History of California, Volume XXII, Part 34

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

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38 ' Four killed and several wounded,' or 'several men killed and wounded,' is all that Stockton says. Report. 42; Mil. and Nav. Op., 10. No official report by Mervine is extant, so far as I know. Six killed and 6 wounded is the statement in Cutts' Conq., 127-8, and most often repeated. Gillespie, Sacramento Statesman, May 6, 1858, says that Mervine lost 13. Several Cal- ifornians state that 12 or 13 were killed, basing their statement on the ac- count of the man employed to move the remains. Carrillo, in his official re- port, gave 7 as the number of slain. Flores, in his report, says they were 12. Phelps says 7 or S.

320

REVOLT OF FLORES IN THE SOUTH.

Californian side. The sailors advanced bravely, but in this peculiar warfare bravery was of no avail. Mervine soon perceived that the pursuit of flying artillery and cavalry by marines on foot could only result in useless slaughter; he had no means of know- ing, what was indeed true, that the enemy had burned all their effective powder, and could no longer oppose his advance; and he accordingly retreated to San Pedro and reembarked. The dead and wounded were carried by their companions; and the former were buried on the little island before and since known as Isla de los Muertos. The Californians claim that Mervine left be- hind him a quantity of useful articles, including a flag.39

During the rest of October a large part of the Cal- ifornian army, or about one hundred men, was kept between Angeles and San Pedro, the chief encamp- ment being at Temple's rancho of Los Cerritos, and a small detachment being stationed at Sepúlveda's rancho of Palos Verdes, near the anchorage. The men had nothing to do but to watch the Savannah; and the leaders were able to devote their attention to perfecting the machinery of their new government, and to the more difficult task of obtaining resources for future warfare. Archives of the Flores regime have for the most part disappeared; but enough re- main in my collection from private sources to show the purport of the general's measures.40 The plan

39 Carrillo, Accion de San Pedro contra los Americanos, 8 de Oct. 1846, MS. The original official report, dated at S. Pedro Oct. Sth ; also printed in El Sonorense, Jan. 8, 1847. Flores' congratulatory proclamation announcing the victory is in Janssens, Doc., MS., 19-20. There is a general agreement among the different anthorities on the general features of this battle, though there is naturally much exaggeration of the forces engaged on the opposite side, especially by American writers. A newspaper item relates that Mer- vine, before starting on his march, made a speech to his men, alluding, among other things, to the grapes they would find at Los Angeles. This remark was afterward connected by the men with the 'grape' fired from the cannon; and 'Capt. Mervine's grapes, vintage of 1846,' became a current joke.

10 Agustin Janssens was justice of the peace at Sta Ines, and was made a kind of military commandant in that region; and among his papers are found many of Flores' orders not elsewhere extant. Oct. 9th, Flores' general in- structions for Sta Ines district. Keep the largest possible force in arms, with spies on the Monterey road to look out for Fremont, and also toward Sta

32]

FLORES AND THE ASSEMBLY.

was to wage a guerrilla warfare, and thus prevent the naval forces from penetrating again into the interior, leaving the ownership of California to be settled be- tween the national governments. Manuel Castro was sent as commander-in-chief of operations in the north, with Rico as his second in command, and San Luis Obispo as his headquarters. His achievements will be noticed later.

The departmental assembly was reorganized Octo- ber 26th, being summoned by Flores to resume the functions interrupted by the temporary occupation of the capital by the forces of the United States. The members present were Figueroa, Botello, Guerra, and Olvera; Joaquin Carrillo, a vocal suplente, was sworn in and took his seat. Figueroa acted as presi- dent, and Olvera was made secretary. The presi- dent in an introductory discourse congratulated the country on the success that was attending the Cali-

