History of California, Volume II, Part 24

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826

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country. Mateo went to Santa Clara. Chavarría went to San Miguel, mar- ried, and obtained a grant of land. All the men returned to Monterey Dec. 6, the padres to purify the desecrated chapel by religious rites, and the rest to make preparations for rebuilding the presidio.

There is so much that is erroneous in this version that it is impossible to separate the facts; yet there is so much testimony in favor of some of the main points that I cannot disregard it. Alvarado gives substantially the same version as Vallejo. He says that the new battery was manned by 20 of the artillery militia under J. J. Vallejo. On account of danger from Indians Sola had concentrated but a small part of his force at Monterey. Bouchard arrived Nov. 21st and approached the fort Nov. 22d at dawn. Non-combat- ants were ordered away, but some women did not get away until the balls began to fall in the presidio. The vessel first fired a broadside into the fort, which was returned, no harm being done on either side. Then Vallejo from the new battery on the water level opened fire at short range. A white flag was run up, but Vallejo paid no attention to it; would not obey the order of Gomez; and swore he would not stop firing until the foe should swim ashore to surrender! But he yielded to a peremptory order of Sola sent by his father, Ignacio Vallejo, and ceased his fire, saying sadly, 'All is lost.' Two neophytes were killed in the skirmish in which the three captives were taken. Sola would probably have surrendered Monterey at first if a formal summons had been made. Friendly tribes of gentiles rendered much aid to Sola at the rancho del rey. The men were divided into two parties for rebuilding Monterey, one under Estrada and the other under Ignacio Vallejo. It required about a year to prepare for the return of the families. Some of the men in the mean time slept in tents and erramadas while others went every night to San Carlos, which had not been injured.

José de Jesus Vallejo, who was at the time a corporal of the artillery militia, mentions the approach of Bouchard to San Francisco and Santa Cruz. His account of the fight and subsequent occurrences agrees substantially with that of Alvarado, neither saying anything of the firing on the boats as de- scribed by M. G. Vallejo. The insurgents in their advance to the presidio carried a red flag, were preceded by a band of music, and paid no attention to Estrada's handful of men. A few of the insurgents wandered away from the presidio but were driven back and three of them fell into the writer's hands. The padres vicd with each other in relieving the wants of the exiled familics. Gomez should bear all the blame. 'I know that there was an understanding between Gomez and Bouchard's lieutenant.'

A suspicion might somewhat naturally arise in the minds of some persons that the three preceding witnesses, in order to honor a relative, may have had an understanding with each other in preparing their statements of this affair for my use; but, to say nothing of the fact that if such be the case the work has been very bunglingly done, the statement of Antonio Maria Osio, agreeing with that of Alvarado in all essential points, proves, not necessarily that it is true, but at least that this version was current in carly times. It is not unlikely, however, that Alvarado may have seen Osio's version. Osio omits some of Vallejo's exaggerations and inaccuracies respecting forces, etc. ; says nothing of the boats or of any killed and wounded; attributes the weak- ness of Gomez to pity for the insurgents, who were calling for mercy, rather than to treachery; confirms the story that Gomez turned the castillo's guns.

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BOUCHARD AND THE INSURGENTS.

The intention of the foe was evident, and Sola at once sent Alférez Estrada with the twenty-five men of the presidial company to prevent the landing. But he could of course do nothing against four hundred men with four field-pieces, as Sola affirms the force to have been. At the same time the firing recommenced be-

against the battery; and says nothing of any captives. He tells us that the new battery was a very weak affair of sand and branches, yet it received no damage, and Vallejo's guns were most effectively aimed, hardly a shot missing its mark.

José María Amador was a sentry at San Francisco when Dolores Cantúa arrived from Monterey with the news; and he was one of the men who went with Alf. Sanchez to reinforce Sola, whom they found 'con unas ojeras que le llegaban hasta la patilla,' at the rancho real. Luis Arguello came next day. After five or six days of drill and preparation they marched toward Monte- rey, one man, Cayetano Rios, being drowned on the way. The town was still burning. Bouchard was on the 'negra,' which opened the fight. Vallejo was ordered to stop firing by Estudillo. Bouchard landed 350 men. After the troops reentered Monterey Bouchard again landed a party while Argüello sent 30 men to pursue, and captured 21 prisoners(!) without firing a shot. Amador remembers of these the following names: Acuña, Francisco, and Joaquin, Spaniards; Chavarria, a Mexican; Aguilar, a Chileno or Peruvian; John Ross, a Scotchman; and Francisco, an American negro. The men returned to San Francisco in January. Sola made his head-quarters at Sole- dad.

