History of California, Volume XXII, Part 18

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

USA > California > History of California, Volume XXII > Part 18

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10 The version given by Garcia was printed in the Monterey Californiar , Sept. 12, 1846; was repeated in Bryant's What I Saw in Cal., 291-2; and has often been reproduced in the papers of later times. Some additional horrors, from an unknown source, were given in the S. F. Alta, July 31, 1853; and repeated in Lancey's Cruise, 61-2. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 121-3, fol- lowed by Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 204-5, desirous of course to clear Carrillo, his wife's brother, from the charge, states that the leaders had no idea of putting the men to death; but while all were holding a council as to what should be done with the prisoners, who were left tied to trees outside, García, a blood-thirsty villain, the terror of the whole region, fearing that they would be released, went out and killed them with his dagger, and returned to boast of his act. This version is at least more plausible than the other. On Aug. 26, 1846, Ramon Carrillo made a sworn statement before Judge Santiago E. Argüello at S. Diego about the northern campaign. He stated that before the capture of Cowie and Fowler two other prisoners had been taken; that the Bear party had seized the horses at Padilla's rancho; and also HIST. CAL., VOL. V. 11

162

BEAR FLAG REVOLT-AFFAIRS AT SONOMA.

Ide claims to have made, apparently just after the departure of Cowie and Fowler, a reconnoissance with ten men for the purpose of protecting the families of settlers, and to have discovered a party of twenty-five Californians, who took alarm and fled, notwithstand- ing the efforts made to approach them unobserved. This expedition may or may not explain the pursuit mentioned by Ramon Carrillo, and the shot tired at the retreating Californians. At any rate, Ide was convinced "that any attempt to get a fight, just for

that the Bear Flag men had pursued Mariano Elizalde and shot a bullet through his hat. Carrillo took the two men and delivered them to Padilla, who, against his advice and that of others, insisted on having them shot. Four men under a corporal were sent to shoot and bury them. Next day Carrillo was sent to report the affair to Castro, who approved what had been done. Original document found by Benj. Hayes in 1856, in S. Diego, Archires, MS .; see S. Diego Index, MS., 93; Hayes' Notes, 268: Id., Scrap-books, Cal. Notes, iv. 124 5. But in 1864, during the excitement caused by Ramon Car- rillo's death at the hands of vigilantes, Don Julio, his brother, published a card in the Sta Rosa Democrat, June 4, 1864, denying that Ramon had any- thing to do with the murder of 1846, or that he knew anything of the capture until after the men were killed. He claimed to have proofs of this. See also Sonoma Co. Hist., 107-8. In a letter of July 16th to Montgomery, Grigsby says, 'We have found the two men who were lost on the Sta Rosa farm, hor- ribly mangled.' He names, as concerned in the murder, Ramon Mesa. Domingo Mesa, Juan Padilla, Ramon Carrillo, and Bernardino García, all now believed to be south of the bay; and, apparently, Blas Angelino, in prison; Francisco Tibian (?), Ignacio Valenzuela, Juan Peralta, Juan Soleto (?), Iuaguen (?) Carrillo, Mariano Miranda, Francisco García, Ignacio Stiggere (?), all in the north. By Montgomery's letters of July 18th, 20th, it appears that ' four-fingered Jack' was iu prison at Sonoma. War with Mex., Repts, etc., Operations of U. S. Naval Forces, 1846-7, p. 25-9. In the Sta Rosa Demo- rrat, Aug. 8, 1874; Sonoma Co. Hist., 107, etc., it is stated that the remains were buried where they fell, about two miles north of Sta Rosa, on the farm belonging in 1874 to John Underhill, and later to Geo. Moore. Ide, Biog. Sketch, 167-8, says the men were sent to Dr Bale's place for the powder. 'They were discovered and captured without resistance, having trusted the promise of the enemy that if they would give up their arms they should re- ceive no harm.' He says they started on the 19th. Ford, Bear Flag, MS., 16-17, says it was on the 18th; and that the news was brought back by Sergt Gibson, who was sent out on the 20th. Baldridge, Days of '46, MS., 57-8, heard of no definite proof that the bodies were mutilated. He says that Padilla, on returning to Sonoma after the war, was nearly killed by one of the Bear Flag men. Coronel, Cosas de Cal., MS., 135-60, gives a long account of the attack on Padilla in a saloon at Sonoma, the writer being present at the occurrence. He says that both Padilla and Carrillo assured him they were not guilty as charged. Knight, Statement, MS., 7-11, tells us that Cowie and Fowler left Sonoma against the advice of their friends in a spirit of bravado. Gomez, Lo Que Sabe, MS., 80-4, claims that Padilla confessed the mutilation of the vic- tims. Several state that the two men were on their way to Bodega when captured. I do not deem it necessary to give a long list of references to authorities which merely mention this affair. It would include nearly every one touching on the revolution.

