USA > California > Lassen County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 7
USA > California > Plumas County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 7
USA > California > Sierra County > Illustrated history of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, with California from 1513 to 1850 > Part 7
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Micheltorena immediately withdrew with his forces to Monterey, as Castro supposed, to embark for Mexico, according to the armistice. This was not, however, a part of the governor's plan. He had sent post to Sutter, at the fort on the northern frontier, offering him, as an inducement to come with a force to his assistance, to confirm all the grants of land that Sutter, as a justice, had recommended. Immediately the captain set on foot active operations to raise a battalion to march to the governor's relief, not knowing at the time that many of the foreign population were in active co-operation with Castro and the native Californians.
Capt. C. M. Weber, supposing that the war had ended, made a visit to Yerba Buena (now San Francisco), and while there learned that some families had come from over the plains to Sutter's Fort, among whom were young ladies; and said the Captain, " I became possessed of a desire to look upon the face of a lady fresh from civilization." Accordingly, accompanied by a friend, he visited the fort, and there saw for the first time the woman who became his wife. She was a sister of the Murfys of San José. He found a very unexpected state of things existing on the frontier. Everybody was in active prepara- tion for a renewal of hostilities; and instead of being received as a friend, he found himself viewed witlı mistrust that culminated in his being placed under arrest.
A council of war was called, and supposing that he had come among them as a spy in the interest of Castro, they signed the following document as the result of their deliberations :-
We the subscribers, chosen as a council of war, have unanimously resolved the following:
Ist. That Mr. Weber be put in irons, and detained in the fort (New Helvetia) until such time as we may receive orders from his excellency the governor (Micheltorena) as regards his disposal.
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2nd. That Mr. Pearson B. Reading be requested to keep Mr. Weber in a convenient room, and afford him such necessaries as circumstances may admit of and his safe detention may require.
J. A. SUTTER, JOHN TOWNSEND, WM. DICKE, ISAAC GRAHAM, EDWARD MCINTOSH, JASPER O'FARRELL, S. J. HENSLEY.
J. BIDWELL, Secretary.
For thirty-three years this document, in which the founder of Sacramento orders the founder of Stockton put in irons, has been kept by the latter, almost forgotten, among his choice papers, and was, with others, kindly photographed for us in 1878, by his orders. The personal feeling existing at that time between these two men was friendly ; but Sutter, as well as the others, feared to risk the possible result of turning loose so formidable an opponent as Mr. Weber had proved that he could be, if he felt so disposed.
Lieut. David T. Bird, who later was for many years a resident of Yolo County, accompanied Captain Sutter on the expedition, and remained with him until his return to the fort. To the lieutenant, also to J. Alexander Forbes, who was a strong supporter of Castro and a friend of the captain, we are indebted for many of the facts incident to the campaign that resulted in the surrender of Micheltorena at San Fernando. It was in January, 1845, that the force, under command of Capt. John A. Sutter, took up its line of march to join the Mexican governor at Monterey. The command consisted of about one hundred and fifty Indians, armed with muskets, under the leadership of Raphero, a Mokelko chief, and some sixty frontiersmen, armed with hunting rifles, commanded by Captain Gant. There were no lieutenants or sub-officers, Sutter and Gant being the only ones having any authority among the whites. There was one brass field-piece, mounted on trucks, taken along that was not brought back.
There were but three persons from the west side of the Sacramento river-Wm. Knight, D. T. Bird and Granville Swift-who accompanied the expedition. As the little army moved south, it camped at the place where Stockton now stands, one night, and Thomas Lindsay, the only inhabitant of that place, joined them, and Stockton was left depopulated. At that time Lindsay's tule house and the cabin of a man named Sheldin, on the Cosumnes river above the Spanish trail, were the only habitations between Sutter's fort and the residence of Dr. Marsh, at the base of Mount Diablo. Poor Lindsay ! he returned a few weeks later from San Fernando, and was murdered at Stockton by the Polo Indians, within a few days after his arrival. The expedition camped one night at the ranch of Dr. Marsh, whose sympathies were with Castro, and who believed that the prosperity of California demanded the expulsion of Michel- torena ; yet he considered the true policy of foreigners to be that of non-intervention, and for them to join either party was contrary to the best interests of the majority, and might prove fatal to many who were isolated or scattered over the territory. The doctor, however, accompanied Sutter south as an interpreter.
