[Granville-Hough] 4 Jan 2010 - Original SAR Presentation, Part 2

[Trustees for Granville W. Hough]

Date: Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:07:20 -0800
From: Granville W Hough <gwhough at oakapple.net>
Subject: Original SAR Presentation, Part 2, 4 Jan 2010

Original SAR Presentation, Spanish Patriots, Part 2
10. Anza and the land passage.

De Anza believed a way could be found over the California desert from
the Mexican frontier settlements in Arizona and Sonora. In 1775, he set
out and found a way, down the Gila River to the Colorado, then along the
base of the mountains into Mexico, then up the eastern slopes of the
mountains through the Anza/Borrego desert to Coyote Creek Canyon, then
through the Canyon to Anza Valley, to Hemet, to Riverside, and on to San
Gabriel. It was dry, dry, and hot, hot; but there were water holes if
you knew where to find them. After he reported it could be done, he was
told to recruit settlers, soldiers, and move livestock along this trail
to the San Francisco Bay, which had been explored in 1775.

He went back to Sonora and Arizona and got the soldiers and the
livestock, but he had to promise 5 years pay and allowances to get any
families interested in moving. He started with about 20 families in
late 1776. This time it was dry and cold, cold; but he was able to
bring 242 people through to establish San Francisco Presidio, San Jose
Pueblo, and Mission Santa Clara and Mission Delores. He doubled the
population of livestock and California Spanish-speaking people.

11. The Yumas

To secure the critical area at the Colorado and Gila Rivers, Anza
recommended a Presidio be established with missions for the Yumas and
Pimas. Two were established in 1780. They were combination missions,
pueblos, and presidios.

Captain Rivera was sent to get more soldiers, livestock, and settlers
in Sinaloa and Sonora, which he did in the spring of 1781. He was a
good recruiter and was able to get about 15 farm families with only two
years guaranteed pay and support. He moved them to Yuma, then sent the
settlers across the desert with a soldier escort first. They arrived in
San Gabriel in July 1781, then later established Los Angeles. Captain
Rivera then sent a group of soldiers on to establish the Presidio at
Santa Barbara It arrived at San Gabriel in August 1781. While he was
preparing to leave with the livestock and remainder of the contingent,
he allowed the livestock to fatten up on the Yuma mesquite and bean
fields. The Yumas rose up in rebellion and wiped out the missions,
settlements, and Captain RiveraÆs men. At least 30 were killed,
possibly 100. Over 70 women and children were captured and later
ransomed. Now, about Captain Rivera. He was 70 years old when the
Indians killed him. He had served all his life in the Spanish Army as a
Mexican mestizo. He was passed over for promotion many times by those
born in Spain. He came to hate them all, the so-called peninsulares.

12. The Los Angeles Pueblo.

Eight families finally got to the site of Los Angeles in late 1781,
though they formally received their lots until later. The only person
who could read and write with the pueblo was Corporal Vicente Feliz.
When he retired, he received Rancho Los Feliz, north of the pueblo. His
ranch includes what is now Griffith Park, which includes the Los Angeles
Zoo and Gene AutryÆs museum. In this museum are the abstracts of
service records of all Spanish soldiers who served in CA from 1769
through the Independence of Mexico. It took one person three months of
work at the Archives of the Indies in Seville to copy those records.

13. Pedro Fages Becomes Governor

Capt Pedro Fages was called on to punish the Yumas and reopen the way to
California. He lead an expedition against them in 1781, recovered the
bones of victims, killed a few Yumas, and ransomed the women and
children; but he never was able to induce the Yumas into fighting
anything more than a skirmish.

He went back to Sinaloa and received his commission to become governor
of Alta California. In early 1782, he gathered 38 soldiers and set out
across the Sonoran desert to Yuma. There he marched through the Yuma
nation ready to be attacked. He then tried a new route to California.
He marched north along the West side of the Colorado, then through the
sand dunes into the depression south of where the Salton Sea is now
located. The water there collected in sandy depressions, which you
could get to by digging out the sand and collecting water in
containers. They had to water each animal out of the same pots and pans
they used for cooking. So, Pedro Fages, being himself, had every animal
taken care of before anyone else could rest. The water was so brackish
that the animals took it with great reluctance. After they would take
no more, the men were able to use the same utensils to cook some food
for themselves.

They got across this desert, then followed the path taken by de Anza
through Coyote Canyon, then on to San Gabriel. They arrived at San
Gabriel with every soldier they started with, and every animal, less one
mule that died at Agua Caliente. The soldiers were among those who
established Santa Barbara Presidio and reinforced other presidios. This
1782 trip was the last use of the land route across the desert for many
years. By default, the Spanish let the Yumas have the Colorado crossing
and all the land near it.

14. California takes off.

With the war over in Europe in 1783, Spain made only one more effort to
establish a pueblo, that at Brancheforte. It was not successful. The
mission building continued until there were 21 in all. California
became self-sustaining. Bitter hardships were soon forgotten. As soon
as soldiers began to retire, they got their land grants and developed a
new way of life and a new approach to colonizing. They made
California. They held it in trust for future generations of Americans.

But what is different between those who served under Gßlvez and those
who served under Fages and Rivera? They took orders from the same King
and fought where they were needed. They were part of the same effort to
protect the Spanish domain from English forces. In fact, the California
veterans were not militia called up for a one-time effort. They were
full time soldier-settlers called on by Spain to fortify a remote area
threatened by English claims and encroachment. The South Coast Chapter,
SAR, believes they deserve recognition, and is willing to take the lead
in bringing descendants into full membership of our organization.