Bárbara in case of a landing there. Keep up communication with Sta Bár- bara and San Luis Obispo; aid them, and cut off supplies from the foe in case of attack. If the enemy advances ou Angeles, harass them with guerrillas in the rear. Scrutinize the passes of all travellers, and arrest all suspicious persons, sending foreigners to headquarters. If attacked by superior forces, fall back on Angeles. Janssens, Doc., MS., 17-19. Oct. 12th, Gumesindo Flores' comandante from S. Luis to S. Buenaventura, the 8th company, is glad Janssens is serving with such zeal. The people are immortalizing them- selves. The foreigners here (Sta Bárbara) are reudering good service. John- son has offered his guns, which go to the pueblo to-day. Make a list of per- sons who will not aid. Keep a copy of the instructions, and send the original to Monterey. Id., 21-3. Oct. 17th, Flores' general order. One of the best methods of harming the foe being to deprive him of supplies; any one aiding the enemy in any way will be punished as an enemy; rancheros must at once remove their live-stock from the coast beyond the reach of the naval forces; whoever refuses is a traitor. Id., 23-5. Oct. 18th, Capt. J. J. Pico at San Luis Obispo orders Miguel Avila to deliver certain property, left with him by Dana and Howard, to Jose Garcia and his men. Avila, Doc., MS., 21-2. Oct. 20th, Gumesindo Flores to Janssens. A private letter, with miscellaneous gossip about public affairs. All quict at S. Pedro; a force gone to S. Diego; Frémont's men leaving him because they are not paid; 'Vallejo said to be a general of the Americanos' ! Janssens, Doc., MS., 26-7. Oct. 23d, Gen. Flores appoints Manuel Castro comandante of brigade for operations in the north, with Francisco Rico as second in command. Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 147. Oct. 25th, Janssens' circular calling for contributions for defence, since 10 Americans are said to be seducing the Indians iu the Tulares to attack the rancheros. Eleven names of contributors, including Wm G. Dana. Id., 28-9. Oct. 26th, Flores decrees any person deserting or leaving military service, or found one league from camp without permit, to be court-martialled and put to death; every traveller without a passport to be arrested. Id., 30-1; Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 265.

HIST. CAL., VOL. V. 21

322

REVOLT OF FLORES IN THE SOUTH.

fornian cause, and recommended the choice of a gov- ernor and general to fill the places made vacant by the flight of Pico and Castro. It was decided to unite the two commands in one person; and José María Flores, already acting as commander-in-chief, was elected to hold both offices ad interim, until suc- cessors should be appointed by the supreme govern- ment, or assume the offices by due form of law after the restoration of peace. In the decree announcing this action the country was declared in a state of siege, and martial law in full force. Botello and Guerra were named as a committee to report on ways and means for prosecuting the war. Their re- port, presented next day, approved in the session of the 30th, and issued as a decree by Flores on the 31st, was in favor of annulling Pico's sales of mission estates, and of hypothecating one or more of those es- tates as security for a loan of such sums as public necessity might require. Before the assembly Flores took the oath of office, listening and replying on that occasion to a speech of President Figueroa. Neither discourse contained any feature calling for special com- ment, one being merely an expression of the country's confidence in the new ruler, and the other the usual protestation of unworthiness, coupled with patriotic zeal. The date of the oath is not very clear. In his communications to foreign consuls, Flores makes the date November 1st, but he had already issued, Octo- ber 31st, the decree mentioned above, and another making Narcisco Botello his secretary.41

Meanwhile Stockton, having left Monterey Octo- ber 19th, arrived at San Pedro with the Congress on

+1 Oct. 26th-30th, record of assembly proceedings, in Olvera, Doc., MS., 49. Oct. 26th, decree of assembly electing Flores. Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 150. Oct. 30th, Flores to Carrillo, ordering the publication of the decree of Oct. 26th. Carrillo (D.), Doc., MS., 94. Oct. 31st, Flores' decree naming Botello as secretario del despacho. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 267-8. Nov. Ist, Flores to Forbes and Lataillade, announcing that 'to-day' he has taken the oath. Id., 269, 271. Oct. 30th, decree of assembly on missions. Unb. Doc., MS., 360-1. Janssens, Doc , MS., 33-5. Oct. 31st, Flores' decree promulgating the preceding. Soberanes, Doc., MS., 326; Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 153.

323

STOCKTON AGAIN IN THE SOUTH.

the 23d, and learned from Mervine the facts of his late disaster. "Elated by this transient success, which the enemy with his usual want of veracity magnified into a great victory, they collected in large bodies on all the adjacent hills, and would not permit a hoof except their own horses to be within fifty miles of San Pedro. I had, however, agreed to land here, to be in readiness to cooperate with the forces under Major Frémont, expected from Santa Bárbara; and therefore determined to do so in the face of their boasting insolence, and there again to hoist the glori- ous stars in the presence of their horse-covered hills. On our approach to the shore the enemy fired a few muskets without harm, and fled; we took possession, and once more hoisted our flag at San Pedro. The troops remained encamped at that place for several days before the insurgents who covered the adjacent hills, and until both officers and men had become almost worn out by chasing and skirmishing with and watch- ing them, and until I had given up all hope of the coop- eration of Major Frémont. Besides, the enemy had driven off every animal, man, and beast, from that section of the country; and it was not possible by any means in our power to carry provisions for our march to the city .. . The insurgent force in the vicin- ity was supposed to number about 800 men. The roadstead of San Pedro was also a dangerous position for men-of-war;"42 and therefore the commodore de-

