USA > California > Siskiyou County > History of Siskiyou County, California > Part 3
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On the twenty-third of June news was brought to Fremont that General Castro was moving upon Sonoma with a large force, and that energetic young officer immediately started to its relief with ninety men, arriving on the twenty-fifth. Mean- while, Lieutenant Ford, with fourteen men, cap- tured a corral of four hundred horses, near San Rafael, and defeated the guard of eighty-five men,
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HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
killing eleven of them. On the twenty-eighth three Californians, bearers of dispatches, were captured, and by the order of Fremont were shot, in retalia- tion for the killing of Cowie and Fowler. They were José Reyes Berryessa and Ramon and Fran- cisco de Haro.
July 1, Fremont crossed the bay with twenty men and spiked the guns at the presidio, at San Francisco. The next day he started for Sonoma, having received supplies from the American barque Moscow, and having captured a quantity of ammu- nition landed by Captain Montgomery from the American war vessel Portsmouth for that purpose. On the fifth of July, Fremont organized a battalion of two hundred and fifty men at Sonoma, and started with one hundred and eighty men for Sutter's Fort, the next day. While on the way, he received the news of the capture of Monterey and Yerba Buena by the American fleet, and the assumption of the war by the United States. This changed the whole aspect of affairs and ended the movement for independence. From that time they fought for the United States, and the bear flag retired in favor of the stars and stripes.
On the same day that Fremont received his dis- patches on the shore of Klamath lake, the battle of Resaca de la Palma was fought, and Commodore John D. Sloat lay at Mazatlan in command of the Pacific squadron, with orders to take possession of California as soon as he had reason to believe that hostilities had commenced. The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma were fought on the eighth and ninth of May, near the Rio Grande, and a month later Sloat, still unaware of the com- mencement of hostilities, sailed for Monterey, much troubled in his mind about what course of action to pursue. On the second of July, he sailed into the harbor of Monterey, saluted the Mexican flag, and cast anchor. On the evening of the sixth, Lieuten- ant N. B. Harrison sailed into the harbor in a launch, having been dispatched from Yerba Buena by Captain Montgomery, to notify Sloat of the rebel- lion in the North. It was then that Commodore Sloat, urged by the officers of the fleet, determined to take action. At ten A. M, July 7, 1846, Captain Mervine, at the head of two hundred and fifty men, landed, took possession of the town, and raised the American flag. The proclamation of Commodore Sloat, taking possession of the country in the name of the United States, was read in English and Spanish by R. M. Price. The same day Lieutenant Harrison was dispatched in his launch with orders to Captain Montgomery to raise the stars and stripes over Yerba Buena. On the eighth Montgomery landed and unfurled the flag over the plaza; on the tenth at Sonoma and on the eleventh at Sutter's Fort, the
bear flag gave place to the stars and stripes, amid cheers and salutes, and the responsibility was entirely removed from the shoulders of the revo- lutionists to the broad back of the United States.
Fremont immediately started with his command for Monterey, and on the seventeenth captured the government arsenal at the mission of San Juan thirty miles from the capital. A few hours later Purser Fountleroy, with a company of mounted marines, arrived from Monterey for the same pur- pose. The next day Fremont went to Monterey and had an interview with Commodore Sloat. When Fremont assured Sloat that he had been act- ing on his own responsibility, the Commodore was much troubled. He fcared he had committed a blunder similar to that of Commodore Jones, in 1842, and told Fremont that he would do nothing further. At the solicitation of Commodore R. F Stockton, who had arrived a few days before, the command of the squadron was turned over to him, and Sloat returned to Washington. From that moment there was no hesitation.
The California Battalion was organized and placed under the command of Fremont, who sailed with it for San Diego. On the first of August, Stockton sailed down the coast, took possession of Santa Barbara, and landed his forces at San Pedro, where he heard that Castro was at Los Angeles, thirty miles inland, with nearly a thousand men and seven cannon. By strategy Stockton impressed the enemy with the idea that his three hundred men were as many thousand, and then marched upon Los Angeles. The Mexican general was so convinced of the futility of resistance that he evacuated the place, disbanded his army and sought safety in flight. The whole country was now in the pos- session of the Americans. Stockton stationed a garrison at San Diego, Los Angeles, and Santa Bar- bara, issued a proclamation declaring California a Territory of the United States and calling upon the people to elect officers on the fifteenth of September, and returned to Monterey to mature plans for an invasion of Mexico by way of Mazatlan.
