History of California, Volume III, Part 9

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824

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DISCONTENT OF THE SOLDIERS.

the cause of the rising; and there is no reason to sup- pose that it had any politically personal significance. There is also a vague allusion to insubordination at San Francisco about the same time, but we have no particulars.14

In 1829 there was a practical cessation of the finan- cial controversy in its old phases, the situation remain- ing unchanged, save that Antonio María Osio acted as comisario during part of the year in the place of Jimeno, and an opportunity was afforded Echeandía to rid himself of Herrera by sending him away as a prisoner for trial, on charges somewhat less unfounded than that of mismanaging the revenues. Discontent among the soldiers continued, resulting in a revolt more extensive and complicated than that of 1828, though not much more serious in its results. Desti- tution, resulting from non-receipt of pay and rations, and attributed naturally by the troops to some fault of the governor, was the leading motive of the sol- diers; the participants in the last revolt, yet under

should not be inflicted. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixix. 24. Osio, Ilist. Cal., MS., 123-5, says 40 soldiers, not including the older sergeants and cor- porals, marched 12 leagues to Codornices Mt., and were induced to come back by Pacheco and the padres, the former offering to intercede for their pardon. Vallejo, Ilist. Cal., ii. 83-5, tells us the cavalry company went to Sauzal, could not agree among themselves, and when Pacheco put himself at their head, they instinctively obeyed his order to march back to their quar- ters, where they were under arrest for many months. Pico, Acontecimientos, MS., 10, says that 80 men wandered about for a month, when half went back and were pardoned. The rest, the leaders being Felipe Arceo, Raimundo and Gabriel de la Torre, Pablo Véjar, José de Jesus Pico, and Francisco Soto, remained away longer, but at last returned at the request of their friends and families, and were put in prison. Vejar, Recuerdos, MS., 8-9, says he and another man were sent to Estrada to say that they would serve no longer without pay; and that before they returned to duty Estrada promised par- don and some relief. Torre, Reminiscencias, MS., S-9, says that Arces was leader, and that the rebels went as far as Sta Cruz, S. Juan, and S. José. Ávila, Cosas de Cal., MS., 25-7, saw the rebels form in line near her husband's house to return with Pacheco. She says Vejar was the leader, and that while in prison all were terrified at threats of being put to death. Amador, Memo- rias, MS., 86, tells us it was a long time before all returned to duty. Ho and José de Jesus Vallejo, Reminis., MS., 13-16, represent the soldiers as having been in a pitiable state of destitution when they were driven to insub- ordination. Mention of the affair in Lugo, Vida, MS., 13; Larios, Courul- siones, MS., S; Ord, Ocurrencias, MS .. 24.

14 Oct. 20th, gov. to min. of war. St. Pap., Sac., MS., x. 38-9.

ECHEANDÍA AND HERRERA-THE SOLIS REVOLT.

arrest, were rendered reckless by current rumors that they were to be shot;15 Herrera and some of the friars, from motives of personal hostility, were willing to encourage any movement directed against Echean- día; and finally the records, without clearly implicat- ing any prominent individual, leave room for a suspi- cion that most of the officers at Monterey and San Francisco were at the least not very earnest in their opposition to the rebels, though lacking confidence in their success and courage to take risks.

In June two soldiers revealed to Alférez José Fer- nandez del Campo a plot of the troops to rise against the governor and all those de la otra banda, with a . view to put all the offices in the hands of Californians. The outbreak at Monterey was to take place June 22d, but the plan was revealed on the 18th. The leader was Joaquin Solis, a convict ranchero, living not far from the presidio. Solis was a companion of Vicente Gomez, El Capador. Like him, he had ren- dered service in the war of independence, and like him, had been sentenced to California for brutal crimes, which, but for his past services, would have been more severely punished. This revelation strangely seems to have caused no special sensation. There was a formal examination of several witnesses, with some official correspondence. Difficulty was experienced in inducing any officer to act as fiscal, or prosecutor, and finally the matter was dropped for reasons not ap- parent. Stranger still, this affair was ignored in all the proceedings arising from later troubles.16

15 June 9, 1829, order from Mexico that the soldiers under arrest for mutiny be set at liberty, after admonishment as to their duties. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., v. 12. It does not appear that this order reached Monterey before the rising. The fact that the prisoners began the movement is stated by Pico, Acont., MS., 10-13; Larios, Convulsiones, MS., 8-10; Ávila, Cosas de Cal., MS., 25-8.

