History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 22

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 22

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For the purpose of liberating the prisoners, and keeping the enemy in check until the arrival of Captain Fremont, Lieutenant Ford mustered 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-fin- gered Jack, marched from Sonoma for where it was thought the Californians had established their headquarters. Here they learned from some Indians, under consid- erable military pressure, that the Californian troops had left three hours before. They now partook of a hasty meal, and with one of the Indians pressed into the ser- vice as guide, proceeded towards the Laguna de San Antonio, which lies on the pres- ent 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, Lieutenant 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 Englishman," 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 brushwood. 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 fourteen in his ranks, nothing daunted, he dismounted his men, and, taking advantage of the protec-

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tion offered by the brushwood, prepared for 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, the 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 direc- tion of San Rafael, leaving Todd and his companion to join their succorers. Ford's little force having now attained 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 countrymen, 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 J. W. Marshall (the future discoverer of gold), but they found the lines occupied by only four men, the gallant Captain de la Torre having withdrawn some three hours previously, leaving not a trace behind. Fremont camped on the ground that night, and on the following morning, the 26th, detailed scouting parties, while the main body remained quiescent 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 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 Californians. 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 expedition 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

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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 hundred 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 Capi- tal, and the flag of the United States of America had been hoisted at Monterey July 7, 1846.

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 pre-occupied 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 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 juzgado, 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 trans- lation :-

"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 transaction, I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey, immediately, 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 con-

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trary, I come as their best friend, as henceforth California will be a portion of the United States, and its peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same rights and privileges they now enjoy, together with the privilege of choosing their own magistrates and other officers for the administration of justice among themselves, and the same pro- tection 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 Mex- ico 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 expenses; consequently the country will rapidly advance and improve, both 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 California 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 continent 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 peacefully 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 neutrality.

" With full confidence in the honor and integrity of the inhabitants of the coun- try, I invite the Judges, Alcaldes, and other civil officers, to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquility may not be disturbed, at least until the Govern- ment 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 Cal- ifornia, shall continue in the same right and possession they now enjoy.

" All provisions and supplies of every kind furnished by the inhabitants for the use of the United States ships and soldiers, will be paid for at fair rates, and no pri- vate 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 exclaimed: "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 the opposite faction to Castro, and who was not released until their arrival at Los Angeles.

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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 Californians to the southern part of the Territory until the immi- grants 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 formation 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, Archibald A. Gillespie, First Lieutenant of Marines. Of the for -. mation of this battalion Fremont says: "In concert and co-operation with the Ameri- can settlers, and in the brief space of thirty days, all was accomplished north of the Bay of San Francisco, and independence declared on the 5th of July (1846). This was done at Sonoma, where the American 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 morning 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. Thus ended the Bear Flag War, of which the following is the Mexican account :-

" About a year before the commencement of the war a band of adventurers, pro- ceeding from the United States, and scattering over the vast territory of California, awaited only the signal of their Government to take the first step in the contest for usurpation. Various acts committed by these adventurers in violation of the laws of the country indicated their intentions. But unfortunately the authorities then exist- ing, divided among themselves, neither desired nor knew how to arrest the tempest. In the month of July, 1846, Captain Fremont, an Engineer of the U. S. A., entered the Mexican territory with a few mounted riflemen, under the pretext of a scientific commission, and solicited and obtained from the Commandant-General, D. José Castro, permission to traverse the country. Three months afterwards, on the 19th of May, that same force and their commander took possession, by armed force, and surprised the important town of Sonoma, seizing all the artillery, ammunition, armaments, etc., which it contained.

" The adventurers scattered along the Sacramento River, amounting to about four hundred, one hundred and sixty men having joined their force. They proclaimed for themselves, and on their own authority, the independence of California, raising a rose- colored flag with a bear and a star. The result of this scandalous proceeding was the plundering of the property of some Mexicans and the assassination of others-three men shot as spies by Fremont, who, faithful to their duty to their country, wished to make resistance. The Commandant-General demanded explanations on the subject

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of the Commander of an American ship-of-war, the Portsmouth, anchored in the Bay of San Francisco; and although it was positively known that munitions of war, arms, and clothing were sent on shore to the adventurers, the Commander, J. B. Montgom- ery, replied that 'Neither the Government of the United States nor the subalterns had any part in the insurrection, and that the Mexican authorities ought, therefore, to punish its authors in conformity with the laws.'"

