USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The beginnings of San Francisco : from the expedition of Anza, 1774, to the city charter of April 15, 1850 : with biographical and other notes, Vol. II > Part 15
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months to reach California. The wagons were therefore abandoned in favor of pack-mules and on October 15th the command left the Rio Grande and turning westward reached on October 20th the head waters of the Gila, a beautiful mountain stream thirty feet wide. The march down the Gila was without particular incident; the Apaches were friendly, professing love for the Americans and hatred for all Mexicans. The Pimas and Coco- maricopas of the river pueblos received the expedition hospitably, bringing to the camp corn, beans, honey, and watermelons. At the junction of the Gila and Colorado a small party of Mexicans convoying a band of five hundred wild horses was encountered. These men gave contradictory accounts of a rising of the Californians, and from the contents of a dispatch bag, whose bearer was also captured, the commander learned that a revolt had placed that part of the territory through which he must pass in the hands of the Californians and that the Americans had been expelled from Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and other places.
The Colorado was crossed ten miles below the junction on November 25th, and the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-eighth were spent in traversing the desert. Crossing the cordillera by the Carriso creek route, a much easier road than that taken by Anza, the command, after much suffering and the loss of many animals, reached on December 2d Warner's rancho-Agua Caliente. Here was food in plenty and Lieutenant Emory notes the fact that seven of his men ate at a single meal a fat, full grown sheep. On the fourth the march was resumed, the route being southerly down the valley thirteen and a half miles to Santa Isabel, the rancho of Edward Stokes, whom Kearny had met on his arrival at Warner's, and who volunteered to carry a letter to Commodore Stockton announcing his approach. This letter was delivered to
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Stockton December 3d, and he dispatched Captain Archibald H. Gillespie with a force of thirty-nine men to Kearny's assistance. The march of December 5th was to the Santa María rancho and on the way he was met by the reinforcements under Gillespie. The dragoons had marched all day through a cold rain and it was late at night when camp was made. Here they learned that the enemy was in force a few miles below and Lieu- tenant Hammond was sent to reconnoitre. He reported that he was discovered and it was determined to attack the enemy and force a passage. At two o'clock on the morning of the sixth the call to horse was sounded and nine miles were covered before daybreak. As day dawned they approached the Indian village of San Pascual and came upon the enemy already in the saddle and awaiting them. Captain Johnston was in command of the advance guard of twelve dragoons, mounted on the best horses. Riding close behind was General Kearny with Lieutenants Emory and Warner of the engineers and four or five of their men; next came Captain Moore and Lieutenant Hammond with about fifty dragoons mounted, with but few exceptions, on the tired mules they had ridden from Santa Fé. These were followed by Captains Gilles- pie and Gibson with about twenty volunteers; Lieutenant Davidson came next with the two mountain howitzers drawn by mules with a few dragoons to manage the guns; and finally, the rest of the force between fifty and sixty men, under Major Swords, brought up the rear and protected the baggage. At the word of com- mand Captain Johnston made a furious charge upon the enemy and was quickly supported by the dragoons under Captain Moore. The Californians stood the shock of the charge and a hand to hand conflict ensued. Captain Johnston fell, shot through the head, and after a brief struggle the Californians clapped spurs to their
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horses and fled the field. Captain Moore rallied his men to the pursuit and all dashed after the flying foe. The Californians retreated about half a mile to an open plain then suddenly wheeled and rushed upon the Americans, charging with their lances. The Americans stood their ground, but at a fearful loss. The conflict lasted about five minutes and then the Californians again fled. This time there was no pursuit, nor did the Californians return. The Americans remained in possession of the field and of their dead and wounded. Captain Johnston and Captain Moore were killed outright while Lieutenant Hammond, badly wounded, lived several hours. Two sergeants, two corporals, and ten privates of the dragoons, one private of the volunteers, and one man of the topo- graphical department were killed-in all nineteen. The wounded included the general, Lieutenant Warner, Captains Gillespie and Gibson of the volunteers, Antoine Robidoux the guide, one sergeant, one bugleman, and nine privates of the dragoons-sixteen, most of whom had received from two to ten wounds each. Only one death and one wound were caused by firearms. All the other dead and wounded were lanced. Captain Moore fell early in the second encounter with a lance through his body and Hammond received the wounds that caused his death while trying to save Moore. Both Moore and Hammond were lanced by Dolores Higuera, called "the Huero" (fair-haired), a tall powerful man who resembled a German. Higuera then bore down on Gillespie, unhorsed him, wounded him severely, and would have killed him but dropped his lance in order to secure Gillespie's silver mounted saddle .*
* It is said that the Huero later offered to return Gillespie his saddle and bridle, but the latter refused to accept the property, saying that it had saved his life. Philip Crossthwaite, who was in the fight, a volunteer under Gillespie says that Captain Moore was lanced by Leandro Osuña.
