USA > California > History of California, Volume VI > Part 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
581
A BETTER WAY.
Clearly a prompt settlement was the great thing to be desired for all interests, much more important than the detection of a few petty frauds; and the whole matter should and could have been ended in five years at the utmost; most of the claims should have been confirmed, surveyed, and patented in less than three years. Litigation should have been confined to a few test cases; seven eighths of the claims should have been included in a sweeping confirmation on general principles; and the expense should have been borne by the government. Let us hope that the time may come when the united wisdom of the nation in congress assembled shall equal the practical common sense of the average business firm, and the honesty and efficiency of officials shall equal the honesty and efficiency of average business clerks; then shall we have four times the justice that we now receive, for one fourth of the cost.
.
CHAPTER XXI.
FILIBUSTERING.
1850-1860.
ATTRACTIONS OF SPANISH AMERICA TO UNPRINCIPLED MEN OF THE UNITED STATES-FILIBUSTERING IN TEXAS-THE MOREHEAD EXPEDITION FROM CALIFORNIA TO MEXICO-FAILURE-CHARLES DE PINDRAY'S EFFORTS AND DEATH-RAOULX DE RAOUSSET-BOULBON'S ATTEMPTS AT DESTRUC- TION-CAPTURE OF HERMOSILLO AND RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO- TRIAL OF DEL VALLE-RAOUSSET'S DEATH AT GUAYMAS-WALKER'S OPERATIONS-REPUBLIC OF LOWER CALIFORNIA-WALKER IN SONORA- WALKER IN NICARAGUA-HIS EXECUTION IN HONDURAS-CRABB, THE STOCKTON LAWYER.
THE metallic wealth of southern and central Amer- ica was the magnet which drew the Spaniards on to seizure and spoliation. This was conquest; and so rapidly was it accomplished that their Gallic and Anglo-Saxon neighbors found left for them only the meagre remainder in the outskirts. Yet resolved to have a share of the treasure, they, in turn, levied on the Iberians. The circumstances under which this partition was effected gave rise to the term filibuster- ing, interpreted as piracy by the sufferers, and soft- ened by the aggressors into freebooting under shadow of prevailing war. With the march of progress and settlement the chronic yearning for Spanish America on the part of the United States increased; but ris- ing above the vulgar pillage of the privateer, it cov- eted more especially the land with its resources in soil and mineral veins. Austin had sampled the quality of their goodness in Texas, and pronouncing it delec- table; Houston slipped the booty into the union. So rich a morsel whetted the appetite for more. Mexico
( 582 )
583
LAND AND GOLD.
ventured to remonstrate, and was mulcted for her temerity in the map-revision which placed California, New Mexico, and the intermediate country north of the boundary line. "Filibuster!" cried the losers, in im- potent rage; and flattered by the revival of an antique epithet gilded by daring achievements, the Gringo nodded approval.1
The weakness of Mexico, as shown by the United States invasion of 1846-7, and by her subsequent an- archic succession of rulers and frequent local and gen- eral revolutions, served to call attention to a condition favorable to a further adjustment of boundary. This view was gaining such wide recognition as to enter into party speculation, the embryo confederacy adopt- ing it as a compensating means for the failure to plant slavery in California. Herein lay no robbery to them. It was manifest destiny that the stars and stripes should advance with culture to the natural limits of the Isthmus, perchance to Tierra del Fuego.
With the example and fame of Houston before them, prophets rose plentifully to enunciate this gos- pel; and in California especially these expectant founders of states met with eager listeners. It was a land of adventurers, drawn by the thirst for gold and excitement, and stirred by a reckless gambling spirit. The cream of the gold-field had apparently been secured by the first comers, for the following hordes found, instead of mere skimming, harder work than had entered into their calculation or mood. A large pro- portion preferred to dream of virgin sources beyond the usual haunts, to distant fields enshrined in mystery. Their eyes turned readily to Mexico, the mother country of California, and for centuries renowned for her mines. Rumor had long since planted gold and silver mountains in Sonora, and scattered nuggets below the Gila in such profusion that the dreaded Apaches moulded from them their bullets. It was a
1 See Hist. Cent. Amer., ii., this series, for origin and doings of the fili- busters.
584
FILIBUSTERING.
thirst for easy and sudden acquisition akin to the rest- lessness inherited from the western backwoodsmen, who were ever moving onward to new settlements.
