San Diego County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter V In The Mexican War 1922
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Book Title: City Of San Diego And San Diego County

CHAPTER V
IN THE MEXICAN WAR

    Viewed in the light of modern warfare, with its powerful guns, torpedoes,
its gas, its tremendous naval and military equipments and its great sea and land
forces, San Diego's part in the Mexican war now seems to have been a puny
affair. It doubtless was serious enough for those who had part in it in this
section. Yet even they lived in an atmosphere strikingly different from that of
the present day San Diegan. The romanticism and chivalrous nature of the Spanish
families of California gave to the picture a tone all its own. For San Diego was
never wholly Mexican, even when Mexico ruled, and this distinction became more
apparent when the course of the United States seemed bound to triumph in the
fight against the new and politically unsettled republic below the Rio Grande.
Then, too, Americans had begun to settle in this section and to marry into the
families they found here. Some of these had become Mexican citizens, and their
Spanish wives were loyal to their husbands. Some of the best known Spanish
families indeed sided with the Americans as soon as the war started. Such were
the Bandinis and Arguellos. When the war actually came to San Diego it came in a
softened fashion, bringing days more filled with apprehension than carnage,
episodes more dramatic than important from a military viewpoint.

    So it was when Captain Samuel F. Dupont sailed into San Diego harbor on July
29, 1846, in the sloop Cyane, bringing John C. Fremont and his band of eighty,
about as many marines and a party of scouts headed by the redoubtable Kit Carson
of "the terrible eye." All formed the "California Battalion." Fremont wasted no
time in hoisting the American flag at Old Town and in leaving a marine guard
there to see that it stayed at the top of the staff, floating over the
southernmost settlement in California. Apparently Fremont feared little trouble
here: certainly he did not experience much. The Cyane remained here until August
9, and having left the troops ashore, beat out to sea again. Fremont's plan was
to use San Diego as a base for a movement upon Los Angeles, then an important
point, so as soon as he could prepare for the march north, he left, departing
the day before the Cyane sailed out. Only a small garrison was left at San
Diego. Near Los Angeles Fremont joined forces with Commodore Robert F. Stockton,
and they seized that city. The Californians in that section, however, soon
organized a force formidable in numbers, took Los Angeles back again and
determined on an attempt to wrest San Diego from the Americans. The garrison at
San Diego had been cut down to a very small number of men, and the defenders,
hearing that the Californians were coming in force, decided on a retreat. So
aboard the whaler Stonington, then in the harbor, they went, taking with them
their sympathizers and their families. The next morning the Mexicans had raised
their flag at Old Town. American reinforcements were called from Los Angeles by
boat, and a member of the American party, who was sent ashore, got to the old
cannon on Presidio Hill and spiked them. Then the Americans landed, taking two
cannon, and marched on the town. It was then time for the Mexicans to absent
themselves, and after making a nice picture of battle array, they departed. The
Mexican flag was then hauled down and replaced with the Stars and Stripes. The
honor of raising the American colors was given, so tradition has it, to Albert
B. Smith, to whose able hands had been entrusted the task of spiking the Mexican
guns. A girl, Maria Antonia Machado, kept the Mexican flag from falling to the
dust and carried it off loyally and lovingly.

    Thereafter San Diego was American territory, although it was besieged with a
fair degree of success by the Mexicans, whose course of action compelled
Stockton to come here and start a vigorous cleaning up of the territory around
San Diego. In this task the Spanish fighters who had joined the Americans did
valiant service, Captain Santiago Arguello and Captain Miguel de Pedrorena
taking their men in a brave assault on the Mexican trenches wherein was a cannon
with which they were peppering the Americans. The assault was a dashing exploit
and was successful, the gun being captured and the Mexicans being driven away.
Stockton then built a strong fort which has borne his name ever since and whose
earthworks have lasted through many years. Also he brought together a force of
considerable size and drilled his men with great care for a new movement upon
Los Angeles. San Diego thus acquired real military importance. With it came a
social importance, for the American officers were glad of a chance to
participate in social activity, and their feelings were well matched by those of
the Spanish residents. Commodore Stockton at this time made his headquarters in
the Bandini residence at the request of its illustrious owner, and there were
many gay dances and parties in the little town. For the Spanish loved this kind
of life and welcomed men who fitted into it. Meanwhile the Mexicans, now under
Gen. Andres Pico, were in the vicinity of San Bernardo and about eighty strong.
Such was the situation when Commodore Stockton heard of the unexpected approach
of Gen. Stephen Watts Kearney and his little army, marching from the East.  
That brings the story to the battle of San Pasqual.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

CITY OF SAN DIEGO AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY

THE BIRTHPLACE OF CALIFORNIA
BY
CLARENCE ALAN McGREW
SAN DIEGO

Assisted by a Board of Advisory and Contributing Editors

WITH SELECTED BIOGRAPHY OF ACTORS AND WITNESSES IN THE PERIOD OF THE CITY AND
COUNTY'S GREATEST GROWTH AND ACHIEVEMENT

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED

THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 
1922

Copyright 1922 
The American Historical Society


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