USA > California > Contra Costa County > The history of Contra Costa County, California > Part 5
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 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
35
THE BEAR FLAG WAR
known only to the prominent Californians. It was also reported that a convention had been held at the San Juan Mission to decide which of the two nations, America or Great Britain, should guarantee protec- tion to California against all others for certain privileges and consid- erations.
Lieutenant Revere says : "I have been favored by an intelligent mem- ber of the Junta with the following authentic report of the substance of Pico's speech to that illustrious body of statesmen :
" 'Excellent Sirs: To what a deplorable condition is our country re- duced ! Mexico, professing to be our mother and our protectress, has given us neither arms nor money, nor the material of war for our de- fense. She is not likely to do anything in our behalf, although she is quite willing to afflict us with her extortionate minions, who come hither in the guise of soldiers and civil officers, to harass and oppress our people. We possess a glorious country, capable of attaining a physi- cal and moral greatness corresponding with the grandeur and beauty which an Almighty hand has stamped on the face of our beloved Cali- fornia. But, although nature has been prodigal, it cannot be denied that we are not in a position to avail ourselves of her bounties. Our population is not large, and it is sparsely scattered over valley and mountain, covering an immense area of virgin soil, destitute of roads, and traversed with difficulty ; hence it is hardly possible to collect an army of any considerable force. Our people are poor, as well as few, and cannot well govern themselves and maintain a decent show of sov- ereign power. Although we live in the midst of plenty, we lay up noth- ing, but tilling the earth in an imperfect manner, all our time is re- quired to provide subsistence for ourselves and our families. Thus cir- cumstanced, we find ourselves suddenly threatened by hordes of Yankee emigrants, who have already begun to flock into our country, and whose progress we cannot arrest. Already have the wagons of that perfidious people scaled the almost inaccessible summits of the Sierra Nevada, crossed the entire continent and penetrated the fruitful valley of the Sacramento. What that astounding people will next undertake I cannot say, but in whatever enterprise they will be sure to prove suc- cessful. Already are these adventurous land voyagers spreading them- selves far and wide over a country which seems suited to their tastes. They are cultivating farms. establishing vineyards, erecting mills, saw-
36
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
ing up lumber, building workshops, and doing a thousand other things which seem natural to them, but which Californians despise. What, then, are we to do? Shall we remain supine while these daring strangers are overrunning our fertile plains and gradually outnumbering and dis- placing us? Shall these incursions go on unchecked, until we shall be- come strangers in our own land? We cannot successfully oppose them by our own unaided power, and the swelling tide of immigration ren- ders the odds against us more formidable every day. We cannot stand alone against them, nor can we creditably maintain our independence even against Mexico; but there is something we can do which will elevate our country, strengthen her at all points, and yet enable us to preserve our identity and remain masters of our own soil. Perhaps what I am about to suggest may seem to some faint-hearted and dis- honorable, but to me it does not seem so. It is the last hope of a feeble people, struggling against a tyrannical government which claims their submission at home, and threatened by bands of avaricious strangers from without, voluntarily to connect themselves with a power able and willing to defend and preserve them. It is the right and the duty of the weak to demand support from the strong, provided the demand be made upon terms just to both parties. I see no dishonor in this last refuge of the oppressed and powerless, and I boldly avow that such is the step that I would have California take. There are two great powers in Europe which seem destined to divide between them the unappropriated countries of the world. They have large fleets and armies not unpracticed in the art of war. Is it not better to connect ourselves with one of those powerful nations than to struggle on with- out hope, as we are doing now? Is it not better that one of them should be invited to send a fleet and an army, to defend and protect California, rather than we should fall an easy prey to the lawless adventurers who are overrunning our beautiful country ? I pronounce for annexation to France or England, and the people of California will never regret hav- ing taken my advice. They will no longer be subjected to the trouble and grievous expense of governing themselves; and their beef and their grain, which they produce in such abundance, would find a ready market among the newcomers. But, I hear someone say: "No monar- chy" ! But is not monarchy better than anarchy ? Is not existence in some shape better than annihilation. No monarch! And what is there so ter-
37
THE BEAR FLAG WAR
rible in a monarchy? Have we not all lived under a monarchy far more despotic than that of France or England, and were not our people happy under it? Have not the leading men among our agriculturists been bred beneath the royal rule of Spain, and have they been happier since the mock Republic of Mexico has supplied its place? Nay, does not every man abhor the miserable abortion christened the Republic of Mexico, and look back with regret to the golden days of the Spanish monarchy? Let us restore that glorious era. Then may our people go quietly to their ranchos, and live there as of yore, leading a thoughtless and merry life, untroubled by politics or cares of state, sure of what is their own, and safe from the incursions of the Yankees, who would soon be forced to retreat to their own country.'"
