History of California, Volume XXII, Part 13

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816

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The guaranties sought were then drawn up in writ- ing and signed by the respective parties. The orig- inals of those documents are in my possession, and are given in a note.24

24 No. 1. An exact copy, except that as the duplicates do not exactly agree in orthography and contractions, I have written each word correctly and iu full.

'Conste por la presente que, habiendo sido sorprendido por una numerosa fuerza armada que me tomó prisionero y á los gefes y oficiales que estaban de guarnicion en esta plaza, de la que se apoderó la expresada fuerza, habiendo la encontrado absolutamente indefensa, tanto yo como los señores oficiales que suscriben comprometemos nuestra palabra de honor de que estando bajo las garantías de prisioneros de guerra no tomaremos ni á favor ni contra la repetida fuerza armada de quien hemos recibido la intimacion del momento y un escrito firmado que garantiza nuestras vidas familias é intereses y las de todo el vecin- dario de esta jurisdiccion mientras no hagamos oposicion. Sonoma, Junio 14 de 1846. M. G. Vallejo, Victor Prudon, Salvador Vallejo.' In English the document is as follows: 'Be it known by these presents, that, having been surprised by a numerous armed force which took me prisoner, with the chief and officers belonging to the garrison of this place that the said force took possession of, having found it absolutely defenceless, myself as well as the undersigned officers pledge our word of honor that, being under the guaranties of prisoners of war, we will not take up arms for or against the said armed force, from which we have received the present iutimation, and a signed writing which guarantees our lives, families, and property, and those of all the residents of this jurisdiction, so long as we make no opposition.'

No. 2. 'We, the undersigned, members of the republican party in Cali- fornia, having taken Gen. M. G. Vallejo, Lieut-col. Victor Prudon, and Capt. D. Salvidor Vallejo as prisoners, pledge ourselves that in so doing, or in any other portion of our actions, we will not disturb private property, molest themselves, their families, or the citizens of the town of Zanoma or its vicin- ity, our object alone being to prevent their opposition in the progress of the HIST. CAL., VOL. V. 8

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BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.

It was naturally to be expected, under the circum- stances, that the arrested officers would be released on parole. Such was evidently the view taken on both sides at first. Ford says there were some who fa- vored such a course. Leese, who had the best oppor- tunities for understanding the matter, and who gives a more detailed account than any other writer, tells us that such a decision was reached; and finally, the documents which I have presented, Nos 1 and 2 be- ing to all intents and purposes regular parole papers, leave no doubt upon the subject. But now difficul- ties arose, respecting some phases of which there is contradictory testimony.

Thus far only a few of the insurgent leaders had entered, or at least remained in the house; and the negotiations had in reality been conducted by Semple and Leese very much in their own way. Ide testi- ties that Merritt, Semple, and Win Knight, the lat- ter accompanying the expedition merely as an inter- preter, were the first to enter the house, while the rest waited outside; that presently hearing nothing, they became impatient, determined to choose a cap- tain, and elected John Grigsby, who thereupon went in; and that after waiting what appeared an age, the men again lost patience and called upon the writer,

en[ds?] of the liberation'. ..- one or two words perhaps at the end, and the signatures, if there were any, are torn off.

No. 3. 'We, the undersigned, having resolved to establish a government of on (upon?) republican principles, in connection with others of our fellow- citizens, and having taken up aims to support it, we have taken three Mexi- can officers as prisoners, Gen. M. G. Vallejo, Lieut-col. Victor Prudon, and Capt. D. Salvador Vallejo, having formed and published to the world no reg- ular plan of government, feel it our duty to say that it is not our intention to take or injure any person who is not found in opposition to the cause, nor will we take or destroy the property of private individuals further than is necessary for our immediate support. Ezekiel Merritt, R. Semple, William Fallon, Samuel Kelsay.'

These important papers are found in Bear Flag Papers, MS., 19-20, 60-1. They were given me by Gen. Vallejo. There are two signed originals of no. 1, one in the handwriting of Salvador Vallejo, and the other in that of Victor Prudon. In Vallejo, Doc., MS., xii. 226, is another incomplete and unsigned blotter copy. Nos 1 and 3 were printed in Marin Co. Hist., 68-9, and Sonoma ('o. Hist., 100-1, from copies furnished by me to Gen. Vallejo. The English document is probably the work of Semple, but possibly of Merritt, as indi- rated by spelling and grammar.

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NEGOTIATIONS AND BRANDY.

