USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California. Volume I > Part 5
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"Headquarters, Santa Clara, June 17, 1846. JOSÉ CASTRO."
"The citizen José Castro, Lieutenant-Colonel of Cavalry in the Mexican Army and acting Commandante of the Department of California ..
"All foreigners residing among us, occupied with their business, may rest assured of the protection of all the authorities of the Depart- ment while they refrain entirely from all revolutionary movements.
"The General Comandancia under my charge will never proceed with vigor against any persons, neither will its authority result in mere words wanting proof to support it; declarations shall be taken, proofs executed, and the liberty and rights of the laborious, which is ever com- mendable, shall be protected.
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
"Let the fortunes of war take its chance with those ungrateful men, who, with arms in their hands, have attacked the country, without recollecting that they were treated by the undersigned with all the in- dulgence of which he is so characteristic. The imperative inhabitants cf the Department are witness to the truth of this. I have nothing to fear ; my duty leads me to death or victory. I am a Mexican soldier, and I will be free and independent, or I will gladly die for those inestimable blessings. JOSÉ CASTRO.
"Headquarters, Santa Clara, June 17, 1846."
Under Captain Joaquin de la Torre, on June 20th, a body of about seventy Califorians crossed the Bay of San Francisco, and being joined by a party under Carrillo and Padilla marched to the vicinity of the mission of San Rafael, while Castro remained at Santa Clara, re- cruiting his forces, by the utmost pressure, but only succeeding in bring- ing into the field a squad of two hundred forced volunteers. Of the General's system of recruiting Lieutenant Revere writes: "I heard that on a feast day, when the rancheros came to the mission in their 'go-to- meeting' clothes, with their wives and children, Castro seized their horses and forced the men to volunteer in defense of their homes, against los salvages Americanos." On the evening of June 27th, Castro left Santa Clara with his army, and proceeding around the head of the Bay of San Francisco as far as the San Leandro Creek, in what is now Alameda County, halted at the Estudillo Rancho, where let us leave him for the present.
Fremont, at this juncture, found that the time had now come to give his countenance and aid to the revolution which he had fostered, therefore, on June 21st, he transferred his impedimenta to the care of Captain Sutter at the fort, recrossed the American River to Sinclair's Rancho, was there joined by Pearson B. Redding and the trappers about Sutter's Fort, and quietly awaited, like Micawber, "for something to turn up." He had not to remain inactive long. On the afternoon of the 23d, Harrison Pierce (who had settled in Napa Valley in 1843) came into camp hurried and excited. He told of how he had ridden the eighty intervening miles with but one change of horses; he said that the hand- ful of patriots were greatly concerned, for news had arrived that Gen- eral Castro and an overwhelming force was advancing on the town, hurling threats of recapture and hanging. Fremont desired him to re- turn and say that he would move to their assistance as soon as he could put ninety men in the saddle. With this news and a fresh mount, Pierce
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
returned to his comrades, while, on the 23d, Captain Fremont and his ninety Mounted Rifles marched from Sinclair's - a curious looking cavalcade. One of the party has left the following description of them: "There were Americans, French, English, Swiss, Poles, Russians, Prus- sians, Chilians, Germans, Greeks, Austrians, Pawnees, native Indians, etc., all riding side by side, and talking a polyglot lingual hash never exceeded in diversibility since the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel. Some wore the relics of their home-spun garments; some relied upon the antelope and the bear for their wardrobe; some lightly habited in buckskin leggings and a coat of war paint, and their weapons were equally various. There was the grim old hunter with his long, heavy rifle; the farmer with his double-barreled shotgun; the Indian with his bow and arrows, and others with horse-pistols, revolvers, sabres, ships' cutlasses, bowie-knives, and 'pepper-boxes' (Allen's re- volvers)." Though the Bear Flag army was incongruous in personnel, as a body it was composed of the best fighting material. Each of them was inured to hardship and privation, self-reliant, fertile in resources, versed in wood craft and Indian fighting, accustomed to handle fire- arms, and full of energy and daring. It was a band of hardy adven- turers, such as in an earlier age wrested this land from the feebler aboriginals. With this corps Fremont arrived at Sonoma at two o'clock on the morning of June 25, 1846, having made forced marches.
Let us make a slight divergence from the chronological order of things so as to make Captain Fremont's next move sequent on his last.
