Plumas County, CA History

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta Jul 2009

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Illustrated History of PLUMAS, LASSEN & SIERRA Counties
with CALIFORNIA from 1513 to 1850, Farriss & Smith , 1882, San Francisco.


CHAPTER VII

THE LAST TEN YEARS THAT CALIFORNIA WAS A 
MEXICAN TERRITORY. 

Wars From the Atlantic to the Pacific, 1836 - Alvarado, Assisted by the Graham 
Rifles, Overturns the Territorial Government - Conditional Declaration of 
Independence, November 7, 1836 - The Graham Rifles Persuade the Southern 
Californians that Liberty is Desirable - Carlos Carillo Levies War and is 
Captured - Castro Describes the Action - Two Days' Battle and One Man Killed - 
Foreigners viewed with Suspicion - Alvarado Appointed Governor by Mexico, and 
California Loses her Conditional Independence - Foreigners Imprisoned and sent 
to San Blas in Irons - Mexican Authorities Set the Prisoners Free and Imprison 
the Guard - Graham Returns to California to Confront those who had Arrested him 
- French and Americans Enter Monterey Harbor to Demand an Apology, but find no 
one to make the Demand from - General Micheltorena Arrives, to Relieve both 
Alvarado and Vallejo - His Vagabond Soldiers - Startling News Interrupts his 
Triumphal March - Commodore Jones Captures Monterrey - Alvarado Starts a 
Revolution by the Seizure of San Jose - Micheltorena Starts in Pursuit of the 
Rebels, Headed by Castro, and Captain C. M. Weber Brings him to a Halt - Castro 
Returns and Forces Micheltorena to Surrender - Why Captain Weber Interfered - 
Micheltorena Asks Sutter for Help and he Immediately Responds - Weber's 
Susceptibility to the Charms of the Fair Causes him to visit Sutter's Fort, 
where he is Suspected of being a Spy, and Put in Irons - Sutter's Expedition - 
What it Consisted of - It Moves South - The Embryo Stockton Depopulated - Fate 
of Poor Lindsay - Dr. Marsh - His Views of what the Policy of the Foreigners 
should be - Sutter First Learns from Forbes that the Same Class of Men are 
Helping Castro, that he is taking with him to Aid Micheltorena - Sutter Received 
with Military Honors - Castro Captures the Advance Guard of the Governor - The 
Battle Of San Fernando - Foreigners Fraternize - Sutter Withdraws from the Field 
and Micheltorena Surrenders - Articles of Capitulation - Micheltorena Sails for 
Mexico - Sutter Returns to his Fort in the North - Pio Pico Appointed as the 
Last of the Mexican Governors of California - List of Mexican Governors of 
California. 
  
