USA > California > History of California, Volume XXII > Part 12
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It took but a few days for the settlers to convince themselves that Fremont desired a revolt, and would join it eventually should the necessity arise, though he would not openly take an active part in beginning it. Naturally we know but little of the many inter- views in respect of persons, dates, and other details. Two or three are however on record. We know the results; and it is evident that only to a few did Fre- mont make definite promises, others receiving them
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BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.
at second-hand through trusty agents sent out by the few. Samuel J. Hensley, during a trip to the bay, had learned from Vallejo and others some facts and more rumors respecting the junta at Monterey, the project of an appeal to England, Castro's prepara- tions at Santa Clara, and points of the general situa- tion. Returning, he arrived at New Helvetia May 28th. From Sutter he learned that the Indians were threatening serious trouble; and a chieftain was con- veniently found to testify that the savages were act- ing at the instigation of Castro. On June 3d, Sutter started on a campaign against the Indians; while Hensley on the 4th hastened up the valley to make Frémont acquainted with the impending dangers." At about the same time Neal returned from below with opportune confirmation of alarming rumors. It was on the 6th that Frémont, after consultation with Hens- ley, decided on the course to be pursued; and two days later Hensley and Neal returned to Sutter's, from that point sending out trusty agents to summon the settlers in all parts of the district.6 If we may credit Ide, a written summons was circulated in Fremont's name, though not signed by him. Ide and others made haste to obey the summons, which they received on the 8th; but, not being filibusters of a radical type, were much troubled that Frémont's plan, so far as he would condescend to make it known to them, was not one of independence, but rather one to pro- voke Castro to begin hostilities through outrages to be committed by persons who had nothing to risk either of property or reputation." This was on the 10th; and before that Kelsey, Hargrave, Swift, and others had come as representatives of the Napa Val- ley settlers, they like Ide not being able to obtain from Frémont any definite promise of aid." All was
6 Hensley's testimony, in Fremont's Cal. Claims, 33-4; Fremout to Benton. Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 191. The dates are fixed and confirmed by the New Helve- tra Diary, MS., 49-51; and also to some extent by Sutter's Diary, 7-8, where the campaign against the Moquelumnes is described.
1 Ide's Biog. Sketch, 111-19.
8 Hargrare's Cal. in '46. MIS .. 4-11: Fowler's Bear Party, 2.
105
CASTRO'S MOVEMENTS.
ready, however; the train was laid; new occurrences were exceptionally favorable; and steps had already been taken to apply the match. On the 10th the first act of hostility was committed. About the same time Frémont moved his camp from the Buttes to the Feather River, and then down to Bear River, lear its junction with the Feather.
General Castro was striving to organize at Santa Clara, under the immediate command of José Anto- nio Carrillo, a force of militia with which ostensibly to resist the invasion threatened by the United States, and especially to resist Frémont, whose return could be interpreted only as a threat. Castro had really some fear of Frémont, though probably no hope of defeating him; but his chief purpose was to resist Governor Pico, who was believed to be preparing for a march northward. Not much can be known of the general's success; but though funds were scarce, and public sentiment not enthusiastically patriotic, he doubtless raised about a hundred men, whom he had great difficulty in keeping together, arming, and mount- ing. At the beginning of June he made a trip to San Rafael and Sonoma in quest of supplies, and to consult with Colonel Vallejo. Victor Castro was di- rected to be ready with his boat on the 5th, to bring back the general, with such munitions as he might ob- tain.º Respecting the nature and success of Castro's demands upon Vallejo, we know only that he obtained from the latter and through his influence about 170
9 June 6, 1846, Alcalde Pacheco of San José to Prefect Castro, mentioning the general's departure and instructions to Victor Castro. It was also expected that Vallejo might come over on the boat. The writer speaks of the campaign of Sutter, 'now allied with Castro' against the hostile Moquelnmnes. He allndes to troubles between citizens and civil authorities on one side and the military officers on the other, displays considerable bitter- ness, implies that Castro's preparations are really to overthrow the civil anthority, and urges the prefect to warn the govt. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 251-2. The spirit of this letter shows where the filibusters obtained some of their reports of Castro's instigating the Indians, etc. Lancey, Cruise of the ' Dale,' 49, says that the general went by way of Yerba Buena, and was absent four days, which is likely accurate, though no authority is given.