We have already spoken of the horrible and atrocious butchery of Cowie and Fowler, by the party under Mesa Juan Padilla. This gang a few days thereafter captured William L. Todd, whose name has already appeared in this chapter as the artist of the Bear Flag, while he was trying to catch a stray horse that had escaped to a short distance from the barracks at Sonoma. They bore him off, and falling in with another man, he too was seized and led into captivity. This party of Padilla's being occasionally in a playful mood, regaled Todd with throat- cutting tales, of which he was usually the hero, while in their more se- rious moments they actually threatened to carry their banterings into tragic execution. Fortunately he spoke the Spanish language, and though slightly, yet with sufficient force to make them understand that his death would peal the knell of General Vallejo's doom. He and his companion in misfortune, with whom he had no opportunity to converse, but who appeared like an Englishman-a half-fool and common loafer
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
-were conveyed to the Indian Rancheria called Olompali, about eight miles from the present town of Petaluma.
For the purpose of liberating the prisoners, and keeping the enemy in check until the arrival of Captain Fremont, Lieutenant Ford mus- tered a squad, variously stated at from twenty to twenty-three men, among whom were Granville P. Swift, Samuel Kelsey, William Baldridge, and Frank Bedwell, names more or less familiar to us, and on June 23d, taking with them the two prisoners, Blas Angelina and Three-fingered Jack, marched from Sonoma for where it was thought the Californians had established their headquarters. Here they learned from some Indians, under considerable military pressure, that the Cali- fornian troops had left three hours before. They now partook of a hasty meal, and with one of the Indians pressed into the service as guide, proceeded towards the Laguna de San Antonio, which lies on the present boundary line between Marin and Sonoma counties, and that night halted within half a mile of the enemy's camp. At dawn they fell upon the place, took the only men they found there prisoners-their number was four, the remainder having left for San Rafael.
Here four men were left to guard the prisoners and horses, Lieuten- ant Ford with the remainder of his troops, starting in pursuit of the enemy. Leaving the lagoon of San Antonio, and having struck into the road leading to San Rafael, after a sharp ride of four miles they came in sight of the house pointed out to them as that in which the Californians had passed the night with Todd and "the man that looked like an Eng- lishman," and were at that time within its walls, enjoying a mild fiesta. Ford's men were as ignorant of their proximity as the Californians were of theirs. However, when the advance guard arrived in sight of the corral, and perceiving it to be full of horses, with a number of Indian vaqueros around it, they made a brilliant dash to prevent the animals from being turned loose. While exulting over their good fortune at this unlooked-for addition to their cavalry arm, they were surprised to see the Californians rush out of the house and mount their ready-saddled quadrupeds. It should be mentioned that the house spoken of was situated on the edge of a plain, some sixty yards from a grove of brush- wood. In a moment Ford formed his men into two half companies, and charged the enemy, who, perceiving the movement, retreated behind the grove of trees. From his position Ford counted them, and found that they were eighty-five, all told. Notwithstanding he had but four- teen in his ranks, nothing daunted, he dismounted his men, and, taking advantage of the protection offered by the brushwood, prepared for
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
action. The Californians, observing this evolution, became emboldened and prepared for a charge. On this, Ford calmly awaited the attack, giving stringent orders that his rear rank should hold their fire until the enemy were well up, and that not a bullet should be wasted. On they came, with shouts, and brandishing of swords and the flash of pistols, until within thirty yards of the Americans, whose front files poured into the advancing foe a withering fire, and emptied the saddles of eight of the Mexican soldiery. On receiving this volley, the enemy turned to the right about, and made a break for the hills, while Ford's rear rank played upon them at long range, causing three more to bite the earth, and wounding two others. The remainder retreated helter- skelter to a hill in the direction of San Rafael, leaving Todd and his companion to join their succorers. Ford's little force having now at- tained the object of their expedition, and without a casualty, secured their prisoners of war, and going to the corral, where the enemy had a large drove of horses, changed their jaded nags for fresh ones, took the remainder-some four hundred-and retraced their victorious steps to Sonoma, where they were heartily welcomed by their anxious country- men, who had feared for their safety.
We last left Captain Fremont at Sonoma, where he had arrived at two A. M. of the 25th of June. Having given his men and horses a short rest, and receiving a small addition to his force, he was once more in the saddle and started for San Rafael, where it was said Castro had joined de la Torre with two hundred and fifty men. At four o'clock in the afternoon they came in sight of the position supposed to be occupied by the enemy, which they cautiously approached until quite close, when they charged, the three first to enter being Fremont, Kit Carson, and James Marshall (the future discoverer of gold), but they found the lines occu- pied by only four men, the gallant Captain de la Torre having with- drawn some three hours previously, leaving not a trace behind. Fre- mont camped on the ground that night, and on the following morning, the 26th, detailed scouting parties, while the main body remained quies- cent at San Rafael for three days.
