History of California, Volume II, Part 26

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

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CHAPTER XII.

LAST THREE YEARS OF THE DECADE. 1818-1820.

SOLA'S REPORT ON PRESIDIOS AND MISSIONS-DESTITUTION-MISSION AID- REENFORCEMENTS FROM MEXICO-NAVARRETE'S COMPANY OF SAN BLAS INFANTRY-PORTILLA'S COMPANY OF MAZATLAN CAVALRY-THE CHO- LOS-HARD TIMES CONTINUED-SOLA DISGUSTED-SMALL COMFORT FROM THE VICEROY-GENEROSITY OF THE FRIARS-NO FOREIGN CARGOES- THE GOVERNOR TRIES IN VAIN TO RESIGN-CAPTAIN JOSÉ DE LA GUERRA SENT TO MEXICO-HIS AIMS AND EFFORTS-HIS RETURN WITH SUPPLIES-REVIVAL OF FOREIGN AND SPANISH TRADE-ARRIVAL OF ARTILLERY DETACHMENT UNDER RAMIREZ-FEAR OF INSURGENTS-ROY- ALIST COMPANIES -- THE SPANISH CONSTITUTION OF 1812 IN CALIFORNIA.

I HAVE already noticed Sola's general report on the condition and needs of the province at the beginning of 1817.1 A large portion of that year was spent by him in making a tour of inspection, including every presidio, pueblo, and mission from San Francisco to San Diego. On April 3, 1818, he sent to Viceroy Apodaca the result of his observations. The report was chiefly devoted to local descriptions; but attention was given in general way to the neophytes, their alarm- ing mortality, 41,000 having died out of 64,000 bap- tized, the prevalence of hereditary venereal disease being rapidly communicated from the Christians to the gentiles. The comparative worthlessness of the Indians as an element of future prosperity was noticed, the faithful services of the friars, and the urgent need of supernumeraries to act as chaplains. Agricultural resources, progress, and prospects were given, with the increasing devastations of squirrels, gophers, grass-

1 See chap. x. this volume.

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SOLA'S RECOMMENDATIONS.

hoppers, and the chahuistle in the south. His observa- tions on these and other special topics I shall utilize elsewhere. He gave the white population of Califor- nia as 3,000 at the end of 1817. His suggestion for the cure of the evil which threatened speedy ruin to the missions was the establishment of mission schools, in which female children could be trained from the age of three or four years entirely free from the debasing influences of contact with older Indians; and also a general school or college for the training of five or six chosen neophytes from each mission. The subject of coast defences, with the urgent necessity of thwarting foreign schemes, was again presented; but still the introduction of colonists was pointed out as the coun- try's most pressing need. The new settlers should number at least one thousand families; should be ex- empt from all taxation for ten years, and should have two vessels to carry away their produce in semi-an- nual voyages to southern ports.2

Want in the presidios must have been greater than ever in 1818, for the sources of supply from without the province were fewer even than usual. Goods to the amount of about $14,000 were purchased for drafts from the Manila ship San Ruperto, which put into Monterey in January with a scurvy-stricken crew.3 Roquefeuil took produce at San Francisco in Sep- tember to the value of about $7,000.4 It is probable that some relief also was obtained from Hagemeister and Golovnin, who visited Monterey in the autumn; but very little is known of those visits.5 Sola was still timid and reluctant about engaging in this unlaw- ful trade with foreigners; but the condition of affairs left no alternative, and after carrying his refusals and protestations to such an extent as his official conscience demanded, he always yielded. No Lima ships came

2 Sola, Observaciones hechas en la Visita de la Provincia desde San Fran- cisco hasta San Diego, 1818, MS.

3 Proc. Rec., MS., ix. 175.

4 See chap. xiii. this volume.

5 See chap. xiv. this volume.

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LAST THREE YEARS OF THE DECADE.

for tallow. If anything was obtained from the Clarion except a warning against the pirates the records do not show it. No memorias came, nor was there any encouragement for the future in this respect.6 Mean- while the friars supported the government and troops from the products of their neophytes' labor, without much reluctance for the most part as it seems; though there was a complaint from Santa Bárbara that cattle for fresh meat were refused except at excessive prices. The friars even furnished on one occasion $2,800 in silver coin.7 Complaints of suffering were, like sup- plies, scarcer than usual; and finally in their terror at the Bouchard invasion the people well nigh forgot for a time their destitution.

