USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume I > Part 47
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We turned the women and children over to the Mission San Gabriel where they remained. Those three short campaigns left our district wholly free from Indian depredations, till after the change of Government. I wish to revert to my second Gila expedition, in the winter of 1835-36.
Myself, and expedition, six men all told, once found ourselves abso- lutely without anything to eat. The only result to us was great weakness. On the evening of the sixth day, getting off our mules, we felt so weak that we became very much alarmed about our condition. So I had no other recourse but to shoot dead my faithful mule that I had ridden over a thousand miles, it being the only animal that showed any flesh. I feel sorry about that mule yet, the killing of which occurred some forty-two years ago. On our return, as before mentioned, to intercept the Mission caravan, after crossing the Del Norte, at the head of Jomacta, going east- ward to the River Pecos, we had the misfortune to find no water till the fifth day at night. On the fourth day, crossing an arid sandy plain leading north to south, between two parallel mountains, we saw to the north of us in the midst of this plain a large building, which encouraged us to believe that our water trouble was at an end; we went to the building and found it to be a large Church. On the northern side of the building saw evidences that there had been on that site a very large town. The Church itself was built of stone, and stood almost in a perfect state of preservation, while all the other buildings had decayed. We spent the whole day looking for water without any success. Just at night I discovered on the eastern side what satisfied me were the remnants of a concrete aqueduct. Camped there that night, next morning endeavored to trace the aqueduct, which led easterly to a mountain range. Spent the whole day in tracing it, to ascertain which was the gorge it entered, believing we should find water there. Our hopes were gratified, and our terrific sufferings ended. I had already had the experience of six days without food, and one of five with- out water, and state that the suffering caused by the former bears no com- parison with that of the latter. No living man, unless he has had the opportunity of feeling it, or seeing it with his own eyes, could realize how
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much flesh a man may lose in five days without water. Every joint in our bodies ached, our eyes sunk in our heads as if we had been dead a week, and the bones seemed to be pushing through the skin. After my return to Santa Fe, narrated our discovery of that building, and some enthusiastic men went in search of it. They called it the Grand Quivira.
Those men dug for treasure and reported that they had discovered some five miles from the buildings, a place where extensive mining opera- tions had been carried on, by some civilized people, yet the best informed of the Mexicans could give us no information on the matter. The whole thing was involved in mystery. I forgot to mention while speaking of my first expedition to the Gila country under Keiker, a remarkable place some twelve miles from where the Little Red River (Colorado Chiquita) leaves the mountains ; there was a village built on a sugar-loaf-like mound, near the banks of the river, which left on the mind the impression that the mound was made by human hands, as it was entirely alone in a perfectly plain country, within the bounds of what had been an extensively cultivated field. The zanja madre, or main ditch, some ten or fifteen miles in length, was plainly visible, covering a plot of ground some one thousand acres, as near as I could judge. The regaderos or cross ditches were also clearly seen. In the mound several feet above the base was a row of buildings, or rather rooms, in a perfect state of preservation, and the rooms seemed to serve as the roofing. In the rooms we found a great quantity of dried corn cobs. About two miles easterly some spurs of the Sierra Madre project, and are pretty much covered with junipers and other cedars, the soil of a very red sticky clay .. At the foot of these hills, our mule herders found a quantity of stone-like bullets, of about the average musket ball size. They brought them to us, saying that there were very large quantities of the same kind. Our curiosity led us to go and examine them for ourselves. We thought there must be wagon loads of such bullets, so great was the quantity strewn about the ground. We were thoroughly convinced that these bullets were the work of men, as many bore the appearance of having been moulded, with the necks still on. My impression is that they were moulded from red clay, and age had petrified them. I leave a wiser man to explain.
I will now relate the part I acted in the campaign between the Michel- torena, and California parties, in 1845. General Micheltorena's officers and men were all well known to the people of Los Angeles, for they had been here several months before they went up to Monterey. Whilst Michelto- rena and a few of his officers were unobjectionable men, there were at the time a majority, much the larger number of them, who were a disgrace to any civilization. They had made themselves obnoxious by their thefts, and other outrages of a most hideous nature. Hence, when it was announced that a revolution had broken out in the north against Micheltorena and his rabble, and that they were on their way here in pursuit of the California revolutionists, all classes joined the movement with great alacrity to get the country rid of what was considered a great scourge.
