USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > The Herald's history of Los Angeles City > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20
Just at this juncture there appeared in Los
4
THE CORRIDOR AT SAN FERNANDO
205
The Americans Enter Los Angeles.
Angeles a Catholic priest named Eugene Mc- Namara, who had a scheme that he declared would extricate California from all its trou- bles; and the legislature devoted a week's time to its consideration, clinging to it evidently as a sort of forlorn hope. He claimed to represent an English colonization company that was pre- pared to send 10,000 Irish emigrants into the territory, provided a land grant of 27,000 square miles be given for their use. The theory on which the scheme rested was that if an English company held a grant of this magni- tude-270 miles by 100 would be a huge slice out of the state-it might result in interference on the part of the British nation with the plans of the Americans. The hope was futile, for McNamara represented nothing but a firm of irresponsible London speculators, who wanted a land grant to serve as a claim against the Americans when the latter should take the country. The deed was given, the land being a large part of what is now known as the San Joaquin valley, but it was not signed until a few days after Sloat raised the flag at Monte- rey, whereby it was of no value whatever.
In the last days of July a definite plan for the organization of an army was adopted and a call was issued for all men of suitable age to bear arms to assemble in Los Angeles and be enrolled. Only a few responded. The total forces of Pico and Castro probably did not amount to much over 200 men, although the
206
History of Los Angeles.
Americans at the time believed them to be six or eight times that number.
On the IIth of August, 1846, Stockton and his 400 men started up from San Pedro drag- ging their cannon by hand. Two days were consumed in making the march. He encamped on the mesa, about three miles southeast of the city, and waited for Fremont. While here a rumor reached him that Castro and Pico had fled to the south, accompanied by a considerable band of horsemen. On the 13th Fremont and the California battalion came up, and the combined forces marched into the city. There was no opposition nor even a manifesta- tion of ill-will. The officers of the territorial government went into hiding, but, with the ex- ception of Castro and Pico, they were either captured or surrendered themselves within the next few days. Castro had fled to Mexico. Pico was concealed at the ranch of his brother- in-law, Don Juan Forster, and he made his way over the border about a month afterward.
Permanent headquarters were established for the American government in an old adobe, where the St. Charles Hotel now stands, on North Main street, and Captain Gillespie and a garrison of fifty men were stationed there.
Stockton remained about two weeks in Los Angeles, during which time he formulated a plan for the civil government of California, and announced his intention of appointing Fremont as governor. He did not actually put the plan in force at this time, however. He wrote a
207
The Americans Enter Los Angeles.
long and rather boastful report of his success in conquering the new territory, and sent it back to the national authorities by Kit Carson, the famous scout, who had accompanied Fre- mont through the whole of his recent adven- turous course-a conspicuous and interesting character of this period. Stockton and his sail- ors then returned to San Pedro, and sailed for Monterey. Fremont and his battalion went north by land. Both the commanders were en- tirely confident that there would be no further difficulties, and that California was now safely under the flag of the republic.
They did not appreciate, however, the ca- pacity of the ancient pueblo for making trou- ble. Revolution had become a habit with its residents, and the quiet of good order was distasteful and fatiguing. It is not improbable that the rule of Captain Gillespie was some- what lacking in diplomacy and consideration. The failure of the Californians to stand for a conflict had caused them to be rated as cow- ards by the American soldiers; and Gillespie and his men no doubt showed insolent and un- warranted contempt for the people in their charge. He refused to allow the Californians to gather in friendly reunions, such as they were accustomed to hold, would not allow li- quor to be sold except on his special permis- sion ; and on slight pretexts-so it is charged- he would order leading citizens to be arrested and brought before him, that he might humili- ate them by his arrogance. These statements
208
History of Los Angeles.
are no doubt subject to considerable discount, and it may be that no man, however discreet and well-disposed, would have pleased these people as a ruler-for they did not wish to be ruled; but the unanimous testimony of the American residents of Los Angeles, at this time, was that Gillespie made bad business of his authority, and that he was largely to blame for what happened.