It was when camped at Dr. Marsh's ranch that Sutter first learned the true state of the conflict. J. Alexander Forbes, who, on July 15, 1843, had been appointed English consul, and at the time was, in connection with W. G. Ray, agent for the Hudson Bay Company, riding with great dispatch from San Francisco, met the captain at that point, and in vain sought to dissuade him from joining the Mexicans at Monterey. Forbes informed him of the extent of the general insurrection, and told him that if he persisted it would only result in disaster to himself and friends, an'l array the foreign element
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in hostility to itself, as a large number of English, American, Scotch, and immigrants of every nation, were centering at Los Angeles to assist Castro. The reply of the captain was that he had gone too far, and could not turn back without dishonor to himself, but from that time forward a shadow rested upon his command. The men had come to suspect that there was something of which they were left unin- formed that materially concerned them.
The junction of the Micheltorena and Sutter forces took place on the Salinas plains, a short distance out from Monterey, the latter being received with military honors, with banners waving, bands playing, and salvos of artillery. The governor was now sanguine of success, and he had cause to be, for the two hundred men that Sutter had added to his command included Raphero, the ablest chief then living among the northern tribes, and José Jesus, the chief of the Si-yak-um-nas, whose name had become a household terror among the native Californians. These chiefs, at the head of one hundred and fifty of their warriors, armed, not with bows and arrows, but with muskets, all nursing a hatred born of old grievances that had for a lifetime rankled in their bosoms against those they were going out to fight, made valuable allies and formidable foes. The white men who accompanied them included Isaac Graham among their number, the man whom Castro had taken to San Blas in irons, and whose company of rifles had overthrown one California governor. Those sixty men were all brave, reckless frontiersmen, who followed the unfortunate Sutter, and were a host within themselves. But-"when Greeks joined Greeks then was the tug of war"-Castro had a similar force assembling at Los Angeles, under the brave McKinley, to assist him.
The next day after the reception, Micheltorena moved north, Castro falling back before his advance, towards Los Angelos. The following is an extract from a letter written to us from Oakland, California, in May, 1880, by Hon. J. Alex. Forbes, in response to inquiries regarding the movements of General Castro during that campaign :-
" The forces under General Micheltorena were at San Buenaventura, and Castro, with the force of Californians, at a narrow pass eight leagues beyond. On the morning of February 15, Castro's rear- guard fell suddenly upon Micheltorena's advance, consisting of fourteen Americans, made prisoners of all of them, without firing a shot, and conducted them to the field where Castro had halted his forces. After making a speech to them, he supplied them with provisions and money, and requesting them to see their countrymen in Los Angeles, he told them they were all equally interested in expelling the wretched Mexicans from California, and, taking kindly leave of them, sent them back to Sutter, to whom this politic move was the second cause of sorrow. I have mentioned the first to you. [Mr. Forbes here refers to the interview between himself and Sutter, at Dr. Marsh's ranch, when the captain first learned that he would have to meet in the field his friends, the foreigners, unless he turned back.] The forces of Micheltorena continued their march, ostensibly in pursuit of Castro, who soon reached Los Angeles, where he was reinforced by the native Californians and Americans, under a Scotchman named Jos. Mckinley. Meantime the forces of Micheltorena reached the plain of San Fernando. The reinforced party of Castro took up a favorable position on the field, the Americans, under McKinley, in a ditch, forming natural rifle-pits, and the mounted Californians on the flank of the Mexican forces. Wild firing began by the latter, with grape and canister, without effect, and soon the rifle-shots from McKinley's men began to tell upon the Mexican artillerymen, but not a shot was fired against Sutter's men. McKinley had staked his all on the issue, having delivered his store of goods of all kinds, worth more than $5,000, to the California party gratis, and now he had come on that field to offer his life in their cause. The Americans, under Sutter, were advantageously posted regarding the position of their countrymen in the California party, excepting the protection afforded the latter by the ditch. The Mexican infantry kept up a fire of musketry at Mckinley's party, and he, impatient of delay, desiring
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to speak to many of his friends in Sutter's party, left his own men, and, rushing out on the plain, with his rifle in one hand and waving his hat with the other, passed at a run, under a storm of musket-balls from the Mexican infantry, and, unhurt, was received by his friends in Sutter's party, where his cogent arguments soon caused their defection from the Mexican cause, and the result was the capitulation, of which you have the copy translation."