We have already seen that General Castro had marched forth from Santa Clara on the 27th of June, to chastise the Sonoma insurgents, and that he called a halt at the rancho of the Estudillos. From this place he dispatched three men to reconnoiter, viz. : Don José Reyes Berryessa (a retired Sergeant of the Presidio Company of San Francisco, who in 1837 was granted the tract of land on which the New Almaden mine is situated), with Ramon and Francisco de Haro (twin sons of Don
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Francisco de Haro, Alcalde of San Francisco in 1838-39), who landed on what is now known as Point San Quentin. On coming to the shore they were seized, with their arms, and on them were found written orders from Castro to Captain de la Torre (who it was not known had made his escape via Saucelito to Santa Clara ) to kill every foreign man, woman, and child. These men were shot on the spot-first, as spies; second, in retaliation for the Americans so cruelly butchered by the Cali- fornians. Castro, upon finding that his men did not return, feared a like fate for himself ; he therefore retraced his steps to the Santa Clara Mission, where he arrived on the 29th of June, after a prodigious expe- dition of two days' duration.
About this time a small party intended for service under the Bear Flag had been recruited by Captain Thomas Fallon, then of Santa Cruz, but subsequently for many years a resident of Santa Clara County. This company, which consisted of only twenty-two men, crossed the Santa Cruz Mountains, entered the Santa Clara Valley at night, and called a halt about three miles to the south of San José. Here Fallon learned that Castro was close at hand with a force of two hun- dred men; therefore, acting on the principle that discretion is the better part of valor, he fell back into the mountains and there encamped, where we shall leave him for a space.
In the meantime great events had been occurring without. War had been declared by the United States against Mexico; General Scott had carried on a series of brilliant exploits, which culminated in the capture of the Mexican Capital, and the flag of the United States of America had been hoisted at Monterey July 7, 1846.
SLOAT'S PROCLAMATION
Two days later than the last-mentioned date there might have been seen a solitary horseman, urging the animal he bestrode, as if for bare life, through the then almost impassable gorges of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and across the wide expanse of the Santa Clara Valley. From his preoccupied air it could be remarked that he bore a weighty burden upon his shoulders, and still he pressed his jaded steed onwards, whose gored sides and dilated nostrils gave evidence of being pushed to the utmost. Ere long both came to a halt within the open space fronting the Justice Hall, in San José. With a jubilant wave of his cap, our traveler announces to his compatriots the welcome intelligence of the glory of American arms. He hastily asks of the whereabouts of
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
the General, whom he at once seeks; he finds him enjoying his otium cum dignitate in the seclusion of his well-appointed quarters at the Santa Clara Mission, and there the dusty voyager, Henry Pitts, delivers into the hands of the redoubtable soldier, José Castro, the dispatch which tells him of the defeat of Mexican arms, and the ascendency of the United States forces. With moody brow he breaks the seal; he mounts his charger and proceeds to the pueblo; arrived there, he calls forth his men, forms them in line in front of the jusgado, and then exclaiming, "Monterey is taken by the Americans !" proceeds to read, in Spanish, the proclamation of Commodore Sloat, of which the annexed is a translation :-
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA :-
"The central troops of Mexico having commenced hostilities against the United States of America, by invading its territory, and attacking the troops of the United States, stationed on the north side of the Rio Grande, and with a force of seven thousand men, under the command of General Arista, which army was totally destroyed, and all their artillery, baggage, etc., captured, on the eighth and ninth of May last, by a force of twenty-three hundred men, under the command of General Taylor, and the City of Matamoras taken and occupied by the forces of the United States, and the two nations being actually at war by this trans- action, I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey, im- mediately, and shall carry it through California.
