USA > California > History of California, Volume XXII > Part 15
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'The citizen José Castro, etc. All foreigners residing among us, occupied in their business, may rest assured of protection from all authorities of the department so long as they take no part in revolutionary movements. The comandancia in my charge will never proceed lightly against any person what- ever, neither will it be influenced by mere words without proofs; declarations shall be taken, proof exacted, and the liberty and rights of the laborious, ever commendable, shall be protected. Let the fortune of war take its chance with those ungrateful persons who with arms in their hands have attacked the country, forgetting that in former times they were treated by the under- signed with his characteristic indulgence. Impartial inhabitants of the dept are witnesses to the truth of this. I have nothing to fear; duty leads me to death or victory. I am a Mexican soldier, and I will be free and independ- ent, or die with pleasure for those inestimable blessings. José Castro," etc.
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BEAR FLAG REVOLT CONTINUED.
Prefect Manuel Castro cooperated with the gen- eral in his efforts to prepare for defence, as did the different alcaldes to some extent; but the response on the part of the people was not a very hearty one. With considerable difficulty Castro succeeded in in- creasing his force to about one hundred and sixty in ten days; a force organized in three divisions under the command of J. A. Carrillo, Joaquin de la Torre, and Manuel Castro respectively.18 It was his inten-
18 Castro in a letter to Pico on June 25th gives 160 as the total of his force. Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 127. There is no other definite contemporary record on the subject. I give the following résumé of correspondence:
June 17, 1846, Gen. Castro to Pico. An earnest appeal for P.'s coopera- tion. All resentment should be dropped. Let us act together, and give an example of patriotism. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vii. 60-1, 119. June 17th, bando posted by Alcalde Escamilla of Monterey. All subordinate local officials must call upon the citizens to rise. Every one having horses must contrib- ute them by 10 o'clock to-morrow, also supplying arms, etc., as they can. A record to be kept of all contributions and receipts to be given. Dept. St. Pap., Mont., MS., iii. 121-2. June 17th, Sub-prefect Guerrero to alcalde of S. José, describing the 'bear flag,' and warning against dangers at S. José. S. Jose, Arch., Loose Pap., MS., 37. June 19th, Manuel Castro leaves Monterey with citizens for S. Juan to take part in the campaign. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vii. 29. June 21st, Castro to Pico, urging him to come north with all the force he can raisc. If he will not do it, let him say so at once, so that time and men may not be wasted in sending despatches. Id., vii. 56-7. Leidesdorff to Larkin. Sutter has joined the rebels. 'I am told that some of the Cali- fornians have driven all their horses off to the coast, so that Castro will not get them.' Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 171. Larkin to U. S. consul at Honolulu. Sends his wife and children for protection. The Californians talk of seizing him; and at any rate, war has broken out. Id., Off. Corresp., MS., i. 116. June 22d, Prefect Castro to alcalde of S. José. Is cooperating with the gen- eral. The citizen who makes excuses is a traitor. Volunteer companies of 50 men may choose their officers. Our homes must be defended. S. José, Arch., Loose Pap., MS., 28. June 23d, same to same. Let the men march to Sta Clara at once. Id., 59. Let fire-arms be collected at the ranchos. Id., 26. To Pedro Chaboya. Let a list be sent him of those making excuses. Id., 35. June 24th, Larkin to sec. state. Castro has 200 men at Sta Clara; got but few from Monterey. No news of any increase in Ide's forces. Castro will probably not go north. Sawyer's Doc., MS., 55-7. June 24th, a messenger paid $65 for carrying expresses from Monterey to S. José and to Leidesdorff and to Montgomery. Monterey, Consulate Arch., MS., ii. 15. Same date, letter to the Honolulu Friend, iv. 169-70, from a Yerba Buena correspondent, giv- ing a very good account of what had occurred, including Castro's proclama- tion, and Misroon's visit to Sonoma. He says that Ide and Castro are said to have each about 150 men. Forty or 50 of Castro's men crossed the bay to- day (or perhaps on the 23d), and a fight will soon occur. June 25th, Manuel Castro to Pico, 'en route for Sonoma.' Has been to Sta Cruz to get horses and stir up the people. Second division organized and on the march. Urges Pico to render aid. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vii. 10. Same date, Gen. Castro to Pico, 160 men moving on Sonoma. He is marching in the rear and organiz- ing a reserve force to guard against a repulse. Frémont with 400 (!) riflemen on his way to protect Sonoma. Pico has now a chance to immortalize his name if he will but listen to Castro's advice. Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 127; Dept.
