The herald., 1894-04-09
BATTLE OF Los ANGELES
Story Of the Struggle Here in
the Early Da's.
Hsw ND For Hill WIS First Es-
tablIshcd
rhh War Hstw ~ tho Native CAlleor
nlsnA aud thv unItes States Troops
Hack Ia tbs rnrtes-Expiosion
Of ,hu Ola Iagaz nc.

Los Angeles knoyn as Fort Hill, were
conssrucsod and occupied by General
Fremont a1d his ttoopa. General Ere
mont did not build the iortiacations nor
did he ever occupy them, They we're
built by Lieu. J. h. Davidson Of the
First dragons, United ststcs army,
with troops of the Seventh New York
Volunteers, nnder command OF Col. j. ID.
Stevenson, In which also Lieutenant
Davidson's company and four companies
OF the Mormon battalion assisted. Work
was commenced la April, 1847, and con-
tfnued without tintermlssioh until August
OF that year when further work was
abandoned, it being considered unnec-
essary as no hostile demonstration was
anticipated from the inhabitante OF the
Territory OF California. who were be-
lieved to be in a state OF eubjugation.
Colonel Perrie Kewen, formerly OF the
National guard. has spent good deal
OF time in looking up the history OF the
old fort, so familiar to many readers OF
the HERALD. The fort was first occu-
pied ON July 4, 1847, at which time It
was named Fort Moore by Colonel
Stevenson, then in command OF this
military district. Captain Moore, after
whom the fort was named, was killed
December @. 1916 in the battle OF San
Pasqual, San Diego county.
In August, 1916, Commodore Stock
ton and Lieut.. j. @. Fremont, with
force OF sailors, marines and volunteers,
took possession OF the city OF Los Ange-
les without resistance. and left O small
garrison under the command OF Lieut..
A. Gillespie, to hold the place.
In September following, the native
Caliiornians and Mexicans rose in inEur.
rection and besieged the little garrison
in their quartera, a large adobe build
ing. The troops wera forced to evacu
ate the city before the 30th OF Septem-
ber, and proceeded TO old San Pedro, and
embarked ON the frigate Savannah. A
few days after, Captain Mervine, OF the
United States navy, landed with body
oimarinee, aailors and volunteers and
proceeded in the direction OF Los Angeles
for the purpose Of capturing the city.
His forces were on foot without
artillery or any means for speedy trans
portation. When near Comptonville
they were met by force OF 10 Califor-
mans, commanded by Jose A. Oarrillo,
with piece OF light artillery modnted
on a pair of carryRll wheels. The Cali
torniane opened the engagement st long
range and kept up a running fight,
shooting with their piece OF artillery,
and thus managing to keep beyond the
range of the muskets of the United
States troops. The Mexicans were all
mounted, while the Americans were on
loot, and thereby unable to come to
close quarters with their willy foes:
weonnfnded, Captain Mervine, observing
the tactics oil the enemy, who were har-
rasaing him terribly, with no opportu-
nifty being offered to get within rifle
range. ordered retreat to the ship.
At the Dominguez ranch the sailors
pressed into service two ox-carts, iu
which they placed their dead and wound
ed, and took them to San Pedro. The
dead were buried upon Little island
near San Pedro, now known as Dead
Mans Island. Captain Mervine en-
barked on the Savannah snd proceeded
to San Diego, where he was joined by
Commodore Stockton with the vessels OF
the American squadron on this coast.
AT that time the Mexicans and Califor-
mans held all the territory of California
from Monterey to San Diego. In Mo-
vember 1916, Fremont started for Los
Angeles, from the neighborhood OF San
Francisco bay, with 400 mounted men.
On the 9th OF December, 1846, General
Kearney, with squadron of dragons,
130 men, proceeded from New Mexico
by the Gila route, to California. He
was met at San Pasqual, San Diego
county, by about an equal number of
mounted troops under the command OF
Don Andres Pico. General Kearney's
intention was to surprise PicO by march
ing in the night; but Pico, hearing of
Kearney's advance, laid in ambush, and
completely surprised him, killing 20
men and three non-eommisaioned off,
GERS, and wounding IL. He remained
within few miles OF the battlefield un-
til Commodore Stockton came from San
Diego to his assistance, when both COM
mands retreated to San Diego.
In the latter part of December, 1S46,
Stockton and KeRrny, with about 600
men under their joint command, left
San Diego for Los Angeles, with the ex-
press purpose in view OF recapturing
that city. On the Sth OF January, 1847,
they were met by an equal number OF
the enemy under the command OF GEN
eral Flores, at the crossing of the San
Gabriel river, the road that led to
Ranchito. An engagement Immediately
eneued, which resulted in the repulse OF
the Mexicans after the troops had been
engaged for about an hour. The mum.
bor of casualties we're about equal on
both sides, and did not number more
than seven or eight, killed and wounded.
The American forces camped that
night on the battlefield, which was on
the west bank Of the San Gabriel river.
The next morning the troops resumed
their march to the city of Los Angeles,
directing their course across the plains
between the Laguna and the Mills. 80 as
to strike the southern portion of the city
and avoid surprise in the bill. They
were again attacked by General Flores
when near the mesa east of Los Angeles
river. running fight then occurred
and continued from there to the Los An
geles river, O distance of three miles,
The losses were very small on either
side. That night the American forces
camped near the eastern side of the
river bank.
The next morning, January 10th, the
Americana marched into Los Angeles
without opposition, General Flores and
his principal officers fled to Sonora and
his troops disbanded and went to their
respective homes. Don Andres Pico,
however, rallied about 120 men and pro-
ceeded to meet Fremont who WAS on HE
way to Los Angeles from San Fernando
They met near the Oahuenga pass where
q conference took place. which was
afterwards confirmed by Fremont's SUI
perior officers, KeaYuy and Stockton