San Benito County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter V Change Of Government 1893
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California.

CHAPTER V.
CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT.

THE quiet of San Juan Bautista Mission was disturbed by the events attending and
immediately succeeding the change from Mexican to United States rule. Shortly
after the raising of the American flag at Monterey, July 7, 1846, and at the
other important points a few days later, Castro, with such disaffected forces as
he could save from the general demoralization that began to set in, withdrew to
San Juan; but he did not remain there long as, on the 17th of July, Fremont and
his battalion arrived there from the north, and the same day Fauntleroy and a
squad of dragoons reached there, whereupon the American flag was raised, thus
completing the conquest of this portion of California.

  On the 19th, the battalion started for Monterey, leaving a small force at San
Juan. A little later Captain Fauntleroy with fifty men was sent from Monterey to
relieve the force left at San Juan by Fremont. While stationed there an
expedition was sent out against Indian horse-thieves, with whom it had a fight,
in which several Indians were killed and the horses stolen were recovered. In
October, Fauntleroy's men having been called elsewhere, a small force under
Maddox was sent to San Juan, where they spiked the iron cannon which had been
left there, and took away the brass cannon to keep them from falling into the
hands of the Californians.

  About the middle of November several recruiting parties for Fremont's
battalion arrived with men and horses at San Juan Bautista. Consul Larkin, while
on his way from Monterey to San Francisco, was captured at Gomez ranch, Los
Verjeles, where he stopped for the night, by a band of Castro's Californians led
by Chavez, and taken to Castro's camp, the object evidently being to use him as
an exchange for some of their own patroled men who had been captured. The
Californians entertained a plan of attacking San Juan, and they endeavored, but
of course to no avail, to get Larkin to aid them in the scheme. Their plan, it
would seem, contemplated a feigned attack on San Juan by a few men for the
purpose of drawing out the garrison in pursuit, which they then thought they
could overcome with their principal force. A severe fight ensued at the
Natividad ranch, in which several men were killed and more wounded on both
sides. In the meantime word was sent to Monterey, and Fremont immediately
hastened to the rescue; and the Californians having withdrawn, he gathered his
varones at San Juan, where the battalion's organization was completed and
preparations were made for a march south against the foe. The course taken was
up the San Benito and over into the Salinas valley, and thence to San Luis
Obispo, which latter place was captured without opposition.

  Here Jesus Pico, who had been captured at Wilson's ranch, was tried by court
martial for having broken his parole in the San Juan and Natividad campaign. He
was found guilty and sentenced to be shot. But the pathetic appeal of his wife
and fourteen children, and of many other women, her neighbors and of some of
Fremont's own officers who had been formerly befriended by Pico, caused Fremont
to relent and to grant him a pardon. Pico thereafter became the grateful and
sincere friend of the man who had thus saved his life. Pico died quite recently.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.

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