Consequently he declares that the adherents of Solis, if they do not lay down their arms and leave the authorities free, shall be deemed traitors and accomplices of the Spanish invaders at Vera Cruz.[1] Two days later Echeandía reported the matter to the minister of war, announcing that he would start north in a few days to retake the capital. He declared his belief that Herrera was at the bottom of the revolt, hoping to gratify personal hatred, to avoid the rendering of accounts and exposure of his frauds, and either to escape by some vessel, or more likely to declare for Spain or North American adventurers. Echeandía does not fail to make the affair a text for discourse on the difficulties of his position, and the urgent need of aid from Mexico.[2] He left San Diego on December 1st and reached Santa Bárbara the 15th, after having made arrangements on the way for reënforcements to come from Los Angeles, and for a meeting of the diputacion, as elsewhere related.
At San Diego the rebellion obtained no foothold;[3] but at Santa Bárbara in the early days of December, before Echeandía's arrival, the garrison rose much as at Monterey, and held the presidio for nearly two days. The outbreak seems to have taken place just after the arrival of Meliton Soto with despatches from the north on the 2d. The coming of such a messenger had been expected, and a rising had been planned since the beginning of November. It was now settled
- ↑ Nov. 25, 1820, Echeandía's circular. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 257.
- ↑ Nov. 27, 1929, E. to min. of war. St. Pap., Sac., MS., x 53-5. He is hard pressed by numerous duties, the difficulty of maintaining harmony with disaffected Spanish friars, the fear of a neophyte uprising, the total want of funds, the difficulties of communication, etc. He wants officers, troops, priests, money, and above all, just now 50 men from Sonora to establish communication by land.
- ↑ Nov. 26, 1829, Echeandía orders the comandante to summon the militia in case of need to serve against Solis. Dept. Rec., MS., vii. 258. Dec. 30th, Argüello assures E. that all at San Diego are opposed to the plan and determined to support the govt. Dept. St. Pap., MS., ii. 92. Sergt José María Medrano was accusced by P. Menendez of saying that he had expected the outbreak since July, and that had he been at Monterey he would have favored the plan; but after investigation the padre's testimony was doubted, and Medrano acquitted as a faithful soldier.
