FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR TILL ITS CLOSE.
War was declared by Mexico against the United States, in May, 1846.
The same month, orders were transmitted to Commodore Sloat, commanding
the Pacific squadron, instructing him to protect the interests of the
citizens of the United States near his station, and to employ his
forces to the best advantage in operations directed against the
Mexican territory on the Pacific. The fleet under Commodore Sloat was
the largest the Americans ever sent to that quarter, and the men were
anxious to commence active operations. Soon after receiving his first
orders, the commodore was again instructed to take and keep possession
of Upper California; or, at least, of the principal ports.
On the 8th of June, Commodore Sloat left Mazatlan, in the flag-ship
Savannah, and on the 2d of July, reached Monterey, in Upper
California. There he found the Cyane and Levant, and learned that the
Portsmouth was at San Francisco, as previously arranged. On the
morning of the 7th, Captain Mervine was sent to demand the surrender
of Monterey. The Mexican commandant replied that he was not authorized
to surrender the place, but referred Commodore Sloat to the
commanding-general of California. A force of two hundred and fifty
marines and seamen was immediately landed, under Captain Mervine, and
they marched to the custom-house. There they hoisted the American flag
amid cheers and a salute of twenty-one guns. The proclamation of
Commodore Sloat was then read and posted about the town.
After taking possession of Monterey, Commodore Sloat despatched a
courier to the commanding-general of California, summoning him to
surrender every thing under his control in the country, and assuring
him of protection if he should comply. The general refused, and said
he would defend the country as long as he could reckon on a single
person to join his cause. A summons to surrender was also sent to the
governor of Santa Barbara, but no answer was returned. Orders were
despatched to Commander Montgomery, in the Portsmouth, at San
Francisco, directing him to take possession of the Bay of San
Francisco, and hoist the flag of the United States at Yerba Buena.
On the 9th of July, the day after the receipt of his orders,
Montgomery landed at Yerba Buena with seventy seamen and marines, and
hoisted the American flag in the public square, amid the cheers of the
people. A proclamation was then posted to the flag staff, and
Montgomery addressed the people. The greater part of the seamen and
marines then returned to the ship, leaving Lieutenant H. B. Watson
with a small guard, formally installed as military occupant of the
post. Thirty-two of the male residents of Yerba Buena were enrolled as
a volunteer corps, choosing their own officers. Lieutenant Missroon
was despatched with a small party of these volunteers to reconnoitre
the Presidio and fort. He returned the same day, and reported that
the Presidio had been abandoned, and that the fort, seven miles from
the town, was dilapidated and mounted only a few old pieces of cannon.
The flag of the United States had been displayed from its ramparts. On
the 11th, Montgomery informed Commodore Sloat that the flag of the
United States was then flying at Yerba Buena, Sutter's Fort, on the
Sacramento, Bodega, on the coast, and Sonoma. The inhabitants of these
places appeared to be satisfied with the protection afforded them by
the Americans.
On the 13th of July, Commodore Sloat sent a flag to the foreigners of
the pueblo of San Jose, about seventy miles from Monterey, in the
interior, and appointed a justice of the peace in place of the
alcaldes. On the 15th, Commodore Stockton arrived at Monterey, in the
frigate Congress; and Commodore Sloat being in bad health, the command
devolved upon Stockton, and Sloat returned home. The operations of
Commodore Stockton, from the 23d of July to the 28th of August, 1846,
have been rapidly sketched by himself in his despatches to the
secretary of the navy. From these we condense a short account.
On the 23d of July, the commodore organized the "California Battalion
of Mounted Riflemen." Captain Fremont was appointed major, and
Lieutenant Gillespie captain of the battalion. The next day, they were
embarked on board the sloop-of-war Cyane, Commander Dupont, and sailed
from Monterey for San Diego, in order to land south of the Mexican
force, consisting of 500 men, under General Castro, well fortified at
a place three miles from the city. A few days afterwards, Commodore
Stockton sailed in the Congress for San Pedro, thirty miles from
Monterey, and having landed, marched for the Mexican camp. When he
arrived within twelve miles of the Mexicans, they fled in small
parties, in different directions. Most of the principal officers were
afterwards taken, but the mounted riflemen not getting up in time,
most of the men escaped. On the 13th of August, Commodore Stockton
being joined by eighty riflemen, under Major Fremont, entered the
capital of California, Ciudad de los Angeles, or the "City of the
Angels." Thus, in less than a month after Stockton's assuming command,
the American flag was flying from every commanding position in
California, conquered by three hundred and sixty men, mostly sailors.
