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The Battle for Los Angeles

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  Quote Jalisco Lancer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: The Battle for Los Angeles
    Posted: 17-May-2005 at 20:03


source:
http://www.theaesthetic.com/NewFiles/online11_battle.html

On the East Coast, one can't go down any road or enter any town without finding markers and signs indicating where various important battles took place long ago. The French and Indian War. The Revolutionary War. The Civil War.

So when people come out west, they always criticize us for not having any history here. Well, obviously there is history here, even the kind they're looking for. For the battle for Los Angeles was fought right where mini-malls and urban sprawl now sit. And just because we don't remember much about it doesn't mean it didn't happen.

The war between the United States and Mexico was barely two months old when forces under Commodore Robert Stockton and Major John C. Fremont occupied Los Angeles peacefully on Aug. 13, 1846. The two brought 500 men, which were more than enough to scare off the Mexican commandante of California, Jos Maria Casto, whose Californio army scattered.

That would have concluded the story of the conquest of Los Angeles if not for a poor personnel decision by Stockton. Before leaving for northern California, he placed Archibald Gillespie in charge of the city. Gillespie, who had joined the army as one of Fremont's associates, was overly domineering with the Angelenos, Quite anxious to remain peaceful if left alone, the Angelenos bristled at Gillespie's pointless regulations, unreasonable curfew and arbitrary arrests.

On the night of Sept. 23, a number of Angeleos, reportedly drunk, attacked the army garrison. Gillespie ordered arrests, including one of Jos Maria Flores, who eventually escaped and organized compatriots outside the city. When he had amassed 400 men, he attacked the city. At about the same time, another Californio group forced a group of American settlers to surrender near Pomona. The victory spurred the Angelenos to surround Gillespie and his men in a hilltop fort in the middle of the city.

Fort Moore, as it was eventually named, is long since buried under downtown's growth. The spot where the fort was located is now occupied by the administrative offices of the Los Angeles Unified School District on Hill Street between Temple and Ord. There is a plaque on the spot commemorating the men lost during the fall of 1846.

Gillespie did make one good decision during his tenure. At the height of his battle with the Californios, he sent a courier, John Brown, with word to Stockton up north. Amazingly, Brown broke through the Angeleno lines and made San Francisco and Monterey. If he had been captured or killed by the Californios, the history of Southern California might be very different today.

Eventually, Gillespie did have to surrender from his hilltop position in Los Angeles. The Californios let him go with a promise that he would take his men to San Pedro harbor and leave the area forever. After the treatment they received under his rule, the Californios should have known better than to expect Gillespie to keep his promise.

Meanwhile, a group of Americans under Captain William Mervine came ashore in San Pedro. With about 300 men Mervine and Gillespie attempted to retake Los Angeles, only to be fought back to their ships by Californios wielding lances and a light cannon, which they had hidden in town during the occupation. The cliffs of Palos Verdes, dotted in modern times with million dollar homes, then served as a parade ground for the Californios, who fired both curses and shot at the hapless Americans who took refuge in Mervine's ship. This loss, coupled with other losses at Santa Barbara and San Diego, completed the retaking of Southern California by the Californios.

Stockton finally arrived in San Pedro in late October, but after seeing the hopeless situation, decided to try his luck at San Diego. After fighting his way into the hills above San Diego, Stockton received word that General Stephen Kearny and his "Army of the West" were traveling overland from Santa Fe. Kearny's troops, in fact, were pinned down by Andres Pico and San Pasqual. After making a hasty rescue of Kearny's men, Stockton found his strength greatly increased.

After some time, Stockton was able to advance to the north and meet with Gillespie outside of Los Angeles. Traveling north, they were first met by Californio forces at the San Gabriel river. A short battle ensued, resulting in two dead and eight wounded on each side. Today the battle site is located near Bluff Road near the border of Whittier and Montebello. Bluff Road is a pleasant shady lane with houses and horse stables overlooking the Rio Hondo River, which took the place of the rerouted San Gabriel during a flood in the channel 20 years after the events under discussion.

