Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 11

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

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On the way back he encamped at the Rancho La- guna Seca, about eighteen miles south of San Jose, the property of William Fisher. Here a Mexican came into camp and claimed certain horses belonging to the command, alleging that they had been stolen. General (then Captain) Fremont, knowing that the horses had been brought by his command from the

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

United States, refused to give them up. The Mexi- can, who was evidently in the employ of the Mexican authorities, left the camp, and, riding to San Jose, lodged a complaint with the Alcalde, against Fremont, charging him with the crime of horse stealing. On the twentieth of February, 1846, the Alcalde issued a summons citing Fremont to appear before him and answer the charge. This summons Captain Fremont refused to obey, but sent a written communication to Dolores Pacheco, who was then Alcalde, setting forth his title to the animals claimed. Having done this he proceeded to cross the Santa Cruz Mountains, taking nearly the same route now followed by the South Pacific Coast Railroad. Failing to reach him by civil process, the prefect, Don Manuel Castro, sent him, by an armed escort, a message commanding him to immediately leave the country, or force would be used to compel him to do so.

Fremont, convinced that the Mexican authorities were determined to molest him, immediately marched to Hawkes' Peak, a rough mountain about thirty miles from Monterey, and intrenched himself. See- ing that his intended victim had taken the alarm, General Castro threw off all disguise, and, placing him- self at the head of a company of about two hundred men, with a couple of small cannon, made a demon- stration toward the American position. Don Jose's courage, however, does not seem to have been equal to his vanity, for, while announcing to his followers, and to the headquarters at Mexico, the dire retri- bution that he was about to visit on the cursed "Gringos," he contented himself with showing his force at a safe distance from the rifles of the Ameri- cans. Finding that this display did not strike terror to the hearts of the strangers, and compel them to flight, he essayed by treachery to accomplish that which he had not courage to attempt by force. He wrote a letter to Fremont proposing that they should join forces, and together march against Governor Pio Pico and conquer the country for themselves. John Gilroy, the Scotchman whom we have spoken of as being the first foreigner to settle in this county, was selected as the messenger to bear this proposition to Fremont. Whether Castro intended by this means to get Fremont into his power, or whether he really meditated treachery against his own country, will never be known, for, when Gilroy reached Hawkes' Peak, which he did on the tenth, the enemy had van- ished. Fremont had waited three days for Castro's attack, and, not having any more time to spare, had

abandoned his camp, and by a forced march reached the San Joaquin Valley.

As soon as Castro learned that the enemy had re- tired, his courage revived, and, making a charge on the abandoned works, secured material for a grandil- oquent dispatch, which he lost no time in writing and forwarding to Monterey. The report, after reciting the deeds of valor performed by himself, concluded with the statement that he should not return to peace- ful pursuits until every accursed foreigner had been swept from the country.

At this time there was great dissatisfaction on the part of the Mexican inhabitants of California, by rea- son of the treatment they were receiving at the hands of the central government. They received no assist- ance or protection from Mexico, and, while taking care of themselves, were paying revenue to the general treasury. This dissatisfaction finally culminated in a convention held at the Mission San Juan, at which the question was discussed as to which power, En- gland or France, should be selected to establish a pro- tectorate over the country. Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was a member of this convention, and de- livered an eloquent speech against submitting to a protectorate from any power, and urging his people to declare their independence and set up a government for themselves. While his speech did not induce the protectionists to abandon their position, it had the effect of postponing their decision, and this delay made it possible for the United States to acquire California. The English Government it seems was in communication with Pico and Castro, and confidently expected through them to add California to its list of colonies. Admiral Seymour, with the frigate Colling- wood, was lying in the harbor at Acapulco, about to sail for Monterey, to take possession of the country. At the same time Commodore Sloat, with a United States vessel, was at the same port.