Ide, to go and investigate the causes of delay. Now the discrepancies in testimony begin. Ide describes the state of things which met his view as follows: "The general's generous spirits gave proof of his usual hospitality, as the richest wines and brandies sparkled in the glasses, and those who had thus unceremoniously met soon became merry companions; more especially the merry visitors. There sat Dr S., just modifying a long string of articles of capitulation. There sat Merritt, his head fallen; there sat Knight, no longer able to interpret; and there sat the new-made captain, as niute as the seat he sat upon. The bottles had wellnigh vanquished the captors"!25 Leese also states that brandy was a potent factor in that morning's events; but according to his version, it was on the com- pany outside that its influence was exerted, rendering them noisy and unmanageable, though an effort had been made by his advice to put the liquor out of reach.26 I do not, however, deem it at all likely that the leaders drank more than it was customary to drink in a Californian's parlor, or more than they could carry ; but that some of the rough characters in the company became intoxicated we may well believe.

At any rate, disagreement ensued; the men refused entirely to ratify the capitulation made by their former leaders, insisting that the prisoners must be sent to the Sacramento; some of them were inclined to be insub- ordinate and eager for plunder; while the lawless spirits were restrained from committing outrages by the eloquence of Semple and the voice of the majority ; yet the leaders could not agree. Captain Grigsby de- clined to retain the leadership that had been conferred upon him. So William B. Ide was chosen in his stead; and the revolutionists immediately took possession of all public property, as well as of such horses and other private property as they needed, at the same time lock-

"3 Ide's Biog. Sketch, 123-5.

26 Leese's Bear Flay Statement, MS., 6-12. Vallejo, Hist. C'al., MS., v. 113, says that the Canadian Beaulieu gave the men a barrel of aguardiente, which caused all the trouble.

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BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.

ing up all citizens that could be found.27 It would seem that the second of the documents I have presented was torn, and the third drawn up and signed at an early stage of the disagreements, after it became ap- parent that it might be best to send the prisoners to the Sacramento, the signatures showing that it could not have been later. Vallejo, though not encouraged

27 Leese, Bear Flag, MS., 6-12, says that after the capitulations were all completed he left the house; but returning half an hour later, he found all in confusion; Ide insisted that the prisoners must be sent to Frémont's camp; Semple admitted that he could not fully control the men, and said it would be better to yield; Fallon and 'English Jim' notified Vallejo that they must have SO horses in half an hour; others insisted on searching Vallejo's house and took all the arms and ammunition they could find; and finally they took 60 horses belonging to the writer, refusing his request to leave two that belonged to his children. So great did the excitement become, and so freely were some of the men drinking, that the writer feared personal violence. Leese mentions the fact that Merritt, having once been struck by Salvador Vallejo, insisted at first on putting him in irons, but was persuaded to forget his private griev- ances. This story in a more dramatic form has often been repeated. 'With all the keen resentment of a brave man, Mr Merritt suddenly found this man in his power, the blood rushed to his cheeks and his eyes sparkled; he leaned forward like a mad tiger in the act of springing upon his prey, and in an ener- getic and manly tone said: "When I was your prisoner you struck me; now you are my prisoner, I will not strike you"' ! is the way Semple tells it in the Monterey Californian, Sept. 5, 1846. Don Salvador and Merritt were both men more likely to quarrel than to select so magnanimous a method of re- venge.

Another statement of Semple, Id., has been very popular. 'A single man cried out, "Let us divide the spoils," but one universal, dark, indignant frown made him shrink from the presence of honest men, and from that time forward no man dared to hint anything like violating the sanctity of a private house, or touching private property; so far did they carry this principle that they were unwilling to take the beef which was offered by our prisoner '! ' Their children in generations yet to come will look back with pleasure upon the commencement of a revolution carried on by their fathers upon principles high and holy as the laws of eternal justice.' Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 114-15, thinks that it was only by the zealous efforts of Semple, Grigsby, Kelsey, and a few others that indiscriminate plunder was prevented. Many Californians talk of plunder and other ontrages that never occurred. Ide says, Bioy. Sketch, 128: 'Joy lighted up every mind, and in a moment all was secured: 18 prisoners, 9 brass cannon, 250 stands of arms, and tons of copper shot and other public property, of the value of 10 or 1200 dollars, was seized and held in trust for the public benefit.' Baldridge, Days of"'46, MIS., 5, 43- 5, who was not one of those who took Sonoma, gives a remark of Prudon, 'Boys, you have been a little too fast for us, we were going to serve you in the same way in just 10 days'! He also quotes Grigsby to the effect that some sailors announced their determination to have the money which they knew to be in the house, but obeyed Grigsby's order to desist, especially when two rifles were levelled at them. Martin, Narr., MS., 24-6, gives an absurdly incorrect account of the taking of Sonoma, in which he pretends to have assisted; talks of IS loaded cannon with matches burning which faced the attacking party! etc. Salvador Vallejo, Notas, MS., 101-17, tells a little truth about the affair, mingled, as usual in his testimony, with much that is too absurdly false to deceive any one.