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BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.
horses, belonging part to the mission Indians of San Rafael and part to private citizens.1º Francisco Arce, the general's secretary, and also a militia lieutenant, had crossed the bay with Castro, and was now sent with Lieutenant José María Alviso and an escort of eight men to conduct the horses by the Sacramento to Santa Clara.11 Crossing the river at William Knight's place, now known as Knight Landing, the party arrived at the fort June 8th, and next day con- tinued their journey, camping for the night at Mur- phy's rancho on the Cosumnes. 12
The approach of Alviso and Arce from Sonoma was made the foundation of the rumor, said to have been brought by an Indian, that Castro's force was advanc- ing up the valley, destroying the crops and committing other outrages. It has also been said, and it is not impossible the statement was remotely founded on fact, that Arce told Knight or his wife at the crossing that the horses were to be used by Castro for a cam- paign by which the settlers were to be driven out, after which a fort was to be established to prevent the entrance of any more immigrants by the Bear River pass. This report was carried by Knight in all haste to Frémont's camp.13 It may be that Don Francisco,
10 Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 110-11, says that the horses were 200 belong- ing to the govt and 100 to the mission of San Rafael; and that all were being pastured by Castro's orders on the Cosumne River. This, though confirmed by Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 156-9, and Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 130-1, is not accurate.
11 By an official report of Gen. Carrillo it appears that Alviso was really in command, Arce having been detailed to assist him. Arce in his report also named Alviso as in command. Arce's statement of the number of the escort agrees with the entries in the diaries kept at Sutter's, and is doubtless correct, though the force has often been represented as much larger by those who wished to magnify the exploit of the insurgents. José Noriega, Blas Alviso, aud Blas Pina were of the number.
12 N. Helvetia, Diary, MS., 51; Sutter's Diary, 8; Arce, Mem., MS., 52-4. The river is also called Tahualmes and Macasomy. Sutter, Personal Remin., MS., 138, etc., implies that a few horses were added to the band at his place. 13 This version seems to rest on the authority of Semple. It first appeared in the Monterey Californian, Aug. 29, 1846, and subsequently with slight va- riations in the Hesperian, iii. 387-8; First Steamship Pioneers, 171-3; Bryant's What I Saw in Cal., 287-8; S. F. Alta Cal., Aug. 2, 1866; Lancey's Cruise, 49-50, etc. Semple was in a sense an excellent authority, but he was also a prominent conspirator, and one of those who kucw well that the settlers were in no danger. Ford, Bear Flag, MS., 4-5, gives a confused version to the
107
CAPTURE OF ARCE'S HORSES.
a somewhat talkative young man, did make some foolish and boasting remarks as represented; but it is more likely that the story was invented for effect, as other similar ones are known to have been. At any rate, the opportunity was too good a one to be lost by the filibusters. In the forenoon of the 9th, eleven or twelve started in pursuit of Arce from the vicinity of Frémont's camp. Hensley states that they were sent by Fremont; 14 and there can be no doubt that the movement was instigated and planned by that officer. It was during the absence of this party that Ide had an interview with Frémont, as already narrated, the latter urging the importance of a raid on Castro's horses, and King being anxious to know what the set- tlers would do if the horses were taken.15 It was also at this time that the camp was moved to Bear River. Ezekiel Merritt commanded the pursuing party, the exact composition of which is not known. Semple seems to have been a member, as probably were Gran- ville P. Swift and Henry L. Ford, and possibly one or two of Fremont's men. Most were of the roving immigrants and hunters who had been for a week as- sembling near the Buttes, men of the class described by Frémont as having nothing to risk. 16
Merritt and his men were joined by two others at Hock farm. They crossed the American River at dusk, supped at the rancho of Allen Montgomery, who with another joined the force. They encamped at night within two or three miles of where the Cali-
same general effect, representing that Arce made his boasts while on the way to Sonoma after the horses, and that Knight was a spy sent ont by Fremont.
1+ Hensley's testimony in Fremont's Cal. Claims, 33. Fremont himself says ' they were surprised by a party from my camp.' Letter to Benton. Viles' Reg., Ixxi. 191.
13 Ide's Biog. Sketch, 111-19.
16 Bidwell, Cal., 1841-8, MS., 161-4, who was at Sutter's at the time, thinks there were no permanent settlers in the party, but chiefly hunters whom Fremont sent out, using Arce's expedition as a pretext for a beginning of hostilities. Martin, Narr., MS., 21-2, says Fremont called for volunteers among his own men, of whom the writer was one, and that 15 started under Swift; but Martin is not good authority. Baldridge, Days of '46, MS., 27, also names Swift. One account names Neal and Knight as members of the party.