John Parrot, afterwards a prominent citizen of San Francisco, was then in Mexico, and in a position where he was enabled to learn something of the intentions of the British Government in regard to California. Ascertaining that a movement was about to be made to hoist the English flag over the capitol at Monterey, he sent a courier to Commodore Sloat warning him of this intention. The Commodore immediately went to sea. He reached Monterey Bay, and, on the seventh day of July, 1846, hoisted the star-spangled banner over the capitol of the department. Admiral Seymour arrived soon afterward, but, having no

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

authority to inaugurate hostilities with the United States, he was powerless. If the convention at San Juan had declared the independence of Alta ·Cali- fornia, or had taken other steps to sever their alle- giance to Mexico, the result would have been quite different. But, being a colony of a country which was at war with the United States, the capture of California by Commodore Sloat was entirely legiti- mate, and no outside power had a right to interfere.

Two days after raising the American flag at Mont- erey, Commodore Sloat issued the following procla- mation, a copy of which was sent by a courier, Henry Pitts, to General Castro, then with his forces at San Jose :----

"To the inhabitants of California-

"The central troops of Mexico having commenced hostilities against the United States of America by invading its territory, and attacking the troops of the United States stationed on the north side of the Rio Grande, and with a force of seven thousand men, under the command of General Arista, which army was totally destroyed, and all their artillery, bag- gage, etc., captured on the eighth and ninth of May last, by a force of twenty-three hundred men, un- der the command of General Taylor, and the city of Matamoras taken and occupied by the forces of the United States, and the two nations being actually at war by this transaction, I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey immediately, and shall carry it through California. I declare to the inhabit- ants of California, that, although I come in arms, with a powerful force, I do not come among them as an enemy of California; on the contrary, I come as their best friend, as henceforth California will be a portion of the United States, and its peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same rights and privileges they now enjoy, together with the privilege of choosing their own magistrates and other officers for the adminis- tration of justice among themselves; and the same protection will be extended to them as to any other State in the Union. They will also enjoy a perma- nent government, under which life and property and the constitutional right and lawful security to worship the Creator in the way most congenial to each one's sense of duty will be secured, which, unfortunately, the central government of Mexico cannot afford them, de- stroyed, as her resources are, by internal factions and corrupt officers, who create constant revolutions to promote their own interests and oppress the people. Under the flag of the United States, California will

be free from all such troubles and expenses; conse- quently the country will rapidly advance and improve, both in agriculture and commerce; as, of course, the revenue laws will be the same in California as in all other parts of the United States, affording them all manufactures and produce of the United States free of any duty, and of all foreign goods at one-quarter the duty they now pay. A great increase in the value of real estate and the products of California may be anticipated. With the great interest and kind feelings I know the government and people of the United States possess toward the citizens of California, the country cannot but improve more rapidly than any other on the continent of America. Such of the inhabitants, whether natives or foreigners, as may not be disposed to accept the high privileges of citizen- ship, and to live peacefully under the Government of the United States, will be allowed time to dispose of their property, and remove out of the country, if they choose, without any restriction, or remain in it, main- taining strict neutrality. With full confidence in the honor and integrity of the inhabitants of the country, I invite the judges, Alcaldes, and other civil officers, to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquillity may not be disturbed, at least until the government of the territory can be definitely ar- ranged. All persons holding titles to real estate, or in quiet possession of lands under color of right, shall have these titles guaranteed to them. All churches, and the property they contain, in possession of the clergy of California, shall continue in the same right and possession they now enjoy. All provisions and supplies of every kind furnished by the inhabitants for the use of United States ships or soldiers, will be paid for at fair rates; and no private property will be taken for public use without just compensation at the moment.

JOHN D. SLOAT,

"Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. Naval Force in the Pacific Ocean."

This proclamation of Commodore Sloat was the first announcement to the white inhabitants of California that war was pending between the United States and Mexico.

We left the Mexican commander, Castro, at Hawkes' Peak, where he had captured the abandoned camp of Captain Fremont. From there he marched to differ- ent points, and finally established his headquarters at Santa Clara. In the meantime the American in- habitants of California had become thoroughly con- vinced that some action was necessary on their part to preserve their lives and property from the attacks of the Mexicans, who seemed resolved to

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

carry out their threat formerly made, that "after disposing of Micheltorena, they would settle with los Americanos." They were too weak in numbers to make headway against such forces as Castro and the numerous guerrilla leaders could bring into the field; but, relying on securing accessions to their numbers from the large trains of immigrants arriving, and to arrive, from across the mountains, they resolved to organize. Besides the Americans, there were representatives from many other nations amongst the population on this coast, all in equal jeopardy.