  
        The year 1836 was charged with events that were important in their final 
results, in molding the destiny of California. In the United States, Arkansas 
was admitted into the Union as an equal, and Wisconsin was organized as a 
territory. The Creeks in Georgia, and the Seminoles, under Osceola, in Florida, 
were waging a fierce war against the whites; while on the border between the 
United States and Mexico, the Texans hoisted the Lone Star Flag, and forced a 
recognition of their independence from Mexico. Contention seemed to impregnate 
the air in North America, and California did not escape. 
      The government was overturned here that year by Juan B. Alvarado, a native 
Californian, who for several years had been clerk of the territorial deputation. 
The dispute grew out of a point of military etiquette between him and the 
governor, as to the posting of a guard, and waxed so fierce that Alvarado was 
forced to flee from the capital to avoid arrest. He sought the home of a 
Tennessee trapper in the Santa Cruz mountains, named Isaac Graham. He entered 
the log cabin a fugitive; he passed out of it a conspirator. A few days later, 
at the head of fifty foreigners, led by that trapper, and one hundred native 
Californians under Jose Castro, he entered Monterey at night, and forced a 
greatly superior force to surrender. The governor, his officers and soldiers, 
were sent out of the country, and the fourth revolution in California had been 
accomplished; this time, the foreign element, led by an American, being used as 
the motive power, with success as a result. 
      On the seventh of November, a few days after the successful termination of 
the revolt, the territorial deputation met at Monterey and passed six 
resolutions, of which we give three : -- 
      1st. - Upper California is declared to be independent of Mexico during the 
non-re-establishment of the federal system which was adopted in the year 1824. 
      2d. - The said California shall be erected into a free and governing 
state, establishing a congress, which shall dictate all the particular laws of 
the country and elect the other supreme powers necessary, declaring the actual 
"Most Excellent Deputation" continued. 
     3d. - The religion shall be Roman Catholic Apostolic, without admitting the 
exercise of any other; but the Government will not molest any person for their 
particular religious opinions. 
     Santa Anna had nullified, that year, the constitution of 1824; and they 
wanted it back again, and proposed to be a free people until their wishes were 
compiled with; but they failed to get what they desired. The home government 
fulminated some fierce proclamations, and then subsided. Alvarado was placed at 
the head of the new government, and Mariano G. Vallejo was made general of the 
army. The northern part of the state readily accepted the new government, but 
south they viewed it with reserve, and General Castro was consequently sent 
there with Graham and his fifty riflemen, when, as Tuthill aptly says; "All that 
portion of the country was readily persuaded that indepen-dence was desirable." 
      The uncle of Alvarado, Carlos Carrillo, was sent a commission as governor, 
by the home government, and he immediately levied war upon his nephew, but was, 
with the assistance of the Graham Rifles, as promptly captured as he had been 
prompt to commence hostilities. In the report by General Castro to Governor 
Alvarado, made March 28, 1838, he thus mentions the battle that resulted in 
Carrillo's capture : - "I have the honor to announce to your excellency that 
after two days' continued fighting without having lost but one man, the enemy 
took flight, under cover of night, numbering one hundred and ten men; and I have 
determined to dispatch one company of mounted infantry, under command of Captain 
Villa, and another of cavalry lancers, under command of Captain Cota, in their 
pursuit, remaining myself with the rest of the division and the artillery, to  
guard this point. 
       A two days' conflict, with constant firing, covers the battlefield with 
one dead enemy! "There were giants in the earth in those days." 
       Alvarado had begun to look with suspicion upon his allies, the 
foreigners, who had transformed him from a clerk to a governor. Time sufficient 