The agitation took shape in 1851. After various conflicting reports, which at one time fixed upon the Hawaiian Islands as the victim,2 then fitted out a pirate vessel at Sydney to intercept the gold shipments by way of Panamá,3 attention settled upon the south- ern border, where constant strife held out the tempta- tion to daring spirits for siding with some faction, and so acquire booty if not foothold. J. C. Morehead, during the preceding year, had risen into notice as the leader of an expedition against the Yumas under gubernatorial appointment; but the cloud dispelled before he reached the scene.4 Still thirsting for blood and glory, he received one of those invitations which rebel leaders in Mexico were not backward in extend- ing, though slow to fulfil. The military promenade to Colorado, having served to point out to his follow- ers an easier and more alluring method of earning money than by hard digging, an organization was quickly effected. One small division marched by way of Los Angeles to Sonora; another appeared subse- quently at La Paz; and Morehead himself sailed in May with a company for Mazatlan. A proclamation issued by the United States government against such movements served to interfere with a complete enlist- ment, and on reaching Mexico the broken bands found the aspect so changed or unpromising that they were glad to slink away under the guise of disappointed miners.5
2 Sam Brannan, Estill, and others had made suspicious movements, and the king of the Islands gave vent to his alarm in a speech before his parlia- ment, in appeals to the U. S. commissioner, and in taking steps for defence. Alta Cal., May 15, 1852. In 1854 two persons came to S. F. to organize an expedition, to which the attention of the authorities was called, but nothing resulted. U. S. Gov. Doc., Cong. 33, Sess. 2, Sen. Doc. 16, vi. 101-2.
White's Stat., MS.
4 As mentioned in the chapter on Indians.
5 For references and details, see Hist. North Mex. States, ii., under Son. and
L. Cal. Morehead narrowly escaped arrest at San Diego. Alta Cal., May 17, 1851. The Jefferson Davis clique had not then acquired control at Washing- ton.
585
TOWARD THE SOUTH.
Mexican rebels were evidently too capricious to be relied upon; but the superior government itself was at this time presenting inducements for seekers after glory. It had struggled since 1848 to establish mili- tary colonies for guarding the frontier against Indians, as well as the neighboring republic; yet the good pay and grants of land failed to tempt its indolent citizens from congenial home surroundings to irksome border duty. Others there were, however, who saw herein a stepping-stone to higher levels. Race prejudice ran wild in those days in California, and Frenchmen re- ceived a share of the ill feeling directed against His- paño-Americans, or greasers,6 so that hundreds of them were driven from the mines to earn a precarious subsistence in the towns.7 Common persecution at- tracted them toward those of the Latin race, and to the gilded tales of the border region, and the Mexi- can government felt encouraged by their dislike of the United States to accept their services as frontier colonists, with permission to open mines. Some seven- score accordingly departed at the close of 1851 for Cocospera Valley, in Sonora, under the guidance of Charles de Pindray, a reduced French nobleman.8 As might have been expected, the sorely harassed authorities failed to keep their engagements, and the consequent distress produced desertion, accelerated by the sudden and suspicious death of Pindray.
The dissatisfaction among the French with their condition in California was too great to be eradicated by one check, and it required only a renewal of offers to revive the Sonora gold-fever under another leader. This personage was at hand in Count Gaston Raoulx de Raousset-Boulbon, a figure of somewhat Lilliputian stature and reputation as compared with the Apollo- Herculean proportions of his defunct predecessor, yet big with the soaring spirit of chivalry infused by fam-
6 Causes and outbreaks related in the chapter on mining for 1849-56.
" Partly from ignorance of English, and of any useful trade.
8 An Apollo-Hercules, who had hunted game for the S. F. markets. De- tails in Id.
586
FILIBUSTERING
ily tradition,9 and with an ever-smouldering enthusiasm to carry into effect the glowing fancies of his day dreams, which pictured him another Bayard or La- fayette on the path to military achievements. And it must be confessed that nature had not altogether neglected him for the rôle at least of figure-head for some romantic enterprise.
