History of California, Volume IV, Part 52

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820

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506

EXPULSION OF GOVERNOR MICHELTORENA.

fifty foreigners on the other side, against whom they would not fight, knowing many of them person- ally. They had been wavering before, and were not sorry for an excuse to withdraw from a bad cause; but they went through the forms of listening to argu- ments from their compatriots of the south. While posted in the bed of the creek, after the firing had be- gun, they were visited by McKinley and Wilson, who came as representatives of their company, posted in the same gulch about a mile below, and who labored to show that it was neither the duty nor the interest of foreign residents to fight for the purpose of keeping Micheltorena's rabble in California. Captain Gantt and other prominent members of his company, who had come out to meet the others at a little distance from their camp, admitted the force of Wilson's rea- soning, but replied that their men were afraid of losing the lands which Micheltorena had granted or promised them. To remove this difficulty, Pio Pico was sent for and came in person-so say Wilson, Botello, and Pico himself-explaining to the foreigners that Michel- torena's grants and promises were worthless, because lands could not be granted legally to any but Mexi-

ing fire had the good luck to kill three cholos and mortally wound another, whereupon M. at once raised a white flag over his carriage. He also nar, rates that Trinidad Espinosa rode out before the foe, challenging pursuit. when a cannon-ball killed his horse under him. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v- 2-15, agrees with Alvarado, and both insist that the battle was a sham, as per agreement between M. and Castro. Manuel Castro, Relacion, MS., 127- 34, gives a very correct general account of the whole affair. Pico, Acont., MS., 61-3, learned from cholos who remained in the country that some of their number were killed. García, Hechos, MS., 84-5, says the Californians had three guns, one of which was in his charge. Rico's gun was dismounted during the fight. Botello, Anales, MS., 112-18, witnessed the first day's fight from a distance with Pico. He thinks there was no intention of hurt- ing anybody. Gonzalez, Memorias, MS., 23-30, who served under M., gives some particulars of no especial importance. He represents the soldiers as having been anxious to fight, while the general was backward, and says that the Californians first proposed a truce. The narrative of Buelna, Notas, MS., 9-16, is one of the best extant on this matter, though by no means so on all subjects. See also, as containing no definite information of any value not already presented, Serrano, Apuntes, MS., 96-8; Torre, Remin., MS., 125-8; Arce, Mem., MS., 42-6; Amador, Mem., MS., 156-9; Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 452-4; Bandini, Hist. Cal., MS., 109-12; Ord, Ocurrencias, MG., 135-6; Valle, Lo Pasado, MS., 34-5; Janssens, Vida, MS., 184-5; Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 114-17.

507

FOREIGNERS REFUSE TO FIGHT.

can citizens; yet he assured them that they would in no way be oppressed, that their present occupation of lands would not be disturbed, and that as soon as they chose to become citizens he would give them legal titles. This being satisfactory, all agreed to leave the general's service, though they would not consent to join the other side, and before night they withdrew from the field. It was reported at the time in the letters of Jones and Larkin, printed a little later in Alfred Robinson's book, repeated by Tuthill and oth- ers, and has become the current version, that the two bodies of foreigners mutually agreed to withdraw and leave the Californians and Mexicans to fight out their own battles. It is nearly certain, however, that this was not the case, and that the southerners made no such promise. There is little evidence that they did withdraw from the Californian ranks, and they could not consistently and honorably give a promise which would prevent them from defending Los Angeles and its ranchos against Micheltorena's convicts. They may possibly have promised not to use their rifles-as they had no occasion to use them later-except it should be necessary to check the Mexicans' advance on their homes.34

34 Most writers state that the foreigners on both sides withdrew out of range of the guns. Bell says they 'went on a picnic,' with a mutual agree- ment to permit no sacking or forced loans. Streeter says also that Michelto- rena was not to be allowed to enter the town. Jones heard from one of Gantt's men that both parties met in Castro's camp, and that Castro not only prom- ised them kind treatment, but proposed to join them in declaring California independent of Mexico! Alvarado and Vallejo talk of Graham and Mckinley marching out in advance of their respective companies to make an agreement by which both parties withdrew, representing Graham as having taken the initiative, and Mckinley as being very reluctant. Torre and Serrano tell us that Graham was captured by Joaquin de la Torre. Jesus Pico and Botello state that the northerners went to S. Fernando, the former affirming that Castro furnished them horses, and the latter that the Indian company went with them. Sutter and Bidwell represent that the agreement to withdraw was mutual, and that the southerners broke their promise, thus causing defeat. This is supported by Wiggins and Galindo. Apuntes, MS., 49. J. A. Forbes, in a letter in Yolo Co. Hist., 12, gives the following vivid but imaginary pic- ture of the battle: 'Wild firing began by the Mexicans with grape and can- ister, without effect, and soon the rifle-shots from Mckinley's men began to tell upon the Mexican artillerymen, but not a shot was fired against Sutter's men. Mckinley had staked his all on the issue, having delivered his store of goods of all kinds. worth more than $5,000, to the California party gratis ..