On leaving Sonoma with the California Battalion says Fremont: "We had to make the circuit of the head of the bay, crossing the Sacramento River (at Knight's Landing). On the ioth of July, when within ten miles of Sutter's Fort, we received (by the hands of William Scott*) the joyful intelligence that Commodore John Drake Sloat was at Monterey and had taken it on the 7th of July, and that war existed between the United States and Mexico. Instantly we pulled down the flag of Inde- pendence (Bear Flag) and ran up that of the United States amid general rejoicing, and a national salute of twenty-one guns on the morning of the 11th from Sutter's Fort, with a brass four-pounder called 'Sutter." Thence afterwards proceeding down the valley of the San Joaquin, they found themselves at the San Juan Mission, where Fremont was joined by Captain Fallon, who the reader may recollect we last saw encamped in the Santa Cruz Mountains. His adventures since we heard of him may thus be briefly told. Upon hearing of Castro's departure, he marched into the town of San José, seized the Juzgado, arrested Dolores Pacheco, the Alcalde, appointed an Amer- ican citizen in his place, and on July 13th hoisted an American ensign on the flag- staff in front of the Court House, and opened direct land communication with Monte- rey; all of which he reported, as the following correspondence with United States authority in San Francisco will fully explain :-

" U. S. SHIP PORTSMOUTH, YERBA BUENA, July 13, 1846.

" SIR: I have just received your letter, with a copy of Mr. James Stokes' appoint- ment as Justice of the Peace, at the pueblo; also a dispatch from the Commander-in- Chief of the U. S. Naval Forces, at Monterey, for which I thank you. By the bearer of them, I return a dispatch for Commodore Sloat, which I hope you will have an opportunity of forwarding to Monterey.

" I received your letter of July 12th, and wrote to you, by the bearer of it, on the 13th, an answer, advising you by all means to hoist the flag of the United States at the Pueblo of St. Joseph, as you expressed to do, if you had sufficient force to main- tain it there; of course you will understand that it is not again to be hauled down.

".Agreeable to your request, I send you a proclamation of the Commander-in- Chief, in both languages, which I shall be glad to have distributed as far and gener- ally as possible; and be pleased to assure all persons of the most perfect security from injuries to their persons and property, and endeavor, by every means in your power, to inspire them with confidence in the existing authorities and Government of the United States. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

"JNO. B. MONTGOMERY,

" Commanding U. S. Ship Portsmouth.

"To Captain Thomas Fallon, Pueblo of St. Joseph, Upper California."

*This honor is claimed by Harry Bee and John Daubenbiss, but those quoted are Fremont's own words.

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"U. S. SHIP PORTSMOUTH, YERBA BUENA, July 18, 1846.

" SIR: I have just received your letter with the official dispatch from Commodore Sloat, which has been accidentally delayed one day in its transmission from the pueblo, and am much obliged to you for sending it.

" I am gratified to hear that you have hoisted the flag of our country, and cannot but feel assured, as I certainly hope, that your zealous regard for its honor and glory will lead you nobly to defend it there. I am, sir, your obedient servant,

" JNO. B. MONTGOMERY, Commander.

"To Captain Thomas Fallon, at the Pueblo San José, Upper California."

After Fremont was joined by Fallon, whose company had been disbanded at Monterey in the meantime, the former sailed at once with his men in the Cyane for San Diego to cut off Castro's retreat, who had united with Pio Pico, thus giving them six hundred men. It is not our intention to follow the doings of the " Pathfinder " in his southern campaign, but to confine ourselves to the district conterminous to the country whose chronicles we have undertaken to compile. His operations and their results are a matter of national history.