163

CAPTURE OF TODD.

a sample of what could be done, so as in the main to avoid bloodshed, could not be effectual unless the enemy were allowed an advantage of five to one; and even then a retreat must be feigned"! Soon it was learned that Todd also had been captured through the treach- ery of a guide employed to conduct him to the coast.11 Ford tells us, being confirmed in this particu- lar by Carrillo's testimony already cited, that two

Fitch

Pope

Cachu

Hardy

Gordon

Sutter's Fort

Chiles

Bale

Sta. Rosas

Papa

Yount

Vaca

Sonoma

Juarez Vallejo

Petaluma

Suisunes

S.Antonio

@lompali

Soscol

p.S. Pedro

Martinez

S.Rafael>

S.Pablo

Marsh

Sauzahito

Amador

S. Antonio

Presidio

S.Francisco

Mission o

S.Lorenzo

Livermore

REOION NORTH OF BAY.

others were taken prisoners at about the same time as Cowie and Fowler. Suspecting that the four had been captured, Ford, on the night of the 20th, sent Sergeant Gibson with four men to Fitch's rancho. Obtaining the powder, but no news, Gibson started

11 Ide's letter to Wamhough, in Id., Biog. Sketch, 164-70. In the Hist. Bear Flag, it is stated that Todd's mission was to carry to the coast a letter which had arrived from Fremont on the 19th.

Knight

Berreyesas

Putah Cr.

Murphy

Sacramento

Rio S.Joaquim

164

BEAR FLAG REVOLT-AFFAIRS AT SONOMA.

back, and near Santa Rosa was attacked by a small party of Mexicans, one of whom was wounded, and another brought captive to Sonoma. It was from him that information was first obtained about the murder.12 It is agreed by all that from about the 19th, the in- surgent force rapidly increased, amounting within a few days to about one hundred men; that many fam- ilies were brought into Sonoma for protection; and that Grigsby returned about the 21st to be put in com- mand of the rifle company. Ide also found time, as he says, to reconstruct somewhat his financial system so as to furnish rations to all; and to provide for the future by promising at least a square league of choice land to every man who had not already that quantity, resolving at the same time that the missions should be considered public properly, except so much as had been properly vested in the several churches!

This brings us to the second prominent subject to which I have alluded, namely, Lieutenant Ford's cam- paign against the Californians. Particulars about it will be found, as in all that occurred in these days, unsatisfactory. It was on the morning of June 23d13 that Ford left the fort with seventeen or eighteen volunteers. 14 His purpose was to rescue the prison- ers. Reports were current that Castro was crossing the bay with his main force. The danger of an at- tack on the garrison, and the less apparent danger that a larger party would cause the death of the prisoners, are the reasons given by Ide for not sending more men or taking command himself; and he also repeats at some length his orders, doubtless for the most part

12 Ford's Bear Flag Revol., MS., 16-18.

13 He calls it the 22d himself, but there is some evidence that he is wrong. 14 Ide says there were 18 besides the leader; Ford, 17; the common version has it 22; Baldridge thinks there were 10; and the Californians talk of 50 or 60. Baldridge agrees with Ide that one in every five was chosen, all wishing to go; and he gives an amusing account of the selection, and of the success- ful efforts of one Badger Smith to join the party against the wishes of most, and in spite of the fact that the lucky number of 5 did not fall to his lot. Ford and Swift made some changes in the men after the first division. Bald- ridge was one of those who remained behind; but he gives the best account extant of the expedition in many of its phases. Days of '46. MIS., 58-71.

