History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 23

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West
Number of Pages: 538

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THE SECOND CONQUEST.

The bright prospects for California were soon blasted, and the ambitious plans of Commodore Stockton were frustrated. The idea of holding a conquered people by men of two or three small garrisons,-there being ten men at Santa Barbara and fifty at Los Angeles,-and removing the army to engage in conflict with these peo-

THE CONQUEST.

ple's friends was puerile, to say the least. True, the leaders had given their parole, but it was unnatural that any peo- ple should obey such parole under such circumstances. To attempt to hold a conquered people by a garrison of ten men while the army to which they had surrendered went on an expedition to slaughter their friends, was add- ing insult to injury. This was an inexcusable blunder on the part of Stockton. The naval and volunteer forces returned to the north. Gillespie attempted reforms in the conduct of the Spanish people of Los Angeles in- compatible with their customs; this produced discon- tent, and his weakness was so apparent that the Califor- nians rebelled and were aroused to make an attempt to recover their country.

The insurrection was headed at Los Angeles by General José Maria Flores, who had surrendered to Stockton and had been released on parole. But his chagrin at defeat was very great, and the opportunity he considered was given to retrieve his disgrace at the expense of his word of honor.

JOHN BROWN'S RIDE.

On the 23d of September he appeared before the fort at Los Angeles with a large force and demanded of its commander, Captain Gillespie, its surrender. This was refused and the siege began. It was deemed of great importance to inform Commodore Stockton of the insur- rection and ask aid. To accomplish this seemed an im- possibility, as nearly 500 miles of country, occupied by a presumed hostile people, lay between Los Angeles and Monterey, where the Commodore was supposed to be.

One of the garrison, with the ever-occurring immortal name of John Brown-afterwards known by his Spanish sobriquet of Juan Flaco-volunteered as a messenger to make the perilous journey. He succeeded in work- ing his way through the enemy's lines, but, as he was passing their outer lines, was discovered and chase given. The flight was swift and the pursuit vigorous. Brown had a horse killed under him, but fled on foot and in concealment, running nine leagues until he reached the house of an American, where he was furnished with a horse and continued his course. Of this ride Colton says :-

Wednesday, September 30th. An express arrived last night from the pueblo below, bringing the startling intelli- gence that the populace had risen upon the small Ameri- can force left there under command of Captain Gillespie- that the insurgents had entire posse: sion of the town that the Americans were closely besieged in their quarters, and it was doubtful if they would be able to hold out much longer. The express stated that he left the town under a volley of musketry, which he narrowly escaped, but which took such deadly effect on his horse that he dropped under him about two leagues out.

He had a permit from the American Alcalde to press horses wherever found. He rode the whole distance- 460 miles- -- in fifty-two hours, during which time he had not slept. His intelligence was for Commodore Stockton, and in the nature of the case was not committed to paper, except a few words over the signature of the Alcalde, rolled in a cigar, which was fastened in his hair. But the Commodore had sailed for San Francisco, and it was necessary he should go on 140 miles further. He was

quite exhausted; I ordered him a bowl of strong coffee, which revived him, and a hearty supper which he eagerly devoured. He was allowed to sleep three hours; in the meantime I procured fresh horses, and penned a permit for him to press others when these should begin to flag. Before the day glimmered he was up and away.

Such endurance and such a ride over the rough trails of those days, and under such circumstances, appear almost too much for belief, but the writing of Rev. Mr. Colton was contemporaneous, and there are no grounds to dispute its correctness. Mr. Colton was very parsi- monious in giving the names of those he met in the com- mon ranks of life and who made much of the history of early California, and it is from other sources than his volume we must learn the names of the unofficial classes whose deeds are worth recording. John Brown-Juan Flaco-died at Stockton in 1863.

THE UNITED STATES TROOPS EXPELLED.

Captain Gillespie made terms of surrender of Los Angeles to the overwhelming forces of Flores, condi- tioned upon abandoning the pueblo and marching with his soldiers under arms to San Pedro and embarking for Monterey.

Gillespie is reported by the Californians to have played the part of a tyrant conqueror with his insignificant force at Los Angeles, and thus so enraged the people that they rose against him. The first attack was made by Capt. Cerval Varelas, a native of Los Angeles, and a gallant man. That after this attack General Flores joined, issued his proclamation and the insurrection became general; and that it was through the indiscreet acts of Gillespie that the revolt was incited. As soon as the news spread the other garrisons were attacked.