had elapsed to learn the result of foreign influence in Texas. It had 
overshadowed the descendants of the Spanish race there, and the Americans had 
become their rulers. To aggravate matters, Graham and some of his men, not being 
famed for their modesty, openly declared that, but for them, Alvarado would not 
have succeeded in the first instance, and that his continuance in the office was 
due to the same cause. Certainly, Alvarado was justified in being alarmed at the 
outlook, and especially so because of the ever-present obtrusive reminder by the 
Graham Rifles of their importance to him as a political or military power in the 
territory. To maintain independence from Mexico necessitated a dependence upon 
those foreigners, and to be dependent upon them was to foster an element that 
would eventually become their masters. Circumstances seemed to force a choice as 
between Mexican and foreign dependence, and the instincts as well as sympathies 
of race drew the Californians back, to harmonize with that from which they had 
declared themselves conditionally free. 
      In pursuance of this policy, Alvarado, immediately after the suppression 
of the armed attempt by his uncle to reinstate Mexican rule in California, 
opened conciliatory negotiations, that resulted in his being appointed 
provincial governor in 1838. In return for this he acknowledged the authority 
that he had formerly rebelled against, and was then, in 1839, appointed 
governor. The necessity for the Graham Rifles was passing away. California was 
divided into two districts, the line of division running east from San Luis 
Obispo. Castro was made perfect in the north, and Pena in the south - Governor 
Alvarado having his headquarters, as before, at Monterey. 
     Graham and his followers had finally become so obnoxious to the authorities 
that it was determined to seize and send them out of the country. This captain 
of the formidable Rifles unwittingly furnished them with the necessary excuse. 
Having a fast horse, he challenged California to produce a faster one, and a 
Yankee accepted the challenge. To make all secure, writings were drawn, setting 
forth the conditions of the horse-race. A government spy chanced to see the 
document, and it was written in English it was unintelligible to him. This was 
sufficient; what he lacked in knowledge was made up in imagination, and Alvarado 
was promptly informed of a deep-laid conspiracy to overthrow the government. 
Immediately General Castro was ordered to seize Graham and all his coadjutors, 
the order being executed on the night of April 7, 1840. Simultaneously through 
California that night the foreigners - except Sutter, his men, those connected 
with the Hudson Bay Company, and the Russians in Sonoma - were arrested and 
taken, about one hundred of them, to Monterey. Some twenty of the most dangerous 
were put in irons and shipped to San Blas, on the Mexican barque Guifuoscana. 
From there they were conducted overland on foot to Tepic, by General Castro, 
where he and the guard were placed under arrest and the prisoners set free. This 
cool reception of Castro by the Mexican authorities was due to the influence of 
the American and British consuls, who entered their protest against the 
treatment their countrymen had received at the hands of the Californians. Graham 
and his men were quartered at the best hotel, clothed, armed, equipped, and in 
July, 1841, were sent, at government expense, back to confront the astonished 
Alvarado and amazed inhabitants of California, who had celebrated the day of 
their banishment by a public mass and general thanksgiving. After this, Graham 
and all over whom he had influence could be counted on as certain to oppose 
whatever Alvarado, Castro or Vallejo favored. 
      In the meantime matters had moved with unusual quiet in the country, 
except the ripple caused by two war vessels, one French and the other American, 
that had sailed on day into the harbor at Monterey, soon after the seizure of 
the foreigners, to demand an apology for that act; but finding no one to whom to 
address the demand, they had sailed away again, and no apology was made. The 
governor, learning of the intention of the commanders of those vessels, had 
immediately set out to quell an imaginary insurrection in the interior, and thus 