165

BATTLE OF OLOMPALI.

imaginary. Ford was not very friendly to the com- mander, and generally ignores his authority in his nar- rative. It does not appear that there was an expec- tation of meeting any foe but the band of Padilla and Carrillo; and the march was directed toward Santa Rosa, under the guidance, as Ford says, of the pris- oner taken by Gibson. It was found on arrival that the Californians had abandoned their camp, though they had left a few muskets in a house near by, which were destroyed. Following the trail at sunset, the 'Bears' reached Padilla's rancho, and learned from an Indian that the enemy would probably camp near the laguna of San Antonio. The pursuers spent the night at a point some half a mile from the laguna; and in the morning 'charged' upon the place, mak- ing prisoners of three or four men who were found there. Thence, after obtaining breakfast and chang- ing horses, they directed their course toward San Rafael, and before long came suddenly upon the Cal- ifornians.

Meanwhile Castro had sent one of his three divi- sions, fifty or sixty men, under Joaquin de la Torre, across from San Pablo to San Quintin, where they had landed in the evening of the 23d, and proceeded to San Rafael. With part of his men Torre contin- ued his march by night, and having been joined by Padilla's company from Santa Rosa, encamped early in the morning with about fifty men at Olompali, or Camilo's rancho, about midway between San Rafael and Petaluma, where he was found by the 'Bears' in the forenoon of the 24th, and where the fight oc- curred. The meeting at this point was a surprise to both parties. The Californians were eating a late breakfast at the house, when an alarm was given that the Americanos were attacking the corral. Ford, on coming in sight of the rancho, made a charge upon it, only a few men being in sight, with a view to repeat- ing the affair of San Antonio, and especially of secur- ing a large band of horses that were seen in the cor-

166

BEAR FLAG REVOLT-AFFAIRS AT SONOMA.

ral. He knew nothing of Torre's force, and even if the place were garrisoned, expected to meet only Pa- dilla's company, twenty-five at the most. Those in sight hurriedly retired behind a clump of trees; and Ford, on reaching the corral and the trees, was sur- prised to see at the house near by an armed force of forty-six. The Bears were ordered to dismount and take refuge behind the trees, where, concealed by the underbrush, they awaited an attack with their rifles ready. The Californians made a charge, but at the first discharge of the rifles Alférez Manuel Cantua was killed, and Agaton Ruiz was badly wounded. Torre's men retreated, firing from their saddles in a random way; and the firing was continued for some time at long range on both sides, no harm being done to the Americans, but several of the Califor- nians probably receiving slight wounds.15 Presently

15 The earliest account of the affair that I have found is that given in a letter of the next day, June 25th, from a correspondent, 'Far West,' and printed in the Honolulu Friend, Dec. 1, 1846. 'The first blood shed in battle in Cal. flowed yesterday on the plains of Sonoma.' Twenty revolutionists at- tacked and defeated 77 Californians, killing 2, wounding 2, and losing 2. C'apt. Montgomery, in a letter to Larkin of July 2d, tells the story briefly. Fifteen insurgents attacked by 70 Californians, who surprised them just as they had put their horses in a corral, but were defeated, losing 4 in killed and wounded. Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 192. July 4th, Larkin to U. S. consul at Honolulu. Torre, driving ahead extra horses, came suddenly upon 15 or 20 men of Ide's party; both fired and parted, the foreigners carrying off the extra horses, losing a Canadian, named Francis Young, and an American, while the Californian lost Cantua, Ruiz, and Isidoro. Id., Off. Corresp., MIS., i. 125. July 8th, Larkin to Stearns. Represents the two parties as having come unexpectedly upon each other, fired, and retreated-the Americans into a cor- ral; while Torre-seeing that he had but 60 men against 15-tore off his shoulder-straps, and did not deem himself safe until half a mile out in the bay. Id., Doc., MS., iv. 202.

