were of short duration. The enthusiasm was great, and volunteers freely offered their services. Charlefoux and his New Mexican hunters had been induced by Janssens to join the force, and in a few days the army of the supreme government/ perhaps one hundred and twenty-five strong, was ready for an advance,[1] and began its march northward the 10th of June.
Captain Portilla was in active command of the expedition, though the self-styled governor and general, Zamorano, with Nicanor Estrada, Bandini, and Argiiello, seems to have accompanied the force. They entered Los Angeles June 16th, in time, as Bandini says, to witness " the shameful dispersion of Castro's force," and the flight of the leader in such haste as to leave behind some of his wearing apparel. Janssens goes still further, and states that the advance guard of the foe was met at the Santa Ana rancho, but threw down their arms and fled in disorder on seeing the southerners prepare for a charge, not stopping until they reached San Fernando.[2] Castro was certainly at Los Angeles on the 12th, when his presence, and the absence of the opposition members at an extra session, enabled the versatile ayuntamiento to turn another political somersault, " rectifying their vote in defense of the state government, and ignoring the acts of Ibarra and his followers, which had disturbed the public order."[3] He doubtless
- ↑ May 31st, ayunt. sess. at Angeles, and vote to send a force south. Los Angeles, Arch., iv. 316–18. Bandini says the reports of Castro's coming did not arrive until he left Angeles; and this is confirmed by Janssens, who claims to have been left behind at Los Angeles as a spy, staying at the house of Ignacio Coronel. On the first news of Castro's approach he was sent south by Pio Pico in great haste to warn the S. Diego leaders. May 30th Zamorano writes to alcalde of S. Diego about the Indian wars. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 177.
- ↑ Bandini says Castro had 80 or 90 men at Angeles, while the others numbered 90. Janssens calls the southern force 125, and Botello, 250. The latter speaks of Rocha coming to meet them at Paso de Bartolo with a few men, at first supposed to be foes. This was perhaps the foundation of Janssens's story. Botello tells us also that a few of Castro's stragglers were captured.
- ↑ June 12th. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., iv. 315.