It was a happy thing for California, and, as the sequel proved, for the views of the Government of the United States, that a man was found at this juncture whose ideals were more enlightened and con- sonant with the times than those of the rulers of his country, both civil and military. Patriotism was half his soul; he therefore could not silently witness the land of his birth sold to any monarchy, however old ; and he rightly judged that, although foreign protection might post- pone, it could not avert that assumption of power which was beginning to make itself felt. Possessed at the time of no political power, and having had few early advantages, still his position was so exalted and his character so highly respected by both the foreign and native popu- lation, that he had been invited to participate in the deliberations of the Junta. This man was Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Born in California, he commenced his career in the army as an alferez, or ensign, and in this humble grade he volunteered, at the suggestion of the Mexican Government, with a command of fifty soldiers, to establish a colony on the north side of the Bay of San Francisco, for the pro- tection of the frontier. He effectually subdued the hostile Indians in- habiting that then remote region, and laid the foundation of a reputa- tion for integrity, judgment, and ability unequaled by any of his coun- trymen. Although quite a young man, he had already filled the highest offices in the province, and had at this time retired to private life near his estate in the vicinity of the town of Sonoma. He did not hesitate to oppose with all his strength the views advanced by Pico and Castro. He spoke nearly as follows:
38
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
"I cannot, gentlemen, coincide in opinion with the military and civil functionaries who have advocated the cession of our country to France or England. It is most true that to rely any longer on Mexico to govern and defend us would be idle and absurd. To this extent I fully agree with my distinguished colleagues. It is also true that we possess a noble country, every way calculated from position and resources to be- come great and powerful. For that very reason I would not have her a mere dependency upon a foreign monarchy, naturally alien, or at least indifferent, to our interests and our welfare. It is not to be denied that feeble nations have in former times thrown themselves upon the protection of their powerful neighbors. The Britons invoked the aid of the warlike Saxons, and fell an easy prey to their protectors, who seized their lands and treated them like slaves. Long before that time feeble and distracted provinces had appealed for aid to the all-conquer- ing arms of imperial Rome, and they were at the same time protected and subjugated by their grasping ally. Even could we tolerate the idea of dependence, ought we to go to distant Europe for a master? What possible sympathy could exist between us and a nation separated from us by two vast oceans? But waiving this insuperable objection, how could we endure to come under the domination of a monarchy? For, although others speak lightly of a form of government, as a freeman I cannot do so. We are republicans-badly governed and badly situated as we are, still we are all, in sentiment, republicans. So far as we are governed at all, we at least profess to be self-governed. Who, then, that possesses true patriotism will consent to subject himself and his children to the caprices of a foreign king and his official minions? But, it is asked, if we do not throw ourselves upon the protection of France or England, what shall we do? I do not come here to support the exist- ing order of things, but I come prepared to propose instant and ef- fective action to extricate our country from her present forlorn con- dition. My opinion is made up that we must persevere in throwing off the galling yoke of Mexico and proclaim our independence of her for- ever. We have endured her official cormorants and her villainous soldiery until we can endure no longer. All will probably agree with me that we ought at once to rid ourselves of what remains of Mexican domination. But some profess to doubt our ability to maintain our posi- tion. To my mind there comes no doubt. Look at Texas, and see how
39
THE BEAR FLAG WAR
long she withstood the power of united Mexico. The resources of Texas are not to be compared with ours, and she was so much nearer to her enemy than we are. Our position is so remote, either by land or sea, that we are in no danger from Mexican invasion. Why, then, should we hesitate still to assert our independence? We have indeed taken the first step, by electing our own governor, but another remains to be taken. I will mention it plainly and distinctly-it is annexation to the United States. In contemplating this consummation of our destiny, I feel nothing but pleasure, and I ask you to share it. Discard old preju- dices, disregard old customs, and prepare for the glorious change which awaits our country. Why should we shrink from incorporating our- selves with the happiest, freest nation in the world, destined soon to be the most wealthy and powerful? Why should we go abroad for pro- tection when this great nation is our adjoining neighbor? When we join our fortunes to hers, we shall not become subjects but fellow-citizens, possessing all the rights of the people of the United States, and choos- ing our own federal and local rulers. We shall have a stable govern- ment and just laws. California will grow strong and flourish, and her people will be prosperous, happy, and free. Look not therefore with jealousy upon the hardy pioneers who scale our mountains and culti- vate our unoccupied plains, but rather welcome them as brothers who come to share with us a common destiny."
