STOCKTON'S PROCLAMATION TO THE SAN DIEGO
INSURGENTS
Up to the present time our knowledge of the events connected
with Commodore Stockton's occupation of San Diego in November,
1846, has been drawn from H. H. Bancroft (History
of
California,
V, 326-328), who based his information upon a letter of Stockton
to George Bancroft of November 23, 1846, and upon Stockton's
official report. Unfortunately Bancroft misdated the report, dat-
ing it on February 18, 1847, when, in fact, it was dated at Wash-
ington on February 18, 1848. The report may be found in House
Executive
Documents,
30 Cong., 2 Sess., Doc. 1, pp. 1037-1054
(Serial No. 537).
Bancroft's statement, in the main quoted from Stockton's letter
to George Bancroft of November 23, 1846, is in part as follows:
"The situation of the place was found to be most miserable and
deplorable. The male inhabitants had abandoned the town, leav-
ing their women and children dependent upon us for protection
and food. No horses could be obtained to assist in the transpor-
tation of the guns and ammunition, and not a beef could be had
to supply the necessary food," though, as the writer somewhat
contradictorily adds, Gibson had returned, "driving about 90
horses and 200 head of beef cattle into the garrison." Meanwhile
the Californians held the region round about the town. Stockton
says: "On the afternoon of our arrival the enemy, irritated I
suppose by the loss of his animals, came down in considerable
force and made an attack; they were, however, soon driven back
with the loss of two men and horses killed, and four wounded.
These skirmishes, or running fights, are of almost daily occur-
rence; since we have been here, we have lost as yet but one man
killed and one wounded." Thus reported the commodore on
November 23d, the only definite date we have for these events.
That there were, however, any hostilities involving loss of life, I
think there is room for doubt."
A document fortunately came to my hand recently which throws
some additional light upon the San Diego situation. This is a
proclamation in Spanish issued by Stockton at San Diego on
November 24, 1846. The original is the property of Miss Ann M.
Wood, of Escondido, California, who kindly allowed me to tran-
scribe the faded characters of the fragile document. The proc-
lamation and a translation follow:
San Diego
quartel principal
Nov. 24, 1846.
Señores
Tengo que acusar el recivo de la adjunta comunicación relativa
a sus conciudadanos y Amigos que han sido seducidos por falsas
representados y mentiras para oponerse al gobierno presente de
este territorio y debo decirles que el Gobierno de los Estados
Unidos nada desea tanto como la felicidad y prosperidad de Cali-
fornia--Han hecho la Guerra contra Mejico; pero han deseado
ardientemente salvar al pueblo de California y sus propiedades de
las terribles Calamidades de la Guerra--
Sin embargo son tantos los Californios que se han dejado inducir
a hacer la guerra contra los Estados Unidos por una Gavilla de
demoralizados Mejicanos y ladrones Sonoreños que los Estados
Unidos se ha[n] visto obligados a hacer preparativos para llevar
adelante le guerra con gran severidad.--
Estan ahora en Campaña y vienen de los puntos del Norte
fuerzas irresistibles y si llegan antes q. los Amigos de Vmds.
entren en este Guarnición no puedo ser responsable por sus vidas y
propiedades. Pero en consideración de su firme adhesión y cum-
plimiento de sus promesas y por el importante servicio q. han
hecho Vmds. con sus esfuerzos por la salvación de California de
las malvades de sus peores enemigos-- Declaro por la presente
que todos los que entren en esta guarnición inmediatemente que
recivan esta oferta de proteccion y amistad seran recividos como
amigos y la seguridad de sus personas y bienes queda garantizada
por la presente por el Gobierno de los Estados Unidos--
Dada de mi puño y letra este dia 24 de Nov. 1846.
R. F. Stockton
Comandante en Gefe de las fuerzas de los Est. Unidos
y Gobernador del territorio de California--
Es copia traducida del Orijinal--
Miguel de Pedrorena
San Diego,
Headquarters,
Nov. 24, 1846.
Sirs:
I have to acknowledge the receipt of the inclosed communica-
tion relative to your fellow citizens and friends, who have been
induced by false representations and lies to oppose the present
government of this territory and I must say to them that the
government of the United States desires nothing so much as the
happiness and prosperity of California. They [the United States]
have made war against Mexico; but they have ardently desired
to save the people of California and their property from the ter-
rible calamities of the war.
In spite of this, so many are the Californians who have been
induced to make war against the United States by a gang of
demoralized Mexicans and Sonoran robbers, that the United States
have been obliged to make preparations to prosecute the war with
great severity.
There are now in the field and coming from northern points
irresistible forces, and if they arrive before your friends come into
this garrison, I cannot be responsible for their lives and property.
But in consideration of your firm adhesion and the fulfillment of
your promises, and because of the important service which you
have performed by your efforts for the salvation of California from
the wicked deeds of its worst enemies--I declare by these presents
that all those, who come into this garrison as soon as they receive
this offer of protection and friendship, will be received as friends
and the security of their persons and goods is guaranteed by these
presents by the Government of the United States.
Done under my hand and signature this 24th day of November,
1846.
Signed
R. F. Stockton
Commander-in-chief of the forces of the United States
and governor of the territory of California.
This is a copy translated from the original
Miguel de Pedrorena
How to cite:
Thomas Maitland Marshall, "Stockton's Proclaimation to the San Diego Insurgents", Volume 20, Number 2, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v020/n2/contrib_DIVL2365.html
[Accessed Mon Nov 23 13:07:27 CST 2009]