This movement was nipped in the bud by the rising of the Californians. Among the men cap- tured at Los Angeles was José Ma. Flores, who was paroled; but no sooner did Stockton take his departure than he began to organize a force to cap- ture the garrisons left by him in the southern por- tion of the Territory. On the twenty-third of Sep- tember he appeared before Los Angeles and demanded the surrender of Captain Gillespie and his garrison of fifty men, who was compelled on the thirteenth to deliver up the town and retire to Monterey. Lieutenant Talbot at Santa Barbara was then besieged and also forced to retreat to Monterey.
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HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
News of the investment of Los Angeles was carried to Stockton at Yerba Buena, who sent Captain Mer- vine in the Savanna to San Pedro, with three hun- dred and twenty men, where they arrived after the surrender, marched some twelve miles into the interior, and were defeated by the Californians with a loss of five killed and six wounded. Fremont sailed for Santa Barbara with one hundred and sixty men on the twelfth of October, and on the twenty-third Stockton landed at San Pedro, and then sailed again to San Diego, which place he cap- tured and then began making preparations to mount his men and march upon Los Angeles, while Fremont was to approach from Santa Barbara.
News having reached Stockton that General Kearny was approaching from the east, having sub- dued New Mexico, he sent Captain Gillespie with thirty-five men to meet him. This was December 3d ; three days later intelligence was received that Kearny had been defeated near San Pasqual, with a loss of eighteen killed and thirteen wounded, Kearny and Gillespie being among the latter, and that the command was completely surrounded and would be captured unless relieved. Two hundred and fifty men under Lieutenant Grey hastened to the rescue, the Californians dispersing at their approach. Commodore Stockton offered to turn the command over to General Kearny, but the latter declined.
While these events were transpiring at the south, Fremont was busy recruiting and equipping the California Battalion. From Sutter's Fort to Mon- terey the settlers enlisted with enthusiasm, so that a battalion of four hundred and twenty-eight men was recruited, equipped and set out for Los Angeles on the thirteenth of November. It was while en route to Monterey from Sutter's Fort with a com- pany of sixty men, that Captain Burroughs was attacked near the mission of San Juan by one hundred and thirty Californians, on the sixteenth of November. He defeated them but lost his own life and three of his men, several being wounded.
Fremont started with two cannon and six hun- dred extra horses, the rainy season being at its height, and so severe was the march that when he arrived at Santa Barbara on the twenty-seventh of December, not enough horses were left to mount the command, many perishing in the storms, falling over precipices, or being borne away by mountain torrents. From here he started for Los Angeles on the third of January, 1847, Stockton having com- menced his march upon the same place from San Diego five days before, each being in ignorance of the movements of the other.
Meanwhile, the region about San Jose having been drained of men by recruiting for Fremont's battalion, the Californians rose in rebellion under
Francisco Sanchez, and near the last of December captured Lieut. W. A. Bartlett near Yerba Buena. Captain Montgomery, commanding at that place, organized a relief party one hundred and one strong and sent it out under Capt. Ward Marston, who overtook Sanchez at the Santa Clara mission, while besieging thirty families of immigrants and a company of fifteen men under Capt. Joseph Aram, and drove him away, having two men wounded. On the eighth of January, the Californians were compelled to surrender by Marston, who had received reinforcements to the number of seventy- two.
As Stockton advanced upon Los Angeles with six hundred men and six pieces of artillery, he was met by the enemy at the crossing of the San Gabriel river, where he drove them from the field on the eighth of January, losing but two killed and nine wounded. The next day he again came upon them on the plains of the Mesa, six miles nearer Los Angeles. He formed his men in a hollow square, and repulsed three desperate charges by the mounted Californians, with great slaughter. Find- ing it impossible to check the advance of the Ameri- cans, they retired towards the north, and on the tenth of January, Stockton entered Los Angeles and again raised the stars and stripes. The forces of Fremont were approaching from the north, and the Californians, finding that they had escaped from Sylla to run upon Charibdis, made proposals of peace to that officer. Commissioners from both sides met and prepared a document, of which the following is a copy :-
ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION.