Although rather petit and slender, his figure was graceful, with a handsome oval face and strongly marked features set off by the characteristic French mustache and imperial, of blond hue. His eyes, bent in dreamy reverie or sunk in pessimist gloom, turned readily into fiery resolution or flashed in accord with an imperious gesture. The voice, unaffectedly com- manding or animated to eloquence, could thrill with encouragement or sway with charm of song or conver- sation. Skilled with pen and pencil, his verse or sketch shone beside the sword and rifle, and he managed the bridle with grace and dash. Although sustained by such talents, his ambition had declined under the prac- tical unfoldment of Europe to a visionary colonist undertaking in Algiers, relieved by occasional hunting tours and military incursions. It was an existence forced upon him by a season of extravagance in the giddy whirls of Paris, to which he returned only to meet another worse rebuff in the political turmoils of 1848, as editor and republican candidate. Crushed both in aspirations and fortune, he availed himself of the gold excitement to join the hegira to California, and here penniless he sank from hunter and miner to laborer, yet clinging to the hope of some higher destiny.
The undertaking of Pindray had not failed to kindle his imagination. With the advice of the French con- sul he repaired to Mexico, where similar colonizing schemes had been long agitated. He assisted in giving shape to the Restauradora Mining Company, under patronage of President Arista, for opening neglected fields in northern Sonora, and arranged to bring a
9 He was born at Avignon in 1817, of a decayed province family.
587
RAOUSSET'S EXPEDITION.
body of French to protect the operations of Mexican colonists against the Apaches, in consideration of re- ceiving ammunition and supplies, half of all land and mines and trading profits. So alluring an offer quickly brought a host of recruits at San Francisco. He selected 260 men, and with them arrived at Guaymas in June 1852.10
The prospect held forth in the project had mean- while brought another mining company into the field, whose intrigues roused the jealousy of the Mexican officials and army men against the entry of an indepen- dent foreign command. Denounced as an intruder, Raousset found every possible obstacle thrown in his way, notwithstanding the ostensible sanction of his contract by the federal authorities. He nevertheless forced his way toward the frontier, but with supplies cut off and rear threatened, he saw that his party would soon melt away. The colonization plan mat- tered little to him, save as a means to obtain for him- self the proud distinction of a commander ; and finding himself at the head of so large a body, composed to a large extent of old soldiers, the half-curbed ambition of the little count began to assert itself for feats more in accord with his dreams than garrison duty among red-skins. What might have been his course if the authorities had kept faith with him can only be con- jectured. The lack of faith on the part of the Mexicans justified almost any step; and his desire was fanned into a flame by the vague promise of support from some of the frontier settlers, who were disaffected on account of the neglect of the authorities to protect them against savage raids.
He despatched agents to San Francisco and Maza- tlan for stores and reinforcements, and marched south with his now ragged brigade of 250 men, intending to surprise Hermosillo, the most important town of So-
10 In the Archibald Gracie, the Mexican consul assisted to overrule the ob- jections of the U. S. officials. Americans were as a rule excluded to humor Mexican prejudices.
588
FILIBUSTERING.
nora, and there dictate demands for justice, though really to prepare for the independence of the state, sustained by the expected immigration and revolu- tionary factions. A love affair delayed him, and enabled General Blanco to occupy Hermosillo with 1,000 men. Nothing daunted, the fiery Frenchman led his followers to the assault, and with the aid of four guns carried the place, on October 14th.11 The triumph proved fruitless, however. The Mexicans were not prepared to yield their place to foreigners. The proposed allies held aloof, and an outcry concern- ing foreign annexation served to unite hitherto hostile factions against him. The only hope of the French lay in reinforcements; and while awaiting them it became necessary to retire from the midst of the gathering Mexicans to the safer shelter of Port Guay- mas. Then Raousset fell sick with climatic fever, and discord broke out among his followers, of which the authorities took advantage to persuade them to deliver up their arms for a small consideration and depart.