I was on my ranch at Jarupa at the time, in the early part of 1845. I had been for several years, and still was acting as the Alcalde of the district. I had at first refused to accept the duties ; not being a citizen of Mexico, I was not obliged to perform municipal duties, but at the request
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of friends, and for the defense of my own interests, I had finally consented to act, and was acting as such Alcalde, when an order came to me from the Prefect of the District (I think it was Abel Stearns) to summon every man capable of bearing arms in my district, and to gather every man I could find on my way into Los Angeles, I obeyed, and arrived as early as possible with some twenty or thirty men, and found on my arrival in the town great excitement, almost every man I knew-among them John Rowland, and William Workman, of La Puente-were armed and determined to do everything in his power to prevent Micheltorena and his scum from enter- ing Los Angeles. All provisions were made and ammunition prepared that night, for us to march out early the next morning.
Accordingly we did all leave the town for the Cahuenga Valley. Mr. Workman had some Americans under him. We joined our forces without regard to who commanded; our joint force of foreigners, then consisting of about fifty men, determined to give the enemy a regular mountaineer reception. Although Jose Castro was ostensibly the Commanding General of the forces, the brothers, Governor Pico and Andres, had the actual control of the people of this end of the country. We arrived in the Valley of Cahuenga and Pio Pico heard that Micheltorena had camped the night before at the Encino, about fifteen miles above. We took our position and awaited the enemy's arrival. This was about noon. Both parties began firing their cannon at each other as soon as they were in their sight. I think that no one was killed, or hurt. One horse I believe had his head shot off. Mr. Workman and myself, having learned that the Americans and other foreigners in the Micheltorena party were commanded by some of our old personal friends, and feeling convinced that they had engaged themselves on that side under misapprehension, or ill advice, and that nothing was wanting but a proper understanding between them and us, to make them withdraw from Micheltorena, and join our party-we sent our native Cali- fornians to reconnoiter, and ascertain in what part of the field those foreign- ers were. We soon obtained the desired information of their whereabouts. It was at once decided between Mr. Workman and myself that I was to approach them, if possible, under a white flag, as I had a personal acquaint- ance with the leaders, Captain Brendt and Major Banot, who had been an old army officer in the United States service, had chief command of the foreign force.
Mr. James McKinley, of Monterey, volunteered to accompany me with a white flag. They were stationed in the same ravine that we were in, but about a mile above us. We succeeded in getting to the point we started for, and raised our white flag, at which moment we were fired upon by can- non loaded with grape shot, but no one was hurt, and we had gained our point. The Americans on the other side had seen our flag. We dropped down immediately into the ravine, and waited awhile for the coming of some one from that side. Brandt, Hensley, John Bidwell and some two or three others, came to us. I at once addressed myself to them saying, that they were on the wrong side of this question, and made the following statement : "We in the southern portion of California are settled. Many of you are settled and others expect to be settled. This rabble that you are with of Micheltorena's are unfriendly to respectable humanity, and espe- cially to Americans. The native Californians, whose side we have espoused,
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have ever treated us kindly. If the Micheltorena rabble hold their own in this country, that will constitute an element hostile to all enterprises, and most particularly American enterprise." Captain Brandt remarked that thus far I was right; that he could see the point. But many of his young men that were with him had been induced to join Micheltorena by his promise to give them land, of which many already held deeds, and how would Don Pio Pico feel towards these young men and their land grants, if they aided to raise him to the position of Governor of California? I replied, that in the same morning I had had a talk with Don Pio on this same subject, and that he had said that the thing could be easily arranged ; furthermore, that Don Pio was there, where I could have him advised of what was going on, and he would in a few minutes join us, if these gentle- men desired to see him. I was asked to send for Governor Pico, and he came in a few moments. I knew, and so did Pico, that these land questions were the point with these young Americans, before I started on my journey as embassy.