In a deposition made by Ramon Carrillo before Judge Arguello ou Aug. 26, 1846, Hayes' Scrap-books, Cal. Notes, iv. 125, he said: 'Next day [after the shooting of Cowie and Fowler] Padilla sent me to Sta Clara to report to C'astro what had happened. Then Castro approved the act. Padilla in his report urged Castro to send him reinforcements and hasten his march; there- fore he sent 50 meu under Joaquin de la Torre. We crossed to the other side, and had a meeting with a party of foreigners at Nonpali. After joining Padilla I proposed to him to set free his prisoners, and he did so before the fight. Then the foe fell upon us, all being under the command of Torre, who ordered us to mount and fire; but seeing that he could gain no advantage, since most of his men ran away, he ordered the rest to retire. We formed again in the plain, where we were not attacked; and then we retreated to San Rafael, with one man killed and two wounded.'

The earliest printed account was that in the Monterey Californian, Aug. 15, 1846; and another appeared in the same paper of Sept. 12, 1846. The

167

FORD AND TORRE.

Torre's force disappeared in the direction of San Ra- fael, and the Bears came out from their cover. They attempted no pursuit, but secured such horses as they needed, and returned to Sonoma, where they arrived in the afternoon of the same day, confident that they had killed at least eight or ten of the foc. Though Ford says nothing of the American prisoners, one of

latter was reprinted in the S. F. Californian, June 5, 1847; was given in sub- stance in Bryant's What I Saw in Cal., 292-3; and has been often repeated in the newspapers. These accounts represent the forces engaged as 22 or IS against 85, and the number of killed as 8; the Americans firing 18 or 20 shots, and the Californians 200. Ford is said to have charged on them with several meu, 'in such a manner as to draw them to the edge of the wood, where the remainder of the force was stationed.' The prisoners were rescued.

In my text I have followed Ford's Bear Flag, MS., 18-22, with some slight modifications derived from Baldridge's Days of '46, MS., 58-71, and other sources. Ford says that after leaving guards for his 5 prisoners and 40 horses, he had only 14 effective men; that the Mexicans took his movement to the woods as a retreat, and immediately charged; that his first fire killed 7 and the second volley 3; and that finally, the enemy being out of range, he took his prisoners and 400 horses, and returned to Sonoma. He says nothing of the rescued American prisoners. Baldridge gives a full narrative from the story told by the men on their return. He says they were scattered and careless, not expecting to find any foe at the rancho. Their charge was on the corral, to prevent the horses being turned loose; but fortunately the wood was at hand for their protection. Those that were behind had a narrow escape, and might have been cut off had the Californians acted promptly. The latter renewed their fire from a hill out of musket-range, but the rifles did some slight execution. Burgess, Williams, and Badger Smith were among those behind the main force, the latter distinguishing himself by his desperate courage. Todd escaped from the rancho house and joined his friends while the fight was going on, his companion, an Englishman, refusing to make the attempt. Todd claimed to have saved his life while a captive, solely by threatening the retaliation of his fellows on Vallejo and others at Sonoma. They did not take the horses, or even go over the battle-field, or visit the house. Swift was in reality the leading spirit of the enterprise. Lancey, Cruise, 64, follows also Ford and Baldridge through the medium of newspaper articles.

Luis German, Sucesos, MS., 18-24, is the only native Californian who gives a tolerably accurate account of the affair, in which he took part. He thinks, however, that there were 40 or 50 Americans, and says they fired from the cor- ral as well as from the wood. The officers deemed it impossible with their es- copetas and lances and horses to defeat men figliting from cover with rifles; and therefore ordered a retreat. Such other Californians as mention the mat- ter give no details, contenting themselves with simply stating that Torre was surprised and defeated by the Bears, generally overstating the force of the lat- ter, and several of them severely criticising Torre. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 471-3, thinks Ford was thinking of surrender when Torre ordered a retreat! See also Castro, Rel., MS., 193-9; Id., Servicios, MS .; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 199-200; Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 133-5; Amador, Mem., MS., 166-7; Bernal, Mem., MS., 3-4; Galindo, Apuntes, MS., 55-6; Flores, Recu- erdos, MS., 9-10; Gomes, Lo Que Sabe, MS., 283-4; Pinto, Apunt., MS., 100. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 129-33, tells us that Ford, finding the Califor- nians taking their siesta, fortified themselves in a corral and opened fire upon the sleeping foe! After a stubborn resistance of an hour and a half, in which