Raousset, who had been no real party to the sur- render, returned to San Francisco to receive the most flattering recognition as the victor of Hermosillo. The speed with which he had wrested the chief town from the military forces of the state confirmed the belief that an invasion could be easily effected, and the enthusiasm roused by his feats gave promise of ready material for a repetition of the enterprise, while the custom-house at Guaymas was expected to provide ample means. On repairing to Mexico in the middle of 1853 to claim indemnity on the broken contract, though more properly to seek aid and pretexts for fresh plans, he found his old patrons favorably dis- posed, and the French minister seemed prepared to foster a project that might lead to great ends. France was then striving for a revival of Napoleonic glories, with a predilection for colonial conquests as exhibited
11 At a cost to himself of 17 killed and 25 wounded.
589
DIVERSE AMBITIONS.
in the subsequent expedition to Mexico. Dictator Santa Anna failed, however, to grant any concessions, while delaying the count with idle promises, until Rousset in exasperation formed a league with the federalist rebels, and hastened away thirsting for ven- geance. 12
At San Francisco, also, he found himself checked by the American rival scheme under Walker, whose influential supporters at Washington induced the authorities to exert a watchful interference upon any disturbing French movements. Startled by the dou- ble design, and especially by Walker's projects, Santa Anna sought to counteract both by instructing the Mexican consul at San Francisco to step in and en- gage for Mexican service the most likely filibuster material, except American, with a view to scatter it in small and readily controllable groups in the coast states.13 Not aware of the latter intention, Raousset was elated at the unexpected aid extended to his plans by the Mexican government itself, in offering passage and support to his followers. About 600 were quickly enrolled, and packed on board the Challenge in one body, by the blundering consul. Regarding this manœuvre as directed mainly against themselves, the Walker party stirred the authorities that they might realize the enormity of so flagrant a violation of the neutrality laws, and the Challenge was seized in March 1854.
For some reason the vessel was released and allowed to proceed early in April, although with her passen- gers reduced in accordance with the tonnage act to not quite 400, mostly French, of a motley descrip- tion, with some Irish and Germans.14 The oppor-
12 He obtained at S. F. offers of substantial aid, which were withdrawn when news came of the Gadsden purchase, with rumors affecting the cession of Sonora.
13 The terms were $1 a day, with rations, arms, election of their own officers, and aid to settle as colonists after expiration of the year's service.
14 Alta Cal., Mar. 22-3, Apr. 1-2. The reason for the release may be sought in the glaring discrimination exhibited shortly before in favor of Walker's enlistments, and in the harmless character of the party.
590
FILIBUSTERING.
tunity herein presented, however, of teaching the Mexicans a lesson, was too good to be lost. Their government had lately complained with justice against the United States for countenancing filibuster enrol- ments. All responsibility could now be thrown off by arraigning their consul, Del Valle, for a similar infringement of the neutrality laws. He was accord- ingly arrested and pronounced guilty. During the trial both sides demanded the testimony of P. Dillon, the French consul. A recent convention with France forbidding any compulsory citation, a mere polite re- quest was made for his attendance, yet, on refusing, he was forcibly brought into court,15 whereupon he
indignantly struck his flag. He was soon after arrested as an abettor of Del Valle's enlistment; but as the defence showed the expedition to be the very opposite of a filibustering affair, one aiming to check such movements, the jury disagreed.16 The difficulty and danger of convicting the French consul naturally affected his confrère, and so the better course was taken to impress upon the Mexicans the magna- nimity of the United States by dismissing the case against both. Due apology being tendered, the tri- color was once more floated on the breeze.
Raousset had arranged with the Challenge party to follow them with more men; but the discomfiture just then of Walker dampened the ardor of his adherents. Yet his only hope lay in Sonora, and so he slipped away in a pilot-boat,17 reaching Guaymas July 1st, after a severe voyage. The sweets of power and profitable idleness had by this time imbued the com-
15 The judge decided that compulsion was not permissible.
16 May 20th, all but two stood for conviction on the ground that any en- listment for military purposes was against the law. Full report of proceed- ings in U. S. Govt Doc., Cong. 35, Sess. 1, H. Ex. Doc. 88, x. 134-51; Alta Cal., April to May, June 1, July 14, 1854; Dec. 3, 1855; S F. Herald, April 1 et seq., June 1, 1854; Cal. Chronicle, June 1, 1854; Annals S. F., 531-5; S. F. Post, Sept. 7, 1878. Dillon was in 1856 promoted to consul-general and charge d'affaires at Santo Domingo, and died there soon after. S. F. Bulletin, May 7, 1856.
17 The Belle, with six men and nearly 200 rifles. The prospect of being involved in the consular trial hastened his departure.
