Santa Barbara-Ventura-San Luis Obispo County CA Archives History - Books .....An Invasion 1891
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Book Title: A Memorial And Biographical History Of The Counties Of Santa Barbara, Ventura, And San Luis Obispo

AN INVASION.

  On October 6, 1818, the American brig Clarion brought to Santa Barbara the
news that there were being fitted out at the Sandwich Islands two privateers,
carrying collectively fifty-four guns and 250 men whose purpose was to make a
cruise on this coast. Commandant Guerra at once despatched messengers at all
speed to Governor Sola at Monterey, and to the friars of the southern missions.
Sola at once issued orders that all church vessels, ornaments, and other
articles of intrinsic value, should be packed up and sent to points of safety
inland; the women and children made ready to retire thither also; provisions and
ammunition prepared for attack; live-stock driven inland; soldiers and settlers
summoned for defense at their respective presidios, as well as the native
archers; sentinels and couriers stationed at convenient points; and, in fact,
every preparation made for resistance, at the same time that all precautions
must be taken to prevent the expected vessels from effecting a landing upon any
pretense. The missionaries, too, were officially notified of the expected
attack, and earnestly recommended to co-operate with the commandants.

  Taken all these prudent measures nearly two months elapsed without sign of
hostile approach, and Sola ordered the civilians dismissed to the attention of
their own affairs. Guerra and some others considered this relaxation premature,
in which the events sustained them; for on November 20, the dreaded vessels were
descried approaching Monterey. The account of the ravages there committed by
their crews is not strictly germane to the subject of these pages. Suffice it to
say that, after destroying all they could in that quarter, and losing three of
their men—one an American—as prisoners, the two ships came southward, the news
being brought by a returning corporal and six men whom the prudent Guerra had
sent up to re-enforce Monterey. The marauders landed at the Rancho Refugio of
the Ortegas on December 2, the family having abandoned the place on their
approach. Here they killed cattle, and plundered and fired the buildings, while
they were watched by Spaniards assembled at Santa Ynes, who captured, from an
ambush three of the "pirates." Sailing hence the two ships anchored at Santa
Barbara on December 6, and Bouchard, the commander, sent ashore with a flag of
truce a letter to the commandant, promising to leave the coast without further
hostilities after an exchange of prisoners. Guerra replied, avowing his positive
yearning to fight, but consenting to consider the other's proposition, "from
feelings of humanity," and to forward the letter to the governor. Further
urgency from Bouchard impelled Guerra to consent to an immediate exchange, but,
on coming to the point, he found that but one prisoner was offered for three. To
Guerra's indignation on this score, Bouchard averred that he had but one
captive, and this one, when delivered over for Bouchard's three useful men,
proved to be a drunken vagabond named Molina, who had stumbled into the arms of
the invaders while they were at Monterey, and who was a nuisance to the
community! Besides his chagrin at this victimizing of the wily Bouchard, poor,
plucky, sincere Guerra had to bear the blunt of Sola's reproaches for consenting
to terms with the cheating rascals. Perhaps the worst of the matter, however,
after all, touched Molina, for he was sentenced to six years in the chain gang,
after 100 blows on his bare back. Bouchard, after some lingering, finally
disappeared on December 12 from Santa Barbara, and the troops at this point were
then hurried southward, to assist in the defense of San Diego and the other
southernmost missions, and Guerra himself followed.

  This invasion was the principal event of the decade. In April, 1820, there
were rumors of the arrival of four insurgent vessels from Chili, and orders for
protectionary measures were again issued, but these fears proved unfounded.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY 
OF THE COUNTIES OF
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California

Illustrated

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Prospective Future; with Profuse illustrations of its Beautiful Scenery,
Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and
Biographical Mention of  many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of
to-day,

BY MRS. YDA ADDIS STORKE.

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

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1891.

Barlow-Sinclair Printing Co., Chicago.


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