There was a band of wild young men in the pueblo, headed by Serbulo Varela, who played at revolution and plotted for sport. They called one of their number "governor," and managed to annoy Gillespie and his men, while they kept discreetly out of reach. On the night of September 22nd this gang, consist- ing of perhaps twenty youths, surrounded the old adobe where the Americans were, and feigned an attack by beating drums and dis- charging muskets in the air. The soldiers sup- posed it was a genuine attack, as perhaps the Californians intended it should be later, and they fired into the crowd, wounding one man in the foot. The next day Gillespie arrested a number of the leading men of the town, none of whom had participated in the affair of the night before, and threw them into prison; whereupon a revolt started in good earnest. Gillespie and his men managed to retreat from their exposed position in the adobe to one of the hills above and to the west of the city, and there they constructed a fort of sandbags. A courier was dispatched to the north to apprise
209
The Americans Enter Los Angeles.
Stockton of the dangerous position in which they were placed; for the number of Califor- nians in arms was increasing daily, and al- though the Americans had successfully beaten off every attack so far, it was only a matter of a very short time when their supplies would be exhausted.
The courier, who was known as "Juan Fla- co," or "Lean John," his true name being John Brown, made the trip to Monterey, 462 miles, in the extraordinary time of fifty-two hours, changing horses at frequent intervals, but tak- ing no sleep by the way. One horse was shot beneath him, as he passed the suburbs of Los Angeles. This ride was long talked of by the early American settlers of the state.
Stockton had, before leaving for the north, organized a local militia company of twenty Americans under the command of B. D. Wil- son. They had been scouring the country in search of Castro, but failing to find him they were now in the San Bernardino mountains, hunting for bears. Gillespie sent word to them to come to his aid, but the Californians, antici- pating the plan, met them at the Chino ranch, and a fight ensued which is called the "Battle of Chino," although little more than a skirmish. Three of the Americans were wounded, and one of the Californians, a popular young man of good family, was killed. Varela, the origi- nator of the revolt, led the Californians, and he gave his word to Wilson that if he would surrender he and his men should not be
210
History of Los Angeles.
harmed. The Americans thereupon gave them- selves up, but so great was the anger of the Californians over the death of their compatriot that they were restrained only with the utmost difficulty from slaughtering Wilson and the whole company.
The capture of these men discouraged Gil- lespie, for there was no hope of succor from Stockton within two or three weeks. When General Flores, who had now taken charge of the military operations of the Californians, proposed that he leave the city with all the honors of war, Gillespie gladly accepted the terms, and on the 30th of September he made his way to San Pedro.
There was an understanding that he should be allowed to carry his field pieces as far as the water front, but that there he was to surren- der them to the Californians. Gillespie violat- ed the spirit of this undertsanding, for he spiked the guns, knocked off their breech knobs and flung them into the water at low tide. Sev- eral years later these cannon were rescued by B. D. Wilson, and hauled back to Los Angeles. Wilson at that time had a large store at the corner of Main and Commercial streets, where the Farmers and Merchants' bank now stands ; he put the cannon in the ground at the corner, as mementoes of his narrow escape from death in the war. Two of them are still there, and the other two are now to be seen in front of the Broadway entrance of the courthouse.
Gillespie was about to start north on an
211
The Americans Enter Los Angeles.
American merchant ship that was lying in the harbor, when Captain Mervine arrived, most opportunely as it seemed, with the frigate Sa- vannah. On the 7th of October 350 men from the frigate, together with Gillespie's detach- ment, undertook to get up from San Pedro to Los Angeles, and the battle of Dominguez ranch took place, on the evening of that day and the morning of the next. The Californians were not numerous, but they were all mounted, and they had a fieldpiece, which they used with good effect. When the Americans charged and attempted to capture it, the Californians galloped off, dragging it after them with their reatas. At length when six of the Americans had been slain, and a number wounded they gave up the fight and retired to San Pedro. The men slain in the battle were buried on Dead Man's Island, at the mouth of San Pedro har- bor.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE LAST REVOLUTION IN LOS ANGELES.