117

IDE CHOSEN CAPTAIN.

at seeing that the leaders were not permitted by their followers to keep their promises, was not very much displeased at being sent to New Helvetia. He was assured that the insurgents were acting by Fremont's orders; his own views were known to be favorable to the schemes of the United States; and he had no rea- son to doubt that on meeting Frémont he and his com- panions would at once be released on parole.

Before the departure of the prisoners and their es- cort a formal meeting of the revolutionists was held. That Semple, secretary, made a speech counselling united action and moderation in the treatment of the natives, and that William B. Ide was chosen captain, is all that is known of this meeting,28 except what we may learn from Ide's narrative. The leaders differed in their ideas, not only respecting the disposition to be made of the prisoners, but about the chief object of the movement. Evidently there had been no defi- nitely arranged plan of operations. Frémont had suc- ceeded in bringing about a state of open hostility without committing himself. Some of the men re- garded their movement as merely intended to provoke Castro to make an attack on Frémont; or at least they dreaded the responsibility of engaging in a regular rev- olution, especially when it was learned that no one could produce any definite promise from Frémont in black and white to support such a movement. Others were in favor of an immediate declaration of indepen- dence. That such differences of opinion did exist as Ide states, is in itself by no means improbable; and it is confirmed to some extent by the fact that Grigsby did resign his leadership, and by the somewhat strange circumstance that three such prominent men as Grigsby, Merritt, and Semple should have left Sonoma to accompany the prisoners. Ide writes that when Grigsby heard that no positive orders from Fremont could be produced, his "'fears of doing wrong' over-

2. Semple, in Hesperian, iii. 388-9; and in First Steamship Pioneers, 174-5. See also Lancey's ('ruise, 57.

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BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.

came his patriotism, and he interrupted the speaker by saying: 'Gentlemen, I have been deceived; I cannot go with you; I resign and back out of the serape. I can take my family to the mountains as cheap as any of you'-and Dr S. at that moment led him into the house. Disorder and confusion prevailed. One swore he would not stay to guard prisoners; another swore we would all have our throats cut; another called for fresh horses; and all were on the move, every man for himself, when the speaker [Ide] resumed his effort, raising his voice louder and more loud, as the men re- veded from the place, saying : 'We need no horses; sad- dle no horse for me; I can go to the Spaniards and make freemen of them. I will lay my bones here before I will take upon myself the ignominy of commencing an honorable work and then flee like cowards, like thieves, when no enemy is in sight. In vain will you say you had honorable motives. Who will believe it? Flee this day, and the longest life cannot wear out your dis- grace! Choose ye this day what you will be! We are robbers, or we must be conquerors!' and the speaker In despair turned his back upon his receding compan- ions. With new hope they rallied around the despond- ing speaker, made him their commander, their chief: and his next words commanded the taking of the fort." Subsequently "the three leaders of the party of the primitive plan of ' neutral conquest' left us alone in our glory." I find no reason to doubt that this ver- sion, though somewhat highly colored, is in substance accurate; that Merritt, having captured horses and prisoners, was content to rest on his laurels; that Grigsby was timid about assuming the responsibility of declaring independence without a positive assur- ance of Frémont's cooperation; that Semple, while in favor of independence, preferred that Sacramento should be the centre of operations, unless-what Va- Ilejo and Leese also favored-Frémont could be in- dueed to establish his headquarters at Sonoma; or finally, that Ide and his associates influenced the ma-

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THE PRISONERS.

jority to complete their revolutionary work and take no backward steps. I think, however, that Ide and all the rest counted confidently on Frémont's support; and that Semple and Grigsby were by no means re- garded as abandoning the cause when they left So- noma.