Canuto Boronda was at San Miguel when the news came, and hastened with others to the king's rancho. Most of the families fled to Soledad. 'Parecia el dia del juicio.' The insurgents stayed about eight days to repair the damages caused by Vallejo's guns. Narrator was for a time Sola's orderly, and one day an Indian came who claimed to have been captured by the enemy but had escaped, with the news that Bouchard was preparing to attack the camp. The insurgents carried away all the provisions and other goods they found. The presidio was fired at four different places. The families returned six months later. The narrator says the soldiers' furniture, etc., was piled up in the plaza by the foe and saved. Jacinto Rodriguez was six years old at the time. He confirms the statements of Alvarado and Osio. Says the first shot destroyed the house of Gomez; that the battery was near the site of the pres- ent custom-house; Gomez was alarmed because he had heard that a kinsman was on board; Bouchard landed 786 men at Mussel Point; and the name of one of the captives was Mateo Sagarra. Early in 1819 there came workmen from the missions who were not long in repairing damages. José de Jesus Pico was a young boy at the time living with his father at the rancho del rey. He heard of an understanding between Gomez and the insurgents. Inocente García in a brief narrative confirins the Alvarado version. So does Capt. José Fernandez, who arrived in California this same year just before the attack. He says both of Bouchard's ships were painted black. Doña María Inocenta Pico de Avila was in Monterey at the time. She relates that in the terror of hasty flight many families became scattered, some of the children not being found by their parents for several days. Most stayed at San An- tonio until April 1819. Manuel Castro implies that J. J. Vallejo merely man- aged one of the fort's guns, but most effectively. Dorotea Valdés was at San Carlos, whence everybody fled as from the presidio. Mrs Ord frequently heard J. J. Vallejo credited with the achievement. Justo Larios was at Monterey near where his father had been killed by a bear a few days before. He says the warehouse, governor's house, and a few others were burned, but not all.

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FALL OF MONTEREY.

tween the guns of the ship and fort, though this fact rests on Sola's statement alone. Sending off one small cannon to the interior in a cart, the governor ordered Estrada to retreat to the battery, spike the guns, burn the little remaining powder that he could not save, and fall back to the presidio. The foe advanced steadily. At the presidio " some resistance was made, fruitless on account of their numbers," and Sola re- treated with all his men-saving one two-pounder, two boxes of powder, 6,000 musket-cartridges, and all the documents of the provincial archives-to the ran- cho del rey, five leagues distant, where Salinas city now stands.

The Spanish force on the Salinas was next day considerably increased by reinforcements from San Francisco and San José; but it was not deemed safe to attempt offensive measures, though sentinels were posted to watch the operations of the foe. Mean- while the insurgents killed some cattle which they found astray, ransacked the presidio for the few articles worth carrying away, and took two eight-pounders and burst the other guns. They probably made some repairs, else they could hardly have remained so long, and forced or otherwise induced to accompany them a drunken settler named Molina, who had either straggled into Monterey or been left there in the retreat. They finally departed in the night or early morning of November 26th to 27th, after setting the presidio and fort on fire.20 They did little or no harm

2º In his Noticia Sola says they left on the 25th, but this is apparently a misprint. Nov. 27, 1818, probably early in the morning, Sola writes from the rancho to the padres from San Luis Obispo south: 'Having concentrated my forces here to hinder the pirates, foes of the human race, from going inland, up to the present time they remain about the presidio and beach of Monterey, and have not dared to cross over to San Carlos (!). Yesterday they showed their rage by burning down the fort and presidio, whereby they give signs of speedy departure; and it being quite likely that their depraved in- tention is to sack the other points and missions that afford them a chance, I keep a sufficient number of men on the lookout to advise me of the course they may follow so as to send you news with the utmost speed.' Please advise one another, etc. . This circular was received at every mission within three days. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 228-30. On the same day at 12.30 P. M. Sola notified the southern commandants of the insurgents' departure. Will announce the direction as soon as it can be known from the sentinel at

