網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

To all whom it may concern:

All persons occupying any of the mission buildings at Santa Clara and San José without the permission of the Catholic priest, (Padre Real,) are hereby required to vacate immediately said buildings.

Ample and sufficient time has been afforded the occupants of the abovementioned mission buildings to seek other places of abode since the decree of General Kearny, concerning said missions, dated March 22, 1847. The alcalde at the Pueblo de San José will take measures—if rendered necessary by the said occupants continuing to remain in the mission. buildings-to carry the aforesaid decree of the 22d March into effect, as the latter clause thereof directs. If required, a military force will be sent to the pueblo to enforce the judicial acts of the alcalde.

Done at Monterey, the capital of California, this 24th day of June, 1847, and the 71st of the independence of the United States.

R. B. MASON,

Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California.

Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel 1st regiment dragoons United States army, and governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint Jasper O'Farrel an additional land surveyor for and in the northern department of Upper California.

Done at Monterey, the capital of California, this 6th day of July, 1847, and the 71st of the independence of the United States.

R. B. MASON,

Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, California, July 12, 1847. REVEREND SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters, both of the 14th June, together with their accompanying papers.

The account for loss of property at the missions of Santa Clara and San José I will lay before such commission as may be appointed by the United States government to adjudicate and pay off the various claims in California against the United States. I very much regret to learn that those missions have suffered so great a loss.

You having called my attention to the non-observance of General Kearny's decree of the 22d March, I had prepared instructions for Captain Nagle's command, which left here for Pueblo yesterday, to cause that decree to be enforced; but I changed those instructions in consequence of the understanding I had with you through Mr. Hartwell, the official interpreter.

I send you a copy of the instructions above mentioned as changed, by which you will see that if the occupants of the missions of Santa Clara and San José remain longer than is necessary to gather their crops, it must be by a special agreement with yourself.

I have duly considered your complaint against the alcalde at Pueblo de San José. I will instruct that officer not again to perform the marriage ceremony during the military occupation of California, where either party is a member of the Catholic church.

I am, sir, with high respect and esteem, your obedient servant,

R. B. MASON,

Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California.

To the Rev. Father JOSE MARIA DEL REAL,

now in Monterey, California.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, California, July 13, 1847.

SIR: I desire that, during the existing state of affairs in California, you will not perform the marriage ceremony in any case where either of the parties is a member of the Catholic church of this country.

I am induced to give these instructions from the fact that the United States government are exceedingly desirous, and indeed make it obligatory upon their authorities here, to secure to the Californians the full enjoyment of their religion and security in all their church and church. privileges.

As their canonical laws, and I believe their civil laws also, prohibit any but their own priests from uniting members of their church in marriage, it is not proper that we should break in upon those laws, or customs, as the case may be, and particularly as it is the wish of the President that when the country is subjected to our laws the people may be as favorably disposed towards our government as possible.

It is therefore good policy for us to abstain from doing anything that will have a tendency to give them offence in matters wherein it may be thought their religion or church privileges are encroached upon.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN BURTON, Esq.,

R. B. MASON,

Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California.

Alealde, Pueblo de San José.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, California, July 21, 1847.

SIR: I have this moment received the original of which the enclosed is a copy. Being almost in the act of sealing my package for the United States that an express is now ready to take to San Francisco, to put on board the Columbus, 1 have had but a few moments to converse with Mr. Sparks, the gentleman mentioned in Captain Lippett's letter. From what I can learn from him, the expected attack on Santa Barbara is confined mostly to the people of the town and its vicinity, and altogether owing to the lawless acts of violence committed upon the people by the New York volunteers at that post. The officers, he tells me, have no control over the men, now that Lieutenant Colonel Burton has sailed for

Lower California. I shall immediately proceed to Santa Barbara, and take the most prompt and decisive measures that circumstances may call for.

I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brigadier General R. JONES,

R. B. MASON,

Colonel 1st Dragoons, commanding.

Adjutant General U. S. A., Washington.

BARRACKS AT SANTA BARBARA, July 16, 1847.

SIR: I have the honor to state that, according to information derived from the most reliable sources, an attack will shortly be made by the Californians on this post.

If it is deemed proper to reinforce the post in consequence, I respectfully suggest that regulars only be sent, and that they be accompanied by a couple of field-pieces. Of regulars, one-half of a company would be amply sufficient.

The number of non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates for duty by this morning's report, is fifty.

We have no other ammunition than about 3,700 rounds of ball cartridge, (percussion.)

The bearer, Mr. Sparks, who has obligingly volunteered to convey this communication express, is a gentleman in whose statements the most implicit reliance may be placed, and in whom Lieutenant Colonel Burton instructed me to place peculiar confidence. I beg to refer you to him for further particulars, not detailed in this letter.

With the greatest respect, your obedient servant,

FRANCIS J. LIPPETT,

Capt. Comp'y F, 7th reg't N. Y. volunteers,

Lieut. W. T. SHERMAN,

Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

comd'g, Santa Barbara.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, September 18, 1847.

SIR: My last letter to you was addressed on the 21st of July last, when I was preparing to embark in the sloop of war Dale for Santa Barbara. I reached that place on the evening of the 25th July, and took quarters with Captain Lippett, in the same building with the garrison of the town. I remained there eight days, and became fully satisfied that there were no just grounds to apprehend a popular outbreak, and that if threats to that effect had been made, they were nothing more than the expression of the natural feelings resulting from the bad conduct of some of the men composing the garrison. These I caused to be tried by a general courtmartial or military commission, and to be punished as their cases merited. Since my return to Monterey, I have frequently heard from Santa Barbara, and have reason to believe my visit was of material service.

