History of California, Volume XXII, Part 38

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

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2 Nov. Ist, all efficient horses but 3 taken from Fitch's rancho, 29 in num- ber, worth $730. Fitch, Doc., MS., 406, 422. Many mistakes, with harsh and arbitrary measures, provoking much angry feeling. Hyde's Statement, MS., 3. 'Every one who can raise among the emigrants 30 or 40 men becomes a cap- tain and starts off to fight pretty much on his own hook. Nor is he very scrupulous as to the mode in which he obtains his horses, saddles, etc. He takes them wherever he can find them, and very often without leaving behind the slightest evidence by which the owner can recover the value of his prop- erty. He plunders the Californian to procure the means of fighting him. Public exigency is the plea which is made to cover all the culpable features in the transaction. This may justify, perhaps, taking the property, but it can never excuse the refusal or neglect to give receipts. It is due to Stockton and Frémont to say that this has been done without their sanction. Still it re- flects reproach on our cause, and is a source of vast irritation in the commu- nity. No man who has any possible means of redress left will tamely submit to such outrages; and yet weexpect the Californians to hing this chain of deg- radation, and help to rivet its links.' Colton's Three Years, 158. All Amesti's

359

RECRUITS AND SUPPLIES.

States finally assumed the obligation, as we shall see, to pay these 'California claims;' and while many rancheros received no compensation, others were paid for property that they had never lost. Such are the fortunes of war. It is not possible to form a connected narrative of the operations by which supplies and re- cruits were gained, for no official report was ever made on the subject; but Frémont's efforts were very suc- cessful, and within a month over 200 recruits were ob- tained for the battalion. Many immigrants had lately arrived at New Helvetia, and were ready to enlist for the war at twenty-five dollars per month. Bryant, Jacob, Grayson, and Lippincott were active in enlist- ing the new-comers; and they also raised a company of Walla Walla and native Californian Indians for the service, known as the spies, or more commonly as the 'forty thieves.' A company of Indians was also formed to serve at New Helvetia under Kern and Sutter, thus releasing the old garrison for service in the south. Captain Hastings had come back to California, and entered with much zeal into the congenial work, rais- ing a company of 60 or 80 men in the central region. Captain Grigsby came down to Monterey with his Sonoma garrison of Bear Flag men. Louis McLane exerted himself with much success to organize an ef- fective artillery company, for which several field-pieces were found.3

horses, saddles, and blankets taken without receipts. He then started with his family for another rancho in an ox-cart; but was met by Capt. Sears' men, who took the oxen and left the family in the road. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 182-3; Pinto, Apunt., MS., 104-5. Alcalde Chabolla of San Juan was beaten for refusing to give up his saddle. Weeks' Remin., MS., 117. All Ger- man's horses were taken, 100 in number; but he went to Monterey to see Fre- mont, who gave him back a horse and mule, and also some money. G. had tried to save 11 fine horses by concealing them, but a neighbor pointed them out. German, Sucesos, MS., 13-15; Amador, Mem., MS., 172-3, gives some details of the process of plundering. Most of the rancheros were left without horses for their work. See also Cooke's Conq., 218-20. Weber's raids for horses are described in S. José Pioneer, March 6, 1880; Lancey's Cruise, 191- 2; Tinkham's Hist. Stockton, 103-4; with some correspondence found also in Halleck's Mex. Land Laws, MS. Howard and Mellus on complaint to Mont- gomery got a permit to retain such horses as were necessary for their business. In the Eureka West Coast Signal, Dec. 20, 1876, I find a burlesque narrative of Fremont's coming in person to Sonoma to get Vallejo's horses.

3 Bryant's What I Saw and Colton's Three Years contain much information

360

NATIVIDAD AND SANTA CLARA.

