USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California, including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description; together with a record of the Mexican grants also, incidents of pioneer life; and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men > Part 19
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and merry life, untroubled by politics or cares of State, sure of what is their own, and safe from the incursions of the Yankees, who would soon be forced to retreat into their own country."
It was a happy thing for California, and, as the sequel proved, for the views of the government of the United States, a man was found at this juncture whose ideas were more enlightened and consonant with the times than those of the rulers of his country, both civil and military. Patriotism was half his soul ; he therefore could not silently witness the land of his birth sold to any monarchy, however old ; and he rightly judged that, al- though foreign protection might postpone, it could not avert that assump- tion of power which was beginning to make itself felt. Possessed at the time of no political power, and having had few early advantages, still his position was so exalted, and his character so highly respected by both the foreign and native population, that he had been invited to participate in the deliberations of the Junta. This man was Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Born in California, he commenced his career in the army as an alferes, or ensign, and in this humble grade, he volunteered, at the suggestion of the Mexican government, with a command of fifty soldiers, to establish a colony on the north side of the bay of San Francisco, for the protection of the frontier. He effectually subdued the hostile Indians inhabiting that then remote region, and laid the foundation of a reputation for integrity, judg- ment and ability unequaled by any of his countrymen. Although quite a young man, he had already filled the highest offices in the province, and had at this time retired to private life near his estates in the vicinity of the town of Sonoma. He did not hesitate to oppose with all his strength the views advanced by Pico and Castro. He spoke nearly as follows :
" I cannot, gentlemen, coincide in opinion with the military and civil functionaries who have advocated the cession of our country to France or England. It is most true, that to rely any longer upon Mexico to govern and defend us, would be idle and absurd. To this extent I fully agree with my distinguished colleagues. It is also true that we possess a noble coun- try, every way calculated from position and resources to become great and powerful. For that very reason I would not have her a mere dependency upon a foreign monarchy, naturally alien, or at least indifferent, to our in- terests and our welfare. It is not to be denied that feeble nations have in former times thrown themselves upon the protection of their powerful neighbors. The Britons invoked the aid of the warlike Saxons, and fell an easy prey to their protectors, who seized their lands and treated them like slaves. Long before that time, feeble and distracted provinces had appealed for aid to the all-conquering arms of imperial Rome, and they were at the same time protected and subjugated by their grasping ally. Even could we tolerate the idea of dependence, ought we to go to distant Europe for a master ? What possible sympathy could exist between us and a nation
William Rice
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separated from us by two vast oceans ? But waving this insuperable ob- jection, how could we endure to come under the dominion of a monarchy ? For, although others speak lightly of a form of Government, as a freeman I cannot do so. We are republicans-badly governed and badly situated as we are-still we are all, in sentiment, republicans. So far as we are governed at all, we at least profess to be self-governed. Who, then, that possesses true patriotism will consent to subject himself and his children to the caprices of a foreign King and his official minions ? But it is asked, if we do not throw ourselves upon the protection of France or England, what shall we do ? I do not come here to support the existing order of things, but I come prepared to propose instant and effective action to extri- cate our country from her present forlorn condition. My opinion is made up that we must persevere in throwing off the galling yoke of Mexico, and proclaim our independence of her forever. We have endured |her official cormorants and her villainous soldiery until we can endure no longer. All will probably agree with me that we ought at once to rid ourselves of what may remain of Mexican domination. But some profess to doubt our ability to maintain our position. To my mind there comes no doubt. Look at Texas, and see how long she withstood the power of united Mexico. The resources of Texas were not to be compared with ours, and she was much nearer to her enemy than we are. Our position is so remote, either by land or sea, that we are in no danger from Mexican invasion. Why, then, should we hesitate still to assert our independence ? We have indeed taken the first step, by electing our own Governor, but another remains to be taken. I will mention it plainly and distinctly-it is annexation to the United States. In contemplating this consummation of our destiny, I feel nothing but pleasure, and I ask you to share it. Discard old prejudices, disregard old customs, and prepare for the glorious change which awaits our country. Why should we shrink from incorporating ourselves with the happiest and freest nation in the world, destined soon to be the most wealthy and powerful ? Why should we go abroad for protection when this great nation is our adjoining neighbor ? When we join our fortunes to hers, we shall not become subjects, but fellow-citizens, possessing all the rights of the people of the United States, and choosing our own federal and local rulers. We shall have a stable government and just laws. Cali- fornia will grow strong and flourish, and her people will be prosperous, happy and free. Look not, therefore, with jealousy upon the hardy pioneers who scale our mountains and cultivate our unoccupied plains, but rather welcome them as brothers who come to share with us a common destiny."