Colonel Stevenson, the commanding officer of Ciudad de los Angeles, met me at Santa Barbara, to consult upon the affairs of that section of California. He assured me that quiet and order prevailed, that all the natives seemed to be engaged in their customary pursuits, and that he asked no increase of force to maintain our supremacy at that place, hitherto and still to be considered the centre of disaffection. A small field-work had been constructed overlooking the town, in which is posted a strong guard daily, whilst the balance of the garrison is quartered in the town itself.

The town of San Diego, the southernmost one of Upper California, is now garrisoned by a company of Mormons, under the command of Captain D. C. Davis. The company was organized on the 20th of July at Los Angeles, and on the 25th of the same month marched to occupy the town of San Diego, which had been necessarily left without a garrison when Captain Hunter's company, of the Mormon battalion, was withdrawn to be discharged. During this temporary abandonment, the good people of the town expressed great terror of the Indians and of their own countrymen; but since the return of the company, not a word of fear or apprehension has reached me, and I infer they are perfectly satisfied.

The time for which the battalion of Mormons had agreed to serve expired on the 16th of July, on which day they were formally mustered out of service by First Lieutenant A. J. Smith, first dragoons, at Los Angeles, California; and as General Kearny had promised them their arms and accoutrements, I caused this promise to be redeemed, and in addition. ordered to be given to such as really intended to return towards the United States to meet their families a small quantity of ammunition. Of the services of this battalion, of their patience, subordination, and general good conduct, you have already heard; and I take great pleasure in adding, that, as a body of men, they have religiously respected the rights and feelings of these conquered people, and not a syllable of complaint has reached my ears of a single insult offered, or outrage done, by a Mormon volunteer. So high an opinion did I entertain of the battalion, and of their especial fitness for the duties now performed by the garrison in this country, that I made strenuous efforts to engage their services for another year; but succeeded in engaging but one company, which, as before stated, is now at San Diego. Certain promises or pledges were made to this company, which you will find amongst the military correspondence sent to you by this same mail. Some few of the discharged Mormons are scattered throughout the country, but the great mass of them have gone to meet their families, supposed to be somewhere in the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake. Captain J. D. Hunter, late of the Mormon battalion, has been appointed sub-Indian agent, to take charge of the mission of San Luis Rey, and the mission Indians in that neighborhood. The mass of the Indians that formerly belonged to the prosperous missions of the country have either returned to their original habits and country or sunk into a most debased condition. It will be one of Captain Hunter's first duties to attempt to bring the lazy and thriftless Indians under his charge into habits of order and industry, not for the immediate benefit of himself or government, but for the improvement of the condition of the Indians themselves. Nearly all the missions of California, once so rich, are now in a state of decay, and, with few exceptions, are held by private individuals, either as claimants or tenants, under the late Mexican govern

[ocr errors]

ment. To these missions are attached large tracts of land, to which the titles are in dispute. The late emigrants from the United States looked to these missions for shelter, and to their lands for farms, under the belief that they belonged to the United States, and were subject to her laws concerning public lands. In many cases emigrants have taken forcible possession; but in every instance I have caused restitution to the individual holding possession at the time of the hoisting the American flag, either actual or by the payment of a small rent; and I shall in no way interfere with the titles to such property, but leave them to the future tribunals that shall be established in this country.

The headquarters of this department have been for some time past at this place, (Monterey,) on account of its central position.

The garrison of the place being of a mixed character, I have exercised the command myself, and caused the construction, under the immediate superintendence of Lieutenant Halleck, of the engineers, of a redoubt in the form of a bastion, on a hill overlooking the town and anchorage. It has twenty 24-pounders mounted, and four 8-inch mortars on platforms. All the shot and shells brought out by the Lexington are piled within the redoubt. Across the gorge has been constructed, by company F, 3d artillery, a two-story substantial log house, 100 feet by 17, giving comfortable and ample room to quarter that company. It is nearly complete; and near it another two-story log house, containing six rooms, as quarters for officers. These buildings have been constructed exclusively by the labor of the artillery company. In the rear of the redoubt, I have caused to be constructed, mostly by contract labor, a stone house, 75 feet by 25, with an excellent shingle roof, containing ample room to store all the valuable ordnance stores sent out in the Lexington. An ordnance officer is very much needed in the country; and in the absence of one, I have been compelled to assign Lieut. Warner, of the topographical engineers, to that duty. He is now engaged in storing, in the new building, the ordnance property; so that, when the rainy season sets in, every particle of it will be well stored and sheltered. Two companies of New York volunteers are stationed in the barracks of the town; and at present, Captain Nagle, with a strong detachment of his company, mounted, is out in pursuit of some Indians lately engaged in robbing and stealing horses; but the want of suitable equipments and good horses is so great at this time, that pursuit is almost useless. I trust that, long since, proper saddles, bridles, and more especially saddle blankets, have been shipped for California. Those used by the natives are coarse, very severe to the horse, and exorbitantly dear. During last winter this region of country was thoroughly stripped of horses for public service, and where they have gone it is impossible to say. At present, but few are owned by the quartermaster's department, and I do not feel disposed to order the purchase of more, as the want of forage, and miserable grazing, would soon reduce them to the condition of what are on hand. Still, if California is to be held permanently by us, these aggressions of the horse-thieving Indians must be checked and thoroughly put down. To do this will require one or more posts in the valley of the San Joaquin, garrisoned by horsemen well mounted and equipped. At San Francisco, Major Hardie, of the 7th New York volunteers, commands two companies of that regiment, which have been engaged principally during the past summer in repairing the old presidio, about three miles from the town and one from the fort, and

« 上一頁繼續 »