The form of government established in California, after the conquest,
was as follows: The executive power was vested in a governor, holding
office for four years unless sooner removed by the President of the
United States. The governor was to reside in the territory, be
commander-in-chief of the army thereof, perform all the duties of a
superintendent of Indian affairs, have a pardoning and reprieving
power, commission all persons appointed to office under the laws of
said territory, and approve all laws passed by the legislature before
they took effect. There was the office of the Secretary of the
Territory established, whose principal duty was to preserve all the
laws and proceedings of the legislative council, and all the acts and
proceedings of the governor. The legislative power was vested in the
governor and a council of seven persons, who were to be appointed by
the governor at first, and hold their office for two years; afterwards
they were to be elected by the people. All the laws of Mexico, and the
municipal officers existing in the territory before the conquest,
were continued until altered by the governor and council.
On the 15th of August, 1846, Commodore Stockton adopted a tariff of
duties on all goods imported from foreign parts, of fifteen per cent.
ad valorem, and a tonnage duty of fifty cents per ton on all foreign
vessels. On the 15th of September, when the elections were held,
Walter Colton, the chaplain of the frigate Congress, was elected
Alcalde of Monterey. In the mean time, a newspaper called the
"Californian," had been established by Messrs. Colton and Semple. This
was the first newspaper issued in California.
Early in September, Commodore Stockton withdrew his forces from Los
Angeles, and proceeded with his squadron to San Francisco. Scarcely
had he arrived when he received intelligence that all the country
below Monterey was in arms and the Mexican flag again hoisted. The
Californians invested the "City of the Angels," on the 23d of
September. That place was guarded by thirty riflemen under Captain
Gillespie, and the Californians investing it numbered 300. Finding
himself overpowered, Captain Gillespie capitulated on the 30th, and
thence retired with all the foreigners aboard of a sloop-of-war, and
sailed for Monterey. Lieutenant Talbot, who commanded only nine men at
Santa Barbara, refused to surrender, and marched out with his men,
arms in hand. The frigate Savannah was sent to relieve Los Angeles,
but she did not arrive till after the above events had occurred. Her
crew, numbering 320 men, landed at San Pedro and marched to meet the
Californians. About half way between San Pedro and Los Angeles, about
fifteen miles from their ship, the sailors found the enemy drawn up on
a plain. The Californians were mounted on fine horses, and with
artillery, had every advantage. The sailors were forced to retreat
with a loss of five killed and six wounded.
Commodore Stockton came down in the Congress to San Pedro, and then
marched for the "City of the Angels," the men dragging six of the
ship's guns. At the Rancho Sepulvida, a large force of the
Californians was posted. Commodore Stockton sent one hundred men
forward to receive the fire of the enemy and then fall back upon the
main body without returning it. The main body was formed in a
triangle, with the guns hid by the men. By the retreat of the advance
party, the enemy were decoyed close to the main force, when the wings
were extended and a deadly fire opened upon the astonished
Californians. More than a hundred were killed, the same number
wounded, and their whole force routed. About a hundred prisoners were
taken, many of whom were at the time on parole and had signed an
obligation not to take up arms during the war.
Commodore Stockton soon mounted his men and prepared for operations on
shore. Skirmishes followed, and were continually occurring until
January, 1847, when a decisive action occurred. General Kearny had
arrived in California, after a long and painful march overland, and
his co-operation was of great service to Stockton. The Americans left
San Diego on the 29th of December, to march to Los Angeles. The
Californians determined to meet them on their route, and decide the
fate of the country in a general battle. The American force amounted
to six hundred men, and was composed of detachments from the ships
Congress, Savannah, Portsmouth and Cyane, aided by General Kearny,
with sixty men on foot, from the first regiment of United States
dragoons, and Captain Gillespie with sixty mounted riflemen. The
troops marched one hundred and ten miles in ten days, and, on the 8th
of January, they found the Californians in a strong position on the
high bank of the San Gabriel river, with six hundred mounted men and
four pieces of artillery, prepared to dispute the passage of the
river. The Americans waded through the water, dragging their guns with
them, exposed to a galling fire from the enemy, without returning a
shot. When they reached the opposite shore, the Californians charged
upon them, but were driven back. They then charged up the bank and
succeeded in driving the Californians from their post. Stockton, with
his force, continued his march, and the next day, in crossing the
plains of Mesa, the enemy made another attempt to save their capital.