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CASTRO AT SAN PABLO.
tion to send the three divisions across the bay to at- tack Ide's garrison. To this end Torre with his fifty or sixty men did cross from San Pablo to Point Quin- tin probably in the evening of June 23d, employing for that purpose the launch belonging to the owner of the rancho. The other divisions under Carrillo and Castro also followed a day or two later as far as San Pablo, but did not attempt to cross. Why not, is not altogether clear. Lack of boats is given as the rea- son by some, and by others cowardice on the part of the leaders. Either of these motives would certainly have been quite as strong in the case of Torre as in that of the others. The truth is apparently that the crossing, to be followed by a combined attack on So- noma, was to take place either on a fixed day, or on a day to be fixed by Torre; but before the arrival of the day, or before any communication from Don Joa-
St. Pap., MS., vii. 67. Rafael Pinto ordered to report for duty at headquar- ters. Id., Ben. Cust .- H., vi. 679. June 26th, prefect to alcalde. All citizens must at once become soldiers. S. José, Arch., Loose Pap., MS., 26. June 30th, Leidesdorff to Larkin. If the Portsmouth were not here, he would have to run away, since Hinckley has advised his arrest. H. and Ridley are 'more Mexicans than the Mexicans themselves. However, they will get their just due one of these days.' Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 189. June 30th, Larkin to U. S. consul at Honolulu. Has received a letter from Pico, who blames him; 'but the most I could do would be to act like his Excellency and issue a proc- lamation ... . I am dreaming of trying to persuade the Californians to call on the commodore for protection, hoist his flag, and be his countrymen, or the Bears may destroy them.' Id., Off. Corresp., MS., i. 125. June 30th, Leides- dorff to Larkin. S. Rafael taken; 150 insurgents there and 50 at Sonoma. Castro was to have crossed yesterday from S. Pablo. If he did, it is 'all up with him.' Torre was also to have attacked Sonoma yesterday. Bidwell in command at Sutter's. Reading, Hensley, and all the rest are coming to join the force. Id., Doc., MS., iv. 189. June 30th, Gen. Castro to Pico. Back at Sta Clara; and reports Torre's retreat and that of the other divisions (as explained in my text). A council of war has decided to send Manual Castro as a comisionado to the gov. A new plan of operations must be formed. The insurgents are being rapidly reënforced. Blotter in Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 131. Same document, dated July Ist. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vii. 67-8. July 2d, Castro (Sta Clara) to Abrego. Must try to negotiate a loan, pledging lands of S. Juan, S. José, and Sta Clara. Id., xiii. 14-15. July 2d, Montgomery to Larkin. The insurgents have come to Yerba Buena and taken Ridley pris- oner. The country is undoubtedly theirs withont much inore trouble. In 15 days they will be in your midst. A letter from Castro to Torre was inter- cepted, directing him to kill every American and Englishman that fell into his hands. The men are very bitter against Castro. Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 192. July 4th, L. to U. S. consul at Honolulu. Explains Castro's former plan of campaign-that is, to join his three divisions with the natives north of the bay and to surprise Ide's garrison. Id., Off. Corresp., MS., i. 125.
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BEAR FLAG REVOLT CONTINUED.
quin could be obtained, that officer himself recrossed the bay in retreat, reporting that the insurgent force was too strong to be attacked with any hope of suc- cess. Torre's experience on the north side will be narrated in the next chapter. His return was on the 29th, on which date all three divisions were back at the San Lorenzo rancho; and next day at the old headquarters at Santa Clara. A council of war de- termined that the old plan of operations must be abandoned, and that a new one must include the cooperation of Pico and his southern forces. Manuel Castro was chosen as the man most likely to bring Don Pio to his senses and to effect a reconciliation; and a few days later with a small escort he started on his mission, meeting the governor at Santa Inés. Meanwhile the general moved with his army south- ward to San Juan, where he was on July 8th, when news came that Monterey was in the hands of the Americans-news that sent Don José in some haste still farther southward.
