed and badly situated as we are-still we are all, in sentiment, republicans. So far as we are governed at all, we at least profess to be self-governed. Who, then, that possesses true patriotism will consent to subject himself and his children to the caprices of a foreign king and his official minions? But, it is asked, if we do not throw ourselves upon the protection of France or England, what shall we do? I do not come here to support the ex- isting order of things, but I come prepared to propose instant and ef- fective action to extricate our country from her present forlorn con- dition. My opinion is made up that we must persevere in throwing off the galling yoke of Mexico, and proclaim our independence of her forever. We have endured her official cormorants and her villainous soldiery until we can endure it no longer. All will probably agree with me that we ought at once to rid ourselves of what may remain of Mexi- can domination. But some profess to doubt our ability to maintain our position. To my mind there comes no doubt. Look at Texas and see how long she withstood the power of united Mexico. The resources of Texas were not to be compared with ours, and she was much nearer to her enemy than we are. Our position is so remote, either by land or sea, that we are in no danger from Mexican invasion. Why, then, should we hesitate still to assert our independence? We have indeed taken the first step, by electing our own Governor, but another remains to be taken. I will mention it plainly and distinctly-it is annexation to the United States. In contemplating this consummation of our destiny, I feel nothing but pleasure, and I ask you to share it. Discard old prejudices, disregard old customs, and prepare for the glorious change which awaits our country. Why should we shrink from in- corporating ourselves with the happiest and freest nation in the world, destined soon to be the most wealthy and powerful? Why should we go
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abroad for protection when this great nation is our adjoining neighbor ? When we join our fortunes to hers, we shall not become subjects, but fellow-citizens, possessing all the rights of the people of the United States, and choosing our own federal and local rulers. We shall have a stable Government and just laws. California will grow strong and flourish, and her people will be prosperous, happy, and free. Look not, therefore, with jealousy upon the hardy pioneers who scale our moun- tains and cultivate our unoccupied plains, but rather welcome them as brothers who come to share with us a common destiny."
Such was the substance of General Vallejo's observations; those who listened to him, however, were far behind in general knowledge and intelligence. His arguments failed to carry conviction to the greater number of his auditors, but the bold position taken by him was the course of an immediate adjournment of the Junta, no result having been arrived at concerning the weighty affairs on which they had met to deliberate. On his retirement from the Junta he embodied the views he had expressed in a letter to Don Pio Pico, and reiterated his refusal to participate in any action having for its end the adoption of any pro- tection other than that of the United States. In this communication he also declared that he would never serve under any Government which was prepared to surrender California to an European power; he then retired to his estate, there to await the issue of events.
We left William Knight at Fremont's camp, at the junction of the Yuba and Feather rivers, where he had arrived on the morning of June 9, 1846, imparting his information regarding Lieutenant de Arci, his movements, and the intentions of General Castro. At 10 A. M. of that day a party of eleven men, under the oldest settler, Ezekiel Merritt, started in pursuit of the Lieutenant and his horses. On arrival at Hock Farm they were joined by two more men, and, thereafter, having crossed the American River at "Sinclair's," reached Allen Montgomery's ranch, sixty miles from Fremont's camp at the Buttes, towards evening, and there supped. At this point they received the intelligence that Arci had reached Sutter's Fort on the 8th, and had that morning resumed his march, intending to camp that night at the ranch of Martin Murphy, twenty miles south on the Cosumnes River. Supper finished, and a short rest indulged in, the party were once more in the saddle, being strengthened by recruiting Montgomery and another, making their total force fifteen in number. Proceeding to within about five miles of Murphy's, they there lay concealed until daylight, when they were again on the move and halted within half a mile of the Lieutenant's camp.
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Unperceived, they now cautiously advanced to within a short distance of the Mexican officer and his party, when, suddenly charging, they, as well as the horses, were secured. Lieutenant Arci was permitted to retain his sword; each of his party was given a horse to carry him to Santa Clara; and a person traveling under his escort was permitted to retain six of the horses, as he claimed them as private property. The Americans at once returned to Montgomery's ranch with the captured animals in their possession, and there breakfasted; that night, the 10th, they camped twenty-seven miles above Sutter's, on the rancho of Nicho- las Allgier, a German, not far from the mouth of Bear River, and, in the morning, ascertaining that Fremont had moved his camp hither from Buttes, they joined him on the 11th at 10 A. M., having covered a distance of one hundred and fifty miles in forty-eight hours. These are the details attending the capture of Arci, and reported to Castro on June 12, 1846, when on his way from Monterey to Santa Clara.