Such was the extent of General Vallejo's observations. Those who listened to him, however, were far behind in general knowledge and intelligence. His arguments failed to carry conviction to the greater number of his auditors. But the bold position taken by him was the cause of an immediate adjournment of the Junta, no result having been arrived at concerning the weighty affairs on which they had met to deliberate. On his retiring from the Junta he embodied the views he had expressed in a letter to Don Pio Pico, and reiterated his refusal to participate in any action having for its end the adoption of any pro- tection other than that of the United States. In this communication he also declared that he would never serve under any government which was prepared to surrender California to a European power. He then returned to his estates, there to await the issue of events.
We left William Knight at Frémont's camp, where he had arrived on the morning of June 9, 1846, imparting to that officer and the twenty
40
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
settlers who had there assembled information of Castro's intended attack. At ten o'clock that morning a party of eleven men, under the oldest member, Ezekiel Merritt, started in pursuit of Lieutenant Arci and his horses. On their arrival at Hock farm they were joined by two more, and toward evening, having crossed the American River at Sin- clair's, reached the rancho of Allen Montgomery, sixty miles from Frémont's camp at the Buttes, and there supped. Here they received intelligence that Lieutenant Arci had reached Sutter's Fort on the 8th, and had that morning resumed his march, intending to camp that night at the rancho of Martin Murphy, twenty miles south of the Cosumne River. Supper finished and a short rest indulged in, the party were once more in the saddle, being strengthened by the addition of Mont- gomery and another man, making the total force fifteen. They pro- ceeded to within about five miles of Murphy's, and there lay concealed until daylight, when they were again on the move, and continued to within half a mile of the camp. Unperceived, they cautiously advanced to within a short distance, and then suddenly charging, secured the lieutenant and his party, as well as the horses. Lieutenant Arci was permitted to retain his sword, each of his party was given a horse where- with to reach Santa Clara, and a person traveling with him was per- mitted to take six of the animals which he claimed as private property. The lieutenant was then instructed to depart and say to his chief, Gen- eral Castro, that the remainder of the horses were at his disposal when- ever he should wish to come and take them. The Americans at once returned to Montgomery's with the horses, and there breakfasted ; that night, the 10th, they encamped twenty-seven miles above Sutter's Fort on the rancho of Nicholas Allgier, a German, not far from the mouth of Bear River, and in the morning, ascertaining that Frémont had moved his camp hither from the Buttes, they joined him in the morn- ing of the IIth, having traveled about one hundred and fifty miles in forty-eight hours.