165

BEAR FLAG REVOLT-AFFAIRS AT SONOMA.

them, Todd, seems to have been rescued, and perhaps the other also. This fight at Olompali reflected no credit on Torre or his men, nor discredit on Ford and his little company; yet the cowardice of the one and the heroic deeds of the other have been greatly ex- aggerated in current accounts.

two Americans aud one Californian fell, the latter retreated. Ruiz was taken captive, ordered shot, and left with five bullets in him, but finally recovered after treatment on the Portsmouth! Then the Bears sacked the rancho and beat to death the venerable Dámaso Rodriguez before the face of his daughters and granddaughters! The same Rodriguez, however, on June 28th renders an account of cattle and other property taken from his rancho hy Frémont's men, to the value of $1,243. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xii. 227.

Ide, Biog. Sketch, 170-4, asserts that Ford rendered a report to him as fol- Iows: 'I have done exactly as you ordered. We have whipped them, and that without receiving a scratch. We took their whole band of horses, but owing to the fact that about one half the men (?) retreated with all possible haste, I did not think best to encumber ourselves; so we only picked out each one a good horse.' 'Very well done! I did not order you to bring the horses,' etc., was Ide's reply. In the Hist. Bear Flug Revol., we read: 'Lieut L. H. Ford was despatched in pursuit of a company of Mexicans, and found them; they proved to be 200 in number; gave them a fight, killed 8 and wounded 13; after which they fled. This victory gave a decided character to the revolu- tion, and convinced the Spaniards that it was not prudent to attempt the cap- ture of any more prisoners.' Fowler, Bear Party, MS., 4-5, says that the men were with difficulty restrained from plundering the ranchos. In the S. F. Californian, May 29, 1847, it is explained that the number of killed was iu- correctly estimated from the riderless horses. Later it was learned that only 2 were killed and 2 wounded. Martin, Narr., MS., 27-8, claims to have been one of the party that had the fight, under the command of Gibson. Gil- lespie, Frémont's C'al. Claims, 25-9, mentions the skirmish, in which 24 set- tlers had defeated 70 Mexicans, killing 1, wounding 4, and rescuing 2 pris- oners. Boggs, iu Napa Register, April 13, 1872, tells us that the wounded Californian (Ruiz) was shot through the lungs by Swift while trying to ercep up a gully toward the Bears. He recovered, being treated on board a U. S. vessel; and the writer has often seen him and Swift drink together in later times, the wound being exhibited and the circumstances being narrated. Boggs represents the Californians as using cannou. The sec. of war in bis re- port of Dec. 5th, 29th Cong. 2d Sess., HI. Ex. Doc. 4, p. 51, also says that Torre ou his retreat lost 9 pieces of artillery! A writer in the Napa Reporter, Oct. 12, 1872, names Grigsby as the commander. See also mention in Tuthill's Hist. Cal., 172; Sac. Union, April 27, 1833; and many of the recently pub- lished county histories. Tuthill, Smucker, and others, besides speaking of the capture of cannon aud of transports, attribute Ford's campaign to Frémont or to men despatched by him. Fremont himself implied as much in his cor- respondence. Ford accuses a Frenchman-an old mountain mau known by most of the party, who lived near the town, apparently Beaulieu, one of Fre- mont's old party-of having acted as a spy, being allowed to pass in and out of the fort freely. On returning from Olompali, Ford found a wounded horse in Vallejo's corral, left there by the Frenchman, who had reported the fight, but could not give a clear account of his own whereabouts and actions, He was arrested and put in irons.