SONOMA CAPTURED
On arriving at Fremont's camp it was found that the garrison had been considerably augmented by the arrival of more settlers, who were all ardently discussing the events of the last two days and their probable results. After a full hearing it was determined by them that, having gone so far, their only chance of safety was in a rapid march to the town of Sonoma, to effect its capture, and to accomplish this before the news of the stoppage of Lieutenant Arci and his horses could have time to reach that garrison. It was felt that should this design prove successful all further obstacles to the eventual capture of the country would have vanished. The daring band then reorganized, still retaining in his posi- tion of Captain, Ezekiel Merritt. At 3 P. M., June 12th, under their leader, they left Fremont's camp for Sonoma, 120 miles distant, and, traveling all night, on their way called at the ranch of Willian Gordon, about ten miles from the site of the present town of Woodland, in Yolo County, whom they desired to inform all Americans that could be trusted, of their intentions. At 9 A. M. on the 13th they reached Capt. John Grigsby's, at the head of Napa Valley, and were there joined by William L. Todd, William Scott, and others. Here the band, which now mustered thirty-three men, was reorganized and addressed by Dr. Robert Semple, of Benicia. Not desiring, however, to reach Sonoma till daylight, they halted here until midnight, when they once more resumed their march, and before it was yet the dawn of June 14, 1846, surprised
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and captured the garrison of Sonoma, consisting of six soldiers, nine pieces of artillery, and some small arms, etc., "all private property being religiously respected ; and in generations yet to come their children's children may look back with pride and pleasure upon the commencement of a revolution which was carried on by their fathers' fathers upon principles as high and holy as the laws of eternal justice."
Their distinguished prisoners were Gen. Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Lieut .- Col. Don Victor Prudon, Capt. Don Salvador Vallejo, brother to the General, and Mr. Jacob Primer Leese, brother-in-law to the General.
Let us now lay before the reader the account of this episode in Cali- fornia's history as described by the veteran General himself, at the Centennial exercises held at Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, July 4, 1876 :-
"I have now to say something of the epoch which inaugurated a new era for this country. A little before dawn on June 14, 1846, a party of hunters and trappers, with some foreign settlers, under com- mand of Captain Merritt, Doctor Semple, and William B. Ide, sur- rounded my residence at Sonoma, and without firing a shot, made prisoners of myself, then Commander of the northern frontier; of Lieut .- Col. Victor Prudon, Capt. Salvador Vallejo and Jacob P. Leese. I should here state that down to October, 1845, I had maintained at my own expense a respectable garrison at Sonoma, which often, in union with the settlers, did good service in campaigns against the Indians; but at last, tired of spending money which the Mexican Government never refunded, I disbanded the force, and most of the soldiers who had constituted it left Sonoma. Thus in June, 1846, the Plaza was entirely unprotected, although there were ten pieces of artillery, with other arms and munitions of war. The parties who unfurled the Bear Flag were well aware that Sonoma was without defense, and lost no time in taking advantage of this fact, and carrying out their plans. Years before, I had urgently represented to the Government of Mexico the necessity of stationing a sufficient force on the frontier, else Sonoma would be lost, which would be equivalent to leaving the rest of the country an easy prey to the invader. What think you, my friends, were the instructions sent me in reply to my repeated demands for means to fortify the coun- try? These instructions were that I should at once force the immigrants to recross the Sierra Nevada, and depart from the territory of the Re- public. To say nothing of the inhumanity of these orders, their execu- tion was physically impossible-first, because the immigrants came in
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autumn, when snow covered the Sierra so quickly as to make a return impracticable. Under the circumstances, not only I, but Commandante General Castro, resolved to provide the immigrants with letters of se- curity, that they might remain temporarily in the country. We always made a show of authority, but well convinced all the time that we had no power to resist the invasion which was coming upon us. With the frankness of a soldier I can assure you that the American immigrants never had cause to complain of the treatment they received at the hands of either authorities or citizens. They carried us as prisoners to Sacra- mento, and kept us in a calaboose for sixty days or more, until the authority of the United States made itself respected, and the honorable and humane Commodore Stockton returned us to our hearths."