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at San Carlos; perhaps did not visit the mission at all.21 The damage in the presidio was confined to the northern side and to three houses of the southern block, in all of which the roof-beams were burned, allowing the tiles to fall, but leaving the adobe walls for the most part still standing. Outside, the artillery- men's house at the battery was burned, as was the wooden esplanade. Only two cannon were left in a serviceable state. The damage to the company in goods taken from the warehouse or spoiled was esti- mated at about $5,000, most of which was made up pro rata next year by the missions, which trusted to providence and the royal treasury for reimbursement. The padres had also to furnish neophyte laborers for the work of rebuilding. The orchard and vegetable- garden were entirely ruined. The houses of the gov- ernor and commandant were among those partially destroyed, and those officers lost about $5,000 worth of private property. It is, by the way, a rather re- markable circumstance that neither in Sola's report, contemporary correspondence, statements of old resi- dents, nor in the viceroy's expression of thanks to be mentioned later, is there any mention of the part taken in this whole affair by Comandante Estudillo. The scattered families gradually came back as their houses were repaired; and I suppose that by April 1819, and perhaps much earlier, Monterey had well nigh reassumed its old-time aspect.22

Pt Año Nuevo. Sentinels must be posted; munitions transported to where they are needed; heavy guns buried; families sent to the interior ; nothing to be left for the foe. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 32-5. In a letter of Dec. 8th to Martinez, Sola says that superiority of numbers forced him to abandon Monterey ; but he speaks slightingly of the insurgents' courage. Says he has lost all his furniture and luggage. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 21-2. Feb. 26, 1819, Sola was at San Antonio. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., 1. 1, 10. Dec. 1, 1818, J. J. Vallejo and Quintin Ortega with 15 men encamped at rancho real. Id., xlix. 58. Sola's report to Gen. Cruz is but a brief résumé of that to the viceroy, and is supplemented by an appeal for aid. Prov. Rec., MS., x. 29-30. President Payeras' report touches the affair very briefly, adding nothing new. Arch. Sta B., MS., x. 304-5.

21 It is said that one of the insurgents was seen from the hills to enter the mission on horseback with two pack-horses. Afterward it was found that many of the mission tools had disappeared. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 110. 22 On the damages at Monterey see Estudillo's note of March 4th to Sola. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 232-3. June 27th, Sola to president. Arch. Sta B.,

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PREPARATIONS IN THE SOUTH.

Comandante Guerra in addition to his precautions for safety in the jurisdiction of Santa Bárbara had at Sola's order sent a corporal and six men to reënforce Monterey.23 This party returning southward probably brought from the rancho del rey news that Bouchard had left Monterey, his attack on that place having been announced to the great terror of the Barbarcños a few days earlier. Families had been hastily sent to the interior, chiefly to Santa Inés,24 and some vecinos from Los Angeles had been summoned to the presidio to aid the soldiers. It was not thought likely that Bouchard would venture in his large vessels into such a harbor as that of Santa Bárbara at this season of the year, yet it was well to be prepared for the worst.25 A part of the San Diego garrison also seems to have been brought to the north on this occasion.

The insurgent squadron, after its departure from Monterey, November 27th, was first sighted by the sentinels of Purísima mission at 3 p. M. on the 1st of December. Padre Payeras sent a note to the other friars saying that in passing Point Pedernales the two

MS., xii. 238. Sola's report of July 6. Id., vi. 277-80. July 27th, President to padres. Id., vi. 107-8. Aug. 3d, Sola to Estudillo. St. Pap. Sac., MS., v. 53. Aug. 13th, Sola to PP. Tapis and Arroyo. Id., xvii. 48. Payeras in Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 440-1; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 71.

23 Nov. 23, 1818, Guerra to padres. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 28. Rafael Gonzales, who was one of the party, says there were 20 men under Sergt. Anastasio Carrillo. Experiencias, MS., 5-8.

2+ Mrs Ord remembers the journey made by herself and other members of the Guerra family in a carriage that afforded little protection from the heavy rain. She noticed Padre Ripoll alight to give his horse to a sick woman. Memorias, MS., 4-6. Padre Martinez, of San Luis Obispo, wrote to Guerra on this subject what must be regarded as a very extraordinary letter to come from a friar. He said it had been an alcaldada, or stupid blunder, to send the women to Santa Inés. They should have been retained, and then the insurgents yielding to their charms might have fallen an easy prey to the military force. He narrated an instance when the Galicians had thus effec- tively defended themselves against the French. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 9, 10.