They were concealed with their artillery in a ravine, until the
Americans came within gun-shot, when they opened a brisk fire upon
their right flank, and at the same time charged both their front and
rear. But the guns of the Californians were soon silenced, and the
charge repelled. The Californians then fled, and the next morning the
Americans entered Los Angeles without opposition. The loss of the
Americans in killed and wounded did not exceed twenty, while that of
their opponents reached between seventy and eighty.
These two battles decided the contest in California. General Flores,
governor and commandant-general of the Californians, as he styled
himself, immediately after the Americans entered Los Angeles, made his
escape and his troops dispersed. The territory became again tranquil,
and the civil government was soon in operation again in the places
where it had been interrupted by the revolt. Commodore Stockton and
General Kearny having a misunderstanding about their respective
powers, Colonel Fremont exercised the duties of governor and
commander-in-chief of California, declining to obey the orders of
General Kearny.
The account of the adventures and skirmishes with which the small
force of United States troops under General Kearny met, while on their
march to San Diego, in Upper California, is one of the most
interesting to which the contest gave birth. The party, which
consisted of one hundred men when it started from Santa Fé, reached
Warner's rancho, the frontier settlement in California, on the Sonoma
route, on the 2d of December, 1846. They continued their march, and on
the 5th were met by a small party of volunteers, under Captain
Gillespie, sent out by Commodore Stockton to meet them, and inform
them of the revolt of the Californians. The party encamped for the
night at Stokes's rancho, about forty miles from San Diego.
Information was received that an armed party of Californians was at
San Pasqual, three leagues from Stokes's rancho. A party of dragoons
was sent out to reconnoitre, and they returned by two o'clock on the
morning of the 6th. Their information determined General Kearny to
attack the Californians before daylight, and arrangements were
accordingly made. Captain Johnson was given the command of an advance
party of twelve dragoons, mounted upon the best horses in possession
of the party. Then followed fifty dragoons, under Captain Moore,
mounted mostly on the tired mules they had ridden from Santa Fé--a
distance of 1050 miles. Next came about twenty volunteers, under
Captain Gibson. Then followed two mountain howitzers, with dragoons to
manage them, under charge of Lieutenant Davidson. The remainder of the
dragoons and volunteers were placed under command of Major Swords,
with orders to follow on the trail with the baggage.
As the day of December 6th dawned, the enemy at San Pasqual were seen
to be already in the saddle, and Captain Johnson, with his advance
guard, made a furious charge upon them; he being supported by the
dragoons, the Californians at length gave way. They had kept up a
continual fire from the first appearance of the dragoons, and had done
considerable execution. Captain Johnson was shot dead in his first
charge. The enemy were pursued by Captain Moore and his dragoons, and
they retreated about half a mile, when seeing an interval between the
small advance party of Captain Moore and the main force coming to his
support, they rallied their whole force, and charged with their
lances. For five minutes they held the ground, doing considerable
execution, until the arrival of the rest of the American party, when
they broke and fled. The troops of Kearny lost two captains, a
lieutenant, two sergeants, two corporals, and twelve privates. Among
the wounded were General Kearny, Lieutenant Warner, Captains Gillespie
and Gibson, one sergeant, one bugleman, and nine privates. The
Californians carried off all their wounded and dead except six.
On the 7th the march was resumed, and, near San Bernardo, Kearny's
advance encountered and defeated a small party of the Californians who
had taken post on a hill. At San Bernardo, the troops remained till
the morning of the 11th, when they were joined by a party of sailors
and marines, under Lieutenant Gray. They then proceeded upon their
march, and on the 12th, arrived at San Diego; having thus completed a
march of eleven hundred miles through an enemy's country, with but one
hundred men. The force of General Kearny having joined that of
Commodore Stockton, the expedition against Los Angeles, of which we
have given an account in this chapter, was successfully consummated,
and tranquillity restored in California. General Kearny and Commodore
Stockton returned to the United States in January, 1847, leaving
Colonel Fremont to exercise the office of governor and military
commandant of California. No further events of an importance worth
recording occurred till the treaty of peace between the United States
and Mexico.