While the actual battle site is now a residential neighborhood with well-cared for lawns, a historic marker located a few hundred yards down the road at Washington Boulevard commemorates the spot where the Californios lay in wait for the Americans. From the spot on the bluff, one is afforded an excellent view of the plain below. If not for the concrete walls of the river, a visitor might be able to picture the battlefield as it was in January of 1847. All one has to do is turn around to be reminded of the 20th Century, however. Just behind the marker is a 60s-style motel called the Motel Bahia, advertising "Low Weekly Rates. Welcome truckers. High Security. Cable Movies." Across the street is the less interesting King's Motel and Taco Bell.

Anyway, after crossing the river, the American troops advanced to meet Flores' 300-strong force near a ravine where the curious industrial city of Vernon now stands. People not familiar with Los Angeles would probably be surprised to learn that such a place as Vernon exists here. Nothing could be further aesthetically from the beach and glitz that L.A. is known for.

According to historian Lynn Bowman, the "Battle of La Mesa" took place near the 4500 block of Downey Road, a spot now desolate with wide empty streets, overhead wires, anonymous warehouses and decaying railroad crossings. To the south now rests a gigantic white building ominously labeled "Federal Cold Storage." Across the street is an old brick building, Kee Kee Liquor. Save the distant clanging of a railroad bell, there is no quieter place in Los Angeles on a Sunday afternoon.

In the battle itself, Flores made the mistake of firing wildly with his cannons, and eventually ran out of gunpowder. His men advanced on the Americans and clashed unsuccessfully. Flores and his men scattered and Stockton reoccupied the city of Los Angeles on Jan. 10, 1847, with Gillespie raising the American flag over the same quarters he was forced to abandon four months earlier.
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  Quote Jalisco Lancer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-May-2005 at 20:05


LOS CALIFORNIOS




California became an easy target for America, because of Mexico's unstable government and policies. After the War of Independence of 1821, Mexico had severed all ties with Spain, and in dealing with their own problems back home, began to neglect California. The Californios lacked experience in government, however wanted to be independent and not be under control of a foreign power, like America. Pio Pico, the civil governor, controlled the northern part of the province that met in Los Angeles. Jose Castro, the military commandante, controlled the southern part of the province in Monterey. These two leaders had alot of animosity towards one another and began to raise armies to fight against one another, rather than uniting to fight against a foreign invasion.
On July 12, 1846 Pico with his army of one hundred soldiers met with Castro and his army just north of San Luis Obispo. The two leaders wanted to make an attempt at uniting their forces against the American Navy, who had just arrived in Monterey. This attempt failed and both armies marched separately to Los Angeles.

On August 7, Castro wrote Commodore Robert F. Stockton at his headquarters in Los Angeles, suggesting a willingness to end hostilities. Stockton in his reply said that a treaty could be made only on the condition that Castro raise the American flag over Los Angeles. Castro refused Stockton's proposal and evacuated Los Angeles the same day.

On August 10, Pio Pico decided, after the evacuation of Castro, to leave with his army back to Mexico. Before he left he told the Californios that the Mexican Army was "...completely lacking in all resources to carry on a war." He also pled with the people to not give in to America's promises for freedom and wealth.

Los Angeles was handed over to America with no opposition, following the departure of Castro and Pico, however lack of opposition to America did not last long for the Californios. Stockton had made Captain Archibald Gillespie the military commandant of Los Angeles and Gillespie's strict, harsh, nature did not sit well with the Californios. On September 30, a large group of Californios surrounded Gillespie and his men in the pueblo, and forced the army to retreat to San Pedro.


After their successful victory in Los Angeles the Californios elected Jose Maria Flores, a lieutenant-colonel, Jose Antonio Carrillo, a native Californian who served under Castro, and Andres Pico, a former lieutenant, as their leaders of their newly formed army. With these new leaders, especially the leadership of Andres Pico, the Californios united, trained, and became a real threat to America's Manifest Destiny.

