1908a Andres Pico, p75

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[p. 75 Gen. Andres Pico1908e, p. 75]

     Gen. Pico, on assuming command, appointed Francisco Rico and Francisco de la Guerra to go with Jesus Pico and confer with Col. Fremont. Fremont appointed as commissioners to negotiate a treaty, Major P.B. Reading, Major W.H. Russell and Captain Louis McLane. On the return of Rico and de la Guerra to the California camp, Gen. Pico appointed as commissioners José Antonio Carrillo and Augustin Olvera and then moved his army to a point near the river at Cahuenga. On the 13th, Fremont moved his camp from San Fernando to Cahuenga. The commissioners met in a deserted ranch house at that place and the treaty, or capitulation, of Cahuenga was drawn up and signed. The principal stipulations of the treaty were that the Californians should surrender their arms and agree to conform to the laws of the United States. They were to be given the same privileges as citizens of the United States and were not to be required to take an oath of allegiance until a treaty of peace was signed between the United States and Mexico. General Pico surrendered two pieces of artillery and a few muskets and disbanded his men.

     On Jaunuary 14th, Fremont's battalion marched through the Cahuenga pass and entered Los Angeles, four days after its surrender to Stockton. Commodore Stockton approved the treaty, although it was not altogether satisfactory to him, and on the 16th he appointed Col. Fremont governor of the territory. Gen. Kearney claimed that under his instructions from the War Department, he should be recognized as governor. For some time there had been ill feeling between Stockton and Kearney. This precipitated a quarrel. Gen. Kearney and his dragoons left Los Angles on the 18th for San Diego and on the 20th Commodore Stockton and his sailors and marines left the city for San Pedro, where they embarked on a man-of-war to rejoin their ships at San Diego. Stockton was shortly after this superseded in the command of the Pacific squadron by [p. 76] Commodore Shubrick. Col. Fremont was left in command at Los Angeles. Col. P. St. Geroge Cooke arrived on January 27th, with his Mormon battalion, at San Luis Rey. This force consisted of five companies of Mormons who, after a long march by way of New Mexico and Arizona had reached California too late to assist in its conquest. From San Diego, Gen. Kearney sailed to San Francisco and from there went to Monterey, where he established his governorship. California now had a governor in the north and one in the south. Col. Cooke was appointed military commander of the south and brought his Mormon troops to Los Angeles. Fremont's battlalion was mustered out and he was ordered to report to Gen. Kearney at Monterey. He did so and passed out of office after a nominal service of two months. Gen. Kearney tuned over the command of the troops in California to Col. R.B. Mason, who became military governor of the territory.

     The First New York Infantry had been recruited in Eastern New York in the summer of 1846 for the double purpose of conquest and colonization. It came to the coast well supplied with provisions and with implements of husbandry. On its arrival November 6th, 1847, the regiment was divided up and sent to different places on guard duty. Two companies, A. and B,, under Lieut.-Col. Burton, were sent to Lower California, where they saw some hard service and took part in several engagements. Col. Cooke resigned his position as commandant of the south and Col. J.D. Stevenson of the New York Volunteers was assigned to the command. The Morman battalion was mustered out in July and Companies E. and G. of the New York Volunteers and a company of United States dragoons did guard duty at Los Angeles. Another military organization that reached California after the conquest was Company F of the Third United States Artillery. It landed at Monterey, January 27th, 1847, under command of Captain C.Q. Thompkins. With it came Lieut. E.G.C. Ord, William T. Sherman and H.W. Halleck, all of whom were prominent afterward in California and attained national reputation during the civil war.

     During 1847-48 until the treaty of peace between the United States and Mexico was proclaimed, garrisons were kept in all of the principal towns and the government of the territory was quasi-military. Attempts were made to establish municipal governments in the towns, which were successful in the north; but in Los Angeles there were some clashing between Col. Stevenson and the "hijo del pais." There were rumors of uprisings and of Mexican troops on the way to recapture the place. Col. Stevenson completed the fort on the hill, begun by Lieut. Emory, and named it Fort Moore. There were no hostile acts by the citizens and the asperities of war were soon forgotten, as the natives became reconciled to the situation.

     The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was concluded on February 2nd, 1848. It was ratified at Washington March 10th; at Querataro May 30th, and was proclaimed by the President of the United States July 4th. The news reached Cali- [p. 77] fornia August 6th and was proclaimed next day by Gov. Mason. The war was over and California had now become a territory of the United States. Gov. Pio Pico returned to California from Mexico in August, 1847. Col. Stevenson, fearing that he might incite rebellion, placed him under arrest, but he was soon convinced that Pico's intentions were harmless and gave him his liberty.

     A large overland immigration from the United States arrived in California in 1846 and 1847. The Donner party, made up principally of immigrants from Illinois were caught in the snows of the Sierra Nevada in October, 1848, and wintered at a lake since known as Donner's Lake. Of the original party, numbering eighty-seven, thirty-nine perished of starvation and exposure; the remainder were brought to Sutter's Fort by rescuing parties sent out from California.

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 Kelyn Roberts 2017