The garrison at San Diego, commanded by Captain Merritt, of the Bear Flag insurrection, escaped on board a whaler that was in the harbor. Lieutenant Talbot, who was left in charge of Santa Barbara, with ten men, would not surrender though surrounded by 200 horsemen. They made their way out by night and took to the moun- tains, where they were hunted for some time by the Cali- fornians, who burned over the country to rout them out of their hiding-place. But a friendly canon in the pine forest concealed them, until they were found by Cholo, an Indian Chief, who conducted them to the San Joaquin Valley, from which place they made their way to Mon- terey, where they arrived half-starved, after having traveled 500 miles.

FLORES' PROCLAMATION.

Almost the whole native population were now in arms. Flores issued a proclamation, in which over 300 persons joined, as follows :-

MEXICAN ARMY, Section of Operations Angeles, Oct. 1, 1846.

FELLOW-CITIZENS: It is a month and a half that, by lamentable fatality, fruit of the cowardice and inability of the first authorities of the department, we behold our- selves subjugated and oppressed by an insignificant force of adventurers of the United States of America, and plac- ing us in a worse condition than that of slaves.

They are dictating to us despotic and arbitrary laws,

HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

and loading us with contributions and onerary burdens, which have for an object the ruin of our industry and agriculture, and to force us to abandon our property, to be possessed and divided among themselves.

And shall we be capable to allow ourselves to be sub- jugated, and to accept by our silence the weighty chains of slavery? Shall we permit to be lost the soil inherited from our fathers, which cost them so much blood and so many sacrifices? Shall we make our families the victims of the most barbarous slavery? Shall we wait to see our wives violated, our innocent children punished by Ameri- can whips, our property sacked, our temples profaned, and, lastly, to drag through an existence full of insult and shame? No! a thousand times no! Countrymen, death first!

Who of you does not feel his heart beat with violence? Who does not feel his blood boil, to contemplate our sit- uation; and who will be the Mexican who will not feel indignant and will not rise to take up arms to destroy our oppressors? We believe there is not one so vile and cowardly. With such a motive the majority of the in- habitants of the districts, justly indignant against our tyrants, raise the cry of war, with arms in their hands, and with one accord swear to sustain the following arti- cles :-

Ist. We, the inhabitants of the department of Cali- fornia, as members of the great Mexican nation, declare that it is and has been our wish to belong to her alone, free and independent.

2d. Consequently, the authorities intended and named by the invading forces of the United States are held null and void.

3d. All the North Americans being enemies of Mexico, we swear not to lay down our arms till they are expelled from the Mexican Territory.

4th. All Mexican citizens from the age of fifteen to sixty, who do not take up arms to forward the present plan, are declared traitors and under the pain of death.

5th. Every Mexican or foreigner who may directly or indirectly aid the enemies of Mexico will be punished in the same manner.

6th. The property of the North Americans in the de- partment, who may have directly or indirectly taken any part with, or aided the enemies, shall be confiscated and used for the expenses of the war; and their persons shall be taken to the interior of the Republic.

7th. All those who oppose the present plan shall be punished with arms.

8th. All the inhabitants of Santa Barbara, and the dis- trict of the North, will be invited immediately to adhere to the present plan. JOSE MA. FLORES. Camp in Angeles, September 24, 1846.

Some of the beauty and force of this paper may have been lost in the translation, but the style would do honor to any Fourth of July orator that ever lived.

EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH.

The report of the insurrection in the south was re- ceived by Commodore Stockton from the brave and faithful John Brown on the 30th of September, and the frigate Savannah sailed for San Pedro with 300 marines for the rescue of the beleagured garrison, At San Pedro she found the merchant ship Vandalia with Gillespie and his command on board.

REPULSE OF CAPTAIN MERVINE.

The marines under Captain Mervine, and the volun- teers under Gillespie, landed on the 7th of October, and started on their march for Los Angeles. They were met

by a party of Californians under General Flores and Don José Antonio Carrillo, all well mounted, and having a four-pounder field-piece, which they handled effectively, killing five Americans and wounding several more. The Americans being on foot, and armed only with muskets, could not get in range to make their fire effective, the well-mounted Californians fleeing before the charges of the Americans, and choosing their own positions for firing their cannon. Captain Mervine had made the fatal mis- take of attempting the march without artillery, and this inexcusable blunder prevented the overthrow of the rebel- lion in its incipiency, caused his unfortunate defeat, and the subsequent severe campaign of Stockton via San Diego to Los Angeles.