508

EXPULSION OF GOVERNOR MICHELTORENA.

Sutter was not in the ravine with the riflemen, but came there while the negotiations were in progress, to learn why they were not obeying orders. His eloquence was of no avail; his old arguments had lost their force. On his way back to the general's posi- tion, he and Bidwell, his aid, were surrounded and captured by a party of Californians. They were taken before Castro, kindly received by him and Alvarado, and after a brief detention at the rancho of Cahuenga, were sent under parole, Rowland being their surety, to Los Angeles, where they were lodged at the house of Abel Stearns. There is room for suspicion, though there is no proof of the fact, that Sutter's capture was not altogether against his will, being merely a pre- arranged method of 'honorably' deserting Micheltore- na's cause. It was evident from which quarter the winds were soon to blow, and it was high time for the wily Swiss to trim his sails accordingly. But for a previous stipulation with him or his men, the Cali- fornians would have been amply justified in showing him little mercy. His head was all, and perhaps a little more than, he could reasonably have hoped to save.35

and now he had come on that field to offer his life in their cause. The Mex- ican infantry kept up a fire of musketry at Mckinley's party, and he, impa- tient of delay, desiring to speak to many of his friends in Sutter's party, left his own men, and rushing out on the plain with his rifle in one hand and way- ing his hat with the other, passed at a run under a storm of musket-balls, and unhurt, was received by his friends in Sutter's party, where his cogent argu- ments soon caused their defection from the Mexicans, and the result was the capitulation '!

35 In his Personal Reminis., MS., S. says that when he went to the ravine he found his men balloting te decide whether to desert or not, Marsh's elo- quence being very effective, and the coming of the southerners to the camp settling the question; that while Alvarado and Castro treated him with great kindness, there was a large party both on the field and at Angeles in favor of shooting him; and that during the first night of his capture he was forced to write advising M. to surrender, though he wrote in French and in such a way as to let the general know he wrote under compulsion. Bidwell in car- rying orders had before been taken by Castro's men, but had escaped. He implies that Sutter's visit to the men was after they had made the agreement and left the ravine. Mauricio Gonzalez testifies that' S. joined the enemy with his foreigners and Indians. Manuel Castro says S. surrendered himself voluntarily. Buelna tells a similar story. Osio has it that S. waved a white flag and gave himself up, begging Alvarado's favor. Jones wrote at the time that S. and Graham went to Castro's camp and surrendered themselves. Sut-

509

TREATY OF SAN FERNANDO.

Micheltorena had never any idea that he could de- feat the Californians with his cholos of the batallon alon. The former were not very good soldiers, but infinitely superior to the latter in every way. The general feared that if he sent away the convict army, as he promised at Santa Teresa, the Mexican govern- ment would not approve his action. Therefore he had decided to break the treaty, and trust to Sutter's foreign riflemen to defeat the people. Should Sutter fail, he might yet succeed in getting himself and men sent away under some arrangement that would at least look as well in Mexico as the former treaty. Sutter had failed; there was no thought of continu- ing the contest; and the general therefore raised a white flag and proposed a capitulation on the morning of February 21st. Of the negotiations that took place during the rest of the day we know little or nothing. José M. Castañares took the initiative on the general's side. Pio Pico and José Castro had each a personal interview with Micheltorena, and finally commissioners were appointed-Valdés and Castañares for the Mexicans, José Antonio Carrillo and Manuel Castro for the Californians-who pro- ceeded to arrange the terms of a treaty.36

The treaty signed on the Campo de San Fernando on Sunday the 22d, by the comisionados that have been named and by Micheltorena and Castro as prin- cipals, was in substance as follows: Art. 1. Michel- torena, not having received from the supreme govern- ment the order asked for through Tellez to retire with

ter 'has fallen, and I think, like Lucifer, never to rise again; it is thought he will be banished.'