A meeting was held in Sonoma, on June 14, 1846, which resulted in a declaration of independence, and the raising of the famous " Bear Flag," on the plaza of that town, as the standard of what they termed the California Republic. At the time of the capture of Sonoma, there were taken prisoners, General Vallejo, who had so eloquently acted the part of a Patrick Henry at the convention of San Juan, to- gether with his brother-in-law, Mr. Jacob P. Leese, an American; Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Prudon, and Captain Don Salvador Vallejo. The Bear Flag party communicated with Fremont, who joined them at Sonoma, on the morning of June 25, with ninety mounted men, called the Fremont Rifles. On the receipt of the news of the capture of Sonoma, Gen- eral Castro issued two proclamations, which are inter- esting, as showing how much more energetic he was in speech than in action.

" The citizen Jose Castro, Lieutenant-Colonel of Cavalry in the Mexican Army, and acting General Com- mander of the Department of California :-

"FELLOW-CITIZENS: The contemptible policy of the agents of the United States of North America, in this department, has induced a portion of adventurers, who, regardless of the rights of men, have daringly com- menced an invasion, possessing themselves of the town of Sonoma, taking by surprise all that place, the mili- tary commander of that border, Colonel Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Lieutenant-Colonel Don Victor Prudon, Captain Salvador Vallejo, and Mr. Jacob P. Leese. Fellow-countrymen, the defense of our liberty, the true religion which our fathers possessed, and our independence, call upon us to sacrifice our- selves rather than lose these inestimable blessings; ban- ish from your hearts all petty resentments, turn you and behold yourselves, these families, these innocent little ones which have unfortunately fallen into the hands of our enemies, dragged from the bosom of their fathers, who are prisoners among foreigners, and

are calling upon us to succor them. There is still time for us to rise en masse, as irresistible as retribu- tive. You need not doubt that divine Providence will direct us in the way to glory. You should not vacil- late because of the smallness of the garrison of the general headquarters, for he who will sacrifice himself will be your friend and fellow-citizen.

"JOSE CASTRO. " Headquarters, Santa Clara, June 17, 1846."

" Citizen Jose Castro, Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery in the Mexican Army, and acting General Com- mander of the Department of California :-

" All foreigners residing among us, occupied with their business, may rest assured of the protection of all the authorities of the department, whilst they refrain entirely from all revolutionary movements. The general commandancia under my charge will never proceed with vigor against any persons, neither will its authority result in mere words, wanting proof to support it; declaration shall be taken, proofs exe- cuted, and the liberty and rights of the laborious, which are ever commendable, shall be protected. Let the fortune of war take its chance with those ungrate- ful men, who, with arms in their hands, have attacked the country, without recollecting they were treated by the undersigned with all the indulgence of which he is so characteristic. The inhabitants of the depart- ment are witnesses to the truth of this. I have nothing to fear, my duty leads me to death or victory. I am a Mexican soldier, and I will be free and inde- pendent, or I will gladly die for these inestimable blessings. JOSE CASTRO. " Headquarters, Santa Clara, June 17, 1846."

Notwithstanding these valorous declarations, Castro neglected to take the field, but remained inactive, the only movement on his part being to change his camp from Santa Clara to San Jose. On the ninth of July, just twenty-three days after the issuance of these proclamations, in which the doughty general had declared his unalterable determination to die in defense of his country, the messenger bearing Commodore Sloat's proclamation came riding into San Jose. His approach had been announced some little time before, and Castro had his men in ranks when the courier arrived. Having received the dis- patch and glanced over it to ascertain its purport, he formed his men in line in front of the juzgado on Market Street, and announcing, “ Monterey is taken by the Americans," proceeded to read to them the

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

proclamation, which, having been concluded, he ex- claimed: "What can I do with a handful of men against the United States?" I am going to Mexico! All you who wish to follow me, right-about-face ! All that wish to remain, can go to their homes." A very few of his men elected to go with Castro, and with these he rode off southward, on the same day. He did, however, give the Americans a parting kick. Having arrested Charles M. Weber in his store in San Jose, he carried him off a prisoner, detaining him until the party reached Los Angeles, where he was released.