Besides the not very brilliant achievements of Cas- tro's army, and the correspondence of which I have given a résumé, there is but little to be noted during the revolutionary period of what happened in the central districts. On July 1st and 2d, San Francisco was twice visited by insurgent parties from across the bay, one of which spiked the guns in the abandoned fort, and another took Robert Ridley from his house at Yerba Buena, carrying him as a prisoner to the Sac- ramento. This was doubtless done at the instigation of Leidesdorff, whose sympathy for the revolutionists was unconcealed, and who was very bitter against Ridley and Hinckley, who, being Mexican officials, did not agree with the vice-consul's views. Hinckley escaped arrest by having died a day or two before. Another arrest of these times was that of Charles M. Weber with two others, Washburn and Burt, at San José, by Castro. Little is known of this affair beyond the fact that Weber was arrested and carried south as a pris-
137
WEBER'S OPERATIONS.
oner. According to a current account, supposed to emanate from himself, Weber, having heard of the Sonoma revolt on June 19th by a letter from Lieu- tenant Bartlett, went to Yerba Buena, and thence across to San Rafael, where he had an interview with Frémont, and by that officer's advice returned to the vicinity of San José to raise a force secretly for the protection of American families in that region, at the same time inviting Fallon of Santa Cruz to raise a force and join him. It was while thus employed that he was arrested, his life being spared only because of Castro's personal friendship. Weber had previously declined a commission as captain of auxiliaries in the Californian army. 19 There is no reason to doubt that Weber and others may have attempted an organiza- tion for self-protection; holding themselves in readi- ness for the results likely to spring from the revolt, which, however, many of them did not approve. It was a current idea among the Californians that Mont- gomery was permitting his officers with the Ports-
19 S. José Pioneer, March 6, 1880; Tinkham's Hist. Stockton, 101. Jnne 23d, Weber to alcalde of S. José, declining appointment of captain on account of his business relations with foreigners. In Halleck's Mex. Land Laws, MS. June 17th, sub-prefect Guerrero to S. José alcalde. By loud talk of foreigners he has learned that 40 of them are ready to capture S. José, while others do the same thing here at Yerba Buena. Great precautions should be taken. Is not pleased that the son of Ide goes about as he pleases at the pueblo. S. José, Arch., Loose Pap., MS., 37. June 27th, no place or writer's name. The 25 armed foreigners at Sta Cruz intended to start this A. M. It is not known whether they will pass this way, or, as would be more prudent, go to the Sac- ramento. Id., 39. According to the Pioneer, Fallon arrived the day after Weber's arrest. Flores, Recuerdos, MS., 10-26, claims to have learned from Mrs Buelua of Weber's hostile plans and concealed weapons, and to have given Castro the information which led to his arrest. Ide, Biog. Sketch, 154, says that over 100 had secretly organized under Weber, Bird, and others on the south side of the bay.
Accounts of Castro's preparations by men who took part iu them are given in Pinto, Apunt., MS., 101-2; Ezquer, Mem., MS., 23-5; German, Sucesos, MS., 24; Torre, Remin., MS., 145-52; Buelna, Notas, MS., 22-3; Castro, Rel., MS., 184-95; Arce, Mem., 55, etc .; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 188- 202, 229-30, etc .; but these writers add little or nothing to what is revealed in contemporary corresp. Several state that men were forced into the ranks; that they suffered much from hunger; and that Castro made many enemies by his selfishness. It appears that Ex-gov. Alvarado took a prominent part in a private capacity in the warlike preparations. Pablo de la Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 1304, gives some personal items on the subject. C. P. Briggs, in Napa Reporter, Aug. 24, 1872, narrates the services of the schooner Mermaid at Yerba Buena in conveying volunteers to Sonoma.
13S
BEAR FLAG REVOLT CONTINUED.
mouth's boats to aid the insurgents; but though the sympathies of the naval officers were clearly shown in their correspondence, there is no proof that they were remiss in duty. 20
Governor Pico was at Santa Bárbara, engaged in making ready for a march against Castro, when on June 23d, by a violento extraordinario from Monterey, he received the prefect's communication of the 19th making known the taking of Sonoma. He immedi- ately issued a proclamation, which I append in a note.21
20 Osio, Ilist. Cal., MS., 466-7, states that the Portmouth's boats were en- gaged in preventing the crossing of the Californians. Torre, Remin., MS., 145-6, says that Torre on his retreat was pursued by Montgomery's boats. In several communications between Californian officials, their belief in Montgom- ery's cooperation is manifest. Lancey, Cruise, 72-3, quotes from James W. Marshall an account more amusing than probable, to the effect that when the rebels applied on the Portsmouth for ammunition, they were met with an in- ‹lignant refusal; but were told where a large quantity of powder would be put on shore to dry. By a pretended surprise, they overcame the guard and took the powder, whereupon the ship went through the form of firing four guns in their direction!
