072: The Revolt of Los Angeles: Tales of Mexican California Part 3

Join me for another excerpt from Antonio Franco Coronel's memoirs, Tales of Mexican California. 

In this episode, we hear about the events of 1846, when the US military began its invasion and occupation of California. Coronel recounts Marine Captain Gillespie's heavy-handed rule in Los Angeles, local reactions to U.S. occupation, and the events leading to the (likely avoidable) revolt of the Pueblo of Los Angeles' residents against Gillespie and the U.S. occupiers. 

Antonio Coronel's account provides rich, firsthand insights into California's complex history during the Mexican-American War.

00:00 Introduction to Antonio Franco Cordone's Memoirs
01:10 Context of the Mexican-American War
03:41 Captain Gillespie's Oppressive Rule
07:50 The Revolt Against Gillespie
15:35 The Siege and Surrender of Gillespie
26:13 Conclusion and Reflections

Transcript

Damian Bacich's video recording-1 0:05

Today I am going to read another excerpt from The Tales of Mexican, California, the memoirs of Antonio Franco Cordone. The addition of the memoirs that I'm reading, and I don't think I mentioned this last time, is edited by Dets Nunes, translated by Diane Dee and published by Han Books in 1994. Um, I think it's important to credit the people who worked hard on this. Now, Antonio Cordell was a witness to many events in California in the 1830s and forties, and he came to California as a young man in 1834 and throughout the 19th century was well known for his love and. Trying to why and trying to spread the traditions of Hispanic, California. You can hear, the previous episodes in this podcast and, uh, I'll keep reading over the next few weeks some more excerpts from his memoirs. Now, when we pick up with Antonio today, we are in 1846 and the US military has. Begun to invade and occupy California. If you'd like an overview of the Mexican American War and its effect on California, I recommend you go back and listen to episode 48 of this podcast in which I talk about the war and how it played out in California. If you want an overview of the Bear Flag Revolt, which was sort of the event that kicked everything off in California, you can go to episode 43. And there I discuss, I give a, a good overview of the Bear Flag Revolt and what happened there. Now in this episode, we're gonna hear about a Captain Gillespie. He was Marine Captain Archibald Gillespie, who served as the right hand man of John c Fremont of the US Army, who helped take over California. I also talk about Fremont in those previous episodes, so you might want to go back and listen to them if you're not fully informed about the story of the Mexican American War in California. Now, as you may recall in the last episode of these excerpts from Antonio Al's Memoirs, we talked about an uprising by local Californias against the last governor who was sent by Mexico to rule over California. A man named Manuel Michel Tona. That revolt was successful and Michel Torina was forced to leave the territory. In 1845, the man who took over was PO Pico, who effectively became the last Mexican governor or the last governor of Mexican, California. PO Pico was in office for a little over a year, and when we pick up the story here, Pico has fled to Mexico via Baja, California, and US forces are occupying the Pueblo of Los Angeles. Here, Coronel is going to talk about some of the resistance that took place to us. Occupation. As always, Antonio Cordell recounts these episodes with a dose of humor and irony. Even if the events that he talks about in themselves are very serious. So Antonio Cota now, if I remember correctly. Fremont arrived first with nearly 200 Riflemen and Indians shortly after Commodore Stockton came with a small force that had landed at San Pedro on August 7th. The occupation of Los Angeles took place on the 15th of that month. Now remember this is 1846. The Commodore declared a state of siege and put us under Marshall Law. With a series of edicts, we were to obey Stockton and Fremont converged in Los Angeles for a brief period at the end of which Stockton went on to Harry the rest of the coast, and Fremont threw himself into the diversions of the country. He got to know everyone and a certain, and to a certain extent, adopted the California way of life. He dressed as a ranchero, rode horseback with the Rancheros, and became such good friends with the Californians that even the women of the towns treated him with familiarity. He did not neglect relations with the families that consider themselves superior, but many of those were still fervent patriots. And not ready to be on such easy terms with the Americans. In my opinion, Fremont deliberately set out to win over the Californians and succeeded so well that many prominent men declared themselves in favor of the Americans. When he went north, he left a garrison of 40 or 50 men under Captain Gillespie, the district commander. Since Marshall Law was still in effect, Gillespie was effectively the governor. He kept the justices of the peace, but only to carry out the orders he gave them. Peace rained and no one dreamt of disturbing it. The country was entirely convinced that our fate depended on whatever the governments of Mexico and the United States might arrange. However, captain Gillespie did not fully understand this and dictated a number of very oppressive measures. For example, people could not walk together two by two down the street, nor gather together in their houses under any pretext shops. Had to close its sundown, so no liquor could be sold to anyone without his permission. He himself. Tried those accused of light offenses such as horse stealing or cattle rustling and passed sentence. According to his own whim, he imprisoned Don Francisco Rico on suspicion, leaving him incommunicado in a dark dungeon from the first Gillespie. Had every house. Searched and confiscated of all types of weapons. His oppressive rules made him as popular as a toothache with the Angelenos. One of those