The first news of Bouchard's attack on Monterey reached Mexico, as we have seen, in December 1818. So serious was the emergency in the eyes of Viceroy Apodaca, who supposed that a part of the province had very likely fallen into the hands of the foes of Spain, that he not only urged Sola to strain every nerve in the defence of his country, but immediately sent orders to Guadalajara and San Blas and Sonora that two vessels should be despatched forthwith with all the troops and munitions of war they could carry for the relief of California. Such was the purport of the viceroy's letter of January 20, 1819,8 and the good news was circulated at the end of March. A little later when Sola's official report of the invasion was received, showing that the Spanish dominion was still intact in the north-west, the danger still seemed so imminent and the earnest appeal for reinforcements

6 Aug. 4, 1818, José María Narvaez to Guerra. The habilitado general has no hope of getting the situado; and even if the funds were forthcoming there are no vessels available for transportation. Guerra, Doc. ITist. Cal., MS., vi. 119. Complaints of destitution. Id., iii. 97, 107. All the author- ities on the Bouchard affair named in the preceding chapter speak of the great want which followed.

7 Guerra, Doc. Ilist. Cal., MS., iii. 98; v. 33. List of missions with pro- rata of $3,000 called for by the government. Arch. Sta B., MS., vi. 283.

Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 66-7.

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REËNFORCEMENTS.

so well founded, that past orders were not counter- manded and measures for relief were actually hastened. In June and July the coming of vessels with troops was definitely announced.9

The first detachment of troops that started north- ward was the San Blas infantry company of one hun- dred men under the command of Captain José Antonio Navarrete, Lieutenant Antonio del Valle, and Sub- lieutenant Francisco de Haro. The transport San Carlos was brought into service to carry the lieuten- ants and half the company, and was commanded by Gonzalo de Ulloa. The captain with the rest of the men embarked on the ship Reina de Los Angeles, Cap- tain José Bandini, chartered for this trip.10 The vessels sailed from San Blas on June 8th, and both landed their troops at Monterey between July 25th and September 7th, there being much confusion about the exact dates.11 The Reina among other war-stores brought five iron six-pounders and ten four-pounders, while the San Carlos had four hundred sabres and three national flags. Forty men of the company under Lieutenant Valle were soon transferred from the cap- ital to San Francisco.

The second detachment of reinforcements was a part of the Escuadron de Mazatlan, a company of cavalry one hundred strong, under Captain Pablo de

9 March 30, 1819. Sola in a circular to the padres directs that if the ships, expected to arrive with troops, should be seen south of San Buenaventura they are to be directed to Sta Barbara; but if further north, to Monterey or San Francisco. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 80. June 21st, Sola has heard that a vessel is fitting out at Mazatlan to bring 100 men under Antonio Cordero. Prov. Rec., MS., x. 35. July 6th, Sola expects the S. Carlos and Cossack. Id., x. 36.

10 She was chartered for $10,000, with $4,000 a month from April 18th for time lost at San Blas or in California. Prov. St. Pap., Pres., MS., i. 12. José Bandini was a Peruvian who afterwards settled in California, and whose son was a prominent man in later times.

11 June 8, 1819, instructions from Commandant Antonio Quartara of S. Blas to Lieut. Ulloa for the voyage, giving details of what is to be done in case of meeting hostile vessels, precautions in approaching California, relations with Sola, etc. The vessels were to bring back a cargo of hemp if it could be had. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 238-43. Announcements of sailing and ar- rival, with other unimportant matter concerning the expedition. Id., xx. 71, 74, 82-3; Id., Ben. Mil., xlix. 32, 35; 1. 24, 49; Prov. Rec., MS., x. 39-40; St. Pap. Sac., MS., v. 54-5; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vi.

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LAST THREE YEARS OF THE DECADE.

la Portilla, lieutenants Juan María Ibarra and Nar- ciso Fabregat, and Alférez Ignacio Delgado. This company embarked at Mazatlan in the Cossack on July 14th. The vessel was chartered for San Diego direct, but the winds carried her to the gulf instead, and on August 7th the troops, thirty-seven of whom are said to have been dangerously ill, were landed at San Luis Gonzaga Bay. From this point they marched slowly northward, and arrived at San Diego on the 16th of September. These troops came toler- ably well armed with muskets and bayonets; and they brought ten thousand dollars in money with which to defray expenses.12 Forty-five of the men under Fa- bregat and Delgado were soon added to the garrison at Santa Bárbara; so that the new forces were in a few weeks pretty evenly distributed among the four presidios, giving each an increase of about fifty men. None of these men were at this time accompanied by their families. A reenforcement of artillery had been asked for, promised, and had even started, but did not arrive this year.