10,
BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.
fornians were camped, guarding their horses in Mur- phy's corral.17 At early dawn on the 10th, they sur- prised Arce and his companions, requiring them to give up their arms, which of course was done without resistance.18 Subsequently, however, after a certain amount of threatening bluster from Merritt and his fellow-filibusters, the arms were restored, with a horse for each man, and also a few horses claimed as private property by Alviso, who concealed his real position as leader of the party; and the prisoners were dismissed with a message that if Castro wanted his horses he might come and take them, and with the announce- ment of a purpose to take Sonoma and New Helve- tia, and to continue the war.19
The filibusters returned with the captured horses by the same route they had come, slept that night at Nicholas Allgeier's rancho, and reached Fremont's new camp in the forenoon of the 11th, after an ab- sence of forty-eight hours. Arce and his men made haste to San José and reported their mishap to Car-
17 Ford, Bear Flag, MS., 6-7, gives the most complete description of the expedition. See also Lancey's Cruise, 56.
18 Frémont in his letter to Benton, Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 291, gave the date in- correctly as June 11th, and the error was repeated in Sec. Marcy's report of Dec. 5th-29th cong. 2d sess., H. Ex. Doc. no. 4, p. 51, and from this source in Smucker's Life of Fremont, 28; ('utts' Conq., 152-3; and many other ac. counts. Most writers have taken pride in representing the number of Mer- ritt's men as 12 and of Arce's party as larger. Larkin's letters make the force 12 on each side. Semple spoke of IS prisoners, and Ford of 23! Some miscellaneous references on the capture of Arce's horses are: Tuthill's Hist. ('al., 169-70; Hist. Bear Flag Revol .; Piña, Narr., MS., 3-5; Tinkham's Hist. Stockton, 89; Willey's 30 Years, 9; Mendocino Co. Hist., 60; Marshall's State- ment, MN., 1-2; Belden's Hist. Statement, MS., 43; Honolulu Friend, iv. 169; Sta Cruz Sentinel, June 12, 1869.
19 The announcement of a purpose to take Sonoma is proved by the fact that it was announced in the official reports before Sonoma was taken. Arce, Memorias, MS., 52-4, says it was at first the intention to kill him and his companions, and that they were saved only by the intercession of Murphy and his wife. Of course there was no intention of killing them; but Merritt was a rough man, who may have tried to make them think so. In one of Lar- kin's letters, Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i, 131, the story was told as a report that on Arce's complaining that he had been taken by surprise, Merritt pro- posed to repeat the operation, the Californians armed and mounted to choose their distance and give a signal for the attack! This has been often repeated, and may or may not have had some foundation in fact. Noriega, one of Arce's men, disappeared after the affair, as appears from corresp. of the time: and he turned up at Sutter's 9 days later, coming from Murphy's. N. Hel- retia Diary, MS., 52.
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MERRITT'S OPERATIONS.
rillo and Castro, who in their correspondence repre- sented the affair in its true light, as an outrage com- mitted by a band of irresponsible highwaymen at the instigation of Frémont. They regarded it as the pre- cursor of invasion, and made an earnest appeal to the prefect, as representing the civil authority, to forget all past dissensions, and join the military in the coun- try's defence. Consul Larkin volunteered his assist- ance in recovering the stolen animals, or punishing the offenders, if any feasible method of action could be pointed out.20
Merritt and his party had announced at the Co- sumnes their plan to take Sonoma. Such a plan may or may not have been definitely formed before they had started in pursuit of Arce; but if not, it was formed immediately on their return to camp on the 11th. It was manifestly important, having once be- gun hostilities, to leave the Californians no rallying- point north of the bay. Without delay the company was increased to twenty men, and, still under Ezekiel Merritt's leadership, left Frémont's camp on Bear Creek in the afternoon of the same day. Crossing the Sacramento probably at Knight's, supping at Gor- don's on Cache Creek, and crossing the hills by night,
20 June 13th, Arce to Mayor Gen. Carrillo, and Carrillo to Gen. Castro by a 'violento extraordinario,' forwarded the same day from ' El Rio' to Prefect Manuel Castro. Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 103, 105. June 13th, Sub-prefect Guerrero at Yerba Buena to prefect. Id., ii. 112. Same to juez of S. José. S. José, Arch., Loose Papers, MS., 24. Same date, Carrillo to S. José al- calde. Id., 51. All agree that the filibusters claimed to be acting under Frémont's orders, and threatened to continue their depredations. Lancey, Cruise, 49, tells us that Gen. Castro received the news on June 12th, on the Salinas River, hastening back to Monterey and dictating a letter-as he could only paint his signature !- the same day to Manuel Castro calling for aid. June 14th, Larkin to Gen. Castro, original in Arce, Doe., MS., 13. June 14th, L. to Manuel Castro, original in Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 257; copies Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i. 113; Sawyer's Doc., MS., 49. June 15th, Al- calde Pacheco to prefect. Has seen one MacGuinsé (Mckenzie ?), who was with Arce, and says that none of the filibusters belonged to Frémont's party. He recognized only Merritt, and says that they claimed to fear that Castro intended to use the horses to drive the settlers away. Noriega has not been heard of. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 259. Larkin gave a brief account of the affair in letters to the sec. state on June 18th, 24th, and in a 'circular to several Americans' on July 8th. Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i. 131; ii. 65; Sawyer's Doc., MS., 55.