It was a motley army in respect of race, language, weapons, and especially uniform; but it would have proved a most formidable and effective one against any foe existing in California. It contained many lawless, ignorant, and unprincipled men; but there was also a strong element of intelligent and brave Americans, thoroughly in earnest, and skilled rifle- men; while the leaders were well fitted by character and experience to discipline and control such a force. The different parts of the battalion were reunited at San Juan, after some stirring events to be noticed presently, late in November. The whole force at that time, according to Bryant, who was an officer present at the time, was 428 men. No muster-rolls were sent to Washington; and none have been pre- served so far as I know, though I have some partial lists mentioned in a note, and utilized in my biograph- ical sketches. According to the official report, when the force was mustered out in April 1847 the total number of men enlisted had been 475 mounted rifle- men and 41 artillerymen, in ten companies.4 I append in a note the organization of the battalion into com- panies, with a full list of officers.5

which has been widely copied. See also Fremont's Cal. Claims; Honolulu Friend, iv. 190; Tuthill's Hist. Cal., 200-3; and Lancey's Cruise. Sutter, Person. Remin., MS., 153-4, says that he, at Frémont's request through Rus- sell, organized the Walla Walla company under a Canadian named Gendreau; also a company of reformed horse-thieves from the Mokelumue and Stanislaus under José Jesus. Nov. 9th, Larkin writes to his wife of Fremont's rapid progress. He will have 400 to 450 men. Some fear that after his force de- parts Monterey may be attacked. Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 320. Sutter says F. had officers who could not sign their names. Many 'que ni conocian la o por lo redondo.' Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 234.

4 31st Cong. 1st Sess., H. Ex. Doc. 24, p. 22 h.

5 Official list in Frémont's Cal. Claims, 61-3; with corrections from Brack- ett's List, MS .; Bryant's What I Saw, 365-8; Swasey's Cal., MS., 19; and other sources. John C. Fremont, lieut-col. commanding battalion (lieut-col. in U. S. A.) Archibald H. Gillespie, major (Ist lieut U. S. marines). Pearson B. Reading, paymaster. Henry King, commissary (capt.) Jacob R. Snyder, quartermaster (called maj.) Wm H. Russell, ordnance officer (maj.) Theodore Talbot, adjutant (lieut). John J. Myers, sergeant-maj. and later lieut. Detached officers serving in south and elsewhere: captains, Samuel J. Ilensley, Samuel Gibson, Santiago E. Argüello, Miguel Pedrorena, Charles Burroughs (killed before the battalion went south), Bell, and Wm A. T. Maddox (2d lieut U. S. N.) First lieutenants, Hiram Rheusaw, James H. Barton, Edward M. Kern (at Sutter's Fort), Luis Arguello, Benj. D. Wilson, Felipe Butron (?), Montgomery Martin, and Alexis Godey. Second lieut,

361

THE CALIFORNIA BATTALION.

On hearing of Flores' revolution, Manuel Castro and several other officers left Monterey, breaking their paroles, and made haste to offer their services to the new general, who on October 23d appointed Castro commandant of military operations in the Andrew J. Grayson. Quartermaster, John Bidwell (capt.) Among offi- cers signing a receipt for pay are Ed Gilchrist, surgeon, and Geo. Waldo, rank not mentioned.

Company A, composed chiefly of Fremont's original explorers. Richard Owens, capt .; Wm N. Loker, Ist lieut (adjutant later); Benj. M. Hudspeth, 2d lieut (capt. later); Wm Findlay, 2d lieut (capt. later). Co. B, Henry L. Ford, capt .; Andrew Copeland, Ist lieut. Co. C, Granville P. Swift, capt .; Wm Baldridge, Ist lieut; Wm Hargrave, 2d lieut. Co. D, John Sears, capt .; Wm Bradshaw, Ist lieut. Co. E, originally Co. C, or 3d co. of the organization at Sonoma in July. List of members extant, see below. John Grigsby, capt .; Archer (or Archibald) C. Jesse, Ist lieut; David T. Bird, 2d lieut. Co. F, Lansford W. Hastings, capt .; M. M. Wambough, Ist lieut; James M. Hudspeth, 2d lieut. List of members probably extant. Co. G, Bluford K. Thompson, capt .; D. A. Davis, Ist lieut; James Rock, 2d lieut. Partial list of members, see below. Co. H, composed mainly of Walla Walla aud Cal. Indians. Richard T. Jacob, capt .; Edwin Bryant, Ist lieut; Benj. S. (also called Geo. M.) Lippincott, 2d lieut, acting asst quarter- master in Jan. Artill. Co. A, Louis McLane, capt., major later (lieut U. S. N.); John K. Wilson, Ist lieut, later capt. (midshipman U. S. N.); Wm Blackburn, 2d lieut. Artill. Co. B, apparently organized after the battalion went south. First lieut A. Girard in command. Muster-roll of 28 names extant.

