USA > California > History of California, Volume IV > Part 28
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The years 1839-41 were in the western frontier re- gions beyond the Mississippi years of hard times and
1+ For details, see vol. iii., chap. vi., xif .; and chap. iv. of this vol.
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PREPARING TO EMIGRATE.
discontent among the settlers, at least to an extent which turned the popular attention toward other lands. The people were all emigrants by profession, and con- tinued movement westward was their normal condition. Highly colored rumors were in circulation about Cal- ifornia's genial skies and fertile lands to be had for the asking. They came by way of New Mexico and Oregon, with which regions overland communication was frequent. The frontier newspapers reprinted ar- ticles from the eastern press. There was scarcely a county that had not its trapper visitor who told won- derful tales of a farther west to dwellers in a land which was itself the Far West, and few in which pri- vate letters from some old resident now in California did not circulate. Yet the broad intermediate stretches of mountain and desert, with their hostile Indians and unknown dangers, and conflicting rumors respecting the treatment of new-comers by the Spaniards, made the undertaking of so long a journey no trifling mat- ter, even for those hardy frontiersmen. Our knowl- edge of details-rumors, enthusiasm, projects, obsta- cles, failures-is meagre; but the reader's imagination will largely supply the want, and that without leading him far astray.
In Platte county, Missouri, and the region there- about, the excitement ran high in the late summer and autumn of 1840. A leading cause was the rep- resentations of one Robidoux, who had been in Cali- fornia with the Santa Fé trappers, and pictured the country as an earthly paradise, not only in conversa- tion, but in public meetings held to consider the ex- pediency of emigration on a large scale. Letters from John Marsh to friends in Missouri contributed to fan the flame. An organization was effected, committees were appointed, and a pledge was drawn up binding the signers to dispose of their property, purchase suit- able outfits for a trip across the plains, and to be ready to start from Sapling Grove, Kansas, in May 1841. During the winter some five hundred signed the pledge,
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FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION-1841.
so great was the excitement. It seemed that the pop- ulation was about to migrate en masse. Some oppo- sition sprung up, however, chiefly among the merchants of the town of Weston, who set themselves to work to defeat the movement by means fair and unfair, ar- gument, denunciation, and ridicule-and especially by the publication in local newspapers of all that could be found unfavorable to California. After the excite- ment had cooled considerably, letters of Thomas J. Farnham, republished from the New York papers, seem to have given a quietus to the scheme. Of all that had signed the pledge, only one was ready to start in the spring.
This was John Bidwell, a man of twenty-one years, a native of New York, who had migrated with his parents to Pennsylvania and Ohio, and without them to Iowa and Missouri. He had been a school-teacher, and had finally settled on a farm in Platte county, which was 'jumped' during his temporary absence. He thought of Texas for a home, but decided in favor of California; and was prominent in promoting the organization. Though the company was a failure, Bidwell found three, Robert H. Thomes, George Henshaw, and Michael C. Nye, who, though they had not signed the pledge, agreed to accompany him. The four, with their wagons, oxen, mules, arins, and provisions, started for the rendezvous, being accompa- nied for several miles by many people of Weston to say good-by. Nobody was found at Sapling Grove; but the nucleus of a goodly company was overtaken a little farther along on the Kansas River; and thither came other small parties for a week or more from different parts of Missouri and Arkansas, until there were forty-eight men in all, with some fifteen women and children. This is substantially Bidwell's account. 15
15 Bidwell, California 1841-8; An Immigrant's Rccollections of a Trip across the Plains and of Men and Events in Early Days; including the Bear Flag Rev- olution. By Hon. John Bidwell, of Chico. Dictated by the author to N. S. Boynton for the Bancroft Library, 1877. MS., fol., 233 p. This title is suf- ficiently explanatory. The author has resided in Cal. since 1841, and is one
267
THE BARTLESON COMPANY.