Such was the substance of General Vallejo's observations ; those who listened to lim, however, were far behind in general knowledge and intelli- gence. His arguments failed to carry conviction to the greater number of his auditors, but the bold position taken by him was the cause of an imme-
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diate adjournment of the Junta, no result having been arrived at concern- ing the weighty affairs on which they had met to deliberate. On his retir- ing from the Junta he embodied the views he had expressed in a letter to Don Pio Pico, and reiterated his refusal to participate in any action having for its end the adoption of any protection other than that of the United States. In this communication he also declared that he would never serve under any Government which was prepared to surrender California to an European power; he then returned to his estates, there to await the issue of events. .
We left William Knight at Fremont's camp, where he had arrived on the morning of June 9, 1846, imparting his information to that officer and the twenty settlers who had there assembled. At 10 A. M. of that day a party of eleven men, under the oldest member, Ezekiel Merritt, started in pursuit of Lieutenant Arci and his horses. On arrival at Hock Farm they were joined by two more, and having crossed the American River at Sin- clair's, reached the rancho of Allen Montgomery, sixty miles from Fremont's camp, at the Buttes, towards evening, and there supped. Here they received the intelligence that Lieutenant Arci had reached Sutter's Fort on the 8th, and had that morning resumed his march, intending to camp that night at the rancho of Martin Murphy, twenty miles south, on the Cosumne River. Supper finished and a short rest indulged in, the party were once more in the saddle, being strengthened by the addition of Montgomery and another man, making the total force fifteen. They proceeded to within about five miles of Murphy's, and there lay concealed till daylight, when they were again on the move, and proceeded to within half a mile of the camp. Un- perceived, they cautiously advanced to within a short distance, and then suddenly charging, secured the Lieutenant and his party, as well as the horses. Lieutenant Arci was permitted to retain his sword, each of his party was given a horse wherewith to reach Santa Clara, and a person traveling with him was permitted to take six of the animals which he claimed as private property ; the Lieutenant was then instructed to depart, and say to his chief, General Castro, that the remainder of the horses were at his disposal whenever he should wish to come and take them. The Americans at once returned to Montgomery's with the horses, and there breakfasted ; that night, the 10th, they camped twenty-seven miles above Sutter's, on the rancho of Nicolas Allgier, a German, not far from the mouth of Bear River, and, in the morning, ascertaining that Fremont had moved his camp hither from the Buttes, they joined him on the 11th, at 10 A. M., having traveled about one hundred and fifty miles in forty-eight hours.
On arriving at Fremont's camp it was found that the garrison had been considerably augmented by the arrival of more settlers, who were all ardently discussing the events of the last two days, and its probable results. After a full hearing it was determined by them that, having gone so far,
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their only chance of safety was in a rapid march to the town of Sonoma to effect its capture, and to accomplish this before the news of the stoppage of Lieutenant Arci and his horses could have time to reach that garrison. It was felt that should this design prove successful all further obstacles to the eventual capture of the country would have vanished. The daring band then reorganized, still retaining in his position of captain, Ezekiel Merritt. At 3 P. M., June 12th, under their leader, they left Fremont's camp for Sonoma, one hundred and twenty miles distant, and traveling all that night, passed the rancho of William Gordon, about ten miles from the present town of Woodland, Yolo county, whom they desired to inform all Americans that could be trusted, of their intention. At 9 A. M., on the 13th, they reached Captain John Grigsby's, at the head of Napa valley, and were joined by William L. Todd, William Scott and others. Here the company, which now mustered thirty-three men, was reorganized, and addressed by Doctor Robert Semple. Not desiring, however, to reach Sonoma till daylight, they halted here till midnight, when they once more resumed their march, and before it was yet the dawn of June 14, 1846, surprised and captured the garrison of Sonoma, consisting of six soldiers, nine pieces of artillery, and some small arms, etc., "all private property being religiously respected ; and in generations yet to come their children's children may look back with pride and pleasure upon the commencement of a revolution which was carried on by their fathers' fathers upon principles as high and holy as the laws of eternal justice."