11 'The constitutional governor of the dept of Californias addresses to its inhabitants the following proclamation: Fellow-citizens: The national honor being gravely wounded and compromised in the highest degree at the present time, I have the glory of raising my voice to you, in the firm persuasion that you are Mexicans, that there burns in your veins the blood of those venerable martyrs of the country, and that you will not fail to shed it in defence of her liberty and independence. At this moment your dept. govt has received the unfortunate news, officially communicated by the political authorities of Mon- terey, and dated four days ago, that a gang of North American adventurers, with the blackest treason that the spirit of evil could invent, have invaded the town of Sonoma, raising their flag, and carrying off as prisoners four Mex- ican citizens. Yes, fellow-citizens; and who of you on hearing of such fatal perfidy will not quit the domestic hearth, and fly, gun in hand, to the field of honor to avenge the country's honor? Will you be insensible to the oppres- sion in which masters so vile wish to put us? Will the grievous groans of the country not move you? Will you, with serene brow, see destroyed the fun- damental pact of our sacred and dear institutions? No! No! Far from me every such suspicion! I do not believe from your patriotism, your blind love of country, that you will permit the beneficent and fruitful tree of sacred lib- erty to be profaned. The North American natiou can never be our friend. She has laws, religion, language, and customs totally opposed to ours. False to the most loyal friendship which Mexico has lavished upon her, to interna- tional law, and to the soundest policy, putting in execution her piratical schemes, she has stolen the dept of Texas, and wishes to do the same with that of Cal .- thus to iniquitously dismember the Mexican territory, to tarnish the flag of the tres garantias and raise her own, increasing the number of its fatal stars. Fly, Mexicans, in all haste in pursuit of the treacherous foe; follow him to the farthest wilderness; punish his audacity; and in case we fail, let us form a cemetery where posterity may remember to the glory of Mexican history the heroism of her sons, as is remembered the glory won by the death of that little band of citizens posted at the Pass of Thermopyla under Gen-
139
PICO'S PROCLAMATION.
The document was much more violent and bombastic in style than that of Castro in the north. The writer evidently had other objects in view than the ordinary one of 'saving his responsibility' with his subjects and superiors, among which extraordinary objects the de- feat of insurgents held but a subordinate place. He did not entirely believe in the Sonoma revolt, being disposed to regard it as in some way a device of his rival to justify his own military preparations and as- sumption of special powers. He was glad, however, by the fervor and ultra Mexicanism of his proclama- tion to show his zeal at the national capital as an off- set to Castro's probable accusations there. He also hoped, by his violent denunciations of the United States and of Americans, to advance his own scheme of. an appeal to England. But above all, he desired to create a popular excitement which should largely in- crease the force with which he was about to march north, thus enabling him to defeat the general and control the future of the country so far as any Cali- fornian could control it. This view of the matter is clearly expressed in a subsequent letter written by Don Pio to prominent citizens of Los Angeles in de- fence of his proclamation.22 As to the general's ap-
eral Leonidas. Hear their motto: "Strauger, say to Lacedemonia that we have died here obeying her laws." Shall we not imitate this noble example? Shall we consent that the northern republic bring to our soil of liberty the horrible slavery permitted in its States? Shall we suffer human blood sold at a price for vile gain? And finally, must we see profaned the august image of the crucified and the dogmas of our sacred religion? Foreign citizens who tread this soil, the dept. govt considers you under the protection of the laws and treaties. Your property will be respected; nobody will molest you; and as you also are interested in preserving peace and security, the govt invites you to the punishment of the bandits who have invaded the north of this dept. Compatriots, run swiftly with me to crown your brows with the fresh laurels of unfading glory; in the fields of the north they are scattered, ready to spring to your noble foreheads. Respond gladly, Mexicans, to the desires of your fellow-citizen and friend, Pio Pico. Sta Bárbara, June 23, 1846.' Copy from Secretary Moreno's original blotter, in Moreno, Doc., MS., 30-2; copy from original, presented to the society by A. B. Thompson in 1865, in Cal. Pioneers, Arch., MS., 149-56; translation by Lieut Bartlett in Bear Flag Papers, MS., 22-4; translation in Sawyer's Doc., MS., 62-5.
