Tobar's force under J. A. Carrillo seems to have previously visited the mission and retired. It was on April 21st that the northern army appeared in battle array before the improvised fort which protected the southern foe.
The combat at Las Flores was for the most part one of tongue and pen, though a cannon was fired once or twice from the corral, doing no harm — so say several witnesses, confirmed by a letter written at the time. A flag of truce was sent — from which side first is not quite clear — with a demand, not for surrender, but for an interview. Don Juan Bautista had no motive for fighting if he could accomplish his purpose by other methods; the cannon had a threatening aspect, and Tobar might be a man who would not hesitate to use them; besides, he had not much doubt of his ability to control his uncle in an interview. On the other hand, there is some reason to believe that Tobar really intended to fight, trusting to his guns to make up for disparity of numbers. Many of his men were imbued to a certain degree with their leader's valor. Cárlos Carrillo, freely charged by his associates with cowardice, declined to assume the responsibility of shedding blood, forbade the discharge of a single gun, and went out to meet his nephew on the bloodless field of diplomacy: Tobar finally retired in disgust, with many companions, not pausing until he had crossed the frontier; and Don Cárlos was left to his peaceful methods of warfare. Zamorano, of whom very little is known since the failure of his aspirations to the governorship with Alvarado's submission to Mexico in July 1837, probably crossed the frontier about the same time as Tobar. He came back four years later, only to die; and as nothing is known of
Cal., MS., iv. 82-95, and Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 369-72, represent that the southerners had occupied S. Juan, and retired at Castro's approach. They add that Salvador Vallejo being sent forward to occupy S. Juan by 'conciliatory' means, did so by sending a threat to hang all who did not instantly surrender; or, as one says, he charged bayonets and rushed madly through all the mission buildings from which the foe had retired!