measures was the spark that touched off the revolt of Southern California against the Americans. Gillespie levied an arbitrary fine of 15 pesos on a man named Sérbulo Varela for breaking some rule. Varela fled rather than pay the fine. This was all the excuse Gillespie needed to intensify his tyranny. He began persecuting the principal citizens, many of whom took refuge on their ranches. Now, remember in Spanish and, and Mexican territories at the time, people would live in the city, but have ranches or. Plots of land outside of the city. So when he says they fled to their ranches, it means the people who normally were living in the pueblo in the city went out to the country and stayed there. Gillespie pursued Sebu Lo Barela with such a vengeance that Barela resolved to annoy the American troops. Various prominent persons tried to talk him out of it, pointing out the risk. Varela replied. That he would rather die than live as he was doing when he was least expected. He rose up with eight or 10 men, aga PTO Ramirez, a Mexican drummer boy and some others, and this was the 23rd of September of 1846. Varela took his band to Gillespie's headquarters where the hotel St. Charles is now. Between Maine and Los Angeles streets. It was an Adobe with a big walled corral behind it. The house fronted on Main Street and the corral coincided with what is now Los Angeles Street. Borella and his band attacked from this side. Some on horseback and others on foot. They banged on the door. I yelled Viva Mexico several times and beat the drum for a little while. There was no reaction. Then the American troops peered over the wall, which they used as cover and started firing on the assault party as it retreated. Aga Ramirez was wounded, I believe, in the foot. Gillespie, of course, mounted a defense and Varela retreated to the eastern outskirts of town. The next day, Gillespie began taking security measures. One of them was the arrest of influential people such as Captain, no, Jose. Maria Flores. Flores lived with a family north of the town. He was warned of the impending arrest. But not until the squad of Americans was on the way. The lady of the house seeing the danger hid Flores so ingeniously that the Americans thoroughly missed him. This is how she did it. She made him drape himself in a serape and get down on all fours, and she sat on him. When the Americans were gone, Florida's escaped on foot in the direction of the nearest fields. Soon he met a Californian who took him to safety riding double on his horse. This was the 24th of September. Gillespie continued to persecute anyone. He considered a suspicious character until all the Californians went to join Varela in his camp on top of the Paron Blanco. Now if you've listened to this podcast, you'll know that Para Blanco is what is today known as Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. So, um, there is a podcast episode where I talk about, where I read the memoirs of a man who grew up. In Los Angeles in Boyle Heights, near what is known as Para Blanco, and you can go back and listen to that one. All told there was some 300 men there or more. The next step was to organize them. Bar appointed several officers that same day of September 24th, including Captain Jose Maria Flores as commander in chief. I was one of those persecuted by Gillespie. I had already left town in view of the way matters were going and only visited my home at night. The last night I was there. My family warned me that Gillespie's Black servant boy had been by the house that afternoon and told my mother in the greatest secrecy that the order was out to arrest me that very night, as well as Leonardo Cota and some others. As soon as I heard this news, I got out a pair of pistols and a sword I had hidden and immediately mounted on my horse. I went to a farm, the one I still own and live on. When I was about two hours on my way at about 11:00 PM they entered and searched my parents' house. Shortly after my father sent me a note via our Indian cook, telling me what had occurred and warning me to be on my guard. I left my horse saddled and took other precautions. The next day, an Indian servant of mine came running to the farm with the news that armed Americans were on the next farm. I mounted and rode a short distance away where I could see the movements of the Americans. They went to the farmhouse, searched it in a couple of fields, not finding me. They crossed to Ignacio Machado's farm and searched the house there. Still not finding what they were looking for. They went back to town. The Californian army was organized although short of guns, and it was suggested to Gillespie that he turned over the town. But before that. We heard from RA Clara Reyes and her daughter Inno Reyes, that they had an old cannon made to fire stone shot buried on their farm. The gun was immediately recovered and mounted on the bed of a cart tied with raw hide thongs. A powder keg not very full, was also obtained at this time. Some cartridges were made for the little cannon and a few old cannon balls were collected around San Gabriel and other places. A powder keg not very full, was also obtained at this time. Some cartridges were made for the little cannon and a few old cannon balls were collected around San Gabriel and other places. What weapons we had besides the little cannon were a few pistols, lariats and knives, and an old Flintlock rifle or two Gillespie's answer was for us to disarm. If we didn't, he would be forced to act as the circumstances dictated three or four days passed in which we sent verbal messages back and forth. Gillespie meanwhile fortified the highest hill opposite the Pico house as well as his headquarters. And Alexander Bell's two story house on the corner of Los Angeles Street and Aliso, he covered the top story balconies with planks, made loopholes to fire through and left a small garrison there. During this period, we heard that a body of foreigners had been organized under Do Benito Wilson. It included John J. Warner, Julian Williams, the