In Grigsby's Papers, MS., 6-7, 11, 13-14, I find a compact of 33 men of Co. E, dated Oct. 29th at Sonoma, to serve under Frémont; also list of 33 names (4 new ones being substituted for 4 of the old), with dates of enlistment from Oct. 4th to Nov. 14th, chiefly at Sonoma. Horace Sanders, orderly sergeant. In Cal. Pioneer Soc., Arch., MS., 35, I find a list of 57 privates and 12 officers, without reference to companies, who acknowledge receipt of pay. In Id., 45, is a muster-roll of Girard's company of artillery, 28 names, enlistments July to Nov., dated March 25, 1847. In Id., 101-3, is a contract between Frémont and 71 men, dated at San Juan, Nov. 20th, enlistments from different dates of Oct. and Nov. This would seem to be Hastings' Co. F. since Hudspeth and Wambough appear among the names. In Id., 209-10, is a similar contract with 31 men of the San José company (Thompson's Co. G). Enlistments for 3 months from Nov. 20th. In Id., 211-12, is similar contract, dated Monterey, Nov. 10th and 28th, enlistments from different dates of Sept .- Nov., with 20 men of Co. B (Ford's), 4 of Co. A, and 3, company not specified. C. P. Briggs, in Napa Reporter, Sept. 7, 1872, says that Frémont wished to break up Thompson's company to fill up the ranks of the others; but Thompson protested, and after much trouble his men were organized into a separate company. T. had been Weber's lieutenant at S. José; and there are indications that W. declined to join the battalion with his men, from dis- like of Fremont. In Mckinstry's Papers, MS., 20-3, is a pay-roll of 50 Indian soldiers of the New Helvetia garrison, Lieut J. A. Sutter, certified by Lieut. Kern. Nov. 9th to Feb. 26th, pay of troopers $12.50 per month; infantry, $6; lieut, $50. Thus we have approximately complete lists for companies B, E, F, G, and Girard's artillery, about 190 names. For most members of Co. A, see list of Frémont's explorers in vol. iv., p. 583, of this work. The names of the Indians in company H, are of no special importance. For companies Cand D, and McLane's artillery, we have no lists; but many additional names will be found, as well as all those referred to in this note, in my bio- graphical sketches of pioneers.

362

NATIVIDAD AND SANTA CLARA.

north, with headquarters at San Luis Obispo. His instructions were to enlist with or without their con- sent all capable of bearing arms, and to seize all mu- nitions of war wherever they could be found. Horses and other supplies were also to be taken as found and needed, though preferably from foreigners who had favored the invaders. Powder and horses would be sent from the south if possible. Francisco Rico was named as second in command; and Jesus Pico, coman- dante at San Luis, was ordered to put himself and men at the orders of the northern chief. The policy to be followed as in the south was that of harassing the foe by a guerrilla warfare, cutting off supplies, preventing communication, stampeding horses, and watching for opportunities to attack advantageously. Arriving at San Luis early in November, Don Ma- nuel set himself to work, and with the cooperation of Rico, Pico, the brothers Joaquin and Gabriel de la Torre, José Antonio Chavez, and others, he soon raised a force of about 100 men, many of whom became soldiers unwillingly. Castro's quest for supplies was similar in methods to that of Fremont in the north, but was less successful, since the prospect of payment was deemed less favorable; though a stirring appeal from the prefect-commander was issued to Californian patriots the 7th of November. The same day he re- ported to Flores what had been accomplished. The horses were in bad condition; the men had few and poor weapons ; and there was no powder to speak of; yet he hoped to take some powder from the foe, and he intended to march for the north two days later. He probably did start on the 9th or 10th, and two or three days later, his force being increased to 125 or 130 on the way, he reached the Salinas River in the region of Soledad. Pilarcitos, Tucho, and half a dozen other places are named in different narratives as the sites of military camps in these days, all in the Salinas Valley below Soledad. The plan of the Cali- fornians was to capture as many as possible of Fré-