"I declare to the inhabitants of California, that although I come in arms with a powerful force, I do not come among them as an enemy to California ; on the contrary, I come as their best friend, as henceforth California will be a portion of the United States, and its peaceable in- habitants will enjoy the same rights and privileges they now enjoy, to- gether with the privilege of choosing their own magistrates and other officers for the administration of justice among themselves, and the same protection will be extended to them as to any other State in the Union. They will also enjoy a permanent Government, under which life and property, and the Constitutional right and lawful security to worship the Creator in the way most congenial to each one's sense of duty will be secured, which unfortunately, the Central Government of Mexico cannot afford them, destroyed as her resources are by internal factions and corrupt officers, who create constant revolutions to promote their own interests and oppress the people. Under the flag of the United States, California will be free from all such troubles and ex- penses ; consequently the country will rapidly advance and improve, both
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
in agriculture and commerce ; as, of course, the revenue laws will be the same in California as in all other parts of the United States, affording them all manufactures and produce of the United States free of any duty, and for all foreign goods at one-quarter the duty they now pay. A great increase in the value of real estate and the products of Califor- nia may be anticipated.
"With the great interest and kind feeling I know the Government and people of the United States possess toward the citizens of California, the country cannot but improve more rapidly than any other on the con- tinent of America.
"Such of the inhabitants, whether natives or foreigners, as may not be disposed to accept the high privileges of citizenship, and to live peace- fully under the Government of the United States, will be allowed time to dispose of their property and remove out of the country, if they choose, without any restriction; or remain in it, observing strict neu- trality.
"With full confidence in the honor and integrity of the inhabitants of the country, I invite the Judges, Alcaldes, and other civil officers, to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquillity may not be disturbed, at least until the Government of the Territory can be definitely arranged.
"All persons holding titles to real estate, or in quiet possession of lands under color of right, shall have these titles guaranteed to them.
"All churches, and the property they contain, in possession of the clergy of California, shall continue in the same right and possession they now enjoy.
"All provisions and supplies of every kind furnished by the inhabi- tants for the use of the United States ships and soldiers, will be paid for at fair rates, and no private property will be taken for public use without just compensation at the moment.
"JOHN D. SLOAT,
"Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. Naval Forces in the Pacific Ocean."
The reading of the foregoing concluded, Castro is said to have ex- claimed: "What can I do with a handful of men against the United States? I am going to Mexico! All you who wish to follow me, right- about-face! All that wish to remain can go to their homes!" Only a very few chose to follow the fortunes of the Don into Mexico, whither he proceeded on that same day, first, however, taking prisoner Captain Charles M. Weber, who, some years previously, had ranged himself in
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
the opposite faction to Castro, and who was not released until their arrival at Los Angeles.
We last saw Captain Fremont in the vicinity of San Rafael lying in a state of watchful inactivity. There he remained until the 2d of July, when he returned to Sonoma, where he commenced the labors of a more perfect organization, their plan being to keep the Californias to the southern part of the Territory until the immigrants then on their way had time to cross the Sierra Nevada. The national holiday having been celebrated with due pomp, the next day was devoted to the forma- tion and organization of the California Battalion of Mounted Riflemen, two hundred and fifty strong, officered as follows: Commandant, John C. Fremont, Brevet-Captain and Second Lieutenant of Topographical Engineers; Adjutant, and Inspector, with the rank of Captain, Archi- bald A. Gillespie, First Lieutenant of Marines. Of the formation of this battalion Fremont says: "In concert and cooperation with the American settlers, and in the brief space of thirty days, all was accom- plished north of the Bay of San Francisco, and independence declared on the 5th of July (1846). This was done at Sonoma, where the Amer- ican settlers had assembled. I was called, by my position and by the general voice, to the chief direction of affairs, and on the 6th of July, at the head of the mounted riflemen, set out to find Castro."
We have already shown that the war between Mexico and the United States had placed California in the hands of the latter, and that the national ensign was hoisted at Monterey on July 7th. On the morn- ing of the 9th Lieutenant Joseph Warren Revere left the United States ship Portsmouth, then lying in the harbor at Yerba Buena, in one of her boats, and on reaching Sonoma did, at noon of that day, haul down the Bear Flag and raise in its place the Stars and Stripes; and at the same time forwarded one to Sutter's Fort by the hands of William Scott, and another to Captain Stephen Smith, at Bodega.