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BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.
they arrived in Napa Valley in the forenoon of the 12th. They remained there two days, and their num- ber was increased to 32 or 33, whose names, so far as they can be known, for no list has ever been made until now, are appended in a note.21 About midnight they started again over the range of hills separating the valleys ; and just before dawn on Sunday, June 14th, were at the town of Sonoma.22
21 Ezekiel Merritt, Wm B. Ide, John Grigsby, Robert Semple, H. L. Ford, Wm Todd, Wm Fallon, Wm Knight, Wm Hargrave, Sam. Kelsey, G. P. Swift, Nam. Gibson, W. W. Scott, Benj. Dewell, Thos Cowie, Wm B. Elliott, Thos Knight, Horace Sanders, Henry Booker, Dav. Hudson, John Sears, and most of the following: J. H. Kelly, C. C. Griffith, Harvey Por- terfield, John Scott, Ira Stebbins, Marion Wisc, Ferguson, Peter Storm, Pat. McChristian, Bartlett Vines, Fowler, John Gibbs, Andrew Kelsey, and Benj. Kelsey.
22 There is no doubt about the date of arrival at Sonoma; but there is a possibility that they did not leave Bear Creek until the 12th. Lancey, Cruise, 56, etc., takes that view of it. Ford, Bear Flag, MS., 7-10, says they started at 3 P. M. on the 10th, which, like all those given by this writer, is an impos- sible date. Ide, Biog. Sketch, 120, etc., says it was at sunrise on the litlı. which is equally impossible. These two authorities, however, are the best extant on details of the march; and as they seem to agree that one whole night was spent in Napa Valley, I have little doubt that the start was at 3 P. M. of the Ilth. This is partially confirmed by the statement of Baldridge, Days of' '30, MS., 21, etc .. 33-8, that Grigsby and Elliott made a tour through the valley to enlist the settlers the day before the attack was to be made. Yet
Semple, Hesperian, iii. 388-9, gave the date of starting as the 12th. The ‹late of taking Sonoma was incorrectly given by Frémont as the 15th, Letter to Benton in Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 191; and the error has been often repeated. Newspaper discussions on this date in recent years will have to be noticed presently in another connection: they have been further complicated by Ford's error in making the date of the capture June 12th.
There is also a discrepancy about the composition of the party. Ide says 13 men left the Sacramento, and were increased to 32 in Napa Valley, though he implies later that the whole number was 34. Ford makes the number 20 at first, increased to 33 at Napa. Most authorities content themselves with stating that there were 33 men at last. The West Shore Gazeteer, Yolo C'o .. 12-13, followed by Lancey, says that 12 men out on an Indian expedition with Armijo, a Mexican, learned at Gordon's of Merritt's movement, and marched en masse to join him. It is noticeable that these 12 men added to Ford's 20 make up Ide's total of 32. There is no agreement respecting the place of rendezvous in Napa Valley. Grigsby's, Kelsey's, and 'Major Barnard's' art mentioned.
Baldridge, Days of '46, MIS., 5, says that while Merritt was nominally the leader, Grigsby had entire control of the affair. Sutter, Pers. Remin., MS .. 147-50, says the 'band of robbers' were Fremont's men, implying that the captain went with them, and that some of Sutter's workmen and Indians went along. He confounds this with later events. Martin, Narr., MS., 24, tells us that Frémont's men were disbanded, and immediately volunteered to take Sonoma under command of Swift! Pat. McChristian, Narr., MS., 1-5, claims that the company was organized according to previous notice, in the hills near Salvador Vallejo's rancho. Boggs, Napa Register, April 6, 1872, copies an order sent in advance as follows: Mr. Geo. Yount: please deliver to the Republic of California 1,000 bbls of flour-signed Wm B. Ide, gover-
111
AT SONOMA, JUNE 14TH.