42 Stockton's Report, 42; Id., Mil. and Naval Operations, 11, 16-17, with orders of Oct. 26th for landing, and of the 28th thanking the men for their gallantry. Gillespie with 50 men was to land first, but failed to do so, 'in consequence of a fancied force of the enemy. Not so with the sailors and marines,' who landed in a most gallant manner. Several Californians relate that a letter containing scurrilous nonsense was sent to Stockton's camp by being tied to a dog. All seem to regard this a very funny occurrence; there- fore I note it. On Nov. 9th Larkin writes to his wife: 'There is a report here among the natives that two or three miles from S. Pedro the commodore formed his men thus , with the cannon behind them; then sending ahead 100 men, who on meeting the Californians retreated on the main body, losing a few seamen, when the main body opened and gave fire, which killed and wounded about 100 people, many being also taken prisoners. The report ap- pears consistent, and is believed here. If it is true, I hope the Californians are satisfied.' Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 320.

3:24

REVOLT OF FLORES IN THE SOUTH.

cided to attack Los Angeles by way of San Diego. His landing was on October 27th; and his departure for the south in the first days of November. He had about 800 men, and with a few light guns might easily have retaken Los Angeles; but he had evidently modified his oft-expressed opinions of Californian valor, and had become somewhat cautious. Of the 800 at- tributed to the enemy, 700 at least existed only in the American imagination; for Carrillo had adopted, as all the native writers agree, the tactics which some have accredited to Stockton on a former occasion at the same place-that of displaying his men on the march among the hills in such a way that each man was sev- eral times counted. He also caused large droves of riderless horses to raise clouds of dust in the distance. His success in frightening Stockton away was beyond his expectations, and possibly his hopes; for there is some reason to suppose that Flores had founded on the present display and past successes a hope that the American commander might be induced to consent to a truce, by the terms of which he would hold the ports and leave the Californians in possession of the interior until the national quarrel should be settled.43

At San Diego we left the American garrison on board the Stonington. Bidwell went in a boat with four men up to San Pedro to obtain supplies. He ar- rived apparently during Mervine's absence on October 7th-8th, and started back at once; but a gale arose, and the trip was a long and perilous one. As soon as Mervine returned to his ship and heard the news, he seems to have sent Lieutenant Minor with a small party down to reinforce Merritt; and on his arrival

43 B. D. Wilson, Observations, MS., 85-8, states that such a plan was made known to him by J. A. Carrillo; and that as a prisoner he was sent with a sergeant to an elevated spot near the S. Pedro landing, with instructions on a given signal to raise a white flag and to communicate to Stockton the prop- osition for a truce, He saw Carrillo's parade of horses, etc .; and he also saw the ship's boats full of men approach the shore; but he says they did not land. He is very positive that Stockton landed no men; but either his memory is at fault, or the period of his watch was when Gillespie's men failed to land, as already recorded.

325

REOCCUPATION OF SAN DIEGO.

the united forces-or possibly Merritt's men and the whalers before his arrival-landed and again occupied San Diego. The exact date is not known, and our information respecting these events is extremely mea- gre. Meanwhile, Sérbulo Varela had been sent down from Angeles with a force to operate on the southern frontier. It does not clearly appear whether or not he was in command when the place was retaken, or that any hostilities occurred; but many of his men were unmanageable, and the force gradually dissolved; and on October 26th, after the Americans were again in possession, Captain Leonardo Cota and Ramon Carrillo were sent to replace Varela, and to press the siege. Their tactics here as elsewhere consisted in driving off live-stock and harassing the foe. They were instructed to make no attack, but to keep a close watch on the Americans, report their strength and movements, and cut off their supplies. At the same time they were to see to it that no San Diegan shirked his part of the country's defence, acting to that end in accord with Alcalde Marron.4+

" Bidwell's Cal. in 1841-8, MS., 188-98; Lancey's Cruise, 135; Stockton's reports, naming Minor as in command at S. Diego. Oct. 26th, Flores' order recalling Varela, and his instructions to Cota and Carrillo. Olvera, Doc., MS., 52-4. Bidwell says he was fired at by the natives at S. Juan Capistrano on his way up the coast; that on his return he had thrown overboard, among other things, a keg with a bottle and message, which he had prepared to leave at S. Pedro if no vessels had been found, the Indian finder of which was shot by Flores as a spy; and that immediately on his return Merritt's men and the whalers landed their cannon and retook the town, not without re- sistance by the foe, at whom the two cannon were fired alternately every 100 yards. Soon Pedrorena went up to S. Pedro for aid, and brought back Gil- lespie (Minor?) with a part of his force in the Magnolia. About this time the Californians attacked the post with a cannon from the hill; but the gar- rison made a sally, captured the gun, and with it killed one of the enemy's horses. It is possible that Bidwell's version is correct, and that the town was retaken by the original garrison before Minor's arrival.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CONQUEST-THE FLORES REVOLUTION-FIGHT AT SAN FASCUAL.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER, 1846.

