ment that the revolutionists on approaching the town divided their forces, kindled fires, sounded their trumpets and drums, and did all in their power to make it appear that their force was large; that the fort was taken on the night of arrival without the slightest resistance; that Gutierrez made no effort to defend himself, and took no precautions to avert attack; that the cannon-ball which hit the presidio was the only one in the castillo which a gun could be found to fit, the gunners being Balbino Romero and Cosme Peña the lawyer; that J. A. de la Guerra was at one time admitted to the presidio blindfolded as a representative of Castro; that ammunition and other aid was obtained from the foreign vessels in port, Hinckley of the Don Quixote openly favoring the Californians, while Steele and French of the Caroline and Europe were but little more cautious in their support; and finally, that Castro's force had been much increased and that of the governor weakened by desertions from the presidio. The force at the disposal of Gutierrez has been greatly exaggerated. It could not have been over seventy-five men at the beginning of the siege, only fifty of the number being soldiers. Castro had at first about the same force, besides Graham's men.
himself! At dawn Ramirez and Cosme Peña came to the castillo with a paper, on which was written, 'Federacion ó muerte de California la suerte.' J. J. Pico, Acontecimientos, MS., 32-8, says that he was sent south with a party to intercept Portilla's 25 men who were approaching, which he accomplished (?). He and Pinto, Apunt., MS., 21-7, think that two shots were fired, one of which struck the church. Harry Bee's whole narrative on this affair is notable only for its inaccuracy. Recollections, MS., 6-21. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 308-15, gives the hour at which different events occurred, but they are obviously incorrect. Mofras, Explor., i. 298-300, and Petit-Thouars, Voyage, ii. 92-9, state that Gutierrez and his officers had been promised permission to remain if they chose, and were sent away in violation of this promise. Mofras says Larkin and John C. Jones aided the revolutionists. Wilkes, Narrative, v. 175-9, tells us that the ball fired was an 18-pounder, and the firing at dawn. Robinson, Life in Cal., 174-5, says the ball weighed 4 lbs. Janssens, Vida, MS., 72-6, by request of Escolar and Negrete, formed a patrol of citizens to preserve order during the siege. Gomez, Lo que Sabe, MS., 13-17, and others state that Francisco Soto did good service by getting into the presidio with divers bottles of brandy to promote desertion. Torre, Remin., MS., 64-5, gives a very good account of the whole affair, but in it, as in the statements of Bandini, Ord, Coronel, Ávila, and Jesus Vallejo, there is nothing not already noticed.