CALIFORNIA BECOMES A STATE
There were six American military governors of California between the time Com. John D. Sloat assumed charge in 1846 until the treaty with Mexico was signed and a state government formulated and adopted in 1849. California, unlike other western states of our union, did not go through a period of probation as a territory, but was taken directly into the nation as full-fledged state. The treaty with Mexico was dated at Guadalupe, Hidalgo, February 2, 1848. It was officially ex-
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
changed at Queretaro on May 30, and promulgated by President James K. Polk July 4, of that year. In June, 1849, Gen. Bennett Riley, military governor of California, issued a proclamation calling for the election of forty-eight delegates to a general convention to formulate a constitution. The election was held in August, and the delegates from the San José district (which included the territory now in Alameda County) to this convention at Monterey were Joseph Aram, J. D. Hoppe, K. H. Dimmick, Antonio M. Pico, Elam Brown, Julian Hanks and Pedro Sansevant. This convention met in Septem- ber, and after six weeks of deliberation the first state constitution was framed. It was submitted to the electors of the state for adoption at an election held on November 13, 1849, the first state officials also being selected at the same time. Peter H. Burnett was chosen as the first governor. President Fillmore approved the bill making California a state on September 9, 1850.
SPANISH, MEXICAN, MILITARY AND EARLY STATE GOVERNORS
A complete list of the Spanish governors of California, the Mexican governors, the American military governors, and the early state gov- ernors is herewith appended :
Spanish Governors
Years
From
To
Gaspar de Portola
1767
1771
Felipe Barri
1771
1774
Felipe de Neve
1774
1782
Pedro Fages
1782
1790
José Antonio Romen
1790
1792
José Joaquin de Arrillaga
1792
1794
Diego de Borica
1794
1800
José Joaquin de Arrillaga
1800
1814
José Arguello
1814
1815
Pablo Vincenté de Sola
1815
1822
Mexican Governors
Years
From
To
Pablo Vincenté de Sola
1822
1823
Luis Arguello
1823
1825
José Maria Echeandia
1825
1831
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
Spanish Governors
Years
From
To
Manuel Victoria
1831
1832
Pio Pico
1832
1833
José Figueroa
1833
1835
José Castro
1835
1836
Nicholas Guiterrez
1836
. .
Mariano Chico
1836
....
Nicholas Guiterrez
1836
... .
Juan B. Alvarado
1836
1842
Manuel Micheltorena
1842
1845
Pio Pico
1845
1846
American Military Governors
Year
Commodore John D. Sloat
1846
Commodore Robert F. Stockton
1846
Colonel John C. Fremont
1847
General Stephen W. Kearney
1847
Colonel Richard B. Mason
1847
General Bennett Riley
1849
Early State Governors
Year
*Peter H. Burnett
1849
John McDougall
1851
John Bigler
1852
J. Neeley Johnson
1856
John B. Weller
1858
*Milton S. Latham
1860
John G. Downey Leland Stanford
1862
+Frederick F. Low Henry H. Haight
1863
1867
*Newton Booth
1871
Romauldo Pacheco 1875
William Irwin 1877
1860
¿Term of office increased from two to four years.
*Resigned.
CHAPTER II
EARLY LAND GRANTS AND PIONEER SETTLERS
A WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATION-EARLY EXPLORERS AND SETTLERS- FIRST AMERICAN EMIGRANTS-SPANISH AND MEXICAN LAND GRANTS -SUMMARY OF LAND CLAIMS AND GRANTS-AN EARLY PETITION- ROBERT LIVERMORE FIRST ANGLO-SAXON-OTHER EARLY ARRIVALS- IN EDEN TOWNSHIP-WILLIAM HAYWARD ARRIVES IN 1851-EARLY LODGES AND CHURCHES OF EDEN TOWNSHIP-MURRAY TOWNSHIP SETTLEMENTS-LIVERMORE THE SECOND SETTLER-PLEASANTON- EARLY SETTLEMENTS OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
A WONDERFUL TRANSFORMATION
Measured by the lapses of time which have witnessed the growth, development and existence of cities, states and nations, a most wonder- ful transformation has occurred upon this shore of the Pacific Coast in a comparatively short length of time. We who are living here today in this populous area of one of the most favored regions of the world, busy with the affairs which daily occupy our attention, can hardly grasp the real facts. We can scarcely realize that there are many living whose span of life began at a time when, exclusive of native Indians, the population of the whole State of California was less than twenty thou- sand people. The thousands of newcomers who annually locate in Alameda County with its half million population of today have difficulty in realizing that but seventy-five years ago, at the time of the incorpo- ration of Oakland as a town, there was a population of but a couple hundred inhabitants on the townsite. Looking backward over the his- tory of the world, it is, indeed, a brief time since the major portion of the county's population was native Indians; a brief period since the time when but a few adventuresome and brave Spanish settlers claimed the county's most valuable sections in a few ranchos; a brief period since the famous Indian mounds (later replaced by a renowned race
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