On the 8th, Captain Mervine re-embarked and sailed for Monterey. Flores had taken some prisoners, whom he proposed to shoot, but Carrillo so firmly remonstrated that he desisted. Soon thereafter it was learned that Flores had planned to arrest all the Americans residing in Los Angeles and vicinity, and send them as trophies, or hostages, to Mexico. But this plot was frustrated by the action of William Workman, an Englishman, and others who had heard of it. A party of Californians, having achieved their object in resenting the insolence of Gilles- pie, were desirous of surrendering to Commodore Stock- ton, thus closing the war and averting inevitable disaster. Stockton was expected at San Pedro, and it was arranged that Mr. B. D. Wilson should explain to him how matters stood and the strength of the party that would co-operate with him, while Carrillo and others would display a large body of horses as a corroboration of the statement of Wil- son. Stockton and his fleet came, and a boat landed, but the unmounted horses appearing, the boat was signalled to return, and the ships sailed away to San Diego. Thus another opportunity was lost to overthrow a weak rebellion and pacify the country without bloodshed. This fact was related by the late Capt. B. D. Wilson.

THE CAMPAIGN FROM SAN DIEGO.

Commodore Stockton sailed from San Francisco, Oc- tober 25th, with the Congress and Cyane, and arrived in San Diego early in November. He found that post had been recaptured by Captain Merritt, who a short time be- fore had been compelled to evacuate it, but while on the whale-ship he had learned that the Mexican force had been partly withdrawn in concentrating their forces at Los Angeles, and he therefore landed again and took the garrison by surprise. Stockton landed, established a for- tified camp, and set his men making saddles, bridles, harnesses, etc., preparatory to marching to Los Angeles, then the capital and headquarters of the Californians.

COMING OF GENERAL KEARNY.

In September, when Fremont was in quiet possession of San Diego and the peace of the country seemed as- sured, he dispatched his famous scout and guide, Kit Carson, and a small party, with the report of his work, overland, via the Colorado Desert, the Gila, the Rio Grande, and the Santa Fé Trail to the States, and to Washington. When on the Rio Grande this party met

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Francisco E. Quintana.

THE CONQUEST.

an army under Gen. Stephen W. Kearny, en route to Cali- fornia. The news Carson bore was that California was con- quered without the firing of a gun, and that all was peace and quietness there. General Kearny therefore directed his command to remain in New Mexico, and render such aid as was required in holding the country, while he, with about 100 dragoons and two mountain howitzers, under command of Captain Moore, as an escort, Captain John- ston, his aid, Captain Turner, and Lieutenant Emory, and with Carson as a guide, hastened on to California. The route was much more difficult than he had anticipated, and he arrived in California at the crossing of the Colo- rado in November, with his men exhausted and his ani- mals famished. He now learned of the insurrection and the great need of his army that he had left in New Mex- ico. Word was sent to Stockton of his coming, and he dispatched Captain Gillespie and Lieut. Edward F. Beale, with fifteen men, to render aid and escort them into San Diego. This party met the forlorn dragoons at the edge of the desert, and accompanied them westward.

BATTLE OF SAN PASQUAL.

At San Pasqual, a small rancheria, they were attacked on the 6th of December, by a party of 160 Califor- nians, under Gen. Don Andreas Pico, and a desperate battle ensued. Captains Johnston and Moore and Lieu- tenant Hammond, and sixteen others were killed. The animals drawing one of the howitzers became unmanage- able, stampeded, and it was lost. Kearny took position on a rocky point, and held his ground, but being without water or provisions, his situation was most desperate. At night, Carson, Beale, and a Delaware Indian crept through the enemy's lines unperceived, and made their way to San Diego. Lieutenant Gray, with a detachment of sailors, marines, and volunteers, went to the rescue, when the Californians retired, and the unfortunate dra- goons reached a place of safety and recuperation.

The battle of San Pasqual was one of the most gal- lantly contested on record. The Californians were well mounted, with carbines and pistols, but their chief arm was the lance, with which they were very skillful. Their charges were effective and fearless, and their valiant con- duct on that field has reflected upon them an honor of which all Californians have since been proud. The dra- goons of General Kearny were in an exhausted condi- tion when attacked, and only by the most desperate brav- ery were they able to save themselves from slaughter. Although weak in condition and numbers, a thought of surrender could not be entertained. Heavy losses were inflicted on the Californians, but the deaths of such offi- cers as fell of the dragoons was mourned by the whole army, and deemed irreparable.