The only especial use for a military force this year was in the series of expeditions made in the autumn against the Indians of the interior valleys, which, in- cluding the disaster at San Buenaventura and the resulting campaign of Moraga towards the Colorado, I narrate fully elsewhere. 13 The newcomers aided in these expeditions, part of the southern company going with Moraga, and the infantry by garrison duty in the north released the presidial soldiers for campaign service. Portilla's Mazatlan company was composed of a good class of men, who subsequently gave no grounds for complaint, being equal in character and discipline to the regular presidial troops. Navarrete's infantry company, the " veteranos de San Blas, solda- dos de la otra banda," or as they were best known in

12 Correspondence about the coming of the Cossack and the Mazatlan com- pany in Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 71, 74, 81, 85-6, 233-4; Id., Ben. Mil., xlvi. 11, 12; xlix. 32, 34, 38-9; Prov. Rec., MS., x. 37-8, 41.

13 See chap. xv. of this volume.

255

THE CHOLOS, AND HARD TIMES.

California, the cholos,14 were on the contrary most emphatically a bad lot. Such is the unanimous tes- timony of governor, commandants, friars, and citizens, no one of whom has a word to say in their favor. They belonged to the criminal and vagabond classes; were taken for the most part from the jails or picked up by press-gangs in New Galicia, and they were altogether ignorant of military discipline or the use of arms. Notwithstanding the suit of clothes and two months' advance pay which they had received, they soon proved a burden rather than a relief to Cali- fornia. 15

And here I am brought back once more to the ever- recurring topic of hard times. Neither the San Carlos nor the Reina brought the long hoped for memorias, though goods to the small amount of $3,000 seem to have been obtained from one of the captains.16 Sola had based some very sanguine expectations on the viceroy's communications. Besides the regular

14 Cholo in American provincial Spanish is the offspring of a Spanish father and Indian mother; but it was never used in California except in an offensive sense, with reference to character rather than to race. It was applied only to vagabonds who came from Mexico.

15 Sept. 28, 1819, Sola to Guerra says he has complained very bitterly to the viceroy about the class of men 'sent at a cost of nearly $60,000 to aug- ment my troubles.' Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlix. 42. Sept. 6th, Lieut. Estrada says not one of the men ever had a musket in his hands. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., v. 182-3; iv. 43. Sept. 17th, Padre Martinez to Sola, the new troops 'sin disciplina y sin religion.' The valley of the Tulares is a good place to tame horses and soldiers. The V. R. should be talked to very plainly. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 90-6. Sept. 16th, Payeras to Sola, protests against the new troops being quartered at the missions or having anything to do with the neophytes. It is hard enough to manage the Indians with the best soldiers of the presidial companies as escoltas. The new troops should be kept in the presidios; but if some of them must come to the missions he will notify the padres to have separate quarters built for them. Oct. Sth, Payeras to padres giving directions for such buildings. Id., iii. pt. ii. 96-104. Of mixed race and worse than mixed character, vicious and quarrelsome. Their conduct inspired disgust and was the origin of the sub- sequent bitter feelings between Californians and Mexicans. Small in stature, wearing the hair short in contrast with the presidial troops, drunkards, gamblers, and thieves. Alvarado, IIist. Cal., MS., iii. 11, 12. Good and esteemed officers; but the large majority of the privates were regular leperos. Pico, Acontecimientos, MS., 4, 5. The moment they arrived at Monterey robberies, excesses, and murders began in California. Osio, Ilist. Cal., MS., 54-5. Nov. 13, 1820, 16 of the company sent back to San Blas for insubor- dination. St. Pap. Sac., MS., vi. 22.

16 Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlix. 37. Capt. Bandini also gave his draft for $1,145, what for does not appear.

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LAST THREE YEARS OF THE DECADE.

presidial supplies of pleasing memory, he hoped for and regarded as promised a detachment of artillery, 400 carbines, 300 swords, fifteen or twenty cannon of large calibre, and a considerable sum of money for the repairing of forts. 17 None of these things came ex- cept some sabre-blades, " not fit for sickles," to which rude wooden handles had been fitted during the sea- voyage. Sola was filled with indignation and disgust, which he expressed rather freely with more force than dignity to superiors and subordinates. The viceroy he accused of breaking his promises, and General Cruz of disobeying the viceroy's orders; all, as he peevishly implies, for no other motive than to increase the troubles that were keeping him restless night and day.18