On Don Pio's arrival among us, I, in a few words, explained to him what the other party had advanced, and he said this: "Gentlemen, are any of you citizens of Mexico? They answered, No."
"Then your title deeds given you by Micheltorena are not worth the paper they are written on, and he knew it well when he gave them to you. But if you will abandon the Micheltorena cause, I will give you my word of honor as a gentleman, and Don Benito Wilson, and Don Julian Workman, to carry out what I promise you, viz: I will protect all and each one of you in the land that you hold now, in quiet and peaceful possession, and promise you further, that if you will take the necessary steps to become citizens of Mexico, I under my authority and the laws of Mexico, will issue to your people proper titles." He also added, that they need not hurry themselves to become citizens of Mexico, and he would not disturb them in the possession of their lands; but advised that they should become such citizens, for then their titles would be invulnerable. I interpreted to them what Pico had said, they bowed and said that was all they asked, and promised not to fire a gun against us ; at the same time expressed the desire of not being asked to fight on our side, as they had marched down with the other party, to which we all assented. Brandt and his companions returned to their camp. Mckinley, and myself went to ours, and the Governor, to his headquarters. Micheltorena had discovered (how I don't know) that his Americans had abandoned him. He at once, about an hour afterwards raised his camp, and flanked us by going further into the valley, toward San Fernando, marching as though he intended to come around the bend of the River, to the City. The Californians, and we the foreigners, at once broke up our camp, came back through the Cahuenga Pass, marched through the gap in the Felis Ranch on to the Los Angeles River, till we came in close proximity to Micheltorena's camp; it was now in the night, as it was dark when we broke up our camp. Here we waited for daylight, and some of our men commenced maneuvering for a fight with the enemy, when a white flag was discovered flying from Micheltorena's front. The whole matter then went into the hands of negotiators appointed by both parties, and the terms of surrender were agreed upon-one of which was, that Micheltorena, and his obnoxious officers and men, were to march back
Vol. I-13
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up the creek to the Cahuenga Pass, down to the plains west of Los Angeles, the most direct route for San Pedro, and embark at that point on a vessel there anchored to carry them back to Mexico. After that campaign we all went home perfectly satisfied with the result.
I returned to my Ranch and devoted myself almost entirely to stock raising, till 1846, when war was declared between Mexico and the United States, and Commodore Sloat raised the white flag over Monterey. But prior to that event, the so called Bear Party seized Sonoma, making prison- ers of some of the officers residing there. The news of these events caused general uneasiness in this part of the country. But the excitement here culminated in the summer, when the American forces were reported on the march to Los Angeles. I was still discharging the duties of Alcalde, or Justice of the Peace, in my district, when I received a communication from the Governor, asking my most active cooperation to raise forces, where- with to repel the invaders.
I replied that I most respectfully declined, being an American citizen and not a military man. I was then menaced with arrest, if I did not comply. I gathered around me about one dozen Americans who had left town when it was unpleasant, and even unsafe, for them to be there at that time. I did say to some one who came to make known to me that I would either have to act, or be arrested, I believe it was Felipe Lugo, or one of his brothers-that I would not allow myself to be arrested, and sent a message to Governor Pico, not to make the attempt to arrest me, for I would resist. But if he would consider that I was not a Mexican citizen, nor a man dis- posed to do military duty, and to allow me to remain quietly on my Ranch, I would pledge my word to be peaceable, and do no act hostile to the country. That pledge of mine seemed to have been satisfactory, as I heard nothing more until Commodore Stockton had arrived, with his squadron, in San Pedro Bay, when I received a private friendly note from Governor Pico, requesting me to come and see him, as he was desirous of holding some conversation with me.
I came immediately to Los Angeles, and waited on the Governor, who received me as usual, in the politest and most friendly manner. After the salutations, he said! "My time here as Governor, is no doubt very short. You have always been a friend of mine, and are married to a daughter of one of my warmest friends. What can I do for you?" He asked me if there was no tract of land that I would like him to grant me whilst he had, as he thought, the power to do it. I answered laughingly, declining, as I was not a citizen, to which he remarked with a laugh that every one thought I was, even if I was not. Governor Pico went on to say that tomorrow would probably be his last day ; that he was going to leave, for he gave no credence to Castro's assertions of intending to attempt repelling the American forces.