591
DEFEAT AND DEATH.
manders of the party with a distaste for hazardous enterprise, and rather than surrender their office to another they would play into the hands of General Yañez, the new military chief of Sonora. Aware, on the other hand, that in unity lay their only safety and means for enforcing the favorable contract with the government, they had sturdily resisted the efforts to separate them, especially after Walker's failure diminished the filibuster scare. Raousset was led to believe that Yañez stood prepared to break with Santa Anna, and would be glad to form an advantageous alliance. The general certainly desired to strengthen his position for the prospective political changes, and seeing in the French complication a justifiable reason for doing so, he entered into the negotiation to gain time for the reinforcements. And so the count allowed himself to be outwitted by both parties, and lose the favorable opportunity of securing at least Guaymas, with its valuable custom-house and vessels. The gathering troops at length opened his eyes. The French battalion also perceived their error, and that in resolute action alone lay the remedy. Confident in his strength, Yañez cast aside the mask, and refused to entertain any proposals, whereupon the French marched against his barracks in three columns.18
With harmonious cooperation, under the inspiring guidance of Raousset, the attack had many prospects for success ; but he committed the mistake of declining the command in order to allay the jealousy of the existing leader's clique. The result was, that the main column was demoralized by the first sweeping fire of the Mexicans. The disorder spread, leaving Raousset with only a handful of supporters, whose heroic efforts were wasted. A portion had fled to a vessel, which overtaken by a storm buried their shame beneath the waters of the gulf. The rest fell back to the consulate before the now advancing garrison, there to surrender
18 In four companies, of about 75 men each, swelled by French residents to about 350 in all.
592
FILIBUSTERING.
with the concession barely of life. With the excep- tion of a few, who were allowed to depart or join the army, they were thereupon sent into the interior to endure great suffering ere the French minister ob- tained their release. 19
The vague terms of the capitulation were ignored as regards Raousset, and he was condemned by court- martial, and shot on August 12th, a month after the battle. He lacked clearness of head, tact and prudence for carrying out the projects conceived by an exalted ambition. Dash and fervor, name and personal attrac- tions, were not sufficient to sustain them. His pur- poses were thwarted by a fitful, misdirected energy; personal indulgence was permitted to imperil the vic- tory at Hermosillo, and lack of firmness and prompt action lost to him the advantage gained thereby, as it did the ready triumph at Guaymas. The petty schemes to which his high dreams dwindled demanded for success the same unscrupulous keenness used by intriguing rivals and opponents, rather than his some- what rigid principles of honor. They appeared out of place in this ferment, save to impart a redeeming lustre to his character.20 Discouraged by repeated failures, he rather courted death, and met it with the proud fortitude of one whose vanity was flattered by the sympathetic admiration, especially of the Mexican women, and whose erratic imagination sought through the bullets consecration as the martyr of a great cause, as an heroic if unsuccessful liberator.
The possession of some of the qualities lacking in the French count enabled a contemporary American filibuster to attain to far greater achievements and distinction. We instinctively connect the leadership of a great enterprise or party with a man of com-
19 For details concerning the expedition, I refer to Hist. North Mex., ii., this series, with references to the authorities.
20 He could have saved himself had he chosen to desert his companion; and he might have secured many advantages at Mexico by considering only him- self.
593
WILLIAM WALKER.
manding presence to supplement that personal mag- netism which commands followers. But Raousset was diminutive, and in the Tennessee lawyer, William Walker, the ideal is marred by a still more puny stat- ure, and an unprepossessing exterior, marked by light towy hair, and a heavy freckled face, surmounted for a long time by a huge white fur hat with a wavy nap, well in accord with the strapless pantaloons, ill-fitting coat, and stalking gait.21 A relieving feature was the seemingly pupilless gray eyes, their large orbits, half concealed by white eyebrows and lashes, at once repelling and fascinating with their strong, steady penetration.22 While reflecting none of the emotions working within the little man, their icy stare indicated only too plainly the unscrupulous nature to which everything was subordinated. His reserve melted not even in genial company from the stolid indiffer- ence which deepened into absolute heartlessness. Slow of speech, swift in energy, with a sharp pen ever ready for attack ; brave and resolute to obstinacy ; a slumbering volcano, repellant save in its snow- fringed deception, and burning with ambition for a fame of wide range-herein lies an explanation why he abandoned the sedate medical path staked out for him, to enter the more seductive mazes of the law, and failing, to seek as editor a vent for his pent-up aggressiveness. 23
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.