avoided the disagreeable consequences of his acts. A mis-understanding had 
arisen, during this term of quietude, between Vallejo and the governor, each 
being anxious to get rid of the other, and both had written to the home 
government asking for the other's removal. 
      Both of these requests were complied with. General Micheltorena was 
appointed to fill the offices of general and governor, and arriving at San Diego 
in August, 1842, immediately assumed control, backed by a formidable number 
(four hundred) of veteran convicts that had come with him as soldiers, to become 
the standing army of California. Mexico had sent them from her prisons to insure 
the maintenance of her authority in the territory. 
     He was received like a prince, because he was sustained by an army, and was 
making a kind of triumphal tour of the state. About thirty miles out from Los 
Angeles, when on his way to San Diego, his progress was arrested by the receipt 
of news to the effect that Commodore T. A. C. Jones had, on the nineteenth of 
October, seized Monterey, the capital, and hoisted the American flag, declaring 
that Upper California was the property of the United States. 
     The news was received by him about 11 p. m., on the twenty-fourth of 
October, and the next day he issued from the mission of San Fernando that 
extraordinary proclamation to the Californians which reads: -- 
     "Drive all your horses and cattle from the sea-board to the mountains, and 
starve out the enemy." 
     Some one, probably Josh Billings, has said that an absence of body is 
better than presence of mind, in case of danger; and although Micheltorena had 
not consulted with Billings, he was evidently of the same opinion. 
     The day succeeding the capture, Jones became satisfied that he had made a 
mistake in supposing that the United States had declared war against Mexico, and 
consequently took down the American flag, apologized, fired a salute as the 
Mexican colors were run up in its place, and sailed on the twenty-first for 
Mazatlan, from whence he forwarded dispatches to his government, laying before 
it the details of the transaction. 
     On the seventeenth of January, 1843, he sailed into the port of San Pedro, 
landed, and, accompanied by his staff, visited Los Angeles, where Micheltorena 
gave a ball in honor of the visit. This visit was made by Jones that he might, 
as far as possible, eradicate the injurious effects of his premature seizure of 
Monterey. He looked over the bill of damages presented by the California 
government, among which were an item of $3,000 for damages to the Mexican 
troops, because of their rapid march to the interior, on receipt of the news of 
his seizure of Monterey. 
     The appointment of Micheltorena had reduced the rank and importance of all 
three of the native California officials, Alvarado, Vallejo, and Castro; and it 
resulted in bringing those parties together again, causing them to unite in an 
effort to expel the governor that Mexico had sent them, with the vagabond 
soldiery he had brought into the country with him. 
     Hostilities were inaugurated in November, 1844, by the capture of the 
mission of San Juan by Vallejo and Castro, where the surplus ammunition had been 
stored by the governor. After the capture of the magazine stores, the 
insurrectionary forces fell back up the country, taking San Jose in their March, 
passed up the east side of San Francisco Bay, towards the present site of 
Oakland. The retreating force was under the command of General Jose Castro, and 
was a couple of days' march in advance of Micheltorena, with whom he was afraid 
to risk a battle. 
    Up to this time the foreigners had not openly appeared in the contest, 
although W. G. Ray, who, with J. A. Forbes, was in charge of the Hudson Bay 
Company's business in California, had become heavily involved, in secretly 
aiding the forces under Castro to arm themselves. But about twelve miles north 
of San Jose there suddenly appeared in front of Micheltorena's advancing columns 
a little band of brave men, the irrepressible foreigner, that caused them to 
halt in their march. The circumstances that led to this obstruction of the 
governor's line of progress, and the results that were caused by it, were 
related to us by Capt. C. M. Weber, who commanded that little company of brave 