36 General accounts of the negotiations, containing little that is reliable, in Pico, Hist. Cal., MS., 119-20; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 66-84; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 2-21; Gonzalez, Mem., MS., 28-30; besides many men- tions of the treaty. It is said that Bandini was secretary of the commission, and that Castro sent food to M.'s camp for his inen. Pico after his interview with the general, in which he says the latter warned him net to trust Castro, returned to Angeles, whence, under date of Feb. 21st, he writes to some one on the field, suggesting that M. should be made to acknowledge the acts of the assembly and Pico's appointment as gov .; and also recommending cau- tien to prevent him from breaking this treaty as he did the former one. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vi. 68-70.

510

EXPULSION OF GOVERNOR MICHELTORENA.

his men, the revolt of the Californians being against the latter, and being no longer able, with his small force and resources, to check the conflagration which has become general throughout the country, agrees to march with his troops to San Pedro, where Castro will furnish a vessel to carry him to Monterey. Art. 2. At San Pedro those who wish to remain in the country will give up their arms, and the authorities are bound to protect them as citizens. Art. 3. Those who wish to follow the general will embark for Monte- rey, whence, with those of that garrison, they will sail in the same vessel, or another if that will not hold them, for whatever port of the interior they may choose, taking their arms with them. Art. 4. Offi- cers wishing to remain will be considered as belonging to the Mexican army, and will be paid from the pub- lic funds, their lives and property being guaranteed. Art. 5. The same privileges will be accorded to all citizens who have aided Micheltorena. Art. 6. All the armament and war-stores in the armory at Mon- terey are to be delivered to the commander of the re- volted forces, in order that with them he may defend the departmental and national integrity which the general intrusts to him. Art. 7. From this date the political command is turned over to the first vocal of the assembly, as that corporation has provided in ac- cordance with the laws, to which end the general will at once issue a circular order for publication. Art. 8. He will also issue another order that Lieutenant- colonel José Castro be recognized as comandante general of the department. Art. 9. Micheltorena's division will march with all the honors of war, with music, flying colors, and three pieces of artillery with lighted matches, the flag to be saluted by Castro's drummers, but the guns and appurtenances to be given up at San Pedro.37

37 ' Convenios celebrados en el Campo de San Fernando entre los Sres Gen. de Brigada y Comandante General de este Departamento D. Manuel Michel- torena, y el Teniente Coronel de Ejército D. José Castro, comandante de las

511

THE GENERAL'S DEPARTURE.

The ex-governor seems to have been allowed to dictate the terms of this remarkable, not to say ab- surd, treaty, according to his own fancies of what would make the best impression in Mexico, the Cali- fornians being willing to indulge his idiosyncrasies without limit, if they could only get rid of the bata- llon as a military organization. On the 23d Governor Pico issued a proclamation, congratulating the people on the peace of Cahuenga, and setting forth in some- what flowery language the blessings that were to be showered upon the country under the new régime. Next day the treaty and the changes of government resulting from it were officially circulated by Juan Bandini, who had accepted the position of govern- ment secretary under Pico.39

Little is known in detail of Micheltorena's subse- quent experience in California. Not more than a day or two after the treaty, perhaps on the same day, he started with his batallon, enjoying all the military honors that had been promised him, for the coast, and encamped for more than two weeks at the Palos Ver- des rancho near San Pedro.39 Meanwhile Pico and

fuerzas pronunciadas en el mismo.' S. José, Arch .. MS., i. 5-9. Copies in Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 75-6; Vallejo, Ilist. Cal., MS., v. 15-18; also printed in Micheltorena, Expediente, no. 12; translation by J. A. Forbes in Yolo Co. Hist., 12. The first S articles are signed by the four comisionados as well as the principals; the 'additional article,' which I have called art. 9, by M. and C. only.

38 Feb. 23d, Pico's proclamation. Vallejo, Doc., MS., 67; Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., v. 88-91; Id., Ang., x. 55. Feb. 24th, Bandini to town au- thorities. S. José, Arch., MS., i. 2, 5, 9. I have not found the circular orders promised by M. in the treaty; but Feb. 25th the bishop sends to P. Duran that one announcing Pico as gov. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vi. 111.