C HE rebellion had now gained a good headway, and had spread all over the southern portion of California, with Los Angeles, the ancient home of rev- olutionary movements, for its head- quarters. At Santa Barbara the American force consisted of nine men under Lieutenant Talbot. Manuel Garfias was sent up from the pueblo to drive them out, but they, learning of his approach, contrived to escape into the San- ta Inez mountains, in order to evade parole. The Californians set fire to the brush to dis- lodge them, but they escaped over the ridge, and, striking out across the desert, came down finally into the San Joaquin valley. By this roundabout way, suffering terrible hardships, and with many exciting adventures, they came through to Monterey. One of these men was Elijah Moulton, who still lives, and has a res- idence in East Los Angeles. San Diego was also taken by the Californians, but they held it for a short time only.
The sentiment throughout the southern country in favor of the revolt was practically unanimous, although a few natives, like. Juan Bandini of San Diego, and his brother-in-law, Arguello, favored the Americans, because they represented a strong government; and
MISSION OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
213
The Last Revolution in Los Angeles.
all the resident Americans were doubtless hopeful that California would become part of the Union, however wary they may have been of expressing their sentiments. An army was mustered, which was at no time larger than 500, the great difficulty being not so much to secure men as to arm them. The country was raked over for weapons of every kind. There were a few old muskets and pistols, and one ancient four-pounder cannon that had former- ly stood in front of the guardhouse on the plaza to be used in firing salutes. When Stock- ton took Los Angeles, in August, this gun had been hauled to the garden of Dona Inocencia Reyes, on Alameda street, and by her it was ordered buried. While the men were lament- ing the fact that they had no artillery, Dona Inocencia produced this cannon, and they in their gratitude named it the "Woman's Gun." It is now in the National Museum at Washing- ton.
But the worst difficulty with which the revolutionists had to contend was the lack of powder. There was a small amount of good powder stored in Los Angeles, of which they immediately possessed themselves. The pa- dres at San Gabriel had been accustomed to manufacture the article, and a knowledge of the method was supposed to be held there yet. A quantity of powder was ordered from the San Gabriel factory, but whether the formula had been forgotten or whether some one of the makers was friendly to the Americans and doctored the compound, is not known, but it
214
History of Los Angeles.
was a failure in the field. Guns that were loaded with it were altogether too deliberate about going off.
In the battle of Dominguez ranch, which was described in the last chapter, the Califor- nians had just enough good powder for one charge in the gun that they hauled about with reatas-the "Woman's Gun." They maneu- vered for the most favorable opportunity, and then put in the charge, that shot doing almost the entire execution that was accomplished during the battle.
Jose Maria Flores was elected governor and chief of command, with Jose Antonio Car- rillo, an habitual revolutionist, second, and Andres Pico, the late governor's brother, as third. The legislative body was called togeth- er, and such officers of the old government as remained on the ground were reinstated in their former positions. All of the principal men-Flores, Carrillo, Pico and others, had been admitted to parole, and hence were in danger of being shot if captured. Their justi- fication, as they claimed, lay in the fact that Gillespie had thrown them all into prison, which absolved them from their allegiance and nullified the parole.
The Flores regime lasted from the middle of September until the following January- less than four months-but even that short period could not be passed without an attempt at a revolution-a wheel within a wheel-and this, too, at the time when the Americans were
215
The Last Revolution in Los Angeles.
closing in on the city. In December Flores was seized, deposed from power, and thrown into jail as a traitor. The difficulty arose out of his threat to send the Americans captured on the Chino ranch to Mexico for safe-keep- ing. Several of them, particularly B. D. Wil- son, had powerful friends through marriage connections. From the interior of the jail Flores saw things somewhat differently, and declared his entire willingness to have the Chino prisoners remain in the country.
