Occupation of
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Naval Conquest of
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THE NAVAL CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA

Releasing most of his prisoners upon their promise of good conduct and getting a few civilian volunteers Gillespie managed to muster 59 effectives. Short of ammunition he was able to collect more powder from the town. Devoid of artillery he re-conditioned several old condemned iron guns lying in the yard and mounted them on a nearby hill. Adobe breastworks were built around the roof and the windows were barricaded. With the adventurous prospect the morale of all hands ran high. The bold and capable marine officer felt confident of being able to maintain the position against assault, but a serious shortage age of water caused great anxiety lest a long siege should develop.

On the night of the 24th, a gallant courier named Brown slipped through the Mexican lines with a report of the emergency that had arisen. He carried a paper cigar with Gillespie's seal upon the inside, and the written words "Believe the Bearer." In the escape from Los Angeles, Brown's horse was wounded and gave out after a few miles. By commandeering horses along the way however he covered 460 miles of trail to Monterey in 52 hours. Having been directed to report the situation orally to Stockton who had gone to San Francisco, Brown continued overland to that place after only three hour's sleep. As previously stated he delivered his vitally important message to the Commodore on the 30th; a performance of hazardous and difficult duty well worthy of special recognition.

Meantime the insurrectionists at Los Angeles had maintained a constantly threatening attitude while the Americans proceeded to fortify the closely adjacent hill. But no further attacks were attempted against the obviously well prepared position. There were several demands for capitulation which were flatly refused. Many conferences under flags of truce produced an armistice. Scanty ammunition and an acute shortage of water finally prevailed upon Gillespie to accept honorable term of evacuation with arms and private property. Alert against possible treachery the gallant little band of 73, including servants and camp followers, marched bravely past the 600 Californians on the morning of September 30th. Followed, but unmolested they reached San Pedro towards sunset and went into camp, and a few days later embarked on board the Vandalia which had been lying in port.

To be driven out of the capital was indeed a serious reverse for the newly established American sovereignty over California. The entire country from Santa Barbara to San Diego was now in possession of the enemy whose well equipped force of eight hundred was being rapidly augmented. Stockton had been unable to support Gillespie in time to avoid this great blow to our prestige. In advance of his own coming it will be recalled that the Commodore had hurriedly sent the Savannah South from San Francisco. She arrived at San Pedro on October 6th and upon learning the full extent of the bad news Captain Mervine hastily decided to make a rapid movement on Los Angeles and retrieve the humiliating and dangerous situation.

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