ORDERS TO KEARNY.

General Kearny had been sent from the States to " conquer California and to establish a civil Govern- ment." He had left his army and was now under obli- gations to Commodore Stockton for his rescue, and the Commodore was Commander-in-Chief of the country. From the superior rank of the General, his orders, and

the circumstances, a very delicate question of authority arose. Stockton had prepared an expedition to Los Angeles, and Kearny accompanied it in command of the troops, but as aid to Stockton as the Commander-in- Chief.

BATTLE OF SAN GABRIEL AND THE MESA.

On the 8th of January, 1847, the American forces, amounting to about 600 men, met the Californians, about 500 mounted men, with four pieces of artillery, entrenched on the north bank of the San Gabriel River. The Americans forded the river in face of the enemy and drove them from their position and encamped on the field. The next day the battle of the " Mesa " was fought and the Americans again victorious, marching into and taking possession of Los Angeles on the morning of the roth, while the adjacent hills were glistening with the lances of the Californians.

LOS ANGELES REGAINED.

General Flores had previously sent messengers to Commodore Stockton and General Kearny proposing terms of surrender, but was answered that the surrender must be unconditional, and that Flores and Andreas Pico, having broken their parole, should suffer death. A very bitter and revengeful feeling was at that time enter- tained by the Americans. They had once received the surrender of these men and released them on their parole, which had been accepted as sacred. In this fancied security they had trusted and been betrayed. Great cost and labor had resulted, and inconceivable more was felt the loss of many lives of dear companions and valued friends. General Kearny had lost the favor- ite Captains of his loved First Dragoons and suffered the mortification of an attack that threatened his anni- hilation, all the result of a perfidy which he would not forgive.

RETREAT OF THE CALIFORNIANS.

The Californians retreated north and were met on the 11th by Fremont. Don Jose de Jesus Pico, who had been taken prisoner by Fremont at San Luis Obispo, and who still accompanied him, was sent forward to communicate with his fellow-countrymen, and kinsman, Don Andreas. A meeting was held at the mission of San Fernando, and it was ascertained that a surrender would be made. The next day the Americans advanced into the pass of Cahuenga, twelve miles from Los Angeles, and there the terms of capitulation were agreed upon, Fremont granting singularly generous terms, knowing the Californians had been defeated by Com- modore Stockton, but not knowing how he had refused to make terms with Flores. The following is a copy of the treaty made :-

ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION

Made and entered into at the pass of Cahuenga, this 13th day of January, 1847, between Maj. Pearson B. Reading, Lieut. Louis McLane, Jr., Commanding Artil- lery, and Capt. Wm. H. Russell, Ordinance Officer, Com- missioners appointed by J. C. Fremont, Colonel United States Army and Military Commander of California;

HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

and Jose Antonio Carrillo, Commandante Squadron, and Augustin Olvera, Deputado, Commissioners ap- pointed by Don Andreas Pico, Commander-in-Chief of the California forces under the Mexican flag.

ARTICLE I. The Commissioners on the part of the Californians agree that their entire force shall, on pre- sentation of themselves to Lieutenant-Colonel Fremont, deliver up their artillery and public arms, and that they shall return peaceably to their homes, conforming to the laws and regulations of the United States, and not again take up arms during the war between the United States and Mexico, but will assist and aid in placing the coun- try in a state of peace and tranquillity.

ART. 2. The Commissioners on the part of Lieu- tenant-Colonel Fremont agree and bind themselves, on the fulfillment of the first article by the Californians, that they shall be guaranteed protection of life and property, whether on parole or otherwise.

ART. 3. That until a treaty of peace be made and signed between the United States of North America and the Republic of Mexico, no Californian, or other Mexican citizen, shall be bound to take the oath of allegiance.

ART. 4. That any Californian, or citizen of Mexico, desiring, is permitted by the capitulation to leave the country without let or hindrance.

ART. 5. That, in virtue of the aforesaid articles, equal rights and privileges are vouchsafed to every citizen of California as are enjoyed by the citizens of the United States of North America.

ART. 6. All officers, citizens, foreigners, or others, shall receive the protection guaranteed by the second article.

ART. 7. This capitulation is intended to be no bar in effecting such arrangements as may in future be in jus- tice required by both parties.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.

CIUDAD DE LOS ANGELES, Jan. 16, 1847.

