CARMEL/MONTEREY HISTORY: The Yankees Arrive

The Mexican Customs House still stands where Commodore Sloat took possession of all California for the United States. (Excerpted from my book OUR SUMMER IN CARMEL, Amazon.com) Although it took Spain almost three hundred years to get off their galleons and settle California, in a space of only seventy more years Spain would lose California and sovereignty would change twice over that vast rich area. During the early 1800s Spain, like much of Europe, was embroiled in the Napoleonic wars. Her increasingly scanty resources and accelerating loss of control over her vast overseas empire resulted in a weaker nation, compared to two centuries earlier. Not only were wars in Europe causing Spain much distress, but taking advantage of her weak position, rebellion in her Latin American Empire was widespread. Thus, the small outpost on Monterey in far off Alta California received little attention and even less of Spain's resources. When the French pirate Bouchard, flying under Argentine's revolutionary colors, sailed into Monterey Bay the dozen Spanish soldiers quickly retreated to Salinas and let the pirate and his 300 men ransack the town and hang around for a week before sailing on. Therefore, it came as no surprise that Spanish rule over California ended without a protest, a scant 52 years after the solemn founding Mass said under the great oak. On April 11, 1822 the Governor read a proclamation that Mexico had declared her Independence from Spain. The Spanish flag was furled and the Mexican hoisted. Guns were fired in salute, oaths of allegiance were administered, and that was that. Really! As easy as that the Spanish outpost in Monterey and all of present day California, became part of the newly independent country of Mexico. The ensuing 25 years of Mexican rule is confusing even to the most dedicated historian. Mexican governance resembled a comic opera of revolts, counter-revolts, intrigues, nepotism, the secularization of the church and the confiscation of most church property, land grabs and a confusion of land claims. During this period of inept Mexican rule, two events occurred that are worth mentioning from the perspective of the United States. In 1841, the first organized expedition with the intention to settle in California, the Bidwell-Bartleson party, crossed the Sierra's. Having shown the way and lack of Mexican resistance, they were followed by many more, for example the one led by seven foot Kentucky frontiersman Robert Semple, who later would preside over the California Constitutional Convention. Another, more serious, incursion was led by the noted adventurer, explorer and self-promoter John Charles Fremont, son-in-law of the powerful Senator Thomas Hart Benton, chairman of the Military-Affairs Committee, on a so-called mapping survey. These were men of action, with little patience for the Californios method of governance. They were determined men, ready to risk all in carving out their future, and unabashedly intent on seeing the United States flag fly over California. These were the implementers of the philosophy, prevalent at the time by men such as Senator Benton, of Manifest Destiny. A little over four years passed when, on May 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. Following standing orders in case of such an eventuality, the Pacific Squadron, under the command of Commodore John Sloat, a 65 year old cautious and ailing sailor, nearing retirement, sailed into Monterey Bay. The weakness of the Mexican defenses was revealed when Sloat, following protocol and wanting to fire a salute to the Mexican flag, was informed that there was not only no Mexican flag to fly above the Presidio, but no powder to return the salute. On July 7, Sloat landed 250 marines and seaman, read a proclamation that henceforth California was a territory of the United States, fired a 21 gun salute, and raised the flag of the United States. That was that!( More on these auspicious events in the next posting.)

Monterey/Carmel History-Spain finally plants a flag

(Excerpted from my book; OUR SUMMER IN CARMEL Amazon.com) When Portola returned to San Diego he found a deplorable situation. A third of his men had died, mostly from scurvy; six more had died from an Indian attack. With no provisions and no sign of the supply ship he was ready to scrap the entire project and return to Mexico. However, almost as in a Hollywood script, just as his self imposed time limit was approaching, the San Antonio sailed in with fresh supplies. With this encouragement, Portola was reenergized to continue his quest. Undaunted, they set forth again in April 1770, dividing his party once more into a seaborne expedition that carried Fr. Serra among others, and a land excursion led by Portola following the route he had blazed the year before. This time, arriving in Monterey on May, 24, they recognized the signs in Vizcaino's 160 year old report and also discovered the cross they had left on the beach the previous December. They were surprised to find the the cross had been adorned by the natives with clams, meat, and sardines. The natives must have witness3d Portola's ceremony when erecting the cross and attributed some special meaning in having it placed there. On Sunday June 3, 1770, with the ringing of bells and a beautiful morning sunrise, the entire party, land and sea, gathered near the same mighty oak under which Vizcaino and the Carmelites had celebrated mass years earlier. On this occasion the Spanish explorers celebrated the founding of Monterey and claimed all California in the name of King Charles III. At the same ceremony, The Mission San Carlos de Borromeo was proclaimed. A name specifically requested by the King of Spain in honor of his patron saint. Spain, 228 years dating from Cabrillo, and 168 years following Vizcaino's landing, had come to stay. Finally! A statue of Fr. Serra seen stepping from a small boat in Monterey gazing out on the harbor today from a deserted clearing at the US Army base, at the original Spanish Presidio of Monterey, the very site of the historic Mass that Sunday long ago.