It was about 11 A. M., on June 14th, when the three prisoners, accompanied by Leese as interpreter at their request and that of the captors-not himself a prisoner as has been generally stated-and guarded by Grigsby, Semple, Merritt, Hargrave, Knight, and four or five others,20 started on horses from Vallejo's herds for the Sacramento. It will be most convenient to follow them before proceeding to narrate later de- velopments at Sonoma. Before starting, and on the way, Vallejo was often questioned by Californians as to the situation of affairs; but could only counsel them to remain quiet, announcing that he would probably return within four or five days. His idea was that Frémont, after, releasing him and his companions on parole, might be induced to establish his headquarters at Sonoma, an idea shared by Semple, Grigsby, and Leese. Relations between captives and captors were altogether friendly, except in the case of some hostile feeling among a few individuals against Don Salvador.30

They encamped that night at Vaca's rancho. No special pains was taken to guard the prisoners, who with Leese slept on a pile of straw near the camp. Vallejo had desired to travel all night; but the men declined to do so, having had no sleep the night be- fore. Before dawn on the morning of the 15th, a

29 Lancey names Kit Carson as one of the guard, falling into the error from the fact that Carson accompanied Merritt from Fremont's camp to Sutter's Fort. There were probably none of Fremont's men in the party that took Sonoma. Ide says the guard contained 10 men; Leese says about 12 men. Both Ide and Ford state that the force left behind was 24 men, which would indicate that the guard numbered 9.

30 Several writers state, without any foundation in fact, that Don Salvador was arrested, not at Sonoma, but at his Napa rancho on the way to Sacra- mento.

120

BEAR FLAG REVOLT-TAKING OF SONOMA.

Californian succeeded in reaching the captives, and informed Vallejo that a company of his countrymen had been organized to effect his rescue, and only awaited his orders. The colonel refused to permit such an attempt to be made, both because he had no reason to fear any unpleasant results from his en- forced visit to the Sacramento, and because he feared retaliation at Sonoma in case an attempt to escape should bring harm to any of the guard.31 On the 15th the party reached Hardy's place on the Sacra- mento. Here Merritt left the others, intending to visit Frémont's eamp and return next morning; but as he did not come back, Leese with one companion started in the forenoon of the 16th also in quest of Fremont. Arriving at Allgeier's place, they learned that the captain had moved his camp to American River; and starting for that point, they rejoined their companions before arrival. Here Grigsby presented an order from Fremont for Leese's arrest, for which, so far as known, no explanation was given.32

Late in the afternoon they reached the camp, and the prisoners were brought into the presence of Fre- mont. That officer's reception of them was very dif- ferent from what had been anticipated. His words and manner were reserved and mysterious. He denied, when Vallejo demanded for what offence and by what

31 Leese's Bear Flag, MS., S-9. This writer thinks that Vallejo's course saved the lives of all the guard, as the surprise would have been complete, and there were some desperate characters among the rescuers. Revere, Tour of Duty, 05, heard a similar version from a person who was present, and that the Californians were under the command of Juan Padilla, who was also the messenger. Also Lancey's Cruise, 57. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 126- 7, and Cayetano Juarez, Narrative, MS., and in Savage, Doc., MS., i. 39-40, tell us that Juarez posted himself at the Portezuela with a small force, send- ing his brother disguised as a woman to notify Vallejo of his design to effect a rescue, if permitted. By Boggs, Napa Register, April 6, 1872, we are in- formed that 60 or 70 of Castro's men sent to drive out the settlers intercepted the guard near Higuera's rancho, but were kept off by Vallejo's shouts that he was in danger of being shot if they came nearer! And in the Sacramento Record-Union, March 15, 1876, we read of the attempted rescue at Napa, which failed by reason of Grigsby's coolness in threatening to shoot the pris- oners!

32 Leese's account is confirmed by a letter written by Vallejo while in prison, to be noticed later.

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LOCKED UP AT SUTTER'S FORT.

authority he had caused their arrest, that he was in any way responsible for what had been done; declared that they were prisoners of the people, who had been driven to revolt for self-protection; refused to accept their paroles; and sent them that same night, under a guard composed in part if not wholly of his own men-Kit Carson and Merritt being sent in advance- to be locked up at Sutter's Fort.38

33 Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 122-8, thinks that Frémont was not uu- friendly, but that he dared not oppose the popular feeling of the rough trap- pers and settlers. Leese, on the other hand, very angry of course that no explanation was given of his own arrest, except that he was 'a bad man,' blames Frémont exclusively, describing his words and actions as arbitrary and offensive in the extreme. The arrival of Carson and Merritt, and that of the prisoners later, are recorded in N. Helvetia Diary, MS., 52; Sutter's Diary, 8.