STOCKTON AT SAN DIEGO-PETTY HOSTILITIES-PREPARATIONS INTERRUPTED -U. S. TROOPS COMING FROM THE EAST-AFFAIRS AT ANGELES-ORDERS AND CORRESPONDENCE-REVOLT AGAINST THE GOVERNOR-CORONEL'S AD- VENTURES-THE DALTON FINANCIAL SCHEME-THE CHINO PRISONERS- FLORES IMPRISONED AND RELEASED-ALARMING NEWS-KEARNY'S IN- STRUCTIONS-HIS MARCH FROM NEW MEXICO-MEETING KIT CARSON- CAPTURE OF HORSES AND A COURIER ON THE COLORADO-ACROSS THE DESERT TO WARNER'S AND SANTA MARÍA-REENFORCED BY GILLESPIE- FIGHT AT SAN PASCUAL-DEFEAT OF KEARNY BY THE CALIFORNIANS UN . DER PICO-THIRTY-SEVEN MEN KILLED AND WOUNDED-IN CAMP AT SAN BERNARDO-REENFORCEMENTS UNDER GRAY-MARCH TO SAN DI- EOO-STOCKTON AND KEARNY MARCH ON ANGELES.

EARLY in November 1846 Commodore Stockton, leaving the Savannah at San Pedro, went down to San Diego with the Congress. His plan was to obtain horses and supplies, and to advance on Los Angeles. Immediately after his arrival he received by the Malek Adhel despatches from Frémont, explaining that offi- cer's turning-back, and his project of making an over- land expedition to the south. Of events at San Diego for a month after the commodore's arrival, we have but little information beyond what is contained in his brief reports-in substance as follows: He found the town in a state of siege, Lieutenant Minor being in great need of reënforcements and supplies. The frig- ate struck in attempting to cross the bar, and was forced to return to the anchorage outside. Arrange- ments were made to send a party under Captain Gib- ( 326 )

327

EVENTS AT SAN DIEGO.

son of the battalion in the Stonington down the coast to Ensenada after horses and cattle; Mervine was sent with the Savannah to Monterey to aid Frémont in his preparations; and Stockton, having made a trip to San Pedro for that purpose, returned to San Diego. The ship being becalmed on the way, Lieutenant Tilghman was sent in a boat to urge Minor to hasten his preparations for the march northward. This time the Congress was brought successfully into the bay though not without having once dangerously grounded. "The situation of the place was found to be most mis- erable and deplorable. The male inhabitants had abandoned the town, leaving their women and chil- dren dependent upon us for protection and food. No horses could be obtained to assist in the transporta- tion of the guns and ammunition, and not a beef could be had to supply the necessary food," though, as the writer somewhat contradictorily adds, Gibson had re- turned, " driving about 90 horses and 200 head of beef cattle into the garrison." Meanwhile the Cali- fornians held the region roundabout the town. Stock- ton says: "On the afternoon of our arrival the enemy, irritated I suppose by the loss of his animals, came down in considerable force and made an attack; they were, however, soon driven back with the loss of two men and horses killed, and four wounded. These skir- mishes, or running fights, are of almost daily occur- rence; since we have been here, we have lost as yet but one man killed and one wounded." Thus reported the commodore on November 23d, the only definite date we have for these events.1 That there were, however, any hostilities involving loss of life, I think there is room for doubt.

More horses were required; and those already ob- tained needed rest. "During the time required for resting the horses," writes the commodore, "we were

1 Nov. 23, 1846, Stockton to Sec. Bancroft, in Stockton's Mil. and Naval Oper., 11-12. Also to same purport, except as to the killing of three men, in Id., Report of Feb. 18, 1847, p. 43-4, which is the chief authority for the events immediately following.