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The fight at San Pascual was the most famous and deadly of the war in California. The force encounted by Kearny was a body of about eighty Californians under Andrés Pico* who had entered the hills to cut off the retreat of Gillespie who, it was thought, was out on a raid for cattle and horses-Kearny's approach being unknown. The Indians had reported on the fifth the advance of a large force, but little attention was paid to them. It was a cold rainy night and between eleven and twelve o'clock the barking of a dog aroused the sentry. A party sent out to reconnoitre found a blanket marked "U. S." and the trail of the enemy's scouts. The horses were brought in and preparations for defence made and at daybreak the advance guard of the Ameri- cans bore down at full speed upon them. The slight loss among the volunteers is due to the fact that but few of them got into the fight. The two howitzers were brought up but did not get into action, though the mules attached to one of them took fright and dashed after the enemy who took the gun and killed the man in charge of it. The Americans fought with desperate courage against heavy odds. Their animals were either wild, unbroken horses, or mules worn out with the long journey from which the men themselves were not yet rested; they had had little or no sleep the preceding night, their clothing was soaked by the drizzling rain and they were numb with the intense cold. Kearny had about
* Accounts of the number of Pico's force differ. John Forster (Pioneer Data, p. 37-40) says: "Pico had seventy-two men. Captain Johnston (Journal, Dec. 4) says: "We heard of a party of Californians-eighty men- encamped at a distance from this;" (Santa Isabel). Emory (Ex. Doc. 41, p. 112) says: "The navy took a prisoner at this house (Alvarado's). He stated that Pico's force consisted of one hundred and sixty-men." This is the number given by Kearny in his report, he being satisfied with the prison- er's statement.
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one hundred and sixty men, all told, but not one half of them were engaged; while the Californians, superbly mounted and the finest horsemen in the world, were fresh and were fighting in their own country, and with a weapon most deadly in their hands, the lance. The Californians had eleven wounded, none killed.
In consequence of Kearny's wound Captain Turner assumed command. Messengers were sent to San Diego for wheeled conveyances to carry the wounded and Emory was sent back with a force to bring up Major Swords and the rear guard which was about a mile behind; the surgeon was busy dressing the wounded, while the rest of the men were engaged in making ambulances for their transportation. Their provisions were gone, their horses were dead, their mules were on their last legs; and the men, having lost one third of their number, were ragged, worn down by fatigue, and emaciated. When night closed in the dead were buried under a willow tree to the east of the camp with no other accompaniment than the howling of myriads of wolves. Their position was defensible but the ground was so covered with rocks and cacti that it was difficult to find a smooth place to rest, even for the wounded. The night was cold and damp and sleep was impossible. The Californians hovered near and Pico reported to Captain Flores, commander of the forces, that none of the Americans could get away and that he would attack them when the rest of his division-eighty men under Captain Cota-should come up. On the seventh Kearny resumed command and the troops were moved down the valley to San Bernardo, having a slight skirmish with the enemy during the march. The suffering of the wounded was very great and it was apparent to the general that to advance, encumbered as he was, would almost certainly result in the loss of his wounded and of the baggage. He
SAN PASCUAL The Charge of the Caballeros.
THE BEGINNINGS OF SAN FRANCISCO
oof loxdecd and sixty nen, all teld, but not one hail A diess were vagagod: while the Californians, superbly moratod zool hbr finesy Morsen en in the world, were Thedi ami wer Behring in Their own country, and with I wapo mor ally in their hands, the lance. The doornlow Dad steven wounded, none killed.