Respecting the other small parties or 'messes' that came together on the Kansas, we know but little in detail; of most, nothing at all. It is easy to imagine that each had resulted from circumstances similar iu their general features to those described by Bidwell. One of them, organized at St Louis, was headed by Josiah Belden, and included Chandler, Brolaski, and Shotwell. Belden was a native of Connecticut, who had lived in New York, Louisiana, and Mississippi, before coming to Missouri. This party joined others at Independence before going on to the Kansas.16 Another mess was headed by Robert Rickman, an- other by John Bartleson, and still another probably by Joseph B. Chiles. One party, including Charles Weber, did not join the company until several days after the start; and one party, as we shall see, was too late to join it at all. On February 1st there had been a public meeting at Independence, at which fifty- eight had agreed to make the trip to California; and doubtless a part of these helped to make up the com- pany of which I am speaking, though their proposed route at that time seems to have been by Santa Fé.17
of the best known and most respected men in the state. It is needless to add that his narrative gives a vivid and accurate picture, not only of the overland trip, but of all that came under his observation down to 1848.
16 Belden, Historical Statement of Facts on California. By Josiah Belden of Santa Clara Co. Dictated for the Bancroft Library, 1878. MS., 70 p. The author has been a prominent citizen of Cal .; and though his narrative is not so full as that of Bidwell respecting the journey overland, it contains many interesting facts about early days, particularly about the manners and customs of the people in California.
17 The account of this meeting seems to have been published in the N. Y. Journal of Commerce, March 30, 1841; but I find it in the Colonial Magazine, v. 229; and also a reference in the Honolulu Polynesian, ii. 79. Some of the resolutions adopted were as follows: 'That our object in going there is that of peace and good-will toward the people and govt of Cal., and our principal inducement for emigrating to that country is that we believe it, from the best information we have been able to procure, to be more congenial to our interests and enjoyment than that of our present location. That as this company wishes to cooperate with all others that may design to emigrate to Cal, the ensuing spring, it is recommended that all such companies and individuals rendezvous at the Sapling Grove on the old Sta Fe route, abont 9 miles west of the Mo. line, against the 10th of May next, at which time and place they request the concurrence of all other companies and individuals. That inasmuch as other companies are expected to join them, the clection of officers to conduct the expedition be deferred till the general rendezvous. That all persons, either single or having families, shall be provided with a sufficiency of provisions
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FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION-1841.
It should be borne in mind that not all of the com- pany had definitely resolved to settle in California, some being bent mainly on adventure.
The company was organized May 18th at the Kan- sas River camp. Talbot H. Green was president, and Bidwell was secretary of the meeting, at which rules were adopted, and John Bartleson was elected captain. Besides Bartleson's company of forty-eight, there were seventeen other persons who were to be their companions for the first half of the journey. These were three catholic missionaries, three hunters, and five teamsters bound for Oregon, a Methodist preacher, two men on a pleasure trip, and three hunt- ers for the Rocky Mountains. The Oregon party was under the guidance of Fitzpatrick, a mountaineer and guide of great experience, who virtually was commander of the expedition so long as he remained with it-and fortunately, for from him the inexperi- enced members of the California company learned much that was useful after his services were lost. The march began May 19th. The missionary party with five carts took the lead; and there followed the wagons of Bartleson's company, eight or nine of which were drawn by mules or horses, and five by seventeen yoke of oxen. The route was one that had often been traversed by trappers bound to the Rocky Mountains and by parties bound for Oregon-up the north fork of the Platte, by the Sweetwater through
and other necessaries to insure them against want till they reach the buffalo region at least, which shall be determined at the general rendezvous. That no person shall be permitted to take any spirituous liquors, except for medical purposes, and this shall be determined by the company at the general rendez- vous. That a cannon having been presented to the company and thankfully accepted, Mr A. Overton be selected to have it properly cquipped and amply supplied with ammunition at the expense of the company. That Marsh's route is believed to be the best by which to cross the mountains.' In Niles' Reg., lxi. p. 209, there is mention of a company fitting out at Independence in May of about 90, under Bartleson and Rickman, to go via the Columbia; and another of 100 men and 30 women and children. One was to be joined by a caravan from Sta Fé. Evidently there were several large organizations similar to that described by Bidwell; fragments from all of which made up the company that actually started. One party went to Sta Fé, but of this I shall speak later.