328 THE FLORES REVOLUTION-FIGHT AT SAN PASCUAL.

actively employed in the construction of a fort for the more complete protection of the town, mounting guns, and in making the necessary harness, saddles, and bridles. While the work of preparation necessary for our march was thus going on, we sent an Indian to ascertain where the principal force of the insurgents was encamped. He returned with information that a body of them, about 50 strong, was encamped at San Bernardo, about 30 miles from San Diego. Captain Gillespie 2 was immediately ordered to have as many men as he could mount, with a piece of artillery, ready to march for the purpose of surprising the in- surgents in their camp. Another expedition, under command of Captain Hensley3 of the battalion, was sent to the southward for animals, who, after perform- ing the most arduous service, returned with 500 head of cattle and 140 horses and mules. About Decem- ber 3d two deserters, whose families lived in San Diego, came into the place and reported themselves to Lieutenant Minor, the commander of the troops. On receiving information of the fact I repaired to his quarters with my aide-de-camp, Lieut Gray, for the purpose of examining one of these men. While en- gaged in this examination, a messenger arrived with a letter from Gen. Kearny of the U. S. army, appris- ing me of his approach, and expressing a wish that I

" Nov. 29th, Gillespie writes to Larkin : 'In consequence of the great waut of animals, every horse being driven away, Com. Stockton has landed here with all his force, and intends to maintain this position until we catch horses, and then proceed upon the march to the pueblo. We hear nothing from Maj. Fremont, but suppose that he must be near the pueblo. Some few of the en- emy show themselves now and then upon the hills opposite to us, beyond the reach of our guns. We muster now on shore 450 men, and altogether have a fine camp. The Congress is safely moored within pistol-shot of the hide- houses, where she will no doubt lie until the winter is passed.' Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 334.

3 ' In November 1846 I was directed by Com. Stockton to go into lower California and get horses, mules, cattle, saddles, and saddle-rigging. I was directed to proceed by sea, and accordingly went on board the Stonington, and disembarked at San Domingo. In landing we swamped two boats, with the loss of seven or eight rifles, several pistols, blankets, and many articles of clothing. We succeeded in getting 140 head of horses and mules, and about 300 head of cattle, some saddles and saddle-rigging. The cattle belonged to Juan Bandini, who was iu S. Diego at the time.' Hensley's testimony in Fre- mont's Cal. Claims, 35. Hensley did not return until about Dec. 20th.

329

AFFAIRS AT LOS ANGELES.

would open a communication with him and inform him of the state of affairs in California. Capt. Gilles- pie was immediately ordered to proceed to Gen. Kearny's camp with the force which he had been di- rected to have in readiness. He left San Diego at about half-past seven o'clock the same evening, taking with him one of the deserters to act as a guide in conducting Gen. Kearny to the camp of the insur- gents."4

At Angeles Flores continued to issue as before his routine orders to subordinates, few of which require any special notice. It is to be noted, however, that many of them relate to affairs in the direction of San Diego, and naturally, since there was the camp of the enemy. From these documents it appears that a party of Americans from San Diego may have un- dertaken an expedition into the interior not mentioned in Stockton's reports. At any rate, on November 22d

4 Stockton's Report, 44-5. Judge Hayes, Emig. Notes., 364-6; Miscel., 4]- 2, gives some details of these times gleaned from conversations with the old Californians, as follows: Bandini, Argüello, Pedrorena, and others were very friendly to the Americans. J. A. Estudillo was neutral, like Abel Stearns, who went at first across the frontier, and later to the Cajon rancho. Bandini entertained sumptuously. Some of the force were quartered at the house of Doña María Ibañez and part at the Arguello house. Women and children were gathered within the strong walls of the Estudillo house. The Califor- nians held the fortified Stockton hill (?) so near that Juan Rocha could be heard shouting to his aunt for ropa and chocolate. J. M. Orozco amused him- self by firing at A. B. Smith when he climbed the flag-staff to fix the flag; and also at Pedrorena, who was escorting a young lady-merely to scare him. One day a party came down and drove off some cattle from the flat near the Argüello house. Then on the 8th day of the siege, Capt. Arguello with a company ascended the hill, and though wounded in the leg, drove the Cali- fornians, under Hermosillo, from their position. They made a new stand be- hind the ruins of the old presidio walls, but soon retreated toward the mission. Capt. Pedrorena went in pursuit, and about a mile up the valley met and exchanged some shots with the advanced guard under Leandro Osuna. Farther on, au American going to water his mule in a canada was killed. Pedrorena was again successful in a charge on the foe at the old mission, where Ramon Carrillo (?) and others were taken prisoners. From this time many, disgusted with Hermosillo's conduct in these affairs, hegan to come in and give themselves up. Dances and festivities followed. The grand music of Stockton's naval band is still spoken of by the natives. At one of the jollifications came the news of Kearny's approach. Marron, Papeles, MS., 14-19, gives some similar reminiscences. Her husband had been forced into the Californian ranks, escaped, and was retaken and lost nearly all his prop- erty.

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History of California, Volume XXII, Part 34

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