The Indians of the San Joaquin Valley had, during the year, 1846, commenced to be such a source of annoyance to the residents in that district that in the month of April complaint had been made to the Departmental Assembly, but up to July noth- ing had been done. Wishing to intercept Captain Fremont, in the month of July, Captain Montgomery penned the following dispatch to that officer :-

" U. S. SHIP PORTSMOUTH, YERBA BUENA, July 9, 1846.

" SIR: Last evening I was officially notified of the existence of war between the United States and the Central Government of Mexico, and have this morning taken formal possession of this place, and hoisted the flag in town. Commodore Sloat, who took possession of Monterey on the 7th instant, has directed me to notify you of the change in the political condition of things in California, and to request your presence at Monterey, with a view to future arrangements and co-operations, at as early a period as possible.

"I forwarded at two o'clock this morning a dispatch from Commodore Sloat to the Commandant at Sonoma, with an American flag for their use, should they stand in need of one. Mr. Watmough, who will hand you this, will give you all the news. " Very respectfully, etc., JNO. B. MONTGOMERY.

"To Captain J. C. Fremont, Top. Engineer, Santa Clara."

On the same day (July 9th) the following. order was given to Purser James H. Watmough by Captain Montgomery :-

" SIR: You will proceed to Santa Clara, and to the pueblo, if necessary, in order to intercept Captain Fremont, now on his march from the Sacramento; and on meet- ing, please hand him the accompanying communication, after which you will return to this place, without delay, and report to me."

Whether Watmough delivered Captain Montgomery's dispatch to Fremont at that time is uncertain; the presumption, however, is that he did, and that on reporting

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such, as also the state of affairs in regard to the Indians in the San Joaquin Valley, he was instructed to occupy San José with thirty-five marines who had accompanied him as an escort, for we find that gallant Purser had established his headquarters at the Juzgado, added some volunteers to his force, and, in the month of August, with thirty marines, and about the same number of citizen soldiers, crossed the mountains and gave combat to a party of a hundred Indians, which he drove back into their own valley. After doing much to allay the excitement which then existed, his command was withdrawn in the month of October.

Such was the military enthusiasm of the period that it was not as difficult then as it might be to-day to recruit an armed force. During the month of October, 1846, Commander Hull of the United States sloop-of-war Warren, in command of the northern district of California, commissioned two citizens of San José, Charles M. Weber and John M. Murphy, as Captain and Lieutenant in the land forces, and these gentlemen quickly raised a company of scouts. This recruiting spirit, however, was not confined to the actual settler solely, for, no sooner had the immigrants crossed the Sierra Nevada and arrived at Sutter's Fort than they were enrolled by Captain Gran- ville Swift and forwarded to the south of the territory to augment the strength of Fremont's California Battalion. Among these was Joseph Aram, who received a commission and was detailed for duty at the mission of Santa Clara in charge of immigrant families; where during the inclement winter season the poor people suffered severe privations. Captain Aram managed to raise a company of thirty-two men, among them was the familiar name of Elam Brown of Contra Costa County, and established his headquarters, as desired, at Santa Clara. His first duty was to place the mission in a suitable state of defense to which end he constructed barricades, built principally of wagons that had crossed the plains, and the branches of trees, for he had learned that Colonel Sanchez and a body of mounted Californians were hover- ing in the vicinity. San José was formed into a military post in the month of November, and sixty men, with Messrs. Watmough and Griffin, under command of Lieutenant Pinkney of the United States ship Savannah sent to protect the inhabit- ants in the district. The force left Yerba Buena early in the morning of the Ist, and proceeding by the ship's boats up the bay, about sunset made fast to the shore and that night camped on the site of the present town of Alviso. Dawn of the next day found Lieutenant Pinkney and his command on the route, and after a weary march, for muskets, bayonets, cartridges, provisions, and blankets had to be carried by each man, arrived that afternoon at San José, which he at once put in a state of proper defense.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 22

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206