Made and entered into at the Ranch of Couenga, this 13th day of January, 1847, between P. B. Reading, Major, Louis McLean, Jr., commanding Third Artillery, Wm. H. Russell, Ordnance Officer, Commissioners appointed by J. C. Fremont, Colonel U. S. Army and Military Commander of California, and José Antonio Carillo, Comandante Squadron, Augustine Olivera, Deputado, Commissioners appointed by Don Andreas Pico, Commander in Chief of the California forces under the Mexicau flag.
Article 1st .- The Commissioners on the part of the Californians agree that their entire force shall, on presentation 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 country in a state of peace and tranquility.
Article 2d .- The Commissioners on the part of Lieutenant- Colonel Fremont agree and bind themselves, on the fulfillment of the first article by the Californians, that they shall be guaran- teed protection of life and property, whether on parole or other- wise.
Article 3d .- 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.
Article 4th .- That any Californian, or citizen of Mexico, desir-
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HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ing, is permitted by this capitulation to leave the country with- out let or hindrance.
Article 5th .- That in virtue of the aforesaid articles, equal rights and privileges are vouchisafed to every citizen in Cali- fornia as are enjoyed by the citizens of the United States of North America.
Article 6th .- All officers, citizens, foreigners, or others, shall receive the protection guaranteed by the 2d Article.
Article 7th .- This capitulation is intended to be no bar in effecting such arrangements as may in future be in justice required by both parties.
ADDITIONAL ARTICLE.
CIUDAD DE LOS ANGELES, January 16, 1847.
That the paroles of all officers, citizens, or others, of the United States, and of naturalized citizens of Mexico, are by this foregoing capitulation canceled, 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, Maj. Cal. Battalion, LOUIS MCLEAN, Com'd. Artillery, WM. H. RUSSELL, Ordnance Officer, JOSÉ ANTONIO CARILLO, Com'd't. of Squadron. AUGUSTINE OLIVERA, Deputado.
[Approved] J. C. FREMONT, Lieut. Col. U. S. Army, and Military Commandant of California. ANDREAS PICO,
Commandant of Squadron, and Chief of the National Forces of California.
This was the end of the war in California, and the Territory became confirmed as a portion of the United States by the treaty of peace with Mexico, signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848.
CHAPTER III.
FROM THE AMERICAN CONQUEST TO THE ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.
NO SOONER was the enemy subdued than a conflict of authority sprang up among the American com- manders, growing out of the irregular manner in which the war had been inaugurated and carried on. General Kearny had received orders to enter New Mexico and California, and if he subdued them to es- tablish civil governments therein. Hesubdued New Mexico, established a government, and pushed on to California, where, instead of subduing, he was him- self defeated and only saved from annihilation by the timely rescue of Lieutenant Grey. Nevertheless. he claimed to be authorized to establish a government here, which claim was denied by Stockton. When Fremont arrived in Los Angeles, the dispute being in progress, he was at a loss to know to which of the rival commanders to make his report, both being his senior officers. He decided to report to Commodore Stockton, and did so on the fourteenth of January, receiving a commission from him as Governor of California two days later. Kearny went to San Diego and Stockton sailed for Mexico, leaving Fre- mont at the head of affairs, who issued a proclama- tion on the twenty-second of February. The next day Com. W. Bradford Shubrick arrived in com-
mand of the Pacific Squadron, and on the first of March joined General Kearny in a proclamation in which Fremont and the treaty of Couenga were both ignored, and all citizens of California declared to be citizens of the United States. Kearny signing himself Governor of California. This was the end of Fremont's term as governor. After a lapse of time Fremont was placed under arrest, and on the thirty- first of May, General Kearny started with him as a prisoner for the East. He was tried by court-mar- tial, convicted of mutiny, disobedience and disorderly conduct, and sentenced to forfeit his commission. The President approved the finding of the court, and then ordered him on duty again, which gracious privilege was indignantly refused by the man who considered himself, and was so considered by thou- sands, most unjustly and ungenerously treated. His popularity secured him the nomination of the Repub- lican party for the presidency in 1856. For several years he has been governor of the Territory of Ari- zona.