Viceroy Apodaca had been almost surprised at his own zeal in having made such extraordinary efforts in behalf of California. He was inclined to expect from the far north an outburst of gratitude which would wipe out all the shortcomings of his predecessors, and his own in the past and future. He was accordingly astounded at Sola's impudence and ingratitude, and on receipt of his complaints he administered a severe rep- rimand, and wrote in substance: " You have no con- sideration of the difficulties encountered, or of the sac- rifices made in sending to your province such an army as it never saw before, and you dare to say you are in a worse condition than ever. The swords are not 'fit for sickles;' in fact were not intended to be, but for weapons; and if the handles are not suitable then put on better ones, and supply the lack of scabbards from the hides so abundant in your country. No carbines were sent because none could be found; let the troops

17 These hopes rested on the viceroy's letters of April 26th and March 20th. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 68-9, 79, in which some of the items were promised 'if possible;' and respecting others ' orders had been issued ' mcrely. 18 Sola's correspondence in Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlvi. 12; xlix. 35, 41-2; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 32-3, 35, 43-4. Sola's complaints to the V. R. and Gen. Cruz are not extant; but his letter to the latter was dated Dec. 6th, and was evidently of the same purport as those to the coman- dantes.

237

COUNSEL FROM THE VICEROY.

use muskets to which they are better accustomed. The artillery is on the way, has been delayed I sup- pose, and will arrive in due time. Two vessels have been laden with supplies, and will take away the pro- ducts of the country, thus aiding the pueblo you say you have to feed. And those settlers, let them go to work, as God and the king require; let them develop the rich resources of their province and talk less, and thus will they live comfortably, and also be an aid rather than a burden to the government in such try- ing times as these. I shall continue to do all in my power for your province, and I shall despatch the San Carlos next March with eight missionaries, be- sides money and goods. Meanwhile if the two hun- dred men I have sent are of no use to you, send them back."19

Not a single cargo of goods for trade was brought in 1819 by either Spanish or foreign craft. The gov- ernor made no secret of his determination to trade with the Russians as the only partial remedy for ex- isting necessities;20 but the opportunity seems not to have occurred, and the only dependence for supplies was on the missions. The response of the mission- aries was most satisfactory and liberal; especially when we consider that there were now 200 additional mouths to feed, that the losses of the missions in connection with the Bouchard affair had been quite considerable in time, labor, and effects, besides the inconveniences naturally arising from the hasty abandonment of so many establishments, and that the padres made a direct contribution of about $3,500 to supply losses sustained at Monterey, besides furnishing laborers and many articles to which no special value was given,

19 Dec. 15, 1819, viceroy to Sola. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 63-5. Oct. 28th, the V. R. had written that there were no carbines to be had, and that the treasury of Sonora could furnish no supplies. Id., xx. 72. Dec. 2d, Alcjo García Conde from Durango to Sola. Money and arms very scarce. Can send no funds. Id., xx. 84. Dec. Sth, 'no hay novedad en California.' Gaceta de: Mex., xli. 418.

20 Sept. 6, 1819, Sola to Payeras. Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 179-80. HIST. CAL., VOL. II. 17

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LAST THREE YEARS OF THE DECADE.

and besides having been put to much trouble and ex- pense early in 1819 to protect the province from the new attacks which were feared.21

It is indeed surprising how cheerfully each mission did its part either in voluntary gifts, in regularly as- sessed contributions, or in response to special local demands, and how rarely even slight misunderstand- ings arose in individual cases.22 The friars seem to have realized the fact that they had the province to support, and to have made the best of it, cheering themselves with the idea that they were working for the king and their own existence as missionaries, and with the hope of better times to come.23 Yet at times they were much discouraged at the prospect before them.24 Sola did not fail toward the end of 1819 to

21 Jan. 28, 1819, Sola to president. Calls for the establishment of a station with 150 horses ready for service between each two missions; also for the manufacture of 200 machetes and 150 cartridge-boxes; also for 40 skilled archers to be kept ready at cach mission. Feb. 27th, president to padres giving the corresponding instructions, though the horses were to be kept at the mis- sions until the alarm should be given. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 51-5, 63-9; Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mal., MS., 1. 26-31. March 30th, April 4th, corre- spondenee betweeen Sola and prefect on aid for the expected reinforcements. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 121-2; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 80. Jan. 27th, Feb. 26th, June 26th, Sola's appeals for aid for Monterey, and Payeras' favorable responses, apportioning $3,500 among the missions in the name of the communities of neophytes. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 49-51, 63-9, 125-6. Thanks of viceroy and governor to padres for past services during the inva- sion, communieated by Sola June 27th, and by Payeras July 28th. Doc. Ilist. C'al., MS., iv. 440-1. Correspondence about supplies for the new troops after their arrival. Aug .- Sept. 1819. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlix. -; St. Pap. Sac., MS., viii. 67; Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 179-85.