A day or two after the affair at the Domin- guez ranch, Commodore Stockton arrived at San Pedro with about 800 men. Had he then made a quick dash for Los Angeles he could easily have taken it, there being few to op- pose, and they so badly equipped. The Cali- fornians, however, led by Carrillo, moved their cavalry about over the adjoining hilis with a rapidity that gave an impression of great numbers, and this effect was heightened by the droves of loose horses they urged be- fore them. In his reports Stockton speaks of the enemy as having 800 cavalry. Through the whole rebellion the Americans proceeded un- der the idea that the Californians had at least 2000 men in arms. Before the occupation the Americans had been taught to believe that the Californians were cowardly, and that they could not be induced to fight. The recent ex- periences in and around Los Angeles had opened their eyes to some dangerous qualities in the native cavalry, and they were presently
216
History of Los Angeles.
to have a much severer lesson in the battle of San Pasqual. After waiting several days at San Pedro, with no improvement of the out- look, Stockton sailed away for San Diego, in- tending to begin his attack from that place.
The commodore had left Fremont in Mon- terey, under instructions to follow as soon as possible, with such recruits as he had secured. Fremont started south by water, but, learning that no horses were to be had at San Pedro, and that the entire country was up in arms, he thought best to return to Monterey, increase the size of his command, and go south by land, taking with him ample supplies and plenty of animals. This consumed time, and it was not until the middle of November that he left Monterey, and he arrived at Los Angeles too late to be of service in the active part of the campaign. On his way south he captured Jesus Pico, a cousin of the late governor, who had taken the parole, but was discovered in arms. Fremont ordered him to be put to death, but finally pardoned him, on the tearful implorations of his wife and children. This act of clemency did a good deal to restore bet- ter feeling between the Californians and the Americans.
In the meantime a detachment of the American army was making its way across the continent under General Stephen W. Kearny, who had left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with 1600 men, and a full equipment of animals and supplies, in the month of June, 1846. As he
CALIFORNIA CABALLERO
Photo by Putnam & Valentine
217
The Last Revolution in Los Angeles.
came through Arizona and New Mexico Kear- ny raised the Stars and Stripes at every place of importance that he passed, and left a num- ber of garrisons. On his way he had fallen in with Kit Carson, the famous scout who had been with Fremont's party, and was now on his mission to carry the news to Washington. From him Kearny learned that Stockton had taken complete possession of California, the rebellion having broken out since his depart- ure. Acting on this information, Kearny did not hesitate to distribute his force along the line as he came through, until he had only 121 left in the command. He induced Carson to commit his dispatches to some one else, and turn back with him. This was a fortunate move on Kearny's part, for Carson's services were presently to be in great demand.
Early in December the party crossed the Colorado river, and presently was met by a de- tachment of twenty men under Captain Gilles- pie, whom Stockton had sent out to act as an escort into San Diego. As they came to a stream called the San Bernardo they learned that General Andres Pico was encamped near the Indian village of San Pasqual. By this time the soldiers had heard of the rebellion, of the driving out of the Los Angeles garrison, and the defeat at Dominguez, and all were eager for a chance to meet the enemy. Carson had assured them that the Californians were cowards and would not stand against a de- termined attack, and there was probably a dis-
218
History of Los Angeles.
position among Kearny's men to show Gilles- pie and his following that the rebels would cut a sorry figure when the regulars fell upon them.
Early in the morning of December 5, 1846, as the Americans were riding along in the bed of the San Bernardo, near the village of San Pasqual, which is thirty-eight miles northeast of San Diego, they suddenly came upon Pico and about eighty Californians, all mounted and armed with lances. The lance used by the Californians was about eight feet long, light, strong and furnished with a sharp blade at the point. It was a very effective weapon for a short-range combat.
The Americans were badly strung out, and in no condition for a fight. Their guns and pistols were wet with the morning dew, and refused to discharge. The mounts were tired and ill-fed, many of them mules that had re- cently been pressed into service and were hard to manage. There was every reason why the force, if its commander had used average mil- itary intelligence, should have been kept out of a battle, and by a little maneuvering it miglit easily have been avoided. The moment the Californians came in sight, however, Captain Johnson, who led the van, seemed to have lost all control over himself, and he dashed for- ward with a yell, followed by the small party of a dozen men, who were in advance of the main body of the Americans.
A moment later Johnson lay on the ground,
219
The Last Revolution in Los Angeles.
shot through the head, and several of his men were wounded. The Americans fell back in confusion, until the next detachment came up, which consisted of about fifty dragoons under Captain Moore. Then the Californians wheeled and galloped away.