269
TO SALT LAKE AND FORT HALL.
the South Pass, and down and up branches of Green River, to Bear River Valley near Great Salt Lake. The travellers endured the usual hardships of the long and tedious journey ; but met with no disasters except the accidental death of one man-and two marriages between members of the caravan. To Bidwell's journal we are indebted for most that is known about the details of this expedition.18
Near Soda Springs, on Bear River, August 11th, the company separated, the Oregon party turning off northward for Fort Hall. Twelve of those who had intended to go to California, and several of whom did later reach that country, decided now to join the northern party, five others having left the main com- pany before.19 A few also went to Fort Hall in the hope of bringing back some information about the route to California; but nothing definite was known there on the subject. The idea was, however, vaguely prevalent that the emigrants must find and follow Mary River; and that unless that stream were found, all would perish, since the deserts to the south and the mountains to the north were impenetrable. This idea came of course from the trips of Smith in 1827, and that of Walker in 1833. There were now left in
18 Bidwell, A Journey to California. No title-page, place, or date. Svo, 32 p. This very rare pamphlet is an abridgment of Bidwell's journal from day to day, which the writer sent from Bodega on March 30, 1842, and which was printed in Missouri, probably in that year or the next. It gives the names of all members, the progress and incidents of each day's march, and all the information about Cal. that the author had been able to gain. It is of course the best authority extant on the journey. The same author's Cal- ifornia 1841-8, MS., already noticed, contains also a very good narrative of the trip. Belden, in his Hist. Statement, MS .; Chiles, in his Visit to Cal. in Early Times, MS .; and Hopper, in his Narrative, MS .- all members of the party-have given general accounts of the journey. James P. Springer, another member, seems to have kept a diary which I have not found, it hav- ing heen left by the author in Mo., as he states in Taylor's Discov. and Founders, i., no. 7. Some accounts published in different newspapers, and dealing chiefly with the names of members, I shall have occasion to notice later.
19 The twelve, including all but one of those who had started with their families, were Carrol, Augustus Fifer (or Pfcifer), Chas W. Flügge, D. F. Hill, J. M. Jones, Isaiah Kelsey, Samuel Kelsey, W. P. Overton, James Ross, Elisha Stone, William Fowler, and Richard Williams. Of the 5 others, Jones, Rogers, and Peyton had turned back eastward; Simpson had stopped at Ft Laramie; and Shotwell had accidentally killed himself in June.
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FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION-1841.
Bartleson's company thirty-two men-with one woman and child, the wife and daughter of Benjamin Kelsey- whose names I append in a note.20
For ten days the company marched down Bear River until within ten miles of where it empties into Great Salt Lake; then turned off westward over bar- ren plains, being forced northward in search of water until, on August 27th, they encamped at a spring in the mountains,21 whence Bartleson and Charles Hop- per proceeded in advance to find Mary River. Here the store of buffalo meat, previously secured en route, gave out, and oxen had to be killed for food. The company remained in camp until September 5th, then moving slowly forward, meeting the scouts on the 9th, and on the 15th deciding to abandon their wagons,22 with such other property as could not be packed on mules, horses, and oxen. So far as may be determined from the courses and distances given in the diary, the route followed was too far south to
20 The names, of which many lists but none accurate have been published, were as follows: John Bartleson (captain), Elias Barnett, Josiah Belden, Wm Belty, John Bidwell, Henry L. Brolaski, Dav. W. Chandler, Joseph B. Chiles, Grove C. Cook, James Dawson, Nic. Dawson, Talbot H. Green (Paul Geddes), Gco. Henshaw, Charles Hopper, Henry Huber, James John, Thos Jones, Andrew Kelsey, Benj. Kelsey (and family), John McDowell, Green McMahon, Nelson McMahon, Michael C. Nye, A. Gwinn Patton, Robert Rickman, John Roland, John L. Schwartz, James P. Springer, Robert H. Thomes, Ambrose Walton, Major Walton, and Charles M. Weber.
This list I have formed from the original made by Dr Marsh on the party's arrival, the bonds given by citizens for the good behavior of the members, and Bidwell's printed journal. There is no doubt of its accuracy, except perhaps in the spelling of one or two names. As I have said, all later lists are inac- curate, the errors consisting mainly in omitting some names and including others who went to Oregon. It does not seem necessary to point out the inaccuracies of each. One of the best is that by Springer in Taylor's Discov. and Founders, i. 27. Bidwell in his MS. omits several names, as docs Belden. The list most widely circulated was the Pioneer Overlanders of 1841, made up from the recollections of Thomes, Toomes, and Given, first published in the S. F. Bulletin of July 7, 18GS, and reprinted in many other newspapers. With slight variations, the same list is found, with descriptions of the journey, in many of the county histories. I could give a long list of references to brief newspaper descriptions of this overland trip, only a few of which add any- thing to real knowledge of the subject.