16 June 23, 1829, com. of Monterey to Echeandía. Says a conspiracy of the Californians against the Mexicans had been detected, and his men had been un- der arms for 3 days, though the conspirators had not dared to break out. Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 16. June 25th, Alf. Fernandez reported to the com. the revela- tions of Mariano Peguero, corporal of artillery, and of private Pedro Guerrero. Gabriel Espinosa and Raimundo de la Torre were named as concerned in the plot. The cavalryman, Juan Elizalde, confirmed tlic statements of Peguero

REVOLTING TROOPS TAKE MONTEREY.

During the night of November 12th-13th, the sol- diers at Monterey rose and took possession of the presidio. By a previous understanding, doubtless, though little or nothing was ever brought to light on the subject, there was no opposition in any of the barracks; but some of the men, especially of the in- fantry, seem to have been permitted to remain neutral by giving up their weapons. The ringleaders were Mariano Peguero, Andrés Leon, Pablo Véjar, and the two brothers Raimundo and Gabriel de la Torre, though even of these none would subsequently ad- mit that he entered altogether willingly into the plot, or that he contemplated anything more serious than the sending of a 'representation' to the governor. Small parties, each including two or more of the men named, proceeded to the houses of Vallejo, the acting commandant of the company, Juan José Rocha of the artillery, Sergeant Andrés Cervantes, and of the acting comisario Manuel Jimeno Casarin, all of whom were roused from their slumbers on one pretext or another, and were locked up in the calabozo before dawn. Juan B. Alvarado and José Castro seem also to have been arrested. No resistance beyond verbal protest was attempted, except that the doors of Va- llejo and Rocha had to be kicked down by Estévan Espinosa. 17

and Guerrero. Follows a record of preliminary legal proceedings, leading to no intelligible result. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixix. 13-19. Jnly Ist. gov. to com. of Monterey. Orders arrest of Solis, Espinosa, and Torre, and examination of Elizalde, Guerrero, and Fernando Curiel. Dept. St. Pap., MIS., ii. 96-7; Dept. Rec., MS., vi. 187. July Sth, gov. orders artillery comandante to redouble his efforts to prevent the threatened revolt. Id., vii. 193. Sept. 22d, José T. Castro, alcalde, assures Echeandia of the fealty of S. José. St. Pap., Miss, and Colon., MS., ii. 7. Sept. 28th, Fernandez del Campo to al- calde. Must watch that no one carries forbidden arms. Vallejo, Doc., MIS., xxix. 419.

17 The details of the arrests are given at considerable length in testimony to be referred to later. R. Torre, Véjar, Leon, Dolores Garcia, Espinosa, au l a few artillerymen composed the party that took Vallejo. He was called on pretext of an important message just arrived, but suspecting something, would not come out; therefore the door was kicked in after consultation. Peguero, Véjar, and Espinosa arrested Jimeno. Several witnesses testified that Alva- rado and Castro were imprisoned. Avila, Cosas de Cal., MS., 25-8, was told by Vejar at the time that the object was to make the officers cat morisquete and learn how the soldiers had to live. Spence, Ilist. Notes, MIS., 3-7, says Solis

ECHEANDÍA AND HERRERA-THE SOLIS REVOLT.

The rebels thus secured Monterey without opposi- tion, and similar easy success at all other points was anticipated. There was the usual indulgence in pros- pective death or liberty as a figure of speech, but clearly none of the conspirators expected serious ob- stacles. A leader was needed, none of the conspira- tors ranking higher than corporal, or feeling compe- tent to take the command. Raimundo de la Torre was accordingly despatched with a summons to Joaquin Solis, who came in from his rancho on the 14th and as- sumed the position of comandante general of the Cali- fornian troops.18 I suppose that all this had been pre- arranged, although Solis and the rest insisted on their trial, that the convict general now heard of the rising for the first time, and he even had the assurance to claim that he accepted the command to prevent the disor- ders that would naturally arise from leaving the rab- ble uncontrolled !