men, who, with arms, demanded that the advancing army pass around and not 
through San Jose. Those circumstances were embodied in the history of San 
Joaquin county, written by us in 1878, and from that work we copy the following 
: -- 
      "The captain (Weber) was in business at the pueblo of San Jose when the 
war broke out, and was acquainted with, and personally friendly with 
Michel-torena and Castro. He had a very large stock of goods in the place, and 
was anxious on account of it. He knew that the soldiers under Micheltorena were 
mostly convicts, turned loose from the prisons in Mexico, and were dependent 
upon the meagre revenue derived from forced loans and plunder for their pay. His 
goods would be a rich prize, and if they once entered San Jose they would be 
sure to help themselves to what he had; consequently all his interests were 
opposed to the occupation of the town by such a body of men. As Micheltorena 
advanced, Jose Castro became alarmed, and, leaving the village to its fate, 
retreated up the valley towards Oakland with his forces; thereupon Captain Weber 
addressed a communication to the commander of the advancing forces, stating that 
Castro had left there, and asking him if he would not pass to one side of the 
pueblo, and not enter it with his troops. Micheltorena replied that the found it 
necessary to pass through San Jose in pursuit of Castro. In the meantime, the 
captain received prompt information to the effect that the governor had lost 
control of his soldiers, who insisted on entering the village for plunder, 
whereupon he caused the tocsin of war to be sounded through the streets. The 
people assembled and the captain presented the position of affairs, and told 
them that he believed with a force composed of citizens and foreigners in the 
place the advancing army could be checked, and forced to take a different route 
in their line of march after Castro. A company was immediately formed, placed 
under his command, and moved out to meet the enemy - a handful against a host. 
He sent a courier in advance of Micheltorena, advising him of what he was doing, 
and that it was done, not in a spirit of opposition to him personally or the 
cause he represented, but with a determination to protect their homes from 
plunder. The forces met some twelve miles out from the village, and for several 
days the entire army, numbering several hundred, was held in check by this 
little band of daring men under Captain Weber. Castro, hearing of the fact, 
became ashamed of himself, turned back from his retreat, joined the captain with 
his forces, took command of the army, and forced Micheltorena to surrender, and, 
finally, to agree to leave California and return to Mexico. 
      Micheltorena immediately withdrew with his forces to Monterey, as Castro 
supposed, to embark for Mexico, according to the armistice. This was not, 
however, a part of the governor's plan. He had sent post to Sutter, at the fort 
on the northern frontier, offering him, as an inducement to come with a force to 
his assistance, to confirm all the grants of land that Sutter, as a justice, had 
recommended. Immediately the captain set on foot active operations to raise a 
battalion to march to the governor's relief, not knowing at the time that many 
of the foreign population were in active co-operation with Castro and the native 
Californians. 
      Capt. C. M. Weber, supposing that the war had ended, made a visit to Yerba 
Buena (now San Francisco) and while there learned that some families had come 
from over the plains to Sutter's Fort, among whom were young ladies; and said 
the Captain, "I become possessed of a desire to look upon the face of a lady 
fresh from civilization." Accordingly, accompanied by a friend, he visited the 
fort, and there saw for the first time the woman who became his wife. She was a 
sister of the Murfys of San Jose. He found a very unexpected state of things 
existing on the frontier. Everybody was in active preparation for a renewal of 
hostilities; and instead of being received as a friend, but he found himself 
viewed with mistrust that culminated in his being placed under arrest. 
       A council of war was called, and supposing that he had come among them as 
a spy in the interest of Castro, they signed the following document as the 
result of their deliberations : - 
  