On arriving at Fremont's camp it was found that the garrison had been considerably augmented by the arrival of more settlers, who were all ardently discussing the events of the last two days and its probable results. After a full hearing it was determined by them that, having gone so far, their only chance of safety was in a rapid march to the town of Sonoma to effect its capture, and to accomplish this before the
4I
THE BEAR FLAG WAR
news of the stoppage of Lieutenant Arci and his horses could have time to reach that garrison. It was felt that should this design prove successful all further obstacles to the eventual capture of the country would have vanished. The daring band then reorganized, still retaining, in his position of captain, Ezekiel Merritt. At three o'clock in the after- noon of June 12th, under their leader, they left Frémont's camp for Sonoma, one hundred and twenty miles distant, and, traveling all night, passed the rancho of William Gordon, about ten miles from the present town of Woodland, Yolo County, who they desired to inform all Americans that could be trusted of their intention. At nine o'clock in the morning of the 13th they reached Captain John Grigsby's, at the head of Napa Valley, and were joined by William L. Todd, William Scott, and others. Here the company, which now mustered thirty-three men, was reorganized and addressed by Dr. Robert Semple. Not desir- ing, however, to reach Sonoma until daylight, they halted here till mid- night, when they once more resumed their march, and before it was yet the dawn of June 14th, surprised and captured the garrison of Sonoma, consisting of six soldiers, nine pieces of artillery, and some small arms, etc., "all private property being religiously respected ; and in generations to come their children's children may look back with pride and pleasure upon the commencement of a revolution which was carried on by their fathers' fathers upon principles as high and holy as the laws of eternal justice."
Their distinguished prisoners were General Mariano Guadalupe Val- lejo, Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Prudon, Captain Don Salvador Mundo Vallejo, brother to General Vallejo, and Mr. Jacob Primer Leese, brother-in-law to General Vallejo.
We now lay before the reader the account of this episode, as de- scribed by General Vallejo at the centennial exercises held at Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, July 4, 1876:
"I have now to say something of the epoch which inaugurated a new era for this country. A little before dawn on June 14, 1846, a party of hunters and trappers, with some foreign settlers, under command of Captain Merritt, Doctor Semple, and William B. Ide, surrounded my residence at Sonoma, and without firing a shot made prisoners of my- self, then commander of the northern frontier, of Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Prudon, Captain Salvador Vallejo, and Jacob P. Leese. I should
42
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
here state that down to October, 1845, I had maintained at my own expense a respectable garrison at Sonoma, which often, in union with the settlers, did good service in campaigns against the Indians ; but at last, tired of spending money which the Mexican Government never refunded, I disbanded the force, and most of the soldiers who had con- stituted it left Sonoma. Thus in June, 1846, the plaza was entirely un- protected, although there were ten pieces of artillery, with other arms and munitions of war. The parties who unfurled the Bear Flag were well aware that Sonoma was without defense, and lost no time in taking advantage of this fact, and carrying out their plans. Years before, I had urgently represented to the government of Mexico the necessity of stationing a sufficient force on the frontier, else Sonoma would be lost, which would be equivalent to leaving the rest of the country an easy prey to the invader. What think you, my friends, were the instructions sent me in reply to my repeated demands for means to fortify the country ? These instructions were that I should at once force the immigrants to recross the Sierra Nevada, and depart from the territory of the re- public. To say nothing of the inhumanity of these orders, their execu- tion was physically impossible-first, because the immigrants came in autumn, when snow covered the Sierra so quickly as to make a return impracticable. Under the circumstances, not only I, but Comandante General Castro, resolved to provide the immigrants with letters of se- curity, that they might remain temporarily in the country. We always made a show of authority, but well convinced all the time that we had no power to resist the invasion which was coming upon us. With the frankness of a soldier, I can assure you that the American immigrants never had cause to complain of the treatment they received at the hands of either authorities or citizens. They carried us as prisoners to Sacra- mento, and kept us in a calaboose for sixty days or more, until the authority of the United States made itself respected, and the honorable and humane Commodore Stockton returned us to our hearths."'
