Besides disquieting rumors from the north, of which I shall speak later, there was an alarming report that a force of two hundred men — Sonorans, Indians, and Americans — under Lieut-colonel Juan José Tobar, were marching by the Rio Colorado on California, having failed in their revolutionary and mining schemes at Quitovaca. A brother of Captain Portilla, and other men who had left California were said to be engaged in this expedition. This was soon discovered to be a false alarm; but in consequence of it, Alvarado had made hasty preparations for defence; urged Vallejo to have his force ready to march at a moment's notice; gone in person to Los Angeles, apparently causing the re-arrest of some of the malecontents there; and had sent Castro and Capt. Villavicencio with a force to San Diego. Castro's orders were, in case the rumors should have any apparent foundation, to remove or spike all the guns, to leave not a single horse between San Diego and San Gabriel, and to distribute all supplies at the missions in such a manner as to prevent them falling into the hands of the enemy.[1] To what extent Castro found it necessary to carry out these measures in the south does not appear; neither is there anything in the local politics of San Diego at this time which demands notice, except that on March 18th the ayuntamiento, on receipt of certain communications from Alvarado, refused to recognize him as governor, or Vallejo as general.[2]
- ↑ March 19, 1837, Alvarado to Vallejo. Official and private letter. Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 215, 219. March 26th, Alvarado on coming to Angeles with 50 men found the rumor false. Id., iv. 224. March 25th, the matter presented by Alvarado to the ayunt. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 287-9.
- ↑ S. Diego, Arch., MS., 172. The theory advanced was that Alvarado's authority as comandante of the northern forces had ended with the treaty of Jan. 26th. It is to be noted, however, that this acta, though in the secretary's handwriting, has no signatures. March 25th, Alvarado complains that his communications to the S. Diego ayunt. are not answered. That body should be mildly exhorted to rejoin the rest of the state. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 289. Hayes, Emig. Notes, 480, states that the troops which went to Angeles in 1837 disbanded for want of pay, and never returned, the presidio going rapidly to decay. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., and Vallejo, Hist.
to Vallejo, in Id., iv. 212. March 19th, the cause has yet many foes. Opinion in Angeles seems favorable; but no reliance can be placed on that town. 'It should be burned.' Id., iv. 219.