Thường jegnce of Kellnys wound Captain Turner roommand. Messenvore Were sent to San Diego " cedel conveyancei to carry the wounded and Emory was sent back with a force to bring up Major Sounds wod che IrAt yourd which was about a mile behind; the purgedo & boty dressing the wounded, while th KoCHE Che in 0 womp engaged in making ambulances for Arturo vuson. Their provisiona were gone, their Heft males were on their last legs, of their number, ЛАНОВАЯ ИАГ and rmaciated. n The dead were Man & nider & willow wwwcompaniment owllug of myriad: W Their position wrote but the ground com ered with rocks de Witt is was diffiook : find = smooth place to for the wouime The night was cold and dame and sleep was imposible. The Californians Covered war and Hice reported to Captain Flores, mit bec bar forer tour pone of the Americans could MF muy and That he wod attack them when the rest vliv oun ander Captain Cota-should Do The eyemis Kearny resumed command X 6 or morod down the valley to San
Tive & flight iruush with the enemy during Re safe mas of the wounded was very Dil www apparent da The general that to advance, od a ho wal, would almost certainly result M Ms wounded and of the baggage. He
W.FRANCIS
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therefore remained in camp defending himself from the assaults of the enemy. On the night of the eighth, Kit Carson and Lieutenant E. F. Beale of the navy, a volun- teer of Gillespie's force, offered to make their way through the enemy's lines to San Diego, twenty-nine miles distant, and make known to Stockton Kearny's condition. This was done and Stockton sent Lieutenant Gray of the Congress with two hundred marines and sailors, and food and clothing for Kearny's naked and hungry men. The reinforcements reached Kearny's camp before dawn on the eleventh. The march was then resumed and they reached San Diego on the afternoon of the twelfth, unmolested by Pico, who had withdrawn on the arrival of Gray with the reinforcements.
Sergeant Cox and Private Kennedy of the dragoons died from their wounds, one on the march and the other in San Diego. The bodies buried under the tree on the battlefield were subsequently removed to San Diego with the exception of Captain Johnston, whose remains, sent to his father, were buried at Piqua, Ohio, while those of Moore and Hammond, who were brothers-in-law and strongly attached to each other, lie side by side, at Point Loma.
General Kearny found Commodore Stockton actively engaged in organizing his forces for an expedition against the enemy who were in possession of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Stockton's force consisted of about four hundred and forty sailors and marines, ninety volunteers of the California battalion under Captain Gillespie, including twenty-five Californians and Indians, six pieces of artillery, and a wagon train of one four-wheel carriage and ten ox carts, under charge of Lieutenant George Minor of the Savannah. In addition to this force Frémont was approaching Los Angeles from the north with four hundred mounted men and six pieces of artillery.
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Kearny was in a delicate position. He had reached San Diego with but a remnant of his command, his best officers had been killed, and he and many of his men were wounded. He was indebted to the commodore for rescue from a dangerous situation and he found that officer organizing a vigorous campaign against the revolted Californians. Stockton offered Kearny the chief command but the general's courtesy prompted him to decline, saying that the force was Stockton's and that he would accompany him as his aide-de-camp. Kearny however showed Stockton his orders and, according to his testimony before Frémont's court-martial, announced that as soon as his command was increased he would take charge in California as instructed.
The army marched out of San Diego December 29th with the force given above, to which had been added fifty-five dragoons under command of Captain Turner: Lieutenant Davidson assisting. General Kearny acted as commander of the troops, Commodore Stockton accompanying as governor and commander-in-chief. The entire force, including sappers and miners, numbered six hundred and seven.
At the crossing of the San Gabriel river, January 8th, their passage was disputed by about five hundred Californians under José María Flores, with José Antonio Carrillo second in command, and Andrés Pico, comandante de escuadron. The Californians had two nine-pounders which they placed in position to command the ford but their powder was home-made and had barely force enough to expel the projectiles from the guns without doing very much damage to the Americans. The engage- ment lasted two hours when the Californians were driven back. The American loss was two men killed and eight wounded-one of whom died the following day. The loss of the Californians was about the same.