The withdrawal of Sutter's command, which moved up the valley to the mission of San Gabriel, caused a surrender of the Mexican forces, and two days after the capitulation they embarked for Monte- rey, at San Pedro, and from Monterey they sailed without delay for Mexico. The following are the articles approved by the two generals at the time of the surrender. They are an anomaly. The defeated commander, in the first article, attempts an implied excuse for not doing as he had promised when he surrendered near San José, the last of the same article being an excuse to his home government for his failure to sustain their authority in the territory ; and then the surrendering officer promotes the man who has defeated him to the rank of general. It will be observed, also, that the word citizen is used ; and thus Sutter's command, being foreigners, were not included among those who were to have their " lives and property guaranteed," provided they desired to remain in the territory. To close the comedy of absurdities, they add, as an afterthought, that the conquered is to march off like a conquerer ; and the victorious army, with arms, banners and drums, are to enact the farce of pretending to honor those who have been defeated and driven out of the territory without starting a graveyard.
CAPITULATION OF GENERAL MICHELTORENA, ON THE FIELD OF SAN FERNANDO, FEBRUARY 22, 1845. [TRANSLATION.]
Agreement made on the Field of San Fernando between Don Manuel Micheltorena, General of Brigade and Commander- in-Chief of this Department, and Don Jose Castro, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forces opposed to the Troops of Gen- eral Micheltorena.
ARTICLE 1. Whereas, no decision of the central government of Mexico has been received in reply to the permission solicited by General Micheltorena, through his Brigade Major, Don Raphael Telles, for the withdrawal of the general and his troops from this department for the purpose of returning to the interior of the republic. Wherefore, and in consequence of the present united armed opposition of the inhabitants of California to the said troops, against which hostile movements the general, with his small force and scarcity of resources, can no longer contend, he agrees to march forthwith to San Pedro, accompanied by his soldiers, where Colonel Castro will provide a vessel, duly victualed, for transport- ing the general and his troops to Monterey.
ARTICLE 2. The soldiers who may desire (voluntarily) to remain in California, shall, on their arrival at San Pedro, deliver up their arms to the officer of their escort, and remain as citizens, under the protection of the existing authorities.
ARTICLE 3. The soldiers who may choose to follow General Micheltorena shall embark with him at San Pedro, carrying their arms with them ; and on the arrival of the transport at Monterey the Mexi- can soldiers that now occupy that post shall embark thereon, also with their arms ; and in case of insuf- ficiency of room for all of said soldiers in one vessel, another shall be provided for them, and the said vessel or vessels shall sail for any Mexican port the general may choose to direct.
ARTICLE 4. The officers who may choose to remain in California shall be respected in their rank as officers of the Mexican army ; their lives and property shall be guaranteed, and their salaries shall be paid from the departmental treasury.
ARTICLE 5. The same privileges shall be enjoyed by all the citizens who, in the present difficulties, have given aid to General Micheltorena.
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ARTICLE 6. All the arms, ammunition and warlike implements actually existing in the armory of Monterey shall be delivered to the commander, Castro, of the opposing forces, in order that with them he may defend the entire department and the national independence, encharged by General Michelto- rena.