CHAPTER VI.

BEAR FLAG REVOLT CONTINUED-AFFAIRS AT SUTTER'S FORT AND SOUTH OF THE BAY.

JUNE-JULY, 1846.

SUTTER'S POSITION-THE PRISONERS-THEIR TREATMENT-CORRESPONDENCE OF THE CAPTIVES-EVENTS AT NEW HELVETIA-SOUTH OF THE BAY- ROSA SENT BY VALLEJO TO MONTGOMERY-MISROON'S MISSION-OFFI- CIAL AND PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE-CASTRO'S PROCLAMATIONS-MIL- ITARY PREPARATIONS-THREE DIVISIONS TO RETAKE SONOMA-TORRE SENT ACROSS THE BAY-MANUEL CASTRO'S MISSION-INSURGENTS AT SAN FRANCISCO-WEBER'S ARREST-MONTGOMERY'S POLICY-PICO AT SANTA BARBARA-THE ANGELINOS NOT WARLIKE-FOREIGNERS OF- FENDED-THE ASSEMBLY-PICO AND LARKIN-PICO MARCHES NORTH -MEETS CASTRO-EMBRACE OF GOVERNOR AND GENERAL.

CAPTAIN SUTTER was still nominally in command at the fort. The turn affairs were taking sadly inter- fered with his plans of selling the establishment, though he was not without hopes that the revolt might in one way or another be made to advance his personal interests. Had his plans in this respect, and especially his recent advice to Castro to garrison the fort against Americans, been fully known to the in- surgents, he also would have been put under arrest. As it was, while he was not fully trusted, neither was he much feared. He doubtless gave to Hensley and others assurances of secret support, and was there- fore excused from active participation, though he was closely watched the while. It is well known, being also admitted by himself, that his relations with Fré- mont were not friendly.1 What understanding had

1 Sutter, Person. Remin., MS., 140-50, in a very inaccurate sketch of these times, claims to have been acting in good faith as an ally of the U. S., renounc-

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1 1 1

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THE PRISONERS.

been reached at the time of Carson's arrival or earlier is not known; but when the prisoners arrived, Sutter simply obeyed Fremont's instructions, and they were locked up in one of the rooms of the fort, to pass the night in not very agreeable meditations on their unfor- tunate condition, mingled at times with regret that they had not availed themselves of a favorable opportunity to escape. Vallejo states further that their room con- tained no furniture except some rude benches; that no blankets were furnished for that first night; and that they were without food or water till 11 A. M. next day, when an Indian was sent in with a pot of soup and meat which they were free to eat as best they could without spoons or dishes. "Doubtless God had decreed," writes the general, "that June 1846 was to be the black month of my life." With a view to render all safe, and to guard against the effects of any possible sympathy of Sutter for his brother officers, E. M. Kern was stationed at New Helvetia with a small detachment of Frémont's men to guard the captives.2

Having once opened hostilities, the filibusters are not to be blamed for seizing Sonoma or for arresting the Mexican officers; and having once arrested them, it was perhaps for the best to send them to the Sac- ramento; or at least, it is not strange that the leaders could not control their rough associates and were

ing his allegiance to Mexico by opening his gates to Frémont! He ad- mits that F. acted suspiciously, was 'shy' of him, and had him closely watched, the men he finally left at the fort being really spies rather than a garrison. He attributes F.'s dislike to the affair of the stolen horses just be- fore the capt. went to Oregon. S. claims also to have earnestly disapproved the ontrage on Vallejo and his companions. Bidwell, C'al. in 1841-8, MS., 164-7, tells us that Sutter had denounced the taking of Arce's horses, which greatly displeased Frémont, so that when he came down to the fort he told 8. that if he did not like what was being done he might go and join the Mexicans.

2 About Kern's command at the fort there is not much information ex- tant. Possibly he was not stationed there until Fremont started for Sonoma. Hensley, however, testimony in Fremont's Cal. Claims, 34, states that it was before his owu departure for the south, that is, on the 16th; and Leese repre- sents that the prisoners were delivered to Kern at first. There are frequent references to the fact of his being in command in later correpondence. Sut- ter speaks of the garrison of spies left at Fremont's departure. The Diaries contain no intimation of any other authority than Sutter's.

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History of California, Volume XXII, Part 13

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 816

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816