By November, 1846, the Californios had gained back control of all the territory south of San Francisco, leaving America in control of just San Diego and Monterey. The Californios had many advantages over America that contributed to their victory at the Battle of San Pasqual on December 5. The Californios, for nearly two months, had harassed the Americans, and made very difficult for them to acquire livestock and supplies. The Californios were also fighting on their homeland, which made it easier for them to acquire their necessary supplies. Above all, the Californios were extremely skilled horseman and lancers, which made it very difficult for the weakened American soldiers to fight back. The Californios, in combination with their skills, also had courage and pride, which allowed them to fight and defend their homeland with everything in them.





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  Quote Jalisco Lancer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-May-2005 at 20:08

On the evening of December 5, 1846 , Pico and his army rode into the Indian Village of San Pasqual. The day before Pico sent half of his army about 20 miles east to El Cajon, leaving him with only 75 lancers. The Californios had very little firearms that they had acquired from the British, however their steel-tipped eight foot lancers and their dominating horseman skills proved the fire arms were not a necessity for the Californios to achieve victory over the Americans.

On that same day, Captain Archibald Gillespie joined forces with Kearny and his army, the Dragoons, at Stokes' Santa Maria Rancho, today located in Ramona. In a report written to Stockton, Gillespie described the Dragoons, "...almost without shoes...these way-worn soldiers whose strength and spirits seemed to be entirely gone."

Both armies had been warned of each others existence, by the Indians that fled into the mountains prior to the arrival of Pico and his army. The Indian, who had been captured, then released from Kearny, warned Pico that the Americans occupied the area. Pico apparently did not take the report seriously, until he was given evidence of American presence. That evening Kearny had dispatched three dragoons, with the objection of Gillespie who wanted to send his strong "Mountain Me," to scope out the lancers at the village. A reluctant Lieutenant Thomas Hammond, and Rafael Machado, a guide sent with Gillespie and his troops accompanied the dragoons on their mission. An Indian approached Rafael and told him that Pico and about 100 Californios occupied the village they were sent to scout. Aside from the careless noise the dragoons made while approaching the village, one of the dragoons dropped his military jacket that read, "US Army." A Sentry Indian found the jacket and brought it back to Pico. Pico needed no more evidence, he mobilized the lancers to prepare for battle.

Now raining, Hammond returned to the camp at one o`clock in the morning and told Kearny that the Californios were aware of American presence. With the conditions for battle being so bad, Kearny saddled up his forces around two in the morning of December 6 and headed off for the San Pasqual Valley. Just as the Army of the West reached the southeastern rim of the valley, Kearny halted his men and gave them a pep talk before going into battle

Kearny huddled his leaders together to lay out the battle plan. Captain Moore and his army of dragoons would lead the attack and Gillespie and his men were to join Moore and assist in the surrounding of the village. Gillespie was given strict orders by Kearny not to shot the enemy unless necessary, but rather capture them. Ironically, Gillespie thought that the clanking of the soldiers arms and the sounds of the horses hooves marching down the valley would have intimidated the unprepared Californios, however it spurred the attack of the well-prepared Californios who were waiting for the troops to arrive. Although Moore was supposed to be leading the group into battle Captain Abraham Johnston and his twelve dragoons, mounted on the strongest horses, made their way to the head of the march. Gillespie and the San Diego contingent, followed by Lieutenant John Davidson and the howitzers, took up the center of the march, while Major Swords and the supply column took up the rear. As the group reached the floor of the valley, Kearny ordered the group to "Trot!" Johnston misheard Kearny's order and yelled "Charge!"


The Californios were mounted and ready. Pico gave his troops the order, "One shot and then lance!". They opened fire on Johnston and his dragoons as they appeared through the mist. Johnston was hit with a bullet to the head, being one of two soldiers killed by gunfire in the battle. The Americans, due to the darkness and unsteady mounts were not alble to use their Hall carbines, so they used their carbines as clubs and sabers as their only defence against the lancers. The Californios's lances far outreached the American's sabers, making it easy for the lancers to spear and trample the Americans.

Gillespie, after seeing Johnston's failed charge, moved his men to the south rim of the valley, in hopes of aligning himself on the left of Moore's squad. This decision of Gillespie's not only wiped out the Californios who were waiting to make a side attack, but also led to the capture of Pablo Vejar, Pico's second in command, who was later released at Mule Hill.