While these events were transpiring, Thomas Fallon raised a company of twenty-two men at Santa Cruz, for the purpose of joining the Bear Flag party. Crossing the Santa Cruz Mountains he had arrived within about three miles of San Jose, when he learned that Castro was holding both San Jose and Santa Clara with a force of about three hundred men. Thinking it not advisable to risk his small company in an engagement with such a superior force, he fell back into the mountains. Here he received some accessions to his numbers and returned to the valley, concealing himself in the willows and mustard along the creek. Here he heard of the arrival of Commo- dore Sloat's courier and of Castro's intention to retire. Getting his men into their saddles, they dashed into San Jose and rode to the juzgado. But it was too late; Castro had fled and Fallon's force was too small for pursuit. He, however, took possession of the juzgado, together with the archives of the pueblo,- and made a prisoner of the Alcalde, Dolores Pacheco. This Pacheco, it will be remembered, was the Alcalde who summoned Fremont to appear before him to answer the charge of horse stealing. Captain Fallon announced his victory to Commodore Sloat, who sent him an American flag, which was raised over the juz- gado on the thirteenth, and was the first standard of the United States to float in the grateful breezes of this beautiful valley. Fallon appointed James Stokes as Alcalde, and then, with his company, joined Fre- mont, who had moved down to San Juan.

The necessity of holding San Jose and the fertile valley of which it was the center, induced the com- mander of the United States sloop of war Portsmouth to dispatch its purser, Watmough, to the pueblo, with thirty-five marines, as soon as it became known that Fallon had gone south. He made his headquarters at the juzgado, and strengthened his command by the enlistment of a few volunteers. The tide of war, however, had flowed southward, and with the excep- tion of a short expedition against the Indians of San

Joaquin Valley, the military operations did not amount to much. He returned to his vessel in Oc- tober.

At this time Commander Hull, of the United States sloop of war Warren, was in command of the northern district of California, and from him issued commissions to Charles M. Weber as captain, and John M. Murphy as lieutenant, of a company to be enlisted in the land service, to serve during the war. They raised a company of thirty-three men, and established headquarters in an adobe building on the east side of what is now known as Lightston Street. This company did good service in scouting the coun- try and preventing depredations by the straggling remnants of Castro's command, and securing supplies for the use of the troops.

About the time Weber and Murphy received their commissions, a body of immigrants arrived at Sutter's Fort, where they were met by Captain Swift, of Fre- mont's battalion, who had been detailed as recruiting officer. Among the immigrants was Joseph Aram, who afterwards became an honored citizen of Santa Clara County. Aram immediately enlisted and was appointed a captain. With his volunteers he pro- ceeded to escort the families of the immigrants to Santa Clara, where he made his headquarters, in November. The accommodations were very inade- quate, and the season being a very rough one, four- teen died by February, and many more became seriously sick. Captain Aram had a force of thirty- one men, and hearing that a Colonel Sanchez with a large force of mounted Mexicans was threatening the mission, he proceeded to put it in as good condition for defense as his means would permit. Wagons, and even branches cut from the trees on the Ala- meda, were used to construct barricades across the various approaches.

At the time Captain Aram took possession of the mission, Captain Mervin, of the United States Navy, sent Lieutenant Pinckney with Midshipmen Wat- mough and Griffin, of the Savannah, and sixty men, to re-inforce Weber and Murphy, at San Jose. On the afternoon of November 2, this force took posses- sion of the juzgado and transformed it into a barrack, entrenching the position by breastworks and a ditch. Videttes were stationed on all the roads, and a senti- nel posted on the Guadaloupe bridge. In addition to these precautions, Weber and Murphy's company were almost continually in the saddle, scouting the country in all directions. This was absolutely nec- essary, as the Mexican Sanchez, with a large force,

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

was hovering around the valley, picking up stragglers and looking for a favorable opportunity to make a sudden attack. At the same time, the Americans were anxious to meet Sanchez on a fair field, but his movements were so erratic and rapid that he could not be brought to bay.