Their distinguished prisoners were General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Prudon, Captain Don Salvador Mundo Vallejo, brother to the General, and Mr. Jacob Primer Leese, brother-in-law to the General.
We would now lay before the reader the account of this episode, as described by General Vallejo, at the Centennial exercises, held at Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, July 4, 1876 :-
" I have now to say something of the epoch which inaugurated a new era for this country. A little before dawn on June 14, 1846, a party of hunters and trappers, with some foreign settlers, under command of Captain Merritt, Doctor Semple and William B. Ide, surrounded my residence at Sonoma, and without firing a shot, made prisoners of myself, then Commander of the northern frontier ; of Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Prudon, Captain Salvador Vallejo and Jacob P. Leese. I should here state that down to October, 1845, I had maintained at my own expense a respectable garrison at Sonoma, which often, in union with the settlers, did good service in campaigns against the Indians ; but at last, tired of spending money which the Mex- ican Government never refunded, I disbanded the force, and most of the soldiers who had constituted it left Sonoma. Thus in June, 1846, the Plaza was entirely unprotected, although there were ten pieces of artillery, with
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other arms and munitions of war. The parties who unfurled the Bear Flag were well aware that Sonoma was without defense, and lost no time in taking advantage of this fact, and carrying out their plans. Years before, I had urgently represented to the Government of Mexico the necessity of stationing a sufficient force on the frontier, else Sonoma would be lost, which would be equivalent to leaving the rest of the country an easy prey to the invader. What think you, my friends, were the instructions sent me in reply to my repeated demands for means to fortify the country ? These instructions were that I should at once force the immigrants to re- cross the Sierra Nevada, and depart from the territory of the Republic. To say nothing of the inhumanity of these orders, their execution was physically impossible-first, because the immigrants came in Autumn, when snow covered the Sierra so quickly as to make a return impracticable. Under the circumstances, not only I, but Comandante General Castro, re- solved to provide the immigrants with letters of security, that they might remain temporarily in the country. We always made a show of authority, but well convinced all the time that we had no power to resist the invasion which was coming upon us. With the frankness of a soldier I can assure you that the American immigrants never had cause to complain of the treatment they received at the hands of either authorities or citizens. They carried us as prisoners to Sacramento, and kept us in a calaboose for sixty days or more, until the authority of the United States made itself respected, and the honorable and humane Commodore Stockton returned us to our hearths."
On the seizure of their prisoners the revolutionists at once took steps to appoint a captain, who was found in the person of John Grigsby, for Ezekiel Merritt wished not to retain the permanent command ; a meeting was then called at the barracks, situated at the northeast corner of the Plaza, under the presidency of William B. Ide, Dr. Robert Semple being secretary. At this conference Semple urged the independence of the country, stating that having once commenced they must proceed, for to turn back was certain death. Before the dissolution of the convention, however, rumors were rife that secret emissaries were being dispatched to the Mexican rancheros, to inform them of the recent occurrences ; therefore, to prevent any attempt at a rescue it was deemed best to transfer their prisoners to Sutter's Fort, where the danger of such would be less.
Before transferring their prisoners, however, a treaty or agreement was entered into between the captives and captors, which will appear in the annexed documents kindly furnished to us by General Vallejo, and which have never before been given to the public. The first is in English, signed by the principal actors in the revolution, and reads:
" We, the undersigned, having resolved to establish a government upon Republican principles, in connection with others of our fellow-citizens, and
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having taken up arms to support it, we have taken three Mexican officers as prisoners, General M. G. Vallejo, Lieut. Col. Victor Prudon, and Captain D. Salvador Vallejo; having formed and published to the world no regular plan of government, feel it our duty to say that it is not our intention to take or injure any person who is not found in opposition to the cause, nor will we take or destroy the property of private individuals further than is necessary for our immediate support.