21 In later trips emigrants avoided the southern détour and followed a south-westerly course to the Humboldt, over what is known as the 'old cmi- grant road.'
22 Geo. Mckinstry notes on Bidwell's journal, p. 13, that his party, in 1846, cooked their supper with the remains of these wagons.
271
THE FIRST OVERLANDERS.
strike the river at the nearest point, but on the 23d, after crossing what was apparently the east Humboldt Range, they reached the south fork of the river, fol- lowing it for eight days, though in great trouble be- cause its course was toward the north-west rather than the south-west as they had imagined. On Octo- ber 2d, however, they were delighted to find the stream trend in the desired direction; and five days later were in the region of the sink. Here Bartleson, who had forced the company to move much faster than was deemed prudent, started in advance with his own mess of eight men; while the rest crossed over to and ascended what is now Walker River, called by them Balm River. While resting on the head waters of that stream on the 16th, they were re- joined by the captain and his half-starved companions, who had probably reached Walker Lake in their wanderings, and had gained nothing by their haste. There were now but three poor oxen left for meat, and the lofty and apparently impassable sierra tow- ered before the worn-out emigrants.
For thirteen days, from October 17th to the 30th, they struggled to cross the mountain barrier to the land of promise, in the region of what is now known as the Sonora Pass, from Walker River to the Stanislaus. I make no attempt to picture the dangers and hard- ships and anxieties of the half-starved band in this the most difficult part of their long and perilous jour- ney. I have no space for the details of personal ad- venture which impart such a fascination to the orig- inal printed diary, much less for those of Bidwell's later and more elaborate narrative. Fortunately in all the trip there were only hardships and no disas- ters.23 On the last day, when a mule had been killed for meat, when most of the horses had given out or been stolen, when Hopper, their most experienced mountaineer, had begun to despair, when three of the
2" The Indians were nowhere hostile, though in the sierra they were dis- posed to pilfer. A treacherous guide was shot by Grove Cook Oct. 27th.
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FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION-1841.
company had been missing for a week or more-they came suddenly in view of a valley, that of the Stanis- laus, which they entered on the last day of October, and which to their longing eyes was most beautiful, though parched by the sun and stripped of vegeta- tion by fire, since it abounded in game. Bartleson and his men declared that there was yet a long jour- ney before them, and decided to remain long enough to lay in a store of meat; but the rest, after killing thirteen deer November 1st, moved on the next day, confident that they were in California. The question of their whereabouts was settled when they met two of the missing men, Kelsey and Jones, who had been guided by Indians to Marsh's rancho, where all the company arrived November 4th, except the other missing man, James John, who had left the others October 20th, and who reached Sutter's Fort the 3d of November.
Before narrating the reception of the immigrants in California, let us notice the rumors that had pre- ceded them by a quicker though more roundabout way. The preparations for migration on a large scale had been widely announced in the United States; and in making the announcement certain newspapers had spoken very plainly of the movement as a step toward the inevitable acquisition of the country. Extracts on the subject were forwarded from Washington to Mexico, where they naturally created alarm on the part of the government. Mexican representatives abroad were ordered by the president to give public notice that any person going to California without the consent in due form of Mexican diplomatic or consu- lar agents, would do so at his own peril, the govern- ment incurring no responsibility for damages. At the same time, on May 18th, the very day on which Bar- tleson's company was organized in Kansas, orders were sent to California that no foreign immigrant should be permitted to remain in the country who was not provided with a legal passport, and that even old set-
273
RECEPTION OF THE NEW-COMERS.
tlers must be required to depart unless they procured the cartas de seguridad required by law.24 Meanwhile there had been in California no special feeling against foreigners since the exile of Graham; the people as a rule were well disposed toward new-comers, and the authorities treated them much more leniently than was permitted by the spirit or letter of the laws. "Strangers arriving here in a lawful manner have no difficulty in obtaining the necessary passports either to reside or travel," writes a foreign resident of Mont- erey in February;25 and we shall see that there was but little change in this respect later, notwithstanding the strict orders from Mexico and apparent danger of American encroachment.