Now that there was a general, a plan or pronuncia- miento was an absolute necessity. Solis applied for such a plan-or, as he afterward tried to make it appear, for a petition or 'representation' to Echeandía on existing evils-to José María Herrera. The ex-

took the officers of the presidio by stratagem. Alvarado, Ilist. Cal., MS., ii. 148-59, says he and Castro were sleeping in the same room with Vallejo, when 10 soldiers came and marched all three to jail, where they spent the night on the bare ground, half-dressed. Vallejo got a chance to make a speech, but to no avail. The prisoners feared at first serious results from the reckless character of the conspirators. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 86-96, 110-11; iii. 243, gives a similar narrative to that of Alvarado. Says it was 2 A. M. when the soldiers came on pretence of giving him the mail-bag. They were shut up with the lowest criminals, who were however soon released. He was much relieved to hear from Jimeno, the last prisoner brought to jail, that the plot was to overthrow Echeandía, and not, as he had feared, to plunder the town and flee on one of the vessels in port. Torre, Reminis., MS., 10-21, says his brothers Raimundo and Gabriel were in command of the escoltas of S. Mi- guel and S. Luis respectively, and came with their men and those of S. Anto- nio and Soledad, arriving on the night of the revolt. Osio, Ilist. Cal., MS., 123-51, tells us that Rocha, Vallejo, and Fernandez del Campo had repeatedly warned Echeandia of the danger, without his having paid the slightest heed. Véjar, Recuerdos, MS., 9-33, says Echeandía would certainly have been shot had he been in Monterey at the time, as the soldiers considered him respon- sible for all their troubles.

18 Nov. 13, 1829, summons to Solis to take the command, in Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., laxii. 45, signed by l'eguero, Lcon, Gabriel de la Torre, and Petronilo Rios. Sce also Id., p. 40, 43, 53, 53.

A PRONUNCIAMIENTO.

comisario was in sympathy with any movement against the governor. We are told by Osio, Vallejo, Alva- rado, and others that he was the prime mover in the revolt, Solis being merely a tool in his hands. I think this view of the case an exaggeration, and that Herrera, like several others perhaps who were never directly implicated, was willing to wait, and even aid so far as he could in safety. However this may have been, the troops counted on him to a certain extent,19 and he at the least dictated the plan, which was writ- ten at his house by Petronilo Rios, and completed in the evening of November 15th. It was read aloud to a group of foreigners, including Hartnell, Spence, Cooper, Stearns, Anderson, McCulloch, and others who happened to be present, and who more or less approved the document, 'from motives of courtesy,' as David Spence afterward testified. It was read to the soldiers and approved by them the same night. Many claimed later not to have been pleased with the paper, since it was a plan of revolution, and not a petition for redress of grievances; but this was an afterthought in most cases.

The plan was made to embody the grievances of Herrera, as well as of the troops, and was directed against Echeandía as the author of all territorial evils.20 The avowed object was to put the territory

19 There are several vague allusions in the testimony to two brazos fuertes, on whom dependence was placed. One was supposed to be Herrera, and the other perhaps Capt. Gonzalez, or Licut. Lobato, or Francisco Pacheco. Solis claimed to have acted in many things on HI.'s advice after he had taken the command. H. in his testimony said he first knew of the trouble when in the night of the 12th he heard a noise in Jimeno's room next to his own, and rashed out sword in hand to defend him. Next day he was offered the com- isaría, but declined, and advised the rebels to await the arrival of Osio, who already had the appointment from Echeandia. He again declined the office when offered by Solis. He was asked for advice, and gave it in the interest of good order. He subsequently agreed to dictate the plan on condition that the officers should be set at liberty, and with a view to secure respect for the authorities, to prevent outrages on persons and property; in fact, to control for the good of the territory so far as possible a revolution which he was pow- erless to prevent. Dept. St. Pap., MS., Ixxii. 71-4. It is fair to state that this defence was at least plausible, and that there is really no evidence of any weight against its accuracy, except the statements of persons liable to be in- fluenced by prejudice.

20 Solis, Manifiesto al Público, ó sea Plan de Revolucion, 18220, MS. It was signed by Solis, Peguero, Leon, Rios, and Gabriel de la Torre. In substance,

ECHEANDÍA AND HERRERA-THE SOLIS REVOLT.

in the hands of a temporary governor appointed by the diputacion. There was no need of a such a revo- lution, or at least no reason to expect relief from such measures; the charges against Echeandía were grossly exaggerated, since he was merely a weak man placed in circumstances where a strong man could have done but little; but the prevalent destitution among the troops was real, and was perhaps a sufficient motive