25 It would seem that on receipt of the news that Bouchard had attacked Monterey, Guerra also sent northward a new reënforcement. Nov. 24th, at 5.30 A. M., he writes to Sola that Lient. Ignacio Martinez will start in a few hours with all the force he can get, including prisoners released for the pur- pose, many without arms. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 227. This may be the party alluded to by Gonzalez. See note 23. Dec. 11th, Sola expresses his surprise and displeasure at the delay of Martinez in returning to Santa Bar- bara with 20 men of the Monterey company, probably in addition to those he brought north. Prov, St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlix. 23.

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BOUCHARD AND THE INSURGENTS.

vessels had stopped a little and apparently hesitated respecting the course to be followed. Next day Father Uría of Santa Inés announced at 5 P. M. that the ships had anchored at Refugio; but Payeras stated for the consolation of all that he had sent forty armed neo- phytes to aid Uría, that Don Carlos was expected that night with a military force, and that "with your prayers a buena accion may be looked for." Padre Rodriguez expressed to Sola his opinion that "the Canaleños will do deeds that should be recorded in characters of gold." Martinez of San Luis Obispo rose from a sick-bed and marched with thirty-five neo- phytes to the scene of action. Still another friar, while he thought that the treacherous rascals would hardly have the impudence to measure strength with the valiant Barbareños, yet deemed it well, in view of the uncertainty of all things, to pray much and eat little; and even an occasional self-flagellation would do no harm.26

Of what was done at and about Refugio we have no satisfactory account so far as details are concerned. Bouchard's men, however, landed probably late in the afternoon of December 2d. They first plundered and then burned the buildings of the rancho, which had been abandoned at their approach by the Ortegas and other occupants, killed some cattle, and sailed away, probably the next morning. Meanwhile Sergeant Carlos Antonio Carrillo, with a squad of thirty men, soldiers and civilians, hurried up from Santa Bárbara and reached Santa Inés at 11.30 P. M. on the 2d.27 Thence he went up into the sierra overlooking the sea- shore and pitched his camp at a place called Las Cru- ces. Here rapidly assembled the fugitives from the rancho and the padres with their bands of warlike

26 This correspondence of the warlike friars is found in Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 35-7, 41; Arch. Sta B., MS., vi. 277-80.

27 Carrillo announces his arrival in a letter to his brother-in-law, Capt. Guerra, at the hour named. He is resolved not to let the enemy cross the sierra to Santa Inés, and if they retreat (!) to Santa Barbara he will follow them closely. He is on the point of starting for the sierra. Guerra, Doc. Hist. C'al., MS., iv. 197.

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ATTACK ON REFUGIO.

neophytes. From the camp scouts were sent out to watch the foc. One adventurous and imaginative vaquero approached so near to Refugio as to see the in- surgents firing guns, killing cattle, and breaking doors. He even counted five hundred men in one house! A party of Spaniards also advanced carefully and formed an ambush so near the doomed rancho that when three of the pirates came that way in quest of a cart, they were seized, hurried off across the hills to the mission, and put in the stocks.28 One of the prisoners called himself Lieutenant William Taylor, a native of Boston; another, Martin Romero of Paraguay; and the third was a negro named Mateo José Pascual. As the enemy sailed away from Refugio, the Span- ish army with the captives retired to the presidio, leaving the families still at Santa Inés.29

On December 6th the two ships cast anchor at Santa Bárbara, and Bouchard immediately sent a flag of truce ashore with a letter to the comandante in which he proposed an exchange of prisoners, and promised if it were granted to leave the coast without committing further hostilities.30 Guerra in his reply

28 The letters of Padre Ullibarri to Payeras, dated Santa Inés, Jan. 3d and 4th, are the best authority extant on these events. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 24-6.