In the first days of September, Sanchez, by means of an ambush, surprised and captured Lieut. W. A. Bartlett, of the United States sloop Warren, and who was then acting as Alcalde of San Francisco. He, with five men, were out looking for supplies of cattle and reached a point near the Seventeen Mile House, when Sanchez dashed out from the brush and made them prisoners. Martin Corcoran, afterward a prominent citizen of Santa Clara County, was with the captured party. The prisoners were carried to Sanchez' camp, which was among the redwoods in the foot-hills of the Santa Cruz Range. Word was brought to San Jose that Sanchez was somewhere in the northern part of the valley, and Weber and Murphy started out in pursuit with their company. After advancing a few miles, they ascertained that Sanchez had received large accessions to his force, including a piece of artillery, and was occupying a strong position in the hills back of San Mateo. Captain Weber's little company being too small to render an attack advisable, pushed on to San Fran- cisco to report to the commander.

As soon as Weber had passed on, Sanchez came down out of the hills and encamped north of San Jose, on the Higuerra ranch. Two days later he started for the pueblo, thinking he could capture it without a fight, as Weber's company was absent. He took up a position on the Almaden road, south of town, and sent in a flag of truce, demanding a sur- render, stating that he had with him two hundred men, whose eagerness for battle could with difficulty be restrained; but if the American forces would leave San Jose, they would be permitted to depart un- molested. Lieutenant Pinckney refused the offer, doubled his guards, and prepared for battle. That night was one of great anxiety to the little band behind the intrenchments on Market Street. Every one was on the qui vive, and although each nerve was strung to its utmost tension, there was no flinching, even in the face of the overwhelming odds opposed to them. During the night, Sanchez circled round the town and carefully inspected the position of the Americans from every point. But when he saw the preparations made for his reception, his heart failed him, and he rode off with his command and

went into camp about five miles north of Santa Clara. He kept with him Lieutenant Bartlett and his men, whom he had taken prisoners a few days before. At that time, J. Alex. Forbes, the acting British Consul, was at Santa Clara. Mr. Forbes, taking a small English flag in his hand, visited the camp of Sanchez for the purpose of negotiating for the release of the prisoners. Sanchez was willing that Bartlett might go with Forbes, but would not consent that he should be turned over to the Americans unless they would deliver up Capt. Charles Weber in his place. Forbes communicated this proposition to the commander at San Francisco, and, pending a reply, took Bartlett to his own home in Santa Clara. Word came quickly from San Francisco that Sanchez' proposition could not be entertained, and Bartlett was returned to the Mexican camp.

During this time Weber's company had reached San Francisco, where it was joined by other forces, and all were placed under the command of Capt. Ward Marston, United States Marine Corps, of the Savannah. The composition of this army was as follows: Thirty-four marines under command of Lieut. Robert Tansill; a six-pound ship's gun, with ten men, commanded by Master William F. D. Gough, assisted by Midshipman John Kell; the San Jose Volunteers, a body of thirty-three mounted men, under command of Capt. Charles M. Weber and Lieut. John M. Murphy, with James F. Reed, who was seeking relief for the Donner party, as second lieutenant; Yerba Buena Volunteers, under command of Capt. William M. Smith, and a detachment of twelve men, under command of Capt. J. Martin. The whole force numbered one hundred and one men. They advanced from San Francisco, and on the second day of January, 1847, came in sight of Sanchez' forces, about four miles north of Santa Clara. The Mexican force was about two hundred and fifty men, or more than two to one against the Americans, but notwith- standing this great discrepancy, the little band of American troops advanced to the attack with enthu- siasm. Sanc ez, whose scouts had brought him intelligence of the approach of the troops from San Francisco, first sent his prisoners towards the Santa Cruz Mountains, and then with a great show of valor made ready for battle. As soon as the Americans came in sight of the enemy, they pressed on to the attack, before which Sanchez fell back. The Ameri- cans continued to advance, and brought their one piece of artillery into position, but at the third round it was dismounted by the recoil, and half buried in the

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 11

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844