39 In Jones' letter of Feb. 24th we read: 'Mckinley writes that the general shed tears like an infant at Angeles, and publicly told the people that he thonght he had done wrong in taking up arms against the citizens of Califor- nia.' Larkin's Doc., MS., iii. 37. But I do not think he passed through the city atall. Gomez, Lo Que Sabe, MS., 156-9, speaks of the noble and frauk bear- ing of M. in contrast with Pico's downcast eyes and stammering speech on the occasion of the formal transfer of the command; but I have no reason to sup- pose there was any such occasion. Davis, Glimpses, MS., 125, called on M. several times at Palos Verdes. Mauricio Gonzalez, Memorias, MS., 30-3, was with the force, and subsequently returned to Angeles to deliver the ar- tillery. He speaks of some insults offered to the cholos by the people, and relates that José Limantour came to S. Pedro and had business interviews with M. Coronel, Cosas de Cal., MS., 66, also had an interview with M. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 86-9, and Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 18-20,

512

EXPULSION OF GOVERNOR MICHELTORENA.

his associates made a contract with John Paty to transport Micheltorena and his troops, 200 in number, to Monterey, and thence to San Blas, in the Don Quixote, for the sum of $11,000 in silver, or its equiv- alent.40 The vessel left San Pedro about March 12th and arrived at Monterey about the 19th. Davis, who was on board the Don Quixote, describes himself and Paty as having been charmed with the bearing of Micheltorena, and with the deportment of his soldiers. So impressed were these gentlemen with the general's affable manners that they accepted his explanations of past affairs with entire credulity, and seem to have honestly believed that this kind-hearted man had spared his beloved Californians from a terrible slaugh- ter. 41 At Monterey the vessel lay at anchor for a week, the soldiers not being allowed to land, and their comrades of the garrison joining them on board. Seven or eight officers of the batallon remained in California under the terms of the treaty, as did a few soldiers, besides fifteen or twenty who had previously left the service and had been scattered through the country. Micheltorena was permitted to go on shore, where he held interviews with leading citizens, and obtained some statements to be used in his defence. He was joined by his wife, and finally sailed in the last days of March, receiving a salute from the guns of the fort as the Don Quixote left the harbor.42 He

talk of M. stealing cattle, offering grants of mission estates to friends, spiking the guns before sending them back, etc. March 6th, Huson (?) complains of the soldiers spoiling his wall and threatening to shoot him if he did not sell them brandy. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vi. 112.

40 Feb. 25th, Paty to Larkin. Expects to get the contract. Supplies to be gathered. Larkin's Doc., MS., iii. 39. March 7th, D. Quixote ready for sea. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vi. 20. March 8th, contract between Pico and Paty. $1,000 payable at S. Pedro; $1,000 at Monterey; $9,000 in 90 days. Pico, Figueroa, and Lugo suretics for the $9,000. The govt also to pay for food. The sum was paid in July. Id., vi. 20-1. March 18th, no money at Monterey to pay the $1,000. Id., Ben., iii. 66.

41 Davis, Glimpses of the Past, MS., 127-9. Davis did not make the trip to S. Blas, but says that Paty was delighted to the last with his passengers. Both Micheltorena and Paty are said to have been masons of high degree, and the more intimate on that account.

42 March 20th, M. at Monterey to Vallejo, mentioning Castro's appoint- ment. Will soon sail. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xii. 140. March 21st, Larkin to M., a friendly letter c:pressing sympathy for his misfortunes, due to his cx-

513

FAREWELL TO THE GENERAL.

wrote from San Blas on April 19th, sending to Pico some documents, including his own (M.'s) appointment as constitutional governor in accordance with the terna sent by the junta in 1844; and he next appears in the records on July 9th, when he had an interview with President Herrera, by whom it is said he was not very warmly received.43 I have not found his report to the government, whose action in consequence of his expulsion will be noted later. It seems, however, that he tried to advance his own cause and throw dis- credit on his opponents by creating the false impres- sion that he had been overthrown by the aid of Amer- icans and by a party which favored annexation to the United States.

In taking leave of Micheltorena, I need not repeat. even in brief résumé, what has been said in former chapters of his life in California, and before he came: neither is their anything more to be said of his char- acter. The reader has found him a strange mixture of good and bad; a most fascinating and popular gentleman; honest, skilful, and efficient as an official in minor matters; utterly weak, unreliable, and even dishonorable in all emergencies. In person he was tall, slight, and straight; with agreeable features, clean-shaven face, light complexion, and brown hair. A portrait, copied from a painting in Mexico, was presented to Governor Booth in 1873 for the state capital, where it is still to be seen.44 The general

cessive kindness and aversion to shedding blood. Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i, 21-2. Mar. 24th, the vessel still at anchor. M. allowed 6 days to settle his affairs. Id., ii. 20. Arce, Mem., MS., 44-7, tells us that M. expressed much gratitude to himself and a few others who had taken no part against him. As he walked down to the boat, dressed in black with only his gener- al's sash, with his wife on his arm, both were cheerful, saluting all they met. Serrano, Apuntes, MS., 98-9, mentions as the officers who remained Col. Segura, Capt. Flores, lieuts Villa and Padilla, alfs Dueñas, Garfias, Servin, and Sanchez.