363

FEARS AT MONTEREY.

mont's horses, and thus keeep the battalion from aid- ing Stockton in the south.6

Meanwhile all was quiet at Monterey, but for the bustle of Frémont's preparations. Several of the pa- roled officers, like Juan B. Alvarado and the Estradas, were keeping their pledges; while Pablo de la Guerra and perhaps a few others were put under arrest in consequence of news from the south.7 On November 4th it was reported that one of the Torres had re- cently gone south with 30 men and 200 horses, caus- ing much loss to farmers between Monterey and San Luis.8 We are told also that several men of the Montercy district, with a knowledge of Castro's move- ments, were secretly active in collecting arms and am- munition, with a view to cooperate with the approach- ing force;9 but if this was true, their operations were not suspected. There were some fears of possible hostilities at the end of October; but it was believed that the return of the battalion had removed all grounds of anxiety. Meanwhile the work of mili- tary reorganization was going on actively, and recruits were coming from all directions to swell the force.

On Sunday, the 15th of November, Captain Charles Burroughs, a newly arrived immigrant who had taken

6 Oct. 23d, Flores to Castro. Appointment and instructions. Castro, Doe., MS., ii. 147. Oct. 30th, J. J. Pico to Castro from S. Luis. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 266. Nov. 7th, Castro's report to Flores. Fernandez, Doc., MS., 15. Nov. 7th, Castro's procl. and appeal to Californians. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 274. In Castro's Servicios, MS., a report of 1847, we have a general account of the prefect's plans and operations during this campaign. The author attempts no explanation of his parole, but admits that he was a pris- oner at Monterey. He seems not to have been captured with the rest on the way north, but to have submitted voluntarily, with an idea that the war was over. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 256-8, says the army was organized in three divisions or companies of over 30 men each: Ist, veterans under Gabriel de la Torre; 2d, militia under Jesus Pico; 3d, Mexicans and New Mexicans under Herrera and Quintana. See also Ord, Ocur., MS., 145-6.

7 Guerra states that he was kept in close confinement until Feb. '47, ou account of his great influence on the Californians. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 1301. There are other contemporary references to his captivity.

8 Mont. Californian, Nov. 7, 1846.

9 Torre, Remin., MS., 160-74, gives some details, and names Cárlos and José Antonio Espinosa, Estévan and Pablo de la Torre, and Antonio Ruiz de la Mota as the leaders, They raised a force of some 30 men, and were some- what successful in getting supplies; but they do not appear to have joined Castro either before or after the fight.

364

NATIVIDAD AND SANTA CLARA.

an active part in recruiting, arrived at San Juan Bau- tista from the Sacramento with about 34 men and a drove of several hundred horses. The same day there arrived Captain Thompson with about the same num- ber of men from San Jose, and all camped for the night at San Juan. Knowledge of their presence, and especially that of the horses, was promptly for- warded to Castro's camp on the Salinas. It was also on the 15th that Thomas O. Larkin set out with one attendant, William Matthews, from Monterey for Yerba Buena. He had previously sent his family there for safety, and had just received from his wife a letter making known the illness of his child, together with a message from Captain Montgomery, who de- sired an interview. Larkin had no suspicion of dan- ger, and stopped for the night at Los Verjeles, the rancho of Joaquin Gomez, sending Matthews on to San Juan, and intending to follow him next morning. But news of his trip reached Castro's camp,10 and Chavez conceived the project of capturing the consul. The other officers, while admitting the advantage of such a capture, seem to have opposed the act as likely to make known their presence prematurely and pre- vent the success of their main purpose; but Chavez either overcame their fears, or, as some say, undertook the enterprise without their consent; and at any rate, he appeared about midnight at Gomez's rancho with a dozen men. Larkin was roused from sleep, obliged to dress in haste, and carried on horseback as a pris- oner to the Salinas camp; but he was treated with the greatest kindness by all the Californian officers from the beginning to the end of his captivity. The plan was to utilize the possession of so important a man in later negotiations for a truce, exchange of prisoners, surrender, or escape from consequences of broken paroles, as circumstances might require. They

10 Alvarado, Hist. Cal .. MS., v. 259-64, and several other Californians state that the Fench consul, Gasquet, sent the information of Larkin's depart- ure to Castro; but perhaps this is an error.