the document was as follows: The sup. govt, which is ever anxious for our good, and to which we are ever obedient, sent a governor who has failed to comply with his instructions; has scandalously abused his an- thority; has devoted himself to his own interests and comforts and those of a few men about him; and has paid no attention to the complaints of hungry and naked soldiers. The laws call for a diputacion chosen by the people; but the gefe fails to either convoke that body or to explain his reasons for not doing so, and consequently agriculture, commerce, education, and other vital interests are grossly neglected. Two years ago the gov. suspended the comisa- rio of the revenues for reasons not known, which has resulted in the most scandalons mismanagement of the public funds. The administration of jus- tice and military discipline are in a state of detestable abandonment; im- morality and crime are rampant; and all results directly from the ruler's neg- lect and lack of energy. Therefore, having endured all of misery and neglect that is humanly possible, having resorted in vain to every other expedient, the troops have resolved to use force, and to support the following plan: 1. The diputacion shall meet in due form with all its members. 2. When it has assembled Echeandía shall resign all his powers to the dip., which shall appoint a person worthy of confidence to serve until the arrival of a new gefe sent by the sup. govt, who will be immediately recognized. 3. Both this ayuntamiento (of Monterey) and those of other places will name proper persons to manage the revenues provisionally in accordance with the laws. 4. The troops will remain under their old officers, if the latter agree to this plan; otherwise they will choose a sergeant or corporal as comandante, who shall acknowledge the authority of the gefe appointed by the diputacion. 5. Com- mandants of troops will apply for pay and supplies to the respective adminis- trators of revenue appointed as above, and never to missions or private persons. 6. Only alcaldes may apply to missions for supplies, giv- ing proper receipts, and delivering the product to the administrators. 7. In very urgent cases the ayuntamiento and administrator may require a moderate loan from private persons, the amount being proportioned to their means. S. Persons and property to be fully protected, especially in the case of foreigners belonging to a friendly nation. (Herrera added to this article a note in his own handwriting which extended the assurance of protection to the Spaniards already living in the territory -- that is, leaving all further ac- tion against them for the sup. govt and the new governor to dispose of.) 9. An eloquent peroration, in which the pronunciados declare that they will never lay down their arms until their object is accomplished; that no violence will be used beyond what is necessary in defence of their rights; that there will be no persecution of opponents; that anxiety may be banished from the minds of all, citizens or foreigners; that the object was to reestab- lish and not to overthrow the government; that 'the military apparatus which has caused alarm is only the effort of free men against tyranny, and the use of this last resource made everywhere to overthrow tyranny by soldiers overwhelmed by misery, weakened by hunger, and fully awakened by the painful spectacle daily presented to their eyes of a dear wife and tender children, naked, and on the point of becoming victims to indigence.'

REBEL ORGANIZATION.

for mutiny. It was natural enough that all existing evils should be popularly attributed to the ruler, and could the soldiers have induced some popular and in- telligent officer to take the command, the movement would have been successful so far as the overthrow of Echeandía was concerned.

Soon after his arrival at Monterey, Solis transferred the imprisoned officers from the calabozo to the ware- house. Meanwhile Raimundo de la Torre was sent to San Juan, where he lay in wait for and captured Fer- nandez del Campo, an officer who at the time of the revolt was absent on an Indian expedition. His men joined the rebels, and the leader was brought to the presidio under arrest. Whether he also was locked up with the rest does not appear; but in a few weeks all the prisoners were released at the intercession of foreigners, and on the advice of Herrera, much against the wishes of some of the soldiers. Vallejo and Rocha were however sent south in the Brookline. Stephen Anderson carried copies of the plan to Santa Bárbara by water, and Meliton Soto, a citizen, was sent south with letters calculated to advance the rebel cause, while Raimundo de la Torre read the plan to the sol- diers of every escolta from Soledad to San Luis Obispo. The ayuntamiento of Monterey, headed by Tiburcio Castro, the alcalde, accepted the plan, proclaimed it to the assembled citizens, and urged its acceptance by other towns.21 Castro turned over the municipal funds, and replenished the rebel treasury by imposing a tax or loan of a few thousand dollars on the traders, chiefly foreigners. In accordance with the plan, an administrator of revenues was chosen, the position being given to Antonio María Osio, who accepted it.22 When all had been arranged at the capital, General

21 Nov. 16, 1829, Alcalde Castro to Solis, in Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., v. 359-60.

22 Nov. 16th, Tiburcio Castro's statement. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS .. v. 358. In his Historia de California, MIS., 145, Don Antoni > Maria naturally calls at- tention to the fact that he had been previously appointed by Echeandra.

ECHEANDIA AND HERRERA-THE SOLIS REVOLT.