22 June 27th, Pico to Requena, Figueroa, et al., in Moreno, Doc., MS., 33- 40. 'Both Mexicans and resident foreigners know the extreme egotism that generally rules hearts; and while they know the imminent danger which threat- ens us, rather from within than from without, they know also who is the au-
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BEAR FLAG REVOLT CONTINUED.
peals of these days to forget past resentments and unite for the country's defence, it does not appear that the governor made any reply to them. On the 23d and following days he wrote several communications, in which he appealed to the patriotism of citizens, summoned the members of the assembly to Santa Bárbara, and above all urged the sending-forward of men and munitions for his expedition to the north.23
The response to Pico's appeals in the south was not more satisfactory than that to Castro's in the north. Not more than a dozen or fifteen men were sent from Los Angeles, after much correspondence. There was difficulty even in finding guards to preserve order in the city. On Pico's departure from the capital the foreign residents had taken upon themselves that duty, and had rendered most effectual service; but now, hav- ing no wish to serve under Pico in the north, espe- cially when it might become necessary to fight against their countrymen, they chose to be offended at the governor's denunciation of Americans, and threatened to leave the city to the protection of native citizens. Alarmed by the disaffection of the foreigners, promi- nent men sent to Pico their protests against the tone
thor of so many evils, and are aware of the many appeals which the govt has made to end them. And what has the govt obtained but insult and ontrage upon outrage? Is is not true that he found great aid in the proceedings of the foreigners to carry his point with the natives? and that for this reason 50 Bar- bareños were eager to march north under the gov., while before not one would enlist? The govt is by no means ignorant that it is impossible for us to repel the invasion of foreigners should they attempt one; but with the force now volunteering, we can march without fear to the north and punish the audac- ity of the com. gen., the cause of all our misfortunes. Can you doubt that had it not been for the affair of the foreigners the general might already have tri- umphed over the govt. in these parts? At the head of 70 men well supplied with all resources he was marching toward these towns, aided by men to be feared for their devotedness to vengeance. The news about the Americans made him change his route, and here we have the old saying applicable, "No hay mal que por bien no venga."'
23 June 23, 1846, Pico to sub-prefect of Angeles. He is to march at once with the alcaldes and 50 men. The northern adventurers must be taught a lesson. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vii. 29-30. June 23d-24th, Pico appoints sev- eral officers to serve among the defensores. J. P. Ayala, Luis Arenas, and José Fernandez, captains. Id., vii. 33, 35, 36-7. June 23d, Pico to Figueroa. Trusts that he and the other diputados will come immediately. Id., vii. 28. June 23d, Pico to Bandini. A patriotic effusion, announcing the news and the duty of all Californians. Bandini, Do -. , MS., 79.
14!
FEELING OF SOUTHERN FOREIGNERS.
of his proclamation, going so far as to advance the theory that the revolutionists of Sonoma were really acting in the governor's interest and against Castro. This theory Don Pio could not accept, claiming that Manuel Castro could not have been thus deceived ; but after defending his proclamation at some length, both on general principles and on the special plea that I have cited, he offered to withdraw the document if it had not already been published-as it had.24 To what extent the Americans allowed themselves to be conciliated by the excuses of the Angelinos and Pico's assurances that he had intended no menace or disre- spect to them, is not exactly known; but it is cer- tain that neither they nor any great number of the natives could be induced to engage in any other mili- tary service than such as was necessary for the protec- tion of their town and ranchos.
Nor did the members of the assembly obey Pico's summons to Santa Bárbara, even when he on June 29th sent a very earnest appeal, launching the "anath-
24 June 26th, Coronel to Moreno. Doubts have been thrown on the genuine- ness of the proclamation in order not to lose the services of the foreigners. Mo- reno, Doc., MS., 22. June 27th, Pico to Requena, Figueroa, Stearns, Botello, and Gallardo, in reply to their communication of June 25th. Id., 33-40. June 29th, Bandini to P. A long protest against his inconsiderate declaration of the 23d, which had created no enthusiasm, had offended over 100 of the most influential men in Cal., and might precipitate Mexico into a war for which she is not ready. The act of a few men at Sonoma does not justify the term ' bandits' applied to all Americans. Bandini, Doc., MS., 80. June 25th, Botello to Moreno. The proclamation has shattered all our hopes by offending the foreigners. We do not believe in any foreign invasion at the north. Mo- reno, Doc., MS., 18-20. Junc 2Sth, Coronel to Moreno. The foreigners have now learned that the proclamation is genuine-it had been disputed at first- and have retired to their homes much offended. Id., 29. June 30th, Wilson to Bandini, denouncing the proclamation, and claiming that the Sonoma insur- gents were acting in Pico's interests. Bandini, Doc., MS., 81. July Ist, Ban- dini wishes Pico to send trusty men to the north to learn the motives of the insurgents and the general state of affairs. Id., 82. July 8th, Botello to Mo- reno. Has no faith in a successful resistance. The popular sentiment is against the tone of the proclamation as too severe. Moreno, Doc., MS., 15-17 Botello, Anales, MS., 135-7, gives a good account of Los Angeles affairs at this period.
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