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On the ninth the march was resumed and the enemy was again encountered about four miles below Los Angeles, the action resulting in one Californian being killed and several wounded while Stockton had five men wounded. This ended the war in California. The passage of the Rio San Gabriel and the battle of La Mesa, as the action below Los Angeles is called, have been somewhat over- drawn. There is no question that both sides displayed courage, but the Californians fought in a half hearted way. They were only half armed, they had no powder but the poor stuff they made themselves, and they had no hope of success. Most of them went home after the fight, leaving Pico only about one hundred men. Stock- ton entered Los Angeles on the morning of the tenth. Flores transferred the command to Pico on the eleventh and returned to Mexico. On the thirteenth the peace of Cahuenga was signed by Frémont and Pico.
It appears that Kearny was aware that Stockton in- tended to ignore his authority and on the fourteenth he wrote to the war department that upon the arrival of the troops which were en route by land and sea he would, according to the instructions, have the manage- ment of affairs in California. On the sixteenth he ordered Stockton to show his authority from the government or to take no further action in relation to a civil organi- zation. Stockton declined to recognize Kearny's author- ity and on the same day delivered to Frémont his com- mission as governor and suspended Kearny from the command conferred on him at San Diego. Kearny also ordered Frémont to make no changes in the organi- zation of the California battalion, sending him a copy of his instructions from the secretary of war of June 18, 1846, pointing out the sentence : "These troops and such as may be organized in California will be under your command." This order was delivered to Frémont in
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the evening of the sixteenth. Frémont after a consulta- tion with Stockton, during which each exhibited to the other the order he had received from Kearny, replied to the general declining to obey his order on the ground that he had received his commission from Stockton and that on his arrival at Los Angeles he had found the commodore still recognized as commander, and with great deference, etc., he felt constrained to say that until the two commanders adjusted the difference of rank between themselves he would "have to report and receive orders as heretofore from the commodore."
Finding his authority ignored and having no troops to enforce obedience, Kearny announced to Stockton his intention to withdraw his dragoons and report the state of affairs to the war department at Washington, leaving with the commodore the responsibility of doing that for which he had no authority, and preventing him from carrying out his instructions. He retired to San Diego and on the 21st of January sailed on the Cyane for Monterey. The troops en route were the Mormon battalion, an artillery company sent by sea, and the First regiment New York volunteers, also by sea. The Mormon battalion, three hundred and fourteen strong, reached San Diego January 29th.
Company F. Third United States artillery reached Monterey January 28, 1847, on the transport Lexing- ton, six months and fourteen days from New York. The company was commanded by Captain Christopher Q. Tompkins; the first lieutenants were Edward O. C. Ord and William T. Sherman; second lieutenants Lucien Loeser and Colville J. Minor. Doctor James L. Ord was contract surgeon, and Lieutenant Henry W. Halleck of the engineers accompanied the detachment. Three of these men became general officers and two of them, Hal- leck and Sherman, commanded the armies of the United
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States. The rank and file numbered one hundred and thirteen men. The first detachment of the New York regiment arrived March 6th and the rest of the regiment came during the month.
Kearny arrived at Monterey February 8th where he found Commodore William Branford Shubrick who had arrived in the man-of-war Independence to succeed Commodore Stockton. Shubrick recognized Kearny as the senior officer of the army in California, and the two officers agreed to await more explicit instructions from Washington before taking action. Kearny started for San Francisco on the Cyane, February 1Ith, and there found Colonel Richard B. Mason of the First dragoons and Lieutenant Henry B. Watson of the navy, who had arrived from Washington February 12th, bringing in- structions dated November 3d and 5th, for both general and commodore, to the effect that the senior officer of the land forces was to be civil governor. Kearny returned to Monterey accompanied by Mason and Watson and after consultation with Commodore Shubrick a joint circular was issued in which was announced the orders of the president regarding the position and authority of the commander-in-chief of the naval forces and that of the commanding military officer. On the same day, March 1, 1847, Kearny issued a proclamation assuming charge of the civil government of California and naming Monterey as the capital. Also on the same day the gen- eral issued "Orders No. 2" requiring Frémont to muster the volunteers into United States service and put Captain Cooke in command. He sent this by Captain Turner and at the same time he wrote to Frémont ordering him to report at Monterey and bring with him all archives, public documents, and papers in his control, appertaining to the government of California. Turner reached Los Angeles March IIth and delivered his orders and the