I had frequent interviews with the Governor, till the hour he left, and on my taking leave of him, he said with a smile: "You go tomorrow, meet Stockton, wherever he may be, Y dele muchas saludes demi parte, tell him of my intention to abandon the country, and that I hope he will not ill treat my people." I went the next morning accompanied by John Rowland, and others, to meet Commodore Stockton, to whom I communicated the news that Jose Castro had broken camp and left, and Governor Pico had also
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departed from Los Angeles intending to make his way to Sonora. When I had given this information to the Commodore, he held in his hand Castro's bombastic proclamation of the previous morning, and requested me to read it to him. I read it, and assured the Commodore it had been issued by Castro to give time for his own leaving. On my way down, I was requested by one of the Dominquez to present to the Commodore with his compli- ments his favorite saddle horse, equipped for the Commodore's personal use, which had been led down by Dominquez's servant. After a short con- versation I invited the Commodore to mount his steed, and come with us to the City, assuring him that there would be no danger in his doing so, and his troops might march up at their leisure. We rode into town together, and had a pleasant time. His Marines arrived late the same evening. Everything was perfectly quiet, and everybody seemed perfectly satisfied. All knew that Governor Pico, and General Castro, with a certain number of followers, were on their way out of the country. The natives had dispersed, and retired to their usual avocations.
I remained a few days about the town of Los Angeles, visiting the Commodore frequently, and rendering him such friendly services as were in my power. On my last visit to him before leaving for my ranch, I told that I had done all I could for him, and must go to look after my private affairs. He answered with some seriousness, laying his hand on my shoulder (Stockton is a politician as well as a soldier), "I don't think we ought to place too much reliance on Castro's actual leaving for Sonora. He may go to Sonora, or he may go only to the frontier, and await for a rabble of Sonorians, to come back and retake the country, and it is my duty as Commander, and for the interest of this Country, that I should have some one on the frontier watching events." He added that, upon inquiry, my friends had told him I was a proper man to perform that important service. I replied, assuring him of my willingness to do all in my power to meet his views, but that I was a civilian, and did not wish to engage in military servce. He laughingly said: "That is nonsense. You have a Ranch on the frontier. There is no other person in whom I can trust, who knows the people or understands their language; therefore accept a Cap- taincy from me, and make up your own command, of as many men as you please." He knew there were many Americans hereabouts that I could bring into service.
I then replied to him that if he would give me his promise verbally that I should not be required to leave this district where my family and interests were, I would then accept his commission, and do the service he required to the best of my ability. He delivered me the commission, and directed me to stay over another day, and pick up as many men as I could find fit to enlist, and he would assist me. I did remain over, got some fifteen men, and reported to the Commodore. I assured him that I would be able to fill up the camp to at least twenty or thirty men. I left for my Ranch Jurupa, with my squad, and on the road increased the number to twenty-two.
I did not see the Commodore again, till he returned to Los Angeles, after the actions of the 8th and 9th of January, 1847.
On my arrival at home I reported that I had availed myself of all in- formation, and learned positively that Jose Castro had crossed the River at Yuma, with a small squad, and had gone into Sonora. The Commodore
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answered that he was going to depart, as he did not think there was any danger of disturbances, and would leave Lieutenant Gillespie with a small force in Los Angeles to whom I could communicate anything worthy of being reported. I concluded that as there was nothing for me to do around my place and having the men on my hands, I would go further up the fron- tier, and have friendly palavers with some Indians that I knew. I went to the mountain, after visiting those Indians, and instructed them to keep a lookout and advise me forthwith if they saw any movements of troops, and all about them. We went upon our hunt in the mountains ; after a few days' hunting and shooting, a messenger arrived with a letter from Mr. David, W. Alexander, and John Rowland, advising me that they were then on my ranch, having fled from the Pueblo, and from their homes with others; that there was a general revolt of the Californians and Mexicans against Gillespie and all Americans, and that there was the devil to pay generally, and to hasten down. Received the information in the evening, and started at once. Marched all night and arrived at the Jurupa by daylight. Found there Alexander, Rowland, Rubidoux and others. They verbally detailed all occurrences to the time of their departure from Los Angeles ; that Gilles- pie's course towards the people had been so despotic and in every way un- justifiable, that the people had risen to a man against him. I also had letters from Gillespie summoning me to come as fast as I could to his aid. He had established very obnoxious regulations to annoy the people, and upon frivolous pretexts had the most respectable men in the community arrested, and brought before him, for no other purpose than to humiliate them, as they thought. Of the truth of this I had no doubt then, and have none now.
