The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1878-12-07
ARIZONA SENTINEL.
DECEMBER z, 1873
A Bit of Baja California History.

A Bit or Baja California History.
1t is matter of history that when our
forces took possession of Lo yer California
both Commodore Shubrick, of the navy
and Colonel Burton, of the army, issued
proclamations to the inhabitants, telling
them that Lower California would hereaf.
ter belong to the United States, and
warned them against taking up arms
against that government. Consequently
many remained neutral, and a few took
sides WITH the Americans, relying upon
their promises; but they were filled with
dread and fear when the treaty arrived,
notifying them that
LOWER CALIFORNIA WAS TO REMAIN WITH
MEXICO,
Great was their CONSERVATION. Meetings
were held, placards were posted at night
in La Paz, calling upon the Americans not
to desert them by leaving them in the
hands of their enemies. The subject was
taken into consideration by the "volun-
teers," and it is "known to a few" that
Commodore Jones consented TO plan to
let all the revolutionists, or boys" who
wanted to remain, stay under the COM
mand of nr. Alexander Perry, the surgeon
of the regiment, until orders could be
received from Washington, as the govern
ment had received no news of the success
ses Of the volunteers in Lower California,
or the proclamations that had been issued.
In speaking of the occupation by the
United States troops of Lower California
l will quote an extract from history:
In the early part OF 1S47, our govern
ment found it necessary to have port on
the gulf OF California A detachment of
Stevenson's men were ordered TO take La
PaZ, in Lower California, ana hold it, on
account of its splendid bay, for the Use Of
the government vessels on the coast. The
United States storeship Lexington STAYED
in port about two weeks, and then left. |
Pretty soon the Americans were informed
that If they did not leave Che Mexieans
were coming in great force to drive them
IN the bay, or kill the last one OF them.
No American would be taken alive. Here |
was a chance for Stevenson's "boys" to
show what kind of metal they were COM
posed Of Colonel Stevenson, when ad- |
dressing his regiment, always called them |
his "boys" The detachment at La Paz |
was under the command of Lieutenant !
Colonel Burton, of the regular army. The
MeXicans meant business. They made |
their attack in the night, with seven times
the number Of the Americans. Their at
tack WIS failure, and they got pretty
well whipped for their pains They did
not abandon the idea Of capturing the
although they failed the first
lime. They made five general attacks. at
one time the Americans were surrounded,
=
a gloomy prospect. There was 30 place
to retreat to, and, as to surrender, they
hac been notified that tka. would be ccr-
tain death. But such al idea as surrender
never entered their minds. The "boys"
stuck to their work like veterans, and
drove the enemy of. The Americans, l
must say, were beSieged for three weeks -
until the enemy ran out Of ammunition.
They then retired, or fell back to Sar
Antonio, town sixty miles in the interior.
When Mr.. Priest was sent to Mexico to
the treaty which ceded Upper
but left out Lower California, the few
9 boys" that volunteered t. remain with
DR.. Perry, under the auspices of Com
modore Jones, were not destined to re-
main long at their posts, for the reason
that vessel arrived at La Paz from San
Francisco, bringing news of the discov
cry of gold, and exhibited some of it 10
the volunteers. This news oyershadowcd
all the feeling for the sympathizing
Mexicans, and the result was that the
American squadron brought them all to
San Francisco, and a large number of
acknowledges 1HcGouan, in the
s. 4. Post.
Tie Waters of the ella.