On the seizure of their prisoners the revolutionists at once took steps to appoint a captain, who was found in the person of John Grigsby, for Ezekiel Merritt did not wish to retain the permanent command. A meeting was then called at the barracks, situated at the northeast cor- ner of the plaza, under the presidency of William B. Ide, Doctor Semple being secretary. At this conference Semple urged the independence of
J. R. Mystrane.
43
THE BEAR FLAG WAR
the country, stating that having. once commenced they must proceed, for to turn back was certain death. Before the dissolution of the con- vention, however, rumors were rife that secret emissaries were being dispatched to the Mexican rancheros to inform them of the recent occurrences; therefore, to prevent any attempt at a rescue, it was deemed best to transfer their prisoners to Sutter's Fort, where the danger of such would be less.
Before transferring their prisoners, however, a treaty, or agreement, was entered into between the captives and the captors, which will appear in the annexed documents kindly furnished to us by General Vallejo, and which have never before been given to the public. The first is in English, signed by the principal actors in the revolution, and reads :
"We, the undersigned, having resolved to establish a government upon republican principles, in connection with others of our fellow- citizens, and having taken up arms to support it, we have taken three Mexican officers as prisoners, M. G. Vallejo, Lieut. Col. Victor Prudon, and Captain D. Salvador Vallejo; having formed and published to the world no regular plan of government, feel it our duty to say that it is not our intention to take or injure any person who is not found in opposition to the cause, nor will we take or destroy the property of private individuals further than is necessary for our immediate support.
"EZEKIEL MERRITT, "R. SEMPLE, "WILLIAM FALLON, "SAMUEL KELSEY."
The second, in the Spanish language, reads as follows :
"Conste pr. la preste. qe. habiendo sido sorprendido pr. una nume- ros a fuerza armada qe. me tomó prisonero y á los gefes y oficiales qe. estaban de guarnicion en esta plaza de la qe. se apoderó la espresada fuerza, habiendola encontrado absolutamte. indefensa, tanto yo. como los S. S. oficiales qe. suscribero comprometemos nuestra palabra de honor de qe. estando bajo las garantias de prisionero de guerra, no tomaremos las armas ni á favor ni contra repetida fuerza armada de quien hemos recibiro la intimacion del momto. y un escrito firmado qe. garantiza nuestras vidas, familias dé intereses, y los de todo el vecin-
44
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
dario de esta jurisdn. mientras no hagamos oposicion. Sonoma, Junio 14 de 1846. "VCR. PRUDON. M. G. VALLEJO, "SALVADOR VALLEJO."
But let us proceed with our narrative of the removal of General Vallejo, his brother, and Prudon to Sutter's Fort. A guard, consisting of William B. Ide, as captain, Captain Grigsby, Captain Merritt, Kit Carson, William Hargrave, and five others left Sonoma for Sutter's Fort with their prisoners upon horses actually supplied by General Vallejo himself. We are told that on the first night after leaving Sonoma with their prisoners the revolutionists, with singular inconsistency, en- camped and went to sleep without setting sentinel or guard; that dur- ing the night they were surrounded by a party under command of Juan de Padilla, who crept up stealthily and awoke one of the prisoners, tell- ing him that there was with him close at hand a strong, well-armed force of rancheros, who, if need be, could surprise and slay the Ameri- cans before there was time for them to fly to arms, but that he (Padilla ) before giving such instructions, awaited the orders of General Vallejo, whose rank entitled him to the command of any such demonstration. The general was cautiously aroused and the scheme divulged to him, but with a self-sacrifice which cannot be too highly commended an- swered that he should go voluntarily with his guardians, that he antici- pated a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the whole matter, ad- vised Padilla to return to his rancho and disperse his band, and positively refused to permit any violence to the guard, as he was con- vinced that such would lead to disastrous consequences, and probably involve the rancheros and their families in ruin without accomplishing any good result. Lieutenant Revere says of this episode :
"This was not told to me by Vallejo, but by a person who was pres- ent, and it tallies well with the account given by the revolutionists themselves, several of whom informed me that no guard was kept by them that night, and that the prisoners might have easily escaped had they felt so inclined. The same person also told me that when Vallejo was called out of bed and made a prisoner in his own house, he re- quested to be informed as to the plans and objects of the revolutionists, signifying his readiness to collect and take command of a force of his countrymen in the cause of independence."
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.