Dr Marsh did not extend a very hospitable recep- tion to the immigrants whose coming had been pro- moted by his letters; at least, such was the report sent back to Missouri.26 For a good price, however,
24 May 18, 1841, Almonte, min. of war, to Vallejo, enclosing despatches from the Mex. commissioners at Washington, with clippings from the National Intelligencer, Globe, and other papers, a statement of instructions sent to Washington, and strict orders to V., as recorded in my text. Original in Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 146. Almonte says that some of the newspaper articles are written in a peaceable and friendly tone; but no more so than were the expressions of Austin's colony and other immigrants who afterwards raised the standard of revolt in Texas. May 20th, sup. govt to Alvarado on the same topic, recommending vigilance and strictness. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xvi. 20. Sept., notice from N. Orleans consulate that none may settle or travel in Cal. without passports. Niles' Reg., Ixi. 100. 1842, letter of Mex. min. to Baltimore American, in Id., lxiii. 277. Dec. 31, 1840, to Dec. 1841, minor orders from Mex. and cireulated in Cal., requiring compliance with the passport law of May 1, 182S. Dept. Rec., MS., xii. 16; Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., xvi. 13; Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 138; Id., Monterey, iv. 35; Sta B. Arch., MS., 31; S. José, Arch., MS., ii. 40. Aug. 1, 1841, preliminary instructions for exact compliance with the passport regulations of May 1, 1828. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., viii. 4-5.
25 Honolulu Polynesian, i. 167. Jan. 21st-23d, Feb. 7th, proposition to tax unnaturalized foreigners for lumber cut and sold by them. Monterey, Arch., MS., viii. 2-3; S. José, Arch., MS., iii. 41, 44. Mar. 5th-Sth, Stearns fined for harboring a deserter from the Alert. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., ii. 36-7, 39-40.
26 'To my friends and others I must speak candidly of Dr Marsh. What he was in Missouri I cannot say. I speak for the emigrant, that he may be on his guard, and not be gulled as some have been on coming to this country by him. He is perhaps the meanest man in California. After the company had encamped near his house about two days, and there had been killed for them a small hog and a bullock, he began to complain of his poverty, saying "the company had already been more than $100 expense to him-God knew whether he would ever get a real of it or not." Bnt poor as the company was, he had already got 5 times the value of his pig and bullock in different kinds HIST. CAL., VOL. IV. 18
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FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION-1841.
he rendered some service. On November 5th he no- tified the sub-prefect of the arrival of the thirty-one men, who after resting a while at his rancho would present themselves to prove their lawful intentions.27 Next day about half the company started for San José, and on reaching that place were put under arrest and lodged in the calaboose, though treated with kindness and given to understand that the arrest was little more than a formality. Vallejo was at Mission San José, and to him the matter was referred by Sub-pre- fect Suñol. His position was a delicate one; his or- ders from Mexico were explicit; yet the new-comers had no passports, and alleged their ignorance that such documents were necessary. The excuse was absurd, since it is hardly possible that nothing had been said in Missouri of passport requirements; but Vallejo had no disposition-even if he had the power, which is doubtful-to drive the strangers back into the mountains to perish. He had the prisoners brought to the mission, and on the 11th sent one of them, Nye, with a letter to Marsh, who was required to come and give an account of his conduct in inviting such an immigration, and also to explain the intentions of the strangers.28 On Marsh's arrival and after due deliberation, Vallejo decided on the 13th to assume the responsibility of granting temporary passes to serve until the foreigners could take the proper steps to legalize their residence, they inducing well known citizens to become bondsmen for their good behavior.29
of articles-powder, lead, knives, etc. He charged the company $3 apiece to go and get their passports-a good price for his services.' Bidwell's Jour- ney, 31. There is much more on Marsh's character.
27 Nov. 5, 1841, Marsh to sub-prefect. Vallejo, Doc., MS., x. 300. In- cludes an accurate list of all the namcs.
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