ARTICLE 7. That henceforward the civil government of this department shall be vested in the presiding member of the assembly, as ordered by that corporation, according to law, for which object General Micheltorena will deliver a circular order to the chief of the opposing forces for immediate pub- lication throughout the department.
ARTICLE 8. In like manner, General Micheltorena will issue another order, that Don José Castro, lieutenant-colonel of the army, be duly acknowledged as the commanding general of this department.
The commissioners appointed on said field for submitting these stipulations to the respective chiefs for their approbation or rejection, were, on the part of General Micheltorena, Don Felix Valdaz, bat- talion commander, and Don José Maria Castanares, colonel of infantry ; and on the part of Colonel Castro, Don José Antonio Carrillo and Lieutenant Don Manuel Castro.
On the field of San Fernando, February 22, 1845.
Signed,
FELIX VALDAZ, JOSE MARIA CASTANARES.
Approved, Signed,
MICHELTORENA.
JOSE ANTONIO CARRILLO,
MANUEL CASTRO.
. Approved,
CASTRO.
ADDITIONAL ARTICLE .- The division of General Micheltorena will march with all the honors of war, their flags flying, drums and trumpets sounding, two field-pieces, six-pounders, and one four-pounder culverin, with matches lighted, and will be saluted by the opposing forces under the Lieutenant-Colonel Don José Castro, with colors flying and drums beating. And on the arrival of General Micheltorena at San Pedro, the said three field-pieces, with all their caissons and ammunition, shall be delivered to the officer encharged by Colonel Castro to receive them.
Signed, MICHELTORENA, CASTRO.
I hereby certify that the preceding is a correct translation made by me of a certified copy of the original.
J. ALEX. FORBES.
Captain Sutter remained at the mission of San Gabriel about one week, and during that time most of Captain Gant's men left him, only about twenty remaining. Lieutenant Bird says :-- " Captain Sutter's forces did not surrender to General Castro, neither did the captain, but they simply drew out." Their line of march home was through the San Joaquin valley, leaving Tulare lake to the west as they moved northward, and learning that Thomas Lindsay had been killed by the Indians, as they passed where Stockton now is. The command reached the fort and disbanded. Thus ended the hostile move- ments that had resulted in the expulsion of Micheltorena. The territorial deputation declared Pio Pico governor, and when he ceased to hold that position California had become a part of the United States. The following are the names of the governors of California from the time she ceased being a province of Spain until she became a territory of the United States, a period of twenty-six years :-
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MEXICAN GOVERNORS OF CALIFORNIA.
From
To
Pablo Vicente de Sola
1822
1823
Luis Argüello.
1823
1825
José Maria Echeandia
1825
1831
Manuel Victoria.
1831
1832
Pio Pico.
1832
1833
José Figueroa
1833
1835
José Castro.
1835
1836
Nicholas Gutierrez.
1836
...
Mariano Chico
1836
....
Nicholas Gutierrez.
1836
. .. .
Juan B. Alvarado
1836
1842
Manuel Micheltorena
1842
1845
Pio Pico
1845
1846
CHAPTER VIII.
The Bear-Flag War, and What Led to it.