EZEKIEL MERRITT, R. SEMPLE, WILLIAM FALLON, SAMUEL KELSEY."
The second is in the Spanish language, and reads as follows :-
" Conste pr. la preste. qe. habiendo sido sorprendido pr. una numeros a fuerza armada qe. me tomó prisionero y á los gefes y oficiales qe. estaban de guarnicion en esta plaza de la qe. se apoderó la espresada fuerza, habiendola encontrado absolutamte. indefensa, tanto yo. como los S. S. oficiales qe. suscribero comprometemos nuestra palabra de honor de qe. estando bajo las garantias de prisionero de guerra, no tomaremos las armas ni á favor ni contra repetida fuerza armada de quien hemos recibiro la intimacion del momto. y un escrito firmado qe. garantiza nuestras vidas, familias dè inte- reses, y los de todo el vecindario de esta jurisdn. mientras no hagamos oposi- cion. Sonoma, Junio 14 de 1846. VCR. PRUDON.
M. G. VALLEJO. SALVADOR VALLEJO."
But to proceed with our narrative of the removal of the general, his brother and Prudon to Sutter's Fort. A guard, consisting of William B. Ide, as captain, Captain Grigsby, Captain Merritt, Kit Carson, Williamn Har- grave, and five others, left Sonoma for Sutter's Fort with their prisoners upon horses actually supplied by General Vallejo himself. We are told that on the first night after leaving Sonoma with their prisoners, the revo- lutionists, with singular inconsistency, encamped and went to sleep without setting sentinel or guard ; that during the night they were surrounded by a party under the command of Juan de Padilla, who crept up stealthily and awoke one of the prisoners, telling him that there was with him close at hand a strong and well-armed force of rancheros, who, if need be, could surprise and slay the Americans before there was time for them to fly to arms, but that he, Padilla, before giving such instructions, awaited the orders of General Vallejo, whose rank entitled him to the command of any such demonstration. The general was cautiously aroused and the scheme divulged to him, but with a self-sacrifice which cannot be too highly com- mended, answered that he should go voluntarily with his guardians, that he anticipated a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the whole matter, advised Padilla to return to his rancho and disperse his band, and positively refused to permit any violence to the guard, as he was convinced that such
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would lead to disastrous consequences, and probably involve the rancheros and their families in ruin, without accomplishing any good result. Lieu- tenant Revere says of this episode :-
" This was not told to me by Vallejo, but by a person who was present, and it tallies well with the account given by the revolutionists themselves, several of whom informed me that no guard was kept by them that night, and that the prisoners might have easily escaped had they felt so inclined. The same person also told me that when Vallejo was called out of bed and made a prisoner in his own house, he requested to be informed as to the plans and objects of the revolutionists, signifying his readiness to collect and take command of a force of his countrymen in the cause of inde- pendence."
Having traveled about two-thirds of the way from Sutter's Fort, Captain Merritt and Kit Carson rode on ahead with the news of the capture of Sonoma, desiring that arrangements be made for the reception of the pris- oners. They entered the fort early in the morning of June 16th. That evening the rest of the party, with their prisoners, came and were handed over to the safe-keeping of Captain Sutter, who, it is said, was severely censured by Captain Fremont for his indulgence to them.
Mr. Thomas C. Lancey, the author of several interesting letters on this subject, which appeared in The Pioneer during the year 1878, remarks :-
" There have been so many questions raised during this year (1878) in relation to the date of the hoisting of the ' Bear Flag,' who made it, and what material it was manufactured from, as well as the date of the capture of Sonoma, and the number of men who marched that morning, that I shall give the statements of several who are entitled to a hearing, as they were actors in that drama.
" The writer of this (Mr. Lancey) was here in 1846, and served during the war, and has never left the country since, but was not one of the ‘Bear Flag party,' but claims, from his acquaintance with those who were, to be able to form a correct opinion as to the correctness of these dates. Dr. Robert Semple, who was one of that party from the first, says, in his diary, that they entered Sonoma at early dawn on the 14th of June, 1846, thirty- three men, rank and file. William B. Ide, who was chosen their commander, says in his diary the same. Captain Henry L. Ford, another of this number, says, or rather his historian, S. H. W., of Santa Cruz, who I take to be the Rev. S. H. Willey, makes him say they captured Sonoma on the 12th of June, with thirty-three men. Lieutenant William Baldridge, one of the party, makes the date the 14th of June, and number of men twenty-three. Lieutenant Joseph Warren Revere, of the United States ship 'Portsmouth,' who hauled down the ' Bear Flag' and hoisted the American flag on the 9th of July, and at a later date commanded the garrison, says the place was captured on the 14th of June." To this list is now added the documentary
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evidence produced above, fixing the date of the capture of General Vallejo and his officers, and therefore the taking of Sonoma, as June 14, 1846.