365

LARKIN'S CAPTURE.

also tried at first to induce the prisoner to aid their attempt on San Juan by writing letters to put the garrison on a false scent; but Larkin refused to write; and they in turn refused his proposition to be ex- changed for Pablo de la Guerra and others under arrest at Monterey. On the 16th the whole force started northward in four divisions, Larkin being taken along closely guarded. The plan, as he under- stood it, was for a small party to attack San Juan in the night, and by a retreat to draw out the garrison in pursuit, to be cut off by the main body.11

As had been feared, Larkin's capture resulted in making Castro's presence known to the Americans. So far as can be determined from the complicated and contradictory testimony, Captain Thompson started from San Juan early on the 16th for Monterey, to consult with Frémont, accompanied by a small guard and leaving the rest of his men in camp. He seems to have taken a short cut; while Captain Burroughs,

11 Larkin's captivity is fully described in his original letters in my pos- session. Nov. 25th, L. to his wife, from Sta Bárbara. Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 333. Dec. 4th, Id. to Id., from Angeles. Id., iv. 347. Jan. 11th, Id. to Id., from Angeles after release. Id., v. 5. Jan. 14th, Id. to sec. state, from Angeles. Id., Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 90-1. Jan. 22d, Id. to Vallejo, from Angeles. Vallejo, Doc., MS., i. 22. The writer gives many petty details, and often repeats that from Castro and his officers, as well as from Flores and others in the south, he received always the best of treatment; though on a few occasions he was threatened by irresponsible soldiers. In the Cali- fornian of Feb. 13, 1847, he published a card of thanks in Spanish, to Nic. A. Den, J. A. Carrillo, J. M. Flores and wife, Eulogio Celis and wife, Doña Luisa Argüello de Zamorano, R. S. Den, and Luis Vignes. The news of his capture was published in Id., Nov. 21, 1846; and in Id., Feb. 27, 1847, a kind of journal of his captivity, which has often been reprinted wholly or in part, as in Bryant's What I Saw, 361-3; Fremont's Cal. Claims, 75-6; Lancey's Cruise, 147-8, 180-1; and various county histories. See also, on Larkin's captivity, Rico, Mem., MS., 41-5; Gomez, Lo Que Sabe, MS., 49-50; Botello, Anales, MS., 170-1; Soule's Annals, 763-4; Tuthill's Hist. Cal., 200; Davis' Glimpses, MS., 355-6; Ord, Ocur., MS., 146; Savage, Doc., MS., 23; and indeed, nearly all the references for the Natividad affair in the following notes. After the fight Larkin was hurried south, by a party under Rico and Noriega. Rico absurdly talks of a plot to kill him and N. and re- lease the prisoner, who was to pay $1,000. Larkin was carried to Sta Bar- bara and finally delivered to Flores, at Angeles, by whose order he was shown every kindness, though closely guarded. It was proposed at one time to send him to Mexico with some of the Chino prisoners, as already re- lated; but he was finally released on Jan. 9th, the day before Stockton's oc- cupation of Angeles, and returned to Monterey on the Cyane early in Febru- ary.