Population in 1841 -Immigrants of that Year-Unpleasantness with a Grizzly Bear-After 1841, Immigration Increases .- Thomas O. Larkin's Estimate of the Population in 1846-What Captain Weber Says of the Intention of For- eigners in California in 1841-A Lone Star State to be Carved out of California under Certain Circumstances- Where the Division Line was to be Drawn-Serious Departure from the General Policy-Attempt to Organize to Prevent its Recurrence-An Apparently Harmless Document, behind which Lurked Treason-Why it Failed to Accomplish the Result-Weber Appointed by Castro to Command the North Frontier-J. Alex. Forbes Appointed British Vice-Consul-Dispatches for Fremont and the United States Consul-Fremont Enters California-He Visits Monterey, and Asks General Castro for Permission to Recruit in the San Joaquin Valley-The Request Granted-A Singular Move on the part of Fremont-He Makes toward Monterey-Is Accused of having Stolen Horses-Is Ordered to Leave the Territory-He Fortifies himself and Defies the Authorities of California-What Followed-Important Official Documents-Fremont Abandons Camp and Retreats to the North-He helps Mas- sacre some Indians, and then Passes over the Line into Oregon-Lieutenant Gillespie Overtakes him, with Secret Dispatches-The Night Tragedy at Klamath Lake-The Oregon Road Party Finds Fremont's Camp-Fremont Returns to California, and the Bear-Flag War is Inaugurated on the 10th of June, 1846, on the Banks of the Cosumnes River-Sonoma Taken and the Bear Flag Hoisted on the 14th of June-The Organization-The Prison- ers Sent to Sutter's Fort-Young Fowler and Cowie Sent to Procure Powder, and Never Return-Their Tragic Fate-Lieutenant Ford Defeats de la Torre-Fremont Joins the Revolutionists-He Orders Three Persons Shot, in Retaliation-Torre Leaves the Upper Country with his Forces-Castro's Movements-Fremont Becomes the Head of the Revolution-End of the Bear-Flag War.
In 1841, M. De Mofras estimated the population of California, not including the mission or wild Indians, as 5,000, and gives their nationality as
1
50
Americans 360
English, Scotch and Irish 300
Other foreigners 90
European Spaniards 80
Mexicans
170
Half-breeds, about 4,000
Total population, other than Indians 5,000
De Mofras' object in writing of, and giving statistics in regard to, the Pacific coast, was to show the French how they could acquire California as a province ; and he distributes that 5,000 population over the country as follows :-
San Diego, Presidio of 1,300
Monterey, Presidio of 1,000
Santa Barbara, Presidio of 800
San Francisco, Presidio of. 800
Scattered through the Territory
1,100
Total 5,000
He says, in his report to the French government, that there were, in 1841, large numbers of immi- grants coming from the United States over the plains to the Pacific coast. Most of them were on their way to localities further north, but there were two companies that reached this State ; one of them by the Santa Fe route, under charge of William Workman, arrived at Los Angeles about November. Among that company were :-
William Workman, died in 1876 Los Angeles.
John Roland.
Benito D. Wilson 66
Albert G. Toomes Tehama Co.
William Knight, died in 1849 Yolo Co.
William Gordan, died October 3, 1876
Thomas Lindsay, killed in March, 1845, by Indians, at Stockton ; William Moore, Wade Hampton, Dr. Gamble, Isaac Givens, Hiram Taylor, Colonel McClure, Charles Givens, Frederick Bachelor, Dr. Meade, Mr. Teabo, and Mr. Pickman.
The other of the two companies, under charge of J. B. Bartelson, came by the way of Humboldt river into the San Joaquin valley, and arrived at Dr. Marsh's residence November 4, when they dis- banded. The following are the names of all of that company :-
Names.
Remarks.
Captain J. B. Bartelson Captain of the party ; returned to
Missouri ; is now dead.
John Bidwell Lives at Chico.
Joseph B. Chiles Still alive.
Josiah Belden
Lives at San José and San Francisco.
Charles M. Weber
Stockton ; died in 1881.
Chas. Hopper Lives in Napa county.
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Henry Huber
Lives in San Francisco.
Mitchell Nye Had a ranch at Marysville ; probably now alive.
Green McMahon
Lives in Solano county.
Nelson McMahon
Died in New York.
Talbot H. Greene.
Returned East.
Ambrose Walton
Returned East.
1
John McDonel
Returned East.
George Henshaw
Returned East.
Robert Ryckman
Returned East.
Wm. Betty or Belty
Returned East, via Santa Fé.
Charles Flugge.
Returned East.
Gwin Patton Returned East ; died in Missouri.
Benjamin Kelsey
Was, within a few years, in Santa Barbara county, or at Clear lake, Lake county.