MONTEREY/CARMEL HISTORY-SPAIN GETS SERIOUS

The site of Portola's cross with a small plaque set into a rock, on Monterey Beach today, Monterey seen in the backgound. Not a fitting tribute. (Excerpted from my book Our Summer In CarmelAmazon.com) It is difficult today to understand why it took Spain 160 years to follow-up on Vizcaino's groundbreaking exploration. It is true that Spain was preoccupied with European conflicts. They were also receiving a great amount of treasure from the possessions they already acquired in the new world. Even great nations can get complacent. Finally, it was no easy task for Spain to manage the already vast empire of New Spain, much less occupy a huge new territory such as Alta California that seemed to have little promise of yielding additional wealth to the King's treasury. Two developments finally forced Madrid to reassess their position regarding Alta California. Russia had established a strong foothold in Alaska to capitalize on the valuable fur trade, and was also expanding hunting forays and establishing a national presence through colonies in present day northern California. If that wasn't enough the English were so successful in colonizing the Atlantic Coast that they too were considering similar prospects on northern California and present day western Canada. Another factor that would have a historic impact on Spain's awakening interest in Alta California, was King Charles IIIs loathing of the independent-minded Jesuits. He was determined to replace them with the more amenable Franciscans and turn over to them the fourteen missions the Jesuits had already established in Baja California. There happened to be a Franciscan missionary of great zeal and administrative excellence already in Mexico, a man of humble manner but great tenacity, who only needed to be called to do the King's bidding; Fr. Junipero Serra. Serra had arrived in Mexico in 1749 at the age of 36, labored assiduously for eight years in the Sierra Gorda mountains and created an orderly administration of five missions. His work done he semi-retired waiting for more challenging work. Ten years would pass but events were under way to call him back to even greater service. Another major actor in the unfolding drama was Visitor-General Jose de Galvaz, appointed to replace the Jesuits by King Charles III. He selected Serra to lead the missions in the Baja and ask him to report to Captain Gaspar de Portola then residing at the mother mission in Loretto. Unexpectedly a courier from the Viceroy of New Spain brought word that the Russians were moving south from Alaska and would likely try to establish a trading post at Monterey. Something had to be done. At a meeting of all the actors on May 16, 1768 at San Blas it was decided to organize a colonizing mission to Monterey. Portola would be in command and Serra would establish a new chain of missions to consolidate Spain's presence. It took another year to prepare the expedition but on May 15, 1769 Portola set out for present day San Diego by land and dispatched his ships with additional provisions to met him there. It took Portola 41 days to reach San Diego only to find that of the 90 men who set sail only fourteen had arrived safely, and most of them were sick. Furthermore, most of the provisions had been consumed. Courageous and persistent Portola decided to press forward. He sent one ship back for resupply, left Serra to care for the wounded, and instructed them to meet him later in Monterey; he was going by land through a trackless wilderness. Unfortunately Portola took a route north along the rugged coast. Had he gone inland he would have followed the easier route of present day highway 101. Coming to the Salinas river the party made their way to the coast, but became confused. Portola had in fact arrived at Monterey, but failed to recognize it. Moreover the provision ship failed to arrive. With winter setting in, his party exhausted, and almost out of provisions Portola determined he had to return to San Diego and regroup. In case the provision ship did arrive, Portola erected a cross and left a note in a bottle at its base, fearing that none of his party would survive. It read, "The land expedition is returning to San Diego for lack of provisions, today Dec. 9, 1769." They were exactly where they wanted to be, but did not recognize it. The survivors staggered into San Diego on January 14, 1770 having traveled 1000 miles through a forbidding, trackless wilderness with nothing accomplished. Portola does not give up. The rest of the story in the next post.