We the subscribers, chosen as a council of war, have unanimously 
resolved the following: 
  
1st. That Mr. Weber be put in irons, and detained in the fort (New Helvetia) 
until such time as we may receive orders from his excellency the governor 
(Micheltorena) as regards his disposal. 

2nd. That Mr. Pearson B. Reading be requested to keep Mr. Weber in a 
convenient room, and afford him such necessaries as circumstances may 
admit of and his safe detention may require. 
                                                                                 
		J. A. Sutter. 
                                                                                 
		John Townsend, 
                                                                                 
		Wm. Dicke, 
                                                                                 
		Isaac Graham, 
                                                                                 
		Edward McIntosh, 
                                                                                 
		Jasper O'Farrell, 
                                                                                 
		S. J. Hensley. 


J. BIDWELL, Secretary. 
  
  
         For thirty-three years this document, in which the founder of 
Sacramento orders the founder of Stockton put in irons, has been kept by the 
latter, almost forgotten, among his choice papers, and was, with others, kindly 
photographed for us in 1878, by his orders. The personal feeling existing at 
that time between these two men was friendly; but Sutter, as well as the others, 
feared to risk the possible result of turning loose so formidable an opponent as 
Mr. Weber had proved that he could be, if he felt so disposed. 
      Lieut. David T. Bird, who later was for many years a resident of Yolo 
county, accompanied Captain Sutter on the expedition, and remained with him 
until his return to the fort. To the lieutenant, also to J. Alexander Forbes, 
who was a strong supporter of Castro and a friend of the captain, we are 
indebted for many of the facts incident to the campaign that resulted in the 
surrender of Micheltorena at San Fernando. It was in January, 1845, that the 
force, under command of Capt. John A. Sutter, took up its line of march to join 
the Mexican governor at Monterey. The command consisted of about one hundred and 
fifty Indians, armed with muskets, under the leadership of Raphero, a Mokelko 
chief, and some sixty frontiersman, armed with hunting rifles, commanded by 
Captain Gant. There were no lieutenants or sub-officers, Sutter and Gant being 
the only ones having any authority among the whites. There was one brass field 
piece, mounted on trucks, taken along that was not brought back. 
       There were but three persons from the west side of the Sacramento river - 
Wm. Knight, D. T. Bird and Granville Swift - who accompanied the expedition. As 
the little army moved south, it camped at the place where Stockton now stands, 
one night, and Thomas Lindsay, the only inhabitant of that place, joined them, 
and Stockton was left depopulated. At that time Lindsay's tule house and the 
cabin of a man named Sheldin, on the Consumnes river above the Spanish trail, 
were the only habitations between Sutter's fort and the residence of Dr. Marsh, 
at the base of Mount Diablo. Poor Lindsay! he returned a few weeks later from 
San Fernando, and was murdered at Stockton by the Polo Indians, within a few 
days after his arrival. The expedition camped one night at the ranch of Dr. 
Marsh, whose sympathies were with Castro, and who believed that the prosperity 
of California demanded the expulsion of Micheltorena; yet he considered the true 
policy of foreigners to be that of non-intervention, and for them to join either 
party was contrary to the best interests of the majority, and might prove fatal 
to many who were isolated or scattered over the territory. The doctor, however, 
accompanied Sutter south as an interpreter. 
       It was when camped at Dr. Marsh's ranch that Sutter first learned the 
true state of the conflict. J. Alexander Forbes, who, on July 15, 1843, had been 
appointed English consul, and at the time was, in connection with W. G. Ray, 
agent for the Hudson Bay Company, riding with great dispatch from San Francisco, 
met the captain at that point, and in vain sought to dissuade him from joining 
the Mexicans at Monterey. Forbes informed him of the extent of the general 
insurrection, and told him that if he persisted it would only result in disaster 
to himself and friends, and array the foreign element in hostility to itself, as 
a large number of English, American, Scotch, and immigrants of every nation, 
were centering at Los Angeles to assist Castro. The reply of the captain was 
that he had gone too far, and could not turn back without dishonor to himself, 
but from that time forward a shadow rested upon his command. The men had come to 
suspect that there was something of which they were left uninformed that 
materially concerned them. 
       The junction of the Micheltorena and Sutter forces took place on the 
Salinas plains, a short distance out from Monterey, the latter being received 
with military honors, with banners waving, bands playing, and salvos of 
artillery. The governor was now sanguine of success, and he had cause to be, for 