Andrew Kelsey .
Killed by Indians at Clear lake.
James John or Littlejohn
Went to Oregon.
Henry Brolasky.
Went to Callao.
James Dowson.
Drowned in Columbia river.
Major Walton
Drowned in Sacramento river.
George Shortwell.
Accidentally shot on the way out.
John Swartz.
Died in California.
Grove Cook.
Died in California.
D. W. Chandler.
Went to Sandwich Islands.
Nicholas Dawson. Dead.
Thomas Jones. Dead.
Robert H. Thomas.
Died in Tehama county, March 26, 1878.
Elias Barnet.
In Polk valley, Napa county.
James P. Springer
John Rowland
Among the list of those arriving in 1841 are the names of several who became prominent in Cali- fornia history. One of these, Green McMahon, in May, 1846, had an encounter with a grizzly bear. McMahon was not armed, but he is inclined to think the bear was, and says he is not satisfied yet that it was not the beginning of the Bear-Flag war, that culminated in the Americans taking Sonoma, about four weeks later. Before the wounds that he had received in the fight were healed, he joined the Bear-Flag party, and eventually marched with Fremont to the south. It was of such material the little army was composed that made California a part of the United American States.
After 1841, immigration materially increased, not only from the United States, but from other countries. Although it had taken seventy-two years for one thousand persons to come from abroad and settle here, yet in 1846, only five years later, Thomas O. Larkin, the American consul, estimated the foreign population to be eight thousand, divided as follows :--
Americans . 2,000
Other foreigners, favorable to the United States. 3,000
foreigners, neutral or opposed to the United States. 3,000
1
e
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Captain C. M. Weber, who was a member of one of those companies of 1841, informed us, in 1879, that upon his arrival in California he learned of two things that caused him to remain here. The first was, that the Graham Rifles, having assisted Governor Alvarado in a state quarrel, that had resulted in the seizure by the governor of the foreigners in 1840, had taught them not to interfere in matters of state when lacking the power to control. It had, in consequence, come to be generally understood that they were to let state or national differences among the natives alone, that they were to adopt the policy of non-intervention in revolutions or disturbances between the Californians and their government, and that such was to continue to be their policy until the time should come when numbers would make their wishes irresistible. The second included their hopes for the future, that caused such an increase of immigration in the five years succeeding 1841. The first was a policy to be pursued, as time sped on its way, while preparation was being made for a great event. The second was to be that event, and the event to be achieved was the wresting of California, or a part of it, from Mexico, and erecting therein an independent " lone star state," to eventually become an additional gem in the crown of Columbia. We would not like to have the reader misunderstand the situation at that time, or the attitude assumed by Americans or those from other countries. They did not come here as fillibusters or conspirators ; but being not of those who are the privileged class in England, in France, in Russia, or the nations of the old world, they consequently all, as well as the Americans, felt an instinctive leaning towards a govern- ment that recognized civil equality, and had within itself sufficient strength and firmness to insure pro- tection and an absence of public commotion. They saw no way to achieve such a result, except by a separation from Mexico, the country of endless change, and then imitating or joining the United States, a nation possessed of both liberty and stability. Their predilections were necessarily in favor of such separation from Mexico, in favor of such imitation of the land where liberty dwelt, and in favor eventu- ally, if permitted, of becoming a part thereof. Having such feelings, they were talked among themselves, and thus it came to be understood generally that at some time they would unite in producing that result, in harmony and with co-operation of the native Californians, if possible, without their assistance, and in hostility to them, if necessary. The plan of operations was indefinite, and, as far as perfected, was known but to a few-to Sutter, to Dr. Marsh, to Captain Weber, to Graham, and such as those-and by them considered as a matter for the future, to be laid away until events and increased population should warrant its being brought to the front. In the meantime they were to avoid creating a party in the country hostile to themselves, by their non-interference in state matters, and increase the foreign popu- lation by inducing immigration from other countries.
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