29 In addition to the documents already cited, I may note that Sola Noticia, 285, briefly mentions the affair at Refugio. Juan Avila, Notas, MS., 3-5, says that his father was in charge of the party from Los Angeles and that he captured the prisoners against Carrillo's wishes. He says there were only two captives, who were exchanged for an Indian and a negro named Molina. José María Romero also confounds the negro with Molina. Memo- rias, MS., 11, 12. Gonzalez, Experiencias, MS., S, tells us that the troops returning from Monterey in passing the Cuesta de Santa Inés saw Ortega's buildings on fire and many people on the hills looking at the conflagration. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 44-5, states that 50 of the insurgents returning from the rancho to the shore met 30 of the Santa Barbara troops and were driven back after losing two prisoners and several wounded, while the Spaniards lost only four horses wounded! There is no foundation for this hostile ren- contre, which, however, Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 231-7, still further elaborates into almost a battle. He tells us that Carrillo met Bouchard's men as they were climbing the steep Cuesta de Santa Inés 80 strong, and drove them back by rolling stones down upon them, killing five and severely wounding two. Bouchard cut the throats of three fine stallions imported by Ortega from Mexico. He obtained wood and water at Santa Cruz Island, and was warned by confederates not to land at San Pedro.

30 Arrival of the vessels Dec. 6th, Pror. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlviii. 9. In this same document the date of departure is given as Dec. 9th, which

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to Bouchard stated that the prisoners were still alive, and that their fate would depend largely on Bouchard's own actions. The proposition for exchange had been forwarded to. the governor, and six days would elapse before a reply could be obtained. This was on the 7th, and the same day he wrote again, doubtless in response to another communication from Bouchard. "If your men are very anxious to fight, I can assure you that mine are desperate to meet them. But inasmuch as feelings of humanity prompt you to propose the cessation of hostilities and to return the prisoners you hold, provided those taken at Refugio are also given up, I, who value the lives of my fellow- beings above every earthly interest, give you my word to have the prisoners brought here and to deliver them some time to-morrow." When the morrow came and Guerra was on the point of giving up the captives, he was much surprised to learn that Bouchard pro- posed to exchange only one prisoner for three, which as he informed the insurgent chief in a letter of the 9th, seemed to him a very strange proposition in view of past references to "prisoners" in the plural. He therefore declined to proceed in the matter, remind- ing his foe at the same time "that this moderate answer is the offspring of my good manners and not of any fear of your threats, which are of no conse- quence to me."31 But later in the day, on receipt of Bouchard's assurance that he really had but one prisoner to deliver, and his proffered permission to

is perhaps an error, as in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 228, Guerra says they sailed at dawn on the 12th. On the same day of the arrival Guerra had reported to Sola the affair at Refugio and promised to make the best defence possible though he had no artillery and few men. Id., xx. 223. Rafael Gonzalez, Experiencias, MS., 8-10, says he was one of two soldiers sent to the beach with Alf. Maitorena to meet Bouchard's boat which was seen approaching the Cerro de los Voluntarios. As the boat drew near they were directed to stand off, while one of the men waded ashore with a letter on a stick which he stuck in the sand and retired. Mention also of a flag of truce in Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 5, 6.

31 Romero, Memorias, MS., 1-12, tells us that Guerra with a view to overawe the pirates caused his troops to march toward the mission and round a hill in such a way as to come over and over again into sight and represent a large army.

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AT SANTA BÁRBARA.

search his ships if his word were doubted, the com- mandant "for humanity's sake" consented to the unequal exchange, which was at once carried into effect.32

The so-called prisoner whom Bouchard gave up in exchange for his three men proved to be the drunken Molina, who would have been a good riddance to the province at any price. And now Sola's replies to the comandante's reports began to arrive with expressions of the governor's surprise and dissatisfaction that Guerra had consented to hold any parley with pirates or to take into consideration a proposition to exchange prisoners when none had been taken except by the Spaniards. Sola's disgust at the deception practised on the comandante in connection with Molina was natural enough; but his reprimands were altogether too severe, and he even went so far as to blame Guerra for not having attacked the insurgents, which was in very bad taste indeed, after his own failure to defend Monterey with resources vastly superior to those of Santa Barbara.33 Poor Molina had to bear the brunt of the governor's wrath, since he was sen- tenced to six years in the chain-gang after receiving a hundred blows on his bare back. It was never clearly known whether he had deserted to the insur- gents, had really been taken prisoner, or had gone on

32 Bouchard's letters are not extant, but those of the comandante are pre- served in blotters in Guerra, Doc. Ilist. Cal., MS., iii. 138-41. Dec. 9th, Guerra also reports the exchange to Sola, Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 224, an- nouncing at the same time his purpose to attack Bouchard if he should break his word and land again. The prisoners had been examined at Santa Bárbara on Dec. 5th. Their testimony has been utilized elsewhere in the narrative. Bouchard, Testimonio, etc., MS.

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History of California, Volume II, Part 24

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 826

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826