the two hundred men that Sutter had added to the command included Raphero, the 
ablest chief then living among the northern tribes, and Jose Jesus, the chief of 
the Si-yak-um-nas, whose name had become a household terror among the native 
Californians. These chiefs, at the head of one hundred and fifty of their 
warriors, armed, not with bows and arrows, but with muskets, all nursing a 
hatred born of old grievances that had for a lifetime rankled  in their bosoms 
against those they were going out to fight, made valuable allies and formidable 
foes. The white men who accompanied them included Isaac Graham among their 
number, the man whom Castro had taken to San Blas in irons, and whose company of 
rifles had overthrown one California governor. Those sixty men were all brave, 
reckless frontiersmen, who followed the unfortunate Sutter, and were a host 
within themselves, But - "when Greeks joined Greeks then was the tug of war" - 
Castro had a similar force assembling at Los Angeles, under the brave McKinley, 
to assist him. 
     The next day after the reception, Micheltorena moved north, Castro falling 
back before his advance, towards Los Angeles. The following is an extract from a 
letter written to us from Oakland, California, in May, 1880, by Hon. J. Alex. 
Forbes, in response to inquiries regarding the movements of General Castro 
during that campaign : - 
     "The forces under General Micheltorena were at San Buenaventura, and 
Castro, with the force of Californians, at a narrow pass eight leagues beyond. 
On the morning of February 15, Castro's rear-guard fell suddenly upon 
Micheltorena's advance, consisting of fourteen Americans, made prisoners of all 
of them, without firing a shot, and conducted them to the field where Castro had 
halted his force. After making a speech to them, he supplied them with 
provisions and money, and requesting them to see their countrymen in Los 
Angeles, he told them they were all equally interested in expelling the wretched 
Mexicans from California, and, taking kindly leave of them, sent them back to 
Sutter, to whom this politic move was the second cause of sorrow. I have 
mentioned the first to you. [Mr. Forbes here refers to the interview between 
himself and Sutter, at Dr. Marsh's ranch, when the captain first learned that he 
would have to meet in the field of friends, the foreigners, unless he turned 
back.] The forces of Micheltorena continued their march, ostensibly in pursuit 
of Castro, who soon reached Los Angeles, where he was reinforced by the native 
Californians and Americans, under a Scotchman named Jos. McKinley. Meantime the 
forces of Micheltorena reached the plain of San Fernando. The reinforced party 
of Castro took up a favorable position on the field, the Americans, under 
McKinley, in a ditch, forming natural rifle-pits, and the mounted Californians 
on the flank of the Mexican forces. Wild firing began by the latter, with grape 
and canister, without effect, and soon the rifle-shots from McKinley's men began 
to tell upon the Mexican artillerymen, but not a shot was fired against Sutter's 
men. McKinley had staked his all on the issue, having delivered his store of 
goods of all kinds, worth more than $5,000, to the California party gratis, and 
now he had come on that field to offer his life in their cause. The Americans, 
under Sutter, were advantageously posted regarding the position of their 
countrymen in the California party, excepting the protection afforded the latter 
by the ditch. The Mexican infantry kept up a fire of musketry at McKinley's 
party, and he, impatient of delay, desiring to speak to many of his friends in 
Sutter's party, left his own men, and, rushing out on the plain, with his rifle 
in one hand and waving his hat with the other, passed at a run, under a storm of 
musket-balls from the Mexican infantry, and, unhurt, was received by his friends 
in Sutter's party, where his cogent arguments soon caused their defection from 
the Mexican cause, and the result was the capitulation, of which you have the 
copy translation." 
      The withdrawal of Sutter's command, which moved up the valley to the 
mission of San Gabriel, caused a surrender of the Mexican forces, and two days 
after the capitulation they embarked for Monterey, at San Pedro, and from 
Monterey they sailed without delay for Mexico. The following are the articles 
approved by the two generals at the time of the surrender. They are an anomaly. 
The defeated commander, in the first article, attempts an implied excuse for not 
doing as he had promised when he surrendered near San Jose, the last of the same 
article being an excuse to his home government for his failure to sustain their 
authority in the territory; and then the surrendering officer  promotes the man 
who has defeated him to the rank of general. It will be observed, also, that the 
word citizen is used; and thus Sutter's command, being foreigners, were not 
included among those who were to have their "lives and property guaranteed," 
provided they desired to remain in the territory. To close the comedy of 
absurdities, they add, as an afterthought, that the conquered is to march off 
like a conqueror; and the victorious army, with arms, banners and drums, are to 
enact the farce of pretending to honor those who have been defeated and driven 
out of the territory without starting a graveyard. 
  
