in his own house under the protection of a guard. This critical state of affairs lasted several days, perhaps more than a week.[1] As early as July 15th, orders were sent to the southern troops to come to Monterey; on the 23d came the Leonidas with news of Santa Anna's defeat and capture in Texas, on which topic a flamingly patriotic proclamation was issued next day to the Californians; and on the 27th affairs had apparently approached a crisis, since on that day the governor suspended Cosme Peña, a prominent counsellor of his foes, from his office of asesor, and sent new and urgent orders for the troops to come by forced marches to the capital.[2]
No reënforcements made their appearance. Indian ravages on the Sonoma frontier and at San Diego served Vallejo and Portilla as convenient excuses for not promptly obeying the orders of their chief. The popular feeling at Monterey was more turbulent than ever, or at least was made to appear so to the governor, by advisers who desired to increase his fears. At last, on July 29th, he sent a communication to the diputacion, stating that as there was great popular excitement on account of his suspension of the alcalde and asesor, as bodies of men were in arms near the town, and as he had no physical or moral support, he had determined to go to Mexico at once.[3] The diputa-
- ↑ Janssens tells us that José Castro offered to raise a company of men to support Chico, but was induced by the people to change his plans; but I attach no importance to this statement.
- ↑ July 15, 1836, Chico to Gutierrez. Let Capt. Portilla march at once with the Mazatecos and artillery. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 120; Hayes, Doc., MS., 61. July 23d, arrival of news from Texas. Gomez, Diario, MS. July 27th, let the troops hasten by double marches. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 119; Id., Index, 30. July 29th, G. to C. Portilla on one pretext or another will not start. Id., 119, 122. July 31st, G. to C., in answer to letter of 27th. Portilla and Muñoz will start at once and march rapidly. No danger in the south; but fears serious troubles at Monterey, and warns him to be on his guard. Regrets the annoyances to C. from Peña's revolutionary promptings, etc. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxviii. 28-9. July 27th, Cosme Peña suspended. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxxii. 29. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 124-6, says Chico's order to him to march with his force was dated July 23d, and was accompanied by another very flattering letter of thanks for past services dated July 10th, but really written on the same day as the order. A translation of Chico's proclamation of July 24th is given in the Honolulu, S. I., Gazette, Nov. 12, 1836.
- ↑ The only original record of this consultation of the dip. is a report of the