In narratives of the time, and later, it was custom- ary to magnify the exploit of June 14th, by speaking of Sonoma as a Californian stronghold, a fort, a garri- soned town, taken by surprise, or even by a "gallant charge" without shedding of blood, so skilfully was the movement planned. There was, however, no gar- rison at Sonoma. The soldiers formerly in service there had been discharged some years before, during the Micheltorena troubles. Some of the citizens even were absent from the town, and there was no thoughit of even posting a sentinel. It is true, there remained as relics of the old military régime nine small cannon, a few of them still mounted, and over 200 muskets in the cuartel, with a small quantity of ammunition. All was technically public property, though in reality be- longing to Colonel Vallejo, who had not seen fit to deliver it to the general on his late visit. Two men residing there held commissions in the Mexican army ; otherwise, a more peaceful burg than this stronghold of the Frontera del Norte on that Sunday morning it would be difficult to find.
At daybreak Vallejo was aroused by a noise, and on looking out saw that his house was surrounded by armed men. This state of things was sufficiently alarm- ing in itself, and all the more so by reason of the un- couth and even ferocious aspect of the strangers. Says Semple: " Almost the whole party was dressed in leather hunting-shirts, many of them very greasy; taking the
nor;' and gravely tells us that the flour was delivered! Of course this is pure invention. The same writer says that on reaching the Sonoma Valley, a Californian was found encamped, and was arrested to prevent his giving an alarm. The wheels of this man's cart stood for years unmoved, marking the spot. Ide, Biog. Sketch, 120-1, informs us that Gordon and ' Major Barnard,' at whose places they stopped, were liberal with their hospitality, but not will- ing to join the party. At Napa, 11 P. M., on the 13th, 'sleep and drowsiness were on the point of delaying if not defeating our enterprise.' Ford and Lancey speak of an address by Semple before the departure from Napa. John Fowler, Wm Baldridge, T. W. Bradley, aud others, according to their own statements, did not immediately join the company, which was regarded as amply strong. Thos Knight, Early Events, MS., 7-11, speaks, like Boggs, of the arrest of a native before reaching the town. Ide says the captain of the guard was arrested a little way out, perhaps referring to the same occur- rence.
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BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.
whole party together, they were about as rough a look- ing set of men as one could well imagine. It is not to be wondered at that any one would feel some dread in falling into their hands." And Vallejo him- self declares that there was by no means such a uni- formity of dress as a greasy hunting-shirt for each man would imply. 23 Vallejo's wife was even more alarmed than her husband, whom she begged to escape by a back door, but who, deeming such a course undigni- fied as well as impracticable, hastily dressed, ordered the front door opened, and met the intruders as they entered his sula, demanding who was their chief and what their business. Not much progress in explana- tion was made at first, though it soon became apparent that the colonel, while he was to consider himself a prisoner, was not in danger of any personal violence. Lieutenant-colonel Prudon and Captain Salvador Va- llejo entered the room a few minutes later, attracted by the noise, or possibly were arrested at their houses and brought there; at any rate, they were put under arrest like the colonel. Jacob P. Leese was sent for to serve as interpreter, after which mutual explanations progressed more favorably.
Early in the ensuing negotiations between prisoners and filibusters, it became apparent that the latter had neither acknowledged leader nor regular plan of opera- tions beyond the seizure of government property and of the officers. Some were acting, as in the capture of Arce's horses, merely with a view to obtain arms, animals, and hostages-to bring about hostilities, and at the same time to deprive the foe of his resources; others believed themselves to have undertaken a rev- olution, in which steps to be immediately taken were a formal declaration of independence and the election of officers, Merritt being regarded rather as a guide than captain. All seemed to agree, however, that they were acting under Frémont's orders, and this to
23 Semple, in Monterey Californian, Sept. 5, 1846; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 111, etc.
113
WRITTEN GUARANTIES.
the prisoners was the most assuring feature in the case. Vallejo had for some time favored the annexa- tion of California to the United States. He had ex- pected and often predicted a movement to that end. There is no foundation for the suspicion that the taking of Sonoma and his own capture were planned by him- self, in collusion with the filibuster chiefs, with a view to evade responsibility; yet it is certain that he had little if any objection to an enforced arrest by officers of the United States as a means of escaping from the delicacy of his position as a Mexican officer. Accord- ingly, being assured that the insurgents were acting under Frémont, he submitted to arrest, gave up keys to public property, and entered upon negotiations with a view to obtain guaranties of protection for non-com- batants.
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