That the paroles of all officers, citizens, and others, of the United States, and of naturalized citizens of Mex- ico, are by this foregoing capitulation cancelled, and every condition of said paroles, from and after this date, are of no further force and effect, and all prisoners of both parties are hereby released.

P. B. READING, Major California Battalion. LOUIS MCLANE, Commanding Artillery.

WVM. H. RUSSELL, Ordinance Officer. JOSE ANTONIO CARRILLO, Commandante Squadron. AUGUSTIN OLVERA, Deputado.

Approved. J. C. FREMONT,

Lieutenant-Colonel United States Army, and Military Commandant of California.

ANDREAS PICO,

Commandant of Squadron and Chief of the National Forces of California.

These terms were very bitter to Stockton and Kearny, particularly the latter, and it is said that Stockton would have rejected them had the name of Flores been ap- pended. But that valorous warrior sought safety in Mexico, whither he fled with a few followers. But the wisdom of universal forgiveness was shown in the peace that followed and the warm friendship the native Californians ever after manifested toward Fre- mont. More rigorous terms would have involved a sense of humiliation that would have created and perpet- uated a rancorous spirit in the people without any advantage to the Americans. The Californians had not

been very warmly attached to Mexico, and now, by the liberal terms of their surrender, they readily fraternized with the conquerors and accepted the new order of Gov- ernment.

FREMONT'S BATTALION.

When the Flores' insurrection rendered it manifest that a strong effort must be made to reoccupy Los Angeles, it was proposed that Fremont should be landed at Santa Barbara with the battalion with which he had held San Diego, near 200 strong, then mount it and march southward, meeting Stockton, who proposed to land at San Pedro. Fremont was not able to mount his men, and Stockton, as has been told, sought the roundabout way of San Diego. These proceedings are now known to have been exceedingly unwise and un- fortunate.

Fremont returned to the north with a portion of his men, instructed to recruit such a force as he could, and march down the coast to Los Angeles. From about Sutter's Fort, San Francisco, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, San José, and Monterey he organized nine companies, aggre- gating a force of 428 men. Among these were his mountaineers who had accompanied him across the plains, a band of Walla Walla Indians, some California Indians, and immigrants lately arrived, the latter consti- tuting the greatest number and strength. No gaudy uniform, waving plumes, or martial music-save a battered bugle-enlivened the body, but it was sombre in its buck- skin, woolen of all shades, slouched hats or skin caps, only the Indians in their nakedness, paints, and orna- ments giving a slight relief of the picturesque. All were mounted, and a body of 600 horses and mules, besides pack-mules and beeves, were driven along.

The officers of the battalion were as follows :-

Lieut. Col. John C. Fremont, Commanding; A. H. Gillespie, Major; P. B. Reading, Paymaster; Henry King, Commissary; Jacob R. Snyder, Quartermaster; Wm. H. Russell, Ordinance Officer; T. Talbot, Lieutenant and Adjutant; J. J. Myers, Sergeant-Major, and Lieutenant after January, 1847.

COMPANY A .- Richard Owens, Captain; Wm. N. Loker, Ist Lieutenant, appointed Captain February 10, 1847; B. M. Hudspeth, 2d Lieutenant, appointed Cap- tain February, 1847; WVm. Findlay, 2d Lieutenant, appointed Captain February, 1847.

COMPANY B .- Henry Ford, Captain; Andrew Cope- land, ist Lieutenant.

COMPANY C .- Granville P. Swift, Captain; Wm. Bald- redge, Ist Lieutenant; Wm. Hartgrove, 2d Lieutenant.

COMPANY D .- John Sears, Captain; Wm. Bradshaw, Ist Lieutenant.

COMPANY E .- John Grigsby, Captain; Archibald Jesse, Ist Lieutenant.

COMPANY F .- L. W. Hastings, Captain; Wombough, Ist Lieutenant; J. M. Hudspeth, 2d Lieutenant.

COMPANY G .- Thompson, Captain; Davis, Ist Lieu- tenant; Rock, 2d Lieutenant.

COMPANY H .- R. T. Jacobs, Captain; Edwin Bryant (afterwards Alcalde of San Francisco, and author of "What I Saw in California," and from which the particu- lars of this campaign are chiefly obtained), Ist Lieuten- ant; George M. Lippincott, 2d Lieutenant.

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History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 23

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West Number of Pages: 538

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West
Number of Pages: 538