Upon the seizure of their prisoners the revolutionists at once took steps to appoint a Captain, who was found in the person of John Grigs- by, for Ezekiel Merritt wished not to retain the permanent command; a meeting was then convened at the barracks, situated at the northeast corner of the Plaza, under the presidency of William B. Ide; Dr. Robert Semple being Secretary. At this conference Semple urged the inde- pendence of the country, stating that having once commenced they must proceed, for to turn back was certain death. The convention had not been dissolved, however, when it was rumored that secret emissaries were being dispatched to the native rancheros to make them acquainted with recent events ; such being the case it was deemed politic to transfer the prisoners to safe-keeping in Sutter's Fort. Prior to this being done, however, the captors and captives entered into a treaty or covenant, the English and Spanish of which we here append :-
"We, the undersigned, having resolved to establish a government upon Republican principles, in connection with others of our fellow- citizens, and having taken up arms to support it, we have taken three Mexican officers as prisoners, Gen. M. G. Vallejo, Lieut-Col. Victor Prudon, and Capt. D. Salvador Vallejo; having formed and published to the world no regular plan of government, feel it our duty to say that it is not our intention to take or injure any person who is not found in opposition to the cause, nor will we take or destroy the property of pri- vate individuals further than is necessary for our immediate support.
EZEKIEL MERRITT. R. SEMPLE. WILLIAM FALLON. SAMUEL KELSEY.
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"Conste pr. la preste. qe. habiendo sido sorprendido pr. unanumeros a fuerza armada qe. me tomó prisionero y à los gefes y officiales qe. esta- ban de guarnicion en esta plaza de la qe. se apoderó la espresada fuerza, habiendola encontrado absolutamte : indefensa, tanto yo. como los S. S. officiales qe. suscribero comprometemos nuestra palabra de honor de qe. estandobajo las garantias de prisionero de guerra, no tomaremos las armas ni à favor ni contra repitida fuerza armada de quien hemos recibiro la intimacion del monto. y un escrito firmado qe. garantiza nuestras vidas, familias dè intereses, y los de todo el vicindario de esta jurisdn. mientras no hagamos oposicion.
Sonoma, Junio 14 de 1846.
VCR. PRUDON.
M. G. VALLEJO. SALVADOR VALLEJO."
But to our tale! A guard consisting of William B. Ide. as Captain, Captain Grigsby, Captain Merritt, Kit Carson, William Hargrave, and five others, being, happily for their comfort, supplied with horses by General Vallejo, took up the line of march for Sutter's Fort, but not be- ing used to "wars alarums," they, with peculiar inconsistency, on their first night's encampment placed neither sentry nor vidette and courted Morpheus in serene confidence. Indeed so sound was the sleep of all, that Jaun de Padilla and his party completely surrounded them during that night, and their chief absolutely held verbal communication with General Vallejo while his captors slept. Padilla's mission was to in- form his compatriots that he had then with him force strong enough to surprise and slay the Americanos before there was time for them to fly to arms, but that he did not wish to put the scheme into execution without the instructions and consent of the General, whose rank entitled him to the first place in such a demonstration. With a self-sacrifice that cannot be too highly commended, Vallejo refused his consent to the perpetration of so diabolical a plan, but stated that he would ac- company his custodians, believing in their honor; that he would be detained but a short time, and finally advised Padilla and his followers to return to their homes and disperse, else their action would lead to disastrous consequences to all, without the attainment of any good. Of this episode Lieutenant Revere says: "This was not told to me by Vallejo, but by a person who was present, and it tallies well with the account given by the revolutionists themselves, several of whom in- formed me that no guard was kept by them that night, and that the prisoners might have easily escaped had they felt so inclined. The same person also told me that when Vallejo was called out of bed and made
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a prisoner in his own house, he requested to be informed as to the plans and objects of the revolutionists, signifying his readiness to collect and take command of a force of his countrymen in the cause of indepen- dence."
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