The dominating lancers attacked the Americans with such force and success, that the remaining Dragoons started to retreat. Gillespie, in seeing his troops fall back, yelled, "Rally men! For God's sake rally! Face them! Face them!" The Dragoons, however, were so demoralized by the attack, that Gillespie's advise did nothing to deter the men from retreating. The Dragoon's leaders were no inspiration to the struggling soldiers. Gillespie and Carson were not able to continue the charge with their men because in the first couple of minutes of the attack their horses had fallen. Captain Moore was lanced by two Californios protecting their leader Pico, whom Moore had just came face to face with. Hammond, Moore's brother-in-law, had tried to step in and save Moore, however was also killed with a lance wound to the chest. Gillespie also endured five lance wounds to his face and body after being attacked by several lancers who recognized him as the leader in the attack on Los Angeles.

The Dragoons, having only met Gillespie's "mountain men" the day before, mistakenly attacked them, because they were not in uniform, so they assumed they were the enemy. The lancers also captured one of the Horwiters that was being kept with the supply column under the command of Major Swords. By the end of the battle only about half of the Americans were actually in combat, the rest were still in the hills where the initial charge began.


The Americans had been defeated in less than thirty minutes by the skillful Californios. However, realizing the arrival of more Americans with guns would severely challenge his successful lancers, Pico gathered his men and headed off to the western end of the valley. Sixteen soldiers and two officers died, while sixteen others, including Kearny, were wounded. Later that night the bodies were buried under trees along the San Pasqual creek. The Californios had no casualties and the number of wounded has never been calculated.

Kearny gave temporary command to Captain Turner, who wrote a letter to Stockton telling him about the battle and American casualties. In the letter to Stockton, Turner asked for reinforcements and transport for the wounded. Turner sent Antoine Godey and three other from Gillespie's San Diego contingent to get help. Kearny was able to resume command of the Army of the West the next day.

Kearny led the army slowly west, following the northern hillsides in order to avoid another attack by the Californios. In the afternoon they came upon a ranch, owned by an English sea captain , Joseph Snook. The only inhabitants of the ranch were a few Indians, who informed the army that the Californios had just left there with their wounded. The army was in need of food and the mules in need of water, so they stopped briefly. As they were riding away from the ranch, Pico's men, splitting into two lines, attacked, driving off the armies cattle and horses. Under the command of Lieutenant Emory, the army escaped to a hill just north of San Bernardo. The army was trapped on the hill. The army had only one hope and that was a rescue by Stockton.


The soldiers survived the cold night. On December 8 the Californios held a truce flag in their camp. Pico wanted to exchange four American prisoners for Pablo Vejar. Emory met with Pico and discovered that one of the prisoners, Thomas Burgess, was one of the messengers sent to get help from Stockton. Burgess told Emory that the message had made it to Stockton, however his responce was that no help could be spared. Stockton, however, was pulling resources to rescue the trapped soldiers.

The Americans were getting worse by the hour. Living on mule-meat, which gave the hills name, Mule Hill, and little water weakened the soldiers. Another attempt to get help was being assembled. Liewtenant Beale of the Navy, Kit Carson, and an Indain scout left on the second night with hardly any food or supplies. Through the leadership of Carson the messengers made it to Stockton and convinced him to send reinforcements. One hundred sailors and eighty Marines, including Andrew Gray from the Congress, and Marine Lieutenant Jacob Zeilin, were assembled from the warships Congress and Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Kearny was planning an attack at dawn on the Californios.


On December 10, Pico, in an attempt to stampeded American troops, he drove a herd of horses over the hill and into the camp. However, Pico's plan backfired and instead of weakening the troops, it strengthened them. When the horses came to the peak of the hill, Americans fired their guns and scared them away. In the process of scaring the herd away, one soldier managed to shoot one of the horses, providing the best meal the troops had in weeks. At two o'clock in the morning the rejuvenated Americans were preparing for battle, when they heard the tampering boots of Stockton's army, along with the shouting word, "Americans!" The Californios, in hearing the arrival of reinforcements, fired one last shot that symbolized the end of the battle.













Edited by Jalisco Lancer
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