366

NATIVIDAD AND SANTA CLARA.

with all his men and horses, set out a little later by the main road. At Gomez's rancho Thompson not only learned what had happened there in the night, but saw and pursued ineffectually two scouts who had been sent by Castro to make observations. Fail- ing to capture these, Thompson sent a warning to Burroughs and hastened back to San Juan to bring up his men. Meanwhile Burroughs reached the rancho, learned what had occurred, and sent out a party of six or eight scouts southward into the plain to learn the enemy's whereabouts and numbers. 12

The Californians advanced northward, Joaquin de la Torre with a dozen horsemen as scouts in advance. Then came the vanguard under Castro, followed by Chavez's company, with Larkin in charge, while Rico commanded the rear guard, including a party in

12 It is impossible to be entirely certain about the details of these events. One of the best accounts extant is that by 'E. C. K.' (Kemble, I think), in the S. F. Californian, Aug. 21, 1847. His version is in substance that of my text, except that he seems to represent Thompson as having accompanied Burroughs iu the morning, and as first sending and then coming back to S. Juan for his men; but he also speaks of T. having sent a man to warn B., which is inconsistent with the theory that T. had accompanied B. Again ' K.' (perhaps also Kemble) wrote an account for the Sac. Union, 1869, which I take from the Los Angeles Star, Dec. 25, 1869, in which he represents Bur- roughs, after his scouts had met the foe, to have sent Lieut Rock (of Thomp- son's co., but who had accompanied B.) back to S. Juan to bring up Thomp- son and his men. 'K.' was one of T.'s men. Again, Winston Bennett, Pi- oneer of '43, says that when Burroughs sent back for aid, being attacked, a messenger was sent to overtake T., who had started with 3 men for Mont. across the hills. T. was overtaken, returned, and marched to aid B. Lancey, Cruise, 148-9, following 'Kemble and others,' has it that B. and T. both started for Mont. with a small guard, leaving their companies at S. Juan: that B. sent back to his lieut to bring up the force as soon as he learned the presence of the foe on reaching Gomez's rancho; and that T. came back about the same time to lead his men, having also learned the presence of the foe, and sent a warning to B. Swasey, Cal. in '45-6, MS., 15 et seq., ignores all this preliminary matter, and implies that the entire forces under B. and T. (and erroneously Grigsby), advanced to Gomez's rancho, heard of the foe, and finally determined on an attack. Francisco Rico, Mem., MS., 35 et seq., and several other Californians mention the meeting between Castro's scouts and a party of 8 Amer., some of them naming Thompson. Vicente P. Go- mez, Lo Que Sabe, MS., 316 et seq. (other versions by G., p. 33, 49), says that he and his brother, sons of Joaquin G., owner of Los Verjeles, were the scouts, and gives particulars of the pursuit by Thompson's men. Most of the Californians think that Matthews, Larkin's companion, camped near the rancho, escaped capture, and carried the news to S. Juan; but none of the American witnesses say anything of Matthews. I have no doubt, from a careful study of the testimony, that the version of my text is in substance correct.

367

FIGHT AT THE GROVE.

charge of horses and munitions under Sergeant Lá- zaro Soto. It was perhaps 3 o'clock P. M., or even later, when the advance arrived at the Natividad rancho and met the American scouts. These were the men, six to ten in number, who had been sent out by Burroughs before Thompson's arrival. They included George Foster, often called captain, John (or James) Hayes, the two Delaware Indians, Tom Hill, and James Salmon, and several Walla Wallas. I think they had been in the vicinity several hours. On seeing the foe, two or three of the Indians fled to the rancho to give the alarm, while the rest posted themselves in the encinalito, or little grove of oaks, close at hand, where they were presently attacked by Torre, and completely surrounded as soon as Castro and Chavez came up. The fight at the grove lasted an hour, according to the estimate of Larkin, who was a spectator. The consul was desired to go to the Americans and induce them to surrender; but refused to do so unless he could offer a safe retreat to San Juan or Monterey, to which Castro would not consent. The riflemen behind trees had an advan- tage notwithstanding the disparity of numbers against the horsemen with their few ineffective muskets. Lieutenant Chavez and Alférez Juan Ignacio Cantua were badly wounded,13 and probably two or three Californians were killed, to be scalped by the Indian warriors. But Foster, riddled with musket-balls, at last fell dead at the foot of the tree that had pro- tected him; and Hayes was disabled by serious wounds in the thighs. Then the main body of the Americans appeared in sight; 25 or 30 men were left

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History of California, Volume XXII, Part 38

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