Upon the departure of General Kearny, Col. R. B. Mason assumed the duties of governor, W. T. Sher- man (now General of the Army) being Adjutant General, and W. H. Halleck (late Commanding General of the Army) Secretary of State.
During the administration of Governor Mason, gold was discovered at Coloma, and men began to pour into the gold fields from north, south, east and west. The treaty of peace between the United States and Mexico was also signed, by which New Mexico and California were confirmed to the United States, which power paid $15,000,000 and assumed a debt of $3,500,000.
Although the news of the gold discovery had not had time to spread far enough to give opportunity for those in the Atlantic States to reach the coast, still many from Oregon, Mexico, South America, Sandwich Islands, and other convenient countries arrived in 1848, and on the first of January, 1849, the population was estimated as follows :--
Californians. 13,000
Americans 8,000
Foreigners 5,000
Total. 26,000
Early in the spring men began to flock in from the East, coming by water and by land, a steady stream of eager humanity, all hastening to the land of gold. The census of 1850 showed an increase of one hundred thousand men during the year previ- ous, seventy-five per cent. of whom were Americans. This mass of unrestrained humanity required a stable government; the strong arm of authority was needed to protect the weak, restrain the vicious and regulate civil affairs. The laws of Mexico, such as
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E.SCHULTZE.
Geo, WV Arbaugh
GEORGE WASHINGTON ARBAUGH.
Francis Arbaugh was born in Germany, and emi- grated to the United States at an early day. He lived in Maryland, and then moved to Virginia, where John Arbaugh was born in 1794. John married Miss May Davidson, daughter of David Davidson, of East Tennessee. The marriage took place in Alabama. By this union were born William Gordon, George Washington, Mary, Con- rad, Jacob, John, Andrew, Albert, Marcellus, Elizabeth, Eliza, Sarah and Linda. The second son and subject of this sketeh was born at Deca- tur, Alabama, August 9, 1822. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. There were then no public schools, but those maintained by subscription, which he attended. In 1831 he emi- grated with his parents to Arkansas and settled in Johnson county on a farm. He remained till 1846. when he enlisted for the Mexican war, but was stationed at Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee nation. At the end of a year he was mustered out. After his return home he made a trip to Iowa, visiting Keokuk, Iowa City, and returning by Memphis and Little Rock to his home. He then taught school three months. February 3, 1848, he married Miss Rebecca Graves, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Graves, and a native of Alabama, born December 25, 1828. In April, 1850, he started for California, going through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to Los Angeles, arriving August 9, 1850. He fought the Yuma Indians four months under Gen. J. C. Moorehead, and returned to Los Angeles in com- mand of forty-six men and was discharged in December. He then went north on the route of the Southern Pacific railroad to Fine Gold gulch, where he mined a month, and continued his journey to Shasta and a month later to Yreka and Scott Bar. He soon returned to Shasta and mined and owned an interest in the Upper ferry, three miles above Shasta. In March, 1852, he went to Weaverville and mined ten months, when he returned to Shasta and mined. January 24, 1853, he started for Arkansas via Panama and New Orleans. With his
wife and one child he again started across the plains, and turned off the trail at Fort Hall and went to Oregon, arriving at Eugene city October 24, 1853. Leaving his family there he went to Shasta and mined till the next year, and in May went to Ore- gon and brought his family to Shasta valley, arriv- ing June 18, 1855. In 1857 he settled on the farm on which he now resides. They have had nine children :- Leona, born in Arkansas ; Rebecca, died in infancy; Ruth, born in Oregon, May, George, Emily, Benjamin, Isabelle and William, born in Sis- kiyou county. Benjamin died when six years old. Leona is Mrs. A. J. Caldwell. Mr. Arbaugh's ranch is called Wayside ranch, and is well adapted to grazing and grain growing. The integrity and strength of Mr. Arbaugh's character are best con- veyed in his own statement of his religious and political creed :- " Relying firmly on the unfailing justice and boundless mercy of the Great Author of our being, I cannot conceive that a state of eternal punishment for crime (be it ever so heinous) can enter into his conception, as being proportionate and just. The immortal soul in its progressive stages, may, on dissolution, not at once be sufficiently purified to enter at once into the realms of the blessed, and be prepared for companionship with more noble and exalted intelligences; but the time will surely come, when even the most degraded and perverted minds will arrive at that stage of perfec- tion, when all discrimination shall cease, so that all will eventually return to the bosom of the Great Father, from whence the essence of life originated. The sum of my political views is comprised in a strenuous desire to mete out equal justice to all men, not being biased by any consideration of self- interest or self-aggrandisement. I hold that the prin- ciples of truth and honor are as rigidly binding upon, and apply as well to, the conduct of govern- ment affairs as those of individuals; and that the laws of the country should be so framed that the greatest good may accrue to the greatest number. I am not a party man, but support the advocates of and adherents to the above principles, when I have faith in their integrity and capacity."