On the seizure of the citadel of Sonoma, the Independents found floating from the flagstaff-head the flag of Mexico, a fact which had escaped notice during the bustle of the morning. It was at once lowered, and they set to work to devise a banner which they should claim as their own. They were as one on the subject of there being a star on the groundwork, but they taxed their ingenuity to have some other device, for the ' lone star ' had been already appropriated by Texas.
So many accounts of the manufacture of this insignia have been pub- lished that we give the reader those quoted by the writer in The Pioneer :-
" A piece of cotton cloth," says Mr. Lancey, " was obtained, and a man by the name of Todd proceeded to paint from a pot of red paint a star in the corner. Before he was finished, Henry L. Ford, one of the party, pro- poses to paint on the center, facing the star, a grizzly bear. This was unani- mously agreed to, and the grizzly bear was painted accordingly. When it was done, the flag was taken to the flag-staff, and hoisted amid the hurrahs of the little party, who swore to defend it with their lives."
Of this matter Lieutenant Revere says : " A flag was also hoisted bearing a grizzly bear rampant, with one stripe below, and the words 'Republic of California' above the bear, and a single star in the Union." This is the evidence of the officer who hauled down the Bear flag and replaced it with the Stars and Stripes on July 9, 1846.
The Western Shore Gazetteer has the following version : "On the 14th of June, 1846, this little handful of men proclaimed California a free and independent republic, and on that day hoisted their flag, known as the ' Bear flag;' this consisted of a strip of worn-out cotton domestic, furnished by Mrs. Kelley, bordered with red flannel, furnished by Mrs. John Sears, who had fled from some distant part to Sonoma for safety upon hearing that war had been thus commenced. In the center of the flag was a representa- tion of a bear, en passant, painted with venetian red, and in one corner was painted a star of the same color. Under the bear were inscribed the words Republic of California,' put on with common writing ink. This flag is pre- served by the California Pioneer Association, and may be seen at their rooms in San Francisco. It was designed and executed by W. L. Todd."
The Sonoma Democrat, under the caption, "A True History of the Bear Flag," tells its story : " The rest of the revolutionary party remained in possession of the town. Among them were three young men, Todd, Benja- min Duell and Thomas Cowie. A few days after the capture, in a casual conversation between these young men, the matter of a flag came up. They had no authority to raise the American flag, and they determined to make one. Their general idea was to imitate, without following too closely, their national ensign. Mrs. W. B. Elliott had been brought to the town of
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Sonoma by her husband from his ranch on Mark West Creek for safety. The old Elliott cabin may be seen to this day on Mark West Creek, about a mile above the Springs. From Mrs. Elliott, Ben Duell got a piece of new red flannel, some white domestic, needles, and thread. A piece of blue drilling was obtained elsewhere. From this material, without consultation with any one else, these three young men made the Bear Flag. Cowie had been a saddler. Duell had also served a short time at the same trade. To form the flag Duell and Cowie sewed together alternate strips of red, white and blue. Todd drew in the upper corner a star and painted on the lower a rude picture of a grizzly bear, which was not standing, as has been some- times represented, but was drawn with head down. The bear was after- wards adopted as the design of the great seal of the State of California. On the original flag it was so rudely executed that two of those who saw it raised have told us that it looked more like a hog than a bear. Be that as it may, its meaning was plain-that the revolutionary party would, if necessary, fight their way through at all hazards. In the language of our informant, it meant that there was no back out ; they intended to fight it out. There were no halyards on the flag-staff which stood in front of the barracks. It was again reared, and the flag, which was soon to be re- placed by that of the Republic, for the first time floated on the breeze."
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