Instantly the whole party of Americans started in pursuit, and the race lasted for half a mile of running. By this time the Ameri- cans were scattered and spread out, owing to the unevenness of the ground, and to the fact that those mounted on mules could not keep up with those mounted on horses. Looking back and discovering the state of things, Pico halted his men, turned them about, and the real battle began.
It proved very serious for the Americans, and although generally recorded as a victory for that side, by reason of their holding the field, while the others finally retreated, it was in effect a defeat, and a bad one. In an in -- credibly short space of time eighteen Ameri- cans lay dead, stabbed by lances, and as many more were severely wounded. Of the enemy few were hurt, and none were killed. The ex- traordinary percentage of Americans killed and wounded, out of the number engaged, makes the battle unique in the country's his- tory. Surgeon John S. Griffin, whose account of the affair was that of an intelligent eye- witness, declares that not more than fifty of the Americans ever saw the enemy, and cer-
220
History of Los Angeles.
tainly not more than that number were actu- ally engaged in the fight, and yet thirty-seven were either killed or wounded.
Toward the close of the affair an effort was made to get one of the howitzers into action, but the mules attached to it became fright- ened and ran away, and the piece fell into the hands of the enemy.
Captain Moore, who led the second charge, was killed, and General Kearny and Captain Gillespie were both severely cut with lances. The wounded were in the care of Dr. Griffin, who afterward became a citizen of Los An- geles, and was for more than a quarter of a century its leading physician. He was also a large land owner, controlling at one time most of the present site of Pasadena and of East Los Angeles, and he was one of the founders of the present water system of the city.
The effect of this engagement was to badly demoralize the forces of General Kearny. Their opinion of the valor and the fighting qualities of the Californians underwent an en- tire change, and although the number of men still ready for service probably exceeded those of the command of Pico, they did not venture out of the camp which they had hastily thrown 11p. It was cold and wet, and the provisions were giving out. Then it was that Kit Carson came to the front. Accompanied by Lieuten- ant Beale of the regular army, and an Indian,
221
The Last Revolution in Los Angeles.
he crept past the enemy by night and suc- ceeded in getting to San Diego.
Stockton immediately sent reinforcements to Kearny, consisting of 200 marines, and with this escort the overland company managed to get through to the coast.
Stockton had come to San Diego, after his brief stay at San Pedro, in the last days of October. He experienced considerable diffi- culty in getting into the bay with his flagship, the Congress, and at one time very nearly had it aground, but finally managed to get over the bar into the harbor. Although the Amer- icans still held nominal control of San Diego, the condition of affairs on shore was not very promising. The Californian men had all es- caped into the interior, taking with them the horses and cattle, and leaving the women and children for the Americans to support or to let starve. Numerous foraging parties were at once dispatched into the country, to bring in stock, for horses were necessary to Stockton's plan for an expedition to the north by land. Some of these were successful, and brought in not only a plentiful supply of fresh meat, but also horses enough to fit out a cavalry com- pany made up of sailors. The efforts of the latter to ride without putting both arms around the horses' necks afforded the camp plenty of amusement.
It was on one of these raids after stock that the Bandini flag incident took place. Cap-
222
History of Los Angeles.
tain Hensley, who had been sent down into Lower California, was returning in triumph with 500 cattle and 140 horses and mules, which he had obtained from Juan Bandini, an enthusiastic sympathizer with the American cause. He was accompanied by Bandini and his family, who were making their way to San Diego. The American officer was expressing his regret that he had no flag with which to march into camp with his booty in proper style, when Juan Bandini's wife, who was the daughter of the former governor, Arguello, offered to construct one. Three of her chil- dren were playing about, one dressed in white, one in blue, and one in red. Ordering these dresses changed for others, she hastily cut out and stitched together the red and white stripes and the white stars on the blue field. Two of these children afterwards became residents of Los Angeles, and many members of the Ban- dini family in the next generation now live in and about this city. The story is a pretty one, and as it is vouched for by credible eye-wit- nesses, we may believe it to be true. This was the first American flag ever made in California.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.