WILLIAM MILLER.
MRS. WILLIAM MILLER.
A VIEW ON WM. MILLER'S RANCH, 900 ACRES, SETTLED BY HIM IN 1865. LITTLE SHASTA, SISKIYOU CO., CAL.
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HISTORY OF SISKIYOU COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
did not confliet with the statutes of the United States, were in foree, and the courts, what few then existed, were organized under them. This did pretty well for the old settlements, but the new population had gone into the wilderness, they had founded eities and villages in the great unoccupied valley, and had penetrated deep into the mountains, where law had never gone and eourts were unknown. The neces- sity for a settled State or Territorial government was urgent. Governor Mason was succeeded in com- mand of the military, April 13, 1849, by Gen. Ben- nett Riley, who became, in consequence, Governor of California. On the third of June he issued a proelamation, ealling upon the people to hold an eleetion, on the first of the succeeding August, for judges under the Mexican laws, and also to choose delegates to a convention to organize a Territorial government.
The elected delegates met at Monterey on the first of September, and framed a constitution, which was submitted to the people and was adopted on the thirteenth of November, a governor being elected at the same time :---
For the Constitution . . 12,064
Againt the Constitution . 811
For Governor, Peter H. Burnett. 6,716
W. Scott Sherwood. 3,188
J. W. Geary 1,475
John A. Sutter 2,201
66
Wm. M. Stewart 719
Total vote on Constitution 12,875
Total vote for Governor 14,199
This vote was light, and was chiefly cast at San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San José, Stockton, Sacramento, and the mines most convenient to the latter places. The miners were moving about from place to place, were scat- tered along the rivers and in the mountains, and on account of the limited facilities for communiea- tion and the short time between the adjournment of the convention and the day of the election, there was no opportunity offered to thousands to exercise the right of franchise on this occasion, but they gladly acquieseed in the decision of their country- men.
At this election John McDougal was chosen lieutenant-governor, and Edward Gilbert and George W. Wright to represent the Territory in Congress, a full Legislature being also eleeted. The Legislature met at San José, December 15, 1849, and General Riley turned the affairs of government over into the hands of the newly-elected officials. In joint convention the Legislature selected John C. Fre- mont and William M. Gwin to represent the State in the United States Senate. They went to Washington 3
and made application for the admission of California into the Union. A long and stubborn contest fol- lowed in the Senate between the North and South, the latter objecting to the reception of the new State with the anti-slavery elause that had been engrafted into the constitution. The debate was lead by such men as Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Doug- lass, Benton, Foote, Seward and Davis, and it was not until the ninth of September, 1850, nearly a year after the adoption of the constitution, that California became one of the great "Sisterhood of States."
Meanwhile the Legislature had enacted laws to give effect to the constitution, had divided the State into counties, and provided for the election of officers; the elections had been held and the county officers had assumed their duties; the courts of law had been organized under the constitution, and all the machin- ery of State and local government was in operation, when, on the eighteenth of October, the steamer Oregon arrived at San Francisco with General John Bidwell, the bearer of the joyful intelligenee that California had been admitted into the Union.
The subsequent history of the State will be eon- fined to such as relates to this county, space not per- mitting us to detail the many rapid steps and inter- esting events that marked her progress from 1850 to the present time. The following table will show at a glance the steady progress made in the past thirty-three years: -
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