three Callahan brothers, David Alexander, uba, drew, I don't remember any more names, but there were no more than 40 men. In view of this news, Flores sent about 40 men under Ramon Carillo, Buela, and Diego Sepulveda to reinforce Jose De Carmen Lugo. He was watching the foreigners who were concentrated on the Rancho de Chino property of Julian Williams. Williams was Lugo's brother-in-law. And here he writes in parentheses, actually, I think his first name was Isaac, but he was known as Don Julian, and then he closes the parentheses. I found out from those who were present how Lugo and Rio's men surrounded the ranch and called on the enemy to surrender. Wilson, the leader said that he would only answer after lunch. But when the foreigners realized how serious their situation was, they shut the main door of the house and spread out to cover all the doors and windows. The house on the Rancho la Chino is on a flat constructed of Adobe and a tarred roof. It was built on a square and all the rooms had outside windows with iron grill work. The main door was closed and barred securely. There was a ditch around it and a fence made of sheets of tin lashed with raw hide. The Californians decided to set fire to the house on a mounted charge at the signal they all galloped up and threw a bundle of flaming grass wrapped in a sheet onto the roof. They then fell back against the walls to escape the shots from inside coming through the windows and doors, and at the same time preventing the defenders from getting out. Some shots were fired before the attack, however. One of them killed Sergeant Carlos by Ros. His horse jumped the fence, but fell at the ditch and the bullet from a front window hit him. The house was burning well, and the defenders realized that they had no time to lose. The owner, Julian Williams showed himself with his three young children crying out that they were California born. And that innocence shouldn't be sacrificed. The Californians outside yelled for them to surrender, which they did. Lugo took charge of his nephews, and the foreigners were taken prisoner and disarmed. Then the Californians themselves put out the fire. This happened on September 26th. The prisoners were conducted to Los Angeles where the other Californians were Haring Gillespie. They decided to assault the guard post and advance by a circular route with one of their artillery pieces, sorry, I meant to say, with their one artillery piece. Gillespie already knew about his friend's defeat at Rancho de Chino and could not hope for help to come quickly. He surrendered on September 30th, as I remember the terms called for him to retreat with his men to San Pedro, leaving his field artillery behind when he took ship. He also left the cannon mounted in the guard post, so accompanied by some of the long-term American residents. Gillespie formed up his garrison and marched to San Pedro where there happened to be a ship. He boarded it with his men. After spiking the guns he was supposed to hand over intact. During the period when Gillespie was besieged in Los Angeles. He had a herd of 80 or a hundred horses, which at night were kept in the patio of the house that served as his headquarters. By day they were taken to water at a nearby stream and fed stored hay and grain. Ramon Carillo and Ira, the blonde one, and maybe another man, decided to steal the horses at all times. One of them paraded the Mexican flag up and down. Exposing themselves to the enemy's fire from the guard post in spite of the risks they ran. Not one of them was wounded once when a few of the Americans were taking the horses out to water. Carillo Nira waited at a certain place in the de Los Negros when they saw the corral of headquarters open. They galloped out of their hiding place. Swinging Lariats and stampeded the herd. Many shots were fired, but luckily none hit them and they got away with most of the horses. A similar episode preceded this one. A dozen men on horseback came out of the headquarters with rifles across the saddle bows. They went south on Main Street, perhaps intending to OID at the ground. About a mile on, they came to a field of corn ready to harvest. In the middle of it were two young Californians eating watermelon. They were lookouts armed with old flintlock rifles for when the territory belonged to the King of Spain. Seeing the party of foreigners coming towards them, they decided to give them a good scare. The boys' names were Baldez and Ibarra. They threw away the watermelon and got ready. When the party was close enough, they shouted to arms boys. Since the corn was tall and dry and the boys galloped through the middle of it, I suppose the foreigners thought there must be a considerable force hidden in it. They ran like rabbits in complete disarray. The young Californians enthusiastically in pursuit. One of them tried to shoot a straggler he caught up with, but his shotgun misfired, so he clubbed the man with the stock and brought him down. The other youth tried to catch another, but all the Americans took refuge behind an adobe wall. They dismounted and fired a few shots. The first boy dismounted to look over the fallen man and to take his arms and possessions, but found himself under fire. He quickly remounted taking a revolver and a rifle, and both boys ran. The Americans came out and picked up their comrade. It was said afterwards that he died, but I don't know if that was true or not. However, from then on, the Americans didn't dare go out on horseback, so we'll stop there. In the coming weeks, I will probably read, as I mentioned, one or two more excerpts from Antonio Cord's Memoirs, which I think provides some very interesting background. To the first years, the early period of US rule in California. As always, as far as I'm concerned, understanding the past of the place you're in helps you to really live a fuller life in the present. So I hope you'll stick with us and, uh, continue on listening to more of these excerpts from documents about life in early California. Thanks.