The people had given no just cause for the conduct he pursued, which seemed to be altogether the effect of vanity, and want of judgment. When I met Alexander and Rowland, I mentioned the fact, that in the mountains we had wasted most of our ammunition. That reminded them that they had a letter for me from Cal Williams, of the Chino Ranch. On opening this letter I saw that Williams had invited me to come to his place with my men, assuring me that he had plenty of ammunition. We at once saddled up, and in great haste repaired to the Chino. On our arrival Williams advised me that an officer and some soldiers of the California Brigade had just been there and taken all the ammunition he had. I then called all my men to hold counsel, and told them that we had but little ammunition to fight or stand a siege, and in my judgment it was best that we should go to the mountains and make our way to Los Angeles, by following the edge of the mountains, when we found ourselves threatened by a superior force. But the majority of them being new in the country had a very contemptible opinion of the Californian's courage, and fighting qualities, and seemed to be of the erroneous opinion that a few shots would suffice to scare away any number of them that should come to attack us. They seemed to hint that any attempt on my part to avoid meeting the Californians face to face would be deemed by them an evidence of lack of courage in me, I remarked that I hoped they had not underrated the natives, but in obedience to their opinion I would remain with them, and, as we were all. volunteers would not attempt to exercise any authority over them, and, that we would see where the real courage was. I then called Cal Williams to one side and
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asked him, if he had any trusty men, in whose charge I might send a letter to Captain Gillespie. He answered in the affirmative, one Felix Gallardo whom he would have there in a few minutes. I wrote a short note to Gilles- pie informing him of all that had happened ; the conversation I had had with my men, the scarcity of ammunition, and the almost certainty that I could not come to his assistance. I told Williams to give the Mexican a pair of new shoes, I had the outer sole ripped, put my letter inside, and the sole resewed ; then directed the man to go as fast as he could to Los Angeles, and not to take off his shoes till he got to Gillespie's quarters ; all of which he promised to do faithfully. After he had ridden off some hundred of yards, Williams called loudly to him and made him stop and walked towards him, Gallardo always affirmed afterwards to me that Williams in that conversa- tion, used threats to him to report him if he did not deliver my letter to Captain Flores, the Commander of the Mexican forces, with his, William's compliments, as an evidence of his loyalty to the Mexican Government. Gallardo obeyed Williams and not me, and carried my letter to Flores. This was on the 26th day of September, 1846, in the evening. Very soon there appeared from eighty to one hundred men on horseback, some of my men among them. Isaac Callaghan volunteered to go and ascertain who these men were, and their number. Callaghan soon returned with a broken arm, stating that as soon as he approached the Californians, several shots had been fired at him, one of which struck him on the arm. He added, that among the Californians, he had seen one of the Lugo Brothers, who was apparently commanding, and I believe it was Jasddel Camun Lugo, one of the owners of San Bernardino. On Callaghan's return the night was closing on us. I suggested once more to my men, if it would not be more prudent that we should march out whilst we had the opportunity under cover of the night, they answered, "No! We can whip all they can bring against us." So we had to await the coming events, keeping guard, etc. At break of day we found ourselves almost surrounded by cavalry. We were in the house, which was an old adobe built in the usual Mexican style, with a patio inside entirely enclosed by rooms, with only one large door for entrance to the main patio or square. The house was probably over three hundred feet long, and had on the northern side only two or three windows. There was a knoll on the west side, on which the Californians were arranging their plan of attack.
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