CHAPTER VIII.

BEAR FLAG REVOLT-FREMONT'S CAMPAIGN. 1846.

COMPLAINTS AT SONOMA-FORD'S LETTER-FREMONT ON THE SACRAMENTO- FORCED TO ACT-MARCH TO SONOMA-THE SAN RAFAEL CAMPAIGN- MURDER OF BERREYESA AND THE HARO BROTHERS-A DASTARDLY ACT BY FREMONT AND HIS MEN-TORRE'S RUSE-THE INSURGENTS SENT TO SONOMA-A FALSE ALARM-SPIKING THE GUNS OF SAN FRANCISCO- CAPTURE OF ROBERT RIDLEY-FOURTH OF JULY AT SONOMA-MILITARY REORGANIZATION -CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION -FREMONT ASSUMES THE CHIEF COMMAND-IDE'S VERSION-THE BATTALION ORGANIZED- FREMONT'S DESIGNS-NEWS FROM MONTEREY-BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE BEAR FLAG REVOLT.

SOME days before starting on his expedition against the Californians, Lieutenant Ford had sent a messen- ger to the Sacramento, with an announcement that Castro was said to be crossing the bay with the inten- tion of attacking Sonoma. Ford himself tells us that his letter was directed to Merritt, requesting him to raise a force and come to the garrison's relief. Ide states, however, that the message was addressed to Frémont, informing that officer "that the men of the garrison had no confidence in the ability of Mr Ide to manage matters at the fort at Sonoma, and that they were in great danger of being betrayed into the hands of the Spaniards," since the commander had erred in making conditions of peace with natives of the region. It is doubtless true that Ide was regarded by many of the insurgents as too much a man of theories and dreams for his actual position, a man who regarded himself as a great leader engaged in founding a re-

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170

BEAR FLAG REVOLT-FREMONT'S CAMPAIGN.

public, rather than a filibuster chief. At any rate, he was deemed eccentric, and was not popular.

Meanwhile Fremont was waiting and watching. Possibly, he thought, it might not be necessary for him to interfere at all; or Castro, by marehing directly against him, might give his interferenee the desired form of self-defence, or bring about a state of war be- tween Mexico and the United States. But on the same day, June 20th, there arrived Hensley and Read- ing from Marsh's, and John Neal from Sonoma, with news that the attack was to be directed against the insurgents; and in fulfilment of promises which, as already explained, he had made, Frémont felt himself called upon to act. On Sunday he came down to Sut- ter's Fort to make some final arrangements respecting the garrison, and to leave such part of his impedimenta as was not needed. Next day he returned to his camp on American River, and on Tuesday, the 23d, he started with his own company, and a reenforcement of settlers under Hensley, some ninety men in all, for Sonoma, where he arrived early in the morning of the 25th. This was Fremont's first open cooperation with the insurgents; though a month later, when the insurrection seemed to have been successfully merged in the conquest, he virtually claimed in his letters that all had been done by him or under his orders.1

On June 26th, Fremont, reenforced by Ford's men and others from the constantly increasing garrison,

I Frémont to Benton, and B. to pres. Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 173-4, 191. I do not give references for Frémont's march from Sac. to Sonoma, as there are neither doubts nor details to be presented. Ide, letter to Wambough, tells us that Fremont at first criticised and ridiculed the proclamation and all that had been done; but very soon pretended to approve all, except that his own _rievances at Castro's hands had not been added to the list named in the proc- lamation, which he complimented without limit as to style and matter! But Frémont did not yet propose to take any part in the revolution, desiring sim- ply to visit the bay as an explorer, and to accompany the insurgent army under Ford! Ide's idea was that Fremont had expected Castro to scatter the insurgents and then attack him, a neutral party; that he came to Sonoma and to San Rafael still intent only on getting himself attacked and thns provoking a war, and that he finally pretended to join the movement when all the work had been done, merely to appropriate to himself the glory; in fact, that he used the Bears as cat's-paws to get his chestnuts from the fire-and there was certainly a color of truth in all this.

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History of California, Volume XXII, Part 18

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