22 The quarrels at Sta Cruz and at San Juan Capistrano have been recorded in the last chapter. March 22, 1819, Santiago Arguello says he dislikes to have anything to do with the padres, for they act like the apothecary who sugars his pills, implying more than they would dare to say. Guerra, Doc. Ilist. Cal., MS., vii. 77.

23 Extensive correspondence on special contributions during 1819-20, showing no reluctance on the part of the padres. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. passim. Especial zeal is shown in a circular of President Payeras dated Dec. 19, 1819, in which he approved of the governor's resort to contribuciones for- zocas in circumstances of extreme necessity, and calls on the padres to respond liberally and without complaint. Cloth is the chief thing needed; great at- tention must be paid to raising hemp, even to the neglect of vineyards and other industries. The southern missions must also make a desperate effort to grow cotton. Endorsed by a padre at every mission between Jan. 3d and .22d. Id., iii. i. 1-6.

24 Jan. 4th, Señan to Sola. 'Our time of trouble has come; the Americans will do all the harm they can; old connections are broken; no more memorias; foreigners disrespectful; the Limeños charged us 15 per cent. on goods last year, and will take 50 per cent. next year if they come at all; from the gen-

259

MISSION SUPPLIES.

vent some of his peevishness on the friars, accusing them, as he accused everybody, of lukewarmness and a failure to appreciate his own troubles and efforts; but the president replied in a dignified manner that he had given no just cause for such complaints; that he fully realized the governor's difficulties, and that he had done and would do all in his power for the province. Yet he was about to resign and hoped his successor would give better satisfaction; and he in- sisted that while the padres were straining every nerve to support the troops, and doing everything except the impossible, the comandantes should be ordered to comply promptly with the friars' suggestions in minor matters, such as the transfer of guards and details of mission discipline.25 In 1820 there was no contro- versy on the subject and all went smoothly, the cor- respondence being very meagre. At the end of the decade the outstanding habilitados' drafts in favor of the missions amounted to $400,000. Of some of the missionaries' troubles at home and in Mexico, caused by the failure to collect either stipends or money for drafts, I shall have more to say in another chapter.

Sola, whose term of office would naturally expire at the end 1819, had in May 1818 sent a memorial to the king asking for the rank of colonel, and also for a new term as governor when the five years should ex-

eral outlook of affairs I infer the desamparo of the province.' Yet he wil strive and pray for relief from the government and God, to prevent the aban- donment of such a country and of so many souls ripe for salvation. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 46-8. Luis Martinez also takes a melancholico-jocose view of things in his letters to Guerra, though much of this padre's writing is not over-clear to the uninitiated. For instance: 'There is no guitar-player to devote himself to the preparation of a tune for them to dance to. My guitar has only two strings, and I alone understand it, and when I play some dance and I amuse myself-so you must ponder upon this, for the appear- ance of affairs is bad.' Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 6, 8.

23 Correspondence of Oct .- Dec. in Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 126-37. Al- varado, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 187-91, describes a formal conference at Monterey between Sola and padres from 7 missions on the supply question soon after the arrival of the cholos. He says that Sola had to take a very firm stand, pledge his private wealth, and even use some threats before the padres would consent to support the new troops. Correspondence of 1820. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 155, iii. 8; Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 25, 28; St. Pap. Sac., MS., vi. 22; xviii. 35-6, 45.

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LAST THREE YEARS OF THE DECADE.

pire. He was in a contented mood at that time and expressed a desire to end his days in California.26 With increasing troubles, however, he became discon- tented, and a year later, although he had in the mean time been made colonel of provincial militia, he announced his expectation of being relieved at the end of his term in accordance with his request long ago forwarded to the viceroy.21 In the spring of 1820 he sent in his formal resignation, thus arousing strong hopes among the friends of Captain Guerra that the latter might through the aid of San Fernando college secure the position.28 Throughout the year Sola ap- pears to have urged the acceptance of his resignation of an office that yielded him neither honor nor profit, nothing but vexation of spirit. His friends were asked to work for him and secure a better place, as intend- ant or minister of the exchequer; but no attention was paid to the matter, perhaps partly on account of the demand for a better place; on the contrary his appointment as governor was royally confirmed in June, though the announcement did not reach Cali- fornia until the next year.29

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History of California, Volume II, Part 26

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