Solis turned his attention to the north, leaving Fran- cisco Pacheco in command at Monterey.23

Of the march northward and return we have few details; but there had been a previous understanding with the garrison, and neither at San Francisco nor at any point on the way did Solis encounter opposition. The northern tour consumed about a month, to De- cember 20th. The ayuntamiento of San José accepted the plan as the best means of securing peace and or- der; or at least so I interpret a letter of Alcalde Ar- chuleta, which that dignitary perhaps intended to be vague and unintelligible. At San Juan and Santa Clara Solis received supplies and money to the amount of a few hundred dollars; but Padre Duran at Mission San José, not in the comandante's route, declined to contribute, on the ground that he had no official knowl-

23 Nov. 21st, Pacheco to Solis. Says he is not capable of undertaking the command, having neither talent nor disposition for it; but he was willing to serve his country in any possible way. The following items are from the vari- ous statements made from memory: Pablo Véjar, Recuerdos, MS., 9-17, says he had for a week the key of the comisaria, where there was a large box of silver coin, which fact he did not reveal, fearing the men would seize the money and give color to a charge that they had rebelled for plunder. He claims to have been a leader with Torre at first. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 143-6, tells us that Castro was forced to lend $1,000 of the municipal funds, and that he, Osio, distributed over $3,000 in effects to the troops. He arrived the same day as Solis, and helped to secure the release of the prisoners. Estévan de la Torre, Reminis., MS., 12-14, gives some details of the capture by his brother of Fernandez del Campo at S. Juan. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 86-90, attributes his release to the efforts of the foreigners headed by David Spence. He says Sergt Cervantes was also sent south in the Brookline. José de Jesus Pico, Acont., MS., 10-13, says he was sent to intercept the mail at Soledad and to bring away the guard, succeeding in both undertakings. Gonzalez, Revoluciones, MS., 1-3, gives a brief account of the whole affair. Robinson, Life in Cal., 69-70, says that Solis seized about $3,000 in the comisaría, and levied a contribution on the inhabitants. James O. Pattie's version of the Solis revolt is perhaps worth presenting apart. That part relating to this first phase of the affair at Monterey is as follows: In January 1830 (the date is wrong) my acquaintances informed me on landing 'that there was a revolu- tion in the country, a part of the inhabitants having revolted against the con- stituted authorities. The revolted party seemed at present likely to gain the ascendency. They had promised the English and Americans the same priv- ileges and liberty in regard to trade on the coast that belonged to the native citizens, upon the condition that these people aided them in their attempt to gain their freedom by imparting advice and funds. I readily appropriated a part of my little store to their use, and I would fain have accompanied them in hopes to have one shot at the general with my riffe. But my countrymen said it was enough to give counsel and funds at first, and it would be best to see how they managed their own affairs before we committed ourselves by taking an active part in them.' Pattie's Nar., 222.

AT SAN FRANCISCO.

edge of any change in the government. He was per- haps the only man in the north who ventured to ques- tion the authority of Solis.24 At San Francisco Solis and his army were received with an artillery salute; the whole garrison promptly joined the rebel cause; José Sanchez was made comandante instead of Mar- tinez; and that is practically all that is known on the subject.25

At San Francisco Solis tried to induce Luis Ar- güello to take the chief command of the rebel forces. There is no documentary evidence of this fact, but it is stated by many of the Californians. The effort was natural; and José Fernandez says that the offer was made in his presence, Solis urging Argüello's accept- ance, and promising to retire himself, so that Don Luis might not have to associate with a convict. But

2. Nov. 22d, Solis announces that he is near S. Juan, and his men need clothing. Dept. St. Pap., Ben., MS., v. 369. Nov. 23th, Alcalde Archuleta scems to accept the plan. Id., v. 357-8. Amounts of moncy obtained, $1.10 at S. Juan; $100 at Sta Clara; and $200 at S. José. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., Ixxii. 46. Nov. 26th, Solis, at Sta Clara, to ayunt. of S. José. Must have $100 from municipal fund or nearest mission in order to resume his march. S. José, Arch., MS., vi. 14. Nov. 30th, Id. to Id. from S. F., again demands money to supply the troops. Id., vi. 15. Dec. Ist, P'. Duran declines to give $200 for a comandante general interino of whose authority he knows nothing. Id., vi. 17. Dec. 4th, 6th, Solis, at S. Francisco, to the ayunt., arguing the case as against P. Duran. The beauties of the plan and the duties of all, including friars, under it are earnestly set forth. Id., vi. 12, 11. Dec. 6th, Solis, back at Sta Clara, gives receipt for $100 of the tithes of S. José, and $200 of Sta Clara. Id., ii. 49. Dec. 11th, Solis, at La Laguna, with complaint against the alcalde of S. José for nothing in particular. Id., i. 35.

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History of California, Volume III, Part 9

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 824

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824