Capitulation of General Micheltorena, on the Field of San Fernando, February 23, 
1845. 
                                               [Translation] 
  
Agreement made on the field of San Fernando between Don Manuel Micheltorena, 
General of Brigade and Commander-in-chief of this Department, and Don Jose 
Castro, Lieutenant-colonel of the Forces Opposed to the Troops of General 
Micheltorena. 
  
            ARTICLE 1. Whereas, no decision of the Central government of Mexico 
has been received in reply to the permission solicited by General Micheltorena, 
through his Brigade Major, Don Raphael Telles, for the withdrawal of the general 
and his troops from this department for the purpose of returning to the interior 
of the republic. Wherefore, and in consequence of the present united armed 
opposition of the inhabitants of California to the said troops, against which 
hostile movements the general, with his small force and scarcity of resources, 
can no longer contend, he agrees to march forthwith to San Pedro, accompanied by 
his soldiers, where Colonel Castro will provide a vessel, duly victualed, for 
transporting the general and his troops to Monterey. 
           ARTICLE 2. The soldiers who may desire (voluntarily) to remain in 
California, shall, on their arrival at San Pedro, deliver up their arms to the 
officer of their escort, and remain as citizens, under the protection of the 
existing authorities. 
          ARTICLE 3. The soldiers who may choose to follow General Micheltorena 
shall embark with him at San Pedro, carrying their arms with them; and on the 
arrival of the transport at Monterey the Mexican soldiers that now occupy that 
post shall embark thereon, also with their arms; and in case of insufficiency of 
room for all of said soldiers in one vessel, another shall be provided for them, 
and the said vessel or vessels shall sail for any Mexican port the general may 
choose to direct. 
          ARTICLE 4. The officers who may choose to remain in California shall 
be respected in their rank as officers of the Mexican army; their lives and 
property shall be guaranteed, and their salaries shall be paid from the 
department treasury. 
         ARTICLE 5. The same privileges shall be enjoyed by all the citizens 
who, in the present difficulties, have given aid to General Micheltorena. 
         ARTICLE 6. All the arms, ammunition and warlike implements actually 
existing in the armory of Monterey shall be delivered to the commander, Castro, 
of the opposing forces, in order that with them he may defend the entire 
department and the national independence, encharged by Micheltorena. 
         ARTICLE 7. That henceforward the civil government of this department 
shall be vested in the presiding member of the assembly, as ordered by that 
corporation, according to law, for which object General Micheltorena will 
deliver a circular order to the chief of the opposing forces for immediate 
publication through-out the department. 
        ARTICLE 8. In like manner, General Micheltorena will issue another 
order, that Don Jose Castro, lieutenant-colonel of the army, be duly 
acknowledged as the commanding general of this department. 
        The commissioners appointed on said field for submitting these 
stipulations to the respective chiefs for their approbation or rejection, were, 
on the part of General Micheltorena, Don Felix Valdaz, battalion commander, and 
Don Jose Antonio Carrillo and Lieutenant Don Manuel Castro. 
        On the field of San Fernando, February 22, 1845. 

Signed,Felix VALDAZ, 
       Jose Maria CASTANARES. 
  
Approved,                  
	MICHELTORENA. 
  
Signed,
	Jose Antonio CARRILLO, 
	Manuel CASTRO. 
  
Approved,                 
	CASTRO. 
  
  
         ADDITIONAL ARTICLE. - The division of General Micheltorena will march 
with all the honors of war, their flags flying, drums and trumpets sounding, 
two-field pieces, six-pounders, and one four-pounder culverin, with matches 
lighted, and will be saluted by the opposing forces under the Lieutenant-Colonel 
Don Jose Castro, with colors flying and drums beating. And on the arrival of 
General Micheltorena at San Pedro, the said three-pieces, with all their 
caissons and ammunition, shall be delivered to the officer encharged by Colonel 
Castro to receive them. 
  
                                                                    Signed,      
                         MICHELTORENA, 
                                                                                 
                             CASTRO. 
  
          I hereby certify that the preceding is a correct translation made by 
me of a certified copy of the original.                                          
                                                     J. Alex. FORBES 
  
  
      Captain Sutter remained at the mission of San Gabriel about one week, and 
during that time most of Captain Grant's men left him, only about twenty 
remaining. Lieutenant Bird says: - "Captain Sutter's forces did not surrender to 
General Castro, neither did the captain, but they simply drew out." Their line 
of march home was through the San Joaquin valley, leaving Tulare lake to the 
west as they moved northward, and learning that Thomas Lindsay had been killed 
by the Indians, as they passed where Stockton now is. The command reached the 
fort and disbanded. Thus ended the hostile movements that had resulted in the 
expulsion of Micheltorena. The territorial deputation declared Pio Pico 
governor, and when he ceased to hold that position California had become a part 
of the United States. The following are the names of the governors of California 
from the time she ceased being a province of Spain until she became a territory 
of the United States, a period of twenty-six years: - 


Pablo Vicente de Sola 1822-1823
Luis Arguello         1823-1825
Jose Maria Echeandia  1825-1831
Manuel Victoria       1831-1832
Pio Pico              1832-1833
Jose Figueroa         1833-1835
Jose Castro           1835-1836
Nicholas Gutierrez    1836
Mariano Chico         1836
Nicholas Gutierrez    1836-1842
Juan B. Alvarado      1842-1845
Pio Pico              1845-1846