13 Micheltorena's Admin., 28; Dept. St. Pap., MS., vi. 82; Bustamante, Mem. Hist. Mex., MS., ii. 170.

" California Journal of Assembly, 1873-4, p. 143; Hayes' Scraps, Cal. Notes, v. 10; Taylor's Discov. and Founders, i., no. 11; see also a lithiographic portrait in Ramsey's The Other Side, p. 114. His wife Dona Josefa Fuentes is spoken of as a bright, intelligent, pleasing, and generous woman, who was highly respected by the Californians.

HIST. CAL., VOL. IV. 33

514

EXPULSION OF GOVERNOR MICHELTORENA.

was a man of good education who made some literary pretensions; and who on the evening of September 27, 1845, a few months after his return from Califor- nia, read in a public celebration at the University of Mexico a literary production, which, if we may credit the bitter criticism of Carlos María Bustamante, put all his hearers to sleep.45 In February 1847 Michel- torena served as adjutant-general under Santa Anna at the battle of Buena Vista, or Angostura.46 In October 1847 he was appointed comandante general of Oajaca, but the appointment was revoked because his presence was deemed necessary at Querétaro as a member of congress.47 In April 1849 he writes from Mexico to Manuel Jimeno.48 In 1850-1 he was comandante general of Yucatan;" and in 1854 his name no longer appears in the list of officers belong- ing to the Mexican army.50

During his absence in the south Micheltorena, as we have seen, had left Captain Abella with about fifty men of the batallon to protect Monterey. It is not easy to form a definite idea of what occurred at the capital during the period; but it appears that a party

45 Bustamante, Mem. Hist. Mex., iii. 46. 'Este pedantesco militar tiene toda la audacia y orgullo que da la ignorancia, y que lo constituyen objeto de burla en toda linea. Por desgracia es mi paysano, y sin duda es el Oajaqueño mas orgulloso y tonto que ha visto Mexico'! In May 1833, on the occasion of the removal of Gen. Vicente Guerrero's remains to Oajaca, Col. Micheltorena took a prominent part in the exercises, contributing a eulogistic oration, a Latin distieh, and a poem. Guerrero, Soberano Estado de Vajaca, Oajaca, 1833, 8vo, 61 p. In Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 271, I have an original doen- meut entitled Chronologia, Remitido, a treatise on chronology, astronomy, dominical letters, ete., illustrated by a human hand, the fingers marked with letters and figures in a mysterious and complicated manner. 10 leaves, and tables. Dedicated to the bello sexo, and signed Manuel Micheltorena.

46 Feb. 23d, he issued an order of thanks to the army for gallantry, etc. From Boletin de la Democracia, in El Sonorense, April 3, 1847; from N. O. Picayune, in S. F. Californiun, Oct. 27, 1847. See also Ramsey's The Other Side, 114, etc.

#1 Oojaca, Esposicion, 1848, p. 7. M. was at the time brigadier-general and ayudante general. Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 203.

48 Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., i. 506. It is a brief note containing no informa- tion.

49 Mexico, Mem. Guerra, 1851, p. 11.

50 Taylor, Odds and Ends, no. 14, p. 59, says that he died in Michoacan about 1856, naming no authority, and presumably having none.

515

AFFAIRS AT MONTEREY.

of Californians was organized outside the town, with a view of attempting its capture, which was prevented more by the influence of citizens and foreigners than by the strength of the garrison. At the end of Feb- ruary, after a series of hostile demonstrations con- fusedly recorded, on receipt of rumors that Alvarado and Castro had been defeated, Gabriel de la Torre, in command of the force mentioned, summoned Abella to surrender. The captain refused, and Torre made no attempt to enforce his demand, yielding, as he stated, to the solicitations of Spence, Hartnell, and Pablo de la Guerra, who came out as representatives of the townspeople, and because news soon arrived of what had really happened in the south.51 Immedi- ately after the surrender at Cahuenga, General Castro, fearing that Micheltorena might break this treaty as he had the former one if allowed to land at Monterey, despatched Andrés Pico with a small party to go to Monterey by forced marches and assume command. He left Los Angeles on February 24th, and arrived at Monterey before March 5th. Torre put his men at Pico's disposal; and Abella made no objection to giving up the command. Thus Micheltorena's men

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History of California, Volume IV, Part 52

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 820

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820