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joint circular to Frémont. All volunteers declining to enter the service were to be discharged. Frémont submitted the order to the California battalion and they declined to be mustered in. William H. Russell "secre- tary of state" wrote to Captain Cooke, March 16th that the "governor" considered it unsafe to discharge the battalion "at this time when rumor is rife with threatened insurrection," and would decline to do so. On the twenty-second Fremont started for Monterey to see Kearny, reaching the capital at nightfall of the twenty-fifth. He made a call of ceremony that evening and had an interview with the general the next morning. He started on his return on the afternoon of the twenty- sixth and reached the pueblo on the twenty-ninth. It is said in regard to the interview, that Frémont objected to the presence of Colonel Mason and was offensive in his remarks when he was informed by the general that Mason was properly in the room. The result of the interview was Frémont's promise to obey orders. To insure this Kearny sent Mason south on an inspection tour, giving him full authority in both civil and military matters. From Mason's report of April 26th it appears that Frémont had authorized the collector at San Pedro to receive "government payment" in payment of customs dues and that the masters or supercargoes of certain ships were buying this paper at thirty per cent. discount and using it to pay duties. The "government payment," he explained, consisted of certificates or due bills given by the paymaster and quartermaster of the California battalion. The order to the collector was dated March 2Ist and signed "J. C. Frémont, Governor of California, by Wm. H. Russell, Secretary of State." Mason also en- closed an original order from Lieutenant-colonel Frémont of the 15th of March, to Captain Richard Owens of the California battalion, directing him not to obey the order
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of any officer that did not emanate from him (Frémont) nor to turn over the public arms, etc., to any corps with- out his special order.
From various reports of the interview between Mason and Frémont we learn that it was anything but an harmonious one. Stephen C. Foster, who was present, says that Mason sent an orderly to Frémont with a request to report to headquarters. The man returned with the statement that Frémont's sentry would not admit him. Mason sent him back with the same order; the man returned with the same report. The third time Mason sent the orderly, when Frémont came. Mason was very angry and addressed Frémont in harsh terms, saying he had been waiting all the morning to arrange for Frémont to turn over the government artillery and other property. Frémont's reply was insolent in tone and Mason threatened to put him in irons. Frémont returned to his quarters and sent Major Reading with a demand for an apology. This being refused, a challenge followed and was accepted, but Kearny intervened and the meeting did not take place.
General Kearny proceeded to organize a civil govern- ment by appointing alcaldes, collectors, Indian agents, etc., and endeavored to settle the vexing questions relating to civil affairs as best he could. On March 22d he announced to the various claimants to the property of the missions of San José, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Juan, that until a proper tribunal was established to decide upon the claims, the missions and the property belonging to them would remain in possession of the priests, as they were when the United States flag was first raised in the territory, and the alcaldes of the various jurisdictions were instructed to enforce this order. Kearny's last military order was to send Lieutenant-colonel Burton of the New York volunteers to Lower California with
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two companies of the regiment to take and hold possession of the country for the United States. On May 13th the general notified the adjutant-general that he was clos- ing his affairs in California and would leave for St. Louis via the South pass, and that the conduct of Lieutenant- colonel Frémont was such that he would be compelled, on arriving in Missouri, to arrest him and send him under charges to Washington.
On the 3Ist of May, 1847, General Kearny turned over to Colonel Mason the command, civil and military, and started for the Missouri. Accompanying him were Edwin Bryant, Major Swords, Captains Cooke and Turner, Doctor Sanderson of the Mormon battalion, Lieutenant Radford of the navy, Willard P. Hall, William O. Fallon as guide, a Mormon escort of thirteen men and a few men of the topographical service, a number of servants, and Lieutenant-colonel Frémont with William N. Loker of the California battalion and nineteen men of his original party. At Sutter's fort several days were consumed in preparation for the journey, and on June 22d Kearny was at the Donner camp burying such remains of the unfortunates as he could find. He passed Fort Hall in the middle of July and reached Fort Leavenworth August 22d. Here he ordered Frémont to consider himself under arrest and report to the adjutant-general at Washington. Frémont was charged with mutiny, disobedience of the lawful commands of his superior officer, and conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. The court-martial was convened November 2, 1847, and the trial lasted two weeks. Fré- mont was defended by Thomas H. Benton and William Carey Jones, and after three days of deliberation was found guilty on all of the specifications and sentenced to dismissal from the service. Seven members of the court signed a recommendation of clemency on account of
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