92 HISTORY OF PASADKNA. 



officers and troops, see Bancroft, Hist. Cal., Vo/.s, A 385-86.] The main 

 public road leading to Los Angeles was followed. The niarch was slow, at 

 ox-cart pace only ; and although they met with no armed resistance until 

 they reached the San Gabriel river, it was not till January 8, 1847, — ten 

 days — when they arrived there. And now they were confronted b}^ the 

 Mexican army under Gen. Jose Maria Flores,* another of the honorable 

 Spanish Dons whom Lieut. Gillespie had rashly imprisoned because of a 

 drunken mob with which Flores had no more to do than father Adam. 

 Gov. Pio Pico and Gen. Castro had fled the country rather than surrender 

 or be captured when Stockton and Fremont took possession of Los Angeles 

 in August, 1846. Gillespie's wrongful imprisonments occurred on September 

 17. The men he arrested bad been put on parole of honor by Commodore 

 Stockton ; and the Lewis History says : ' ' The Californians arrested were 

 furious at their seizure, and at the attempt to hold them responsible for the 

 acts of a few drunken vagabonds ; and as Gillespie had violated the promise 

 made them of personal liberty when they gave their parole, they declared 

 they would be no longer bound by it." This was the view of the matter 

 taken by the intelligent and cultivated portion of the Spanish citizens ; 

 and on October 26, 1846, the remaining members of their former legislature 

 assembled in special session and elected Gen. Flores to be Governor ad 

 interim and commander-in-chief. Stockton knew nothing of these reason- 

 able views of the Spanish-Mexican citizens. He only knew of Gillespie's 

 expulsion from Los Angeles ; of Mervine's severe defeat at Dominguez 

 ranch ; of his own discomfiture by Carrillo's shrewd and successful strategic 

 display of imaginary troops at San Pedro ; of Kearny's disastrous battle 

 at San Pasqual. He was here to conquer and take possession of the 

 country, and was attending strictly to business. The foregoing digression 

 was necessary, as a clue for the reader in understanding some later events. 



On his march, January 4, Stockton was met by three commissioners — 

 Wm. Workman representing the American settlers ; Charles Flugge repre- 

 senting the foreigners ; and Domingo Olivasf representing the Spanish or 

 Mexican citizens — asking terms of conciliation. But he was smarting im- 

 der the defeats above mentioned, was in no mood to conciliate anything, and 

 would hear to nothing but unconditional surrender — asserting at the same 

 time that Flores and others who had violated their parole would be shot il 

 captured. 



Stockton's army reached the San Gabriel river on January 8, and at- 



*"They are formed between the American army and the Rio San Gabriel, apparently waiting to give 

 battle, and are estimated at 1,000 to 1,200 — almost wholly cavalry."' — Report oj Commodore Stockton's 

 Scouts am! Spy, on m'g/it of January y. 



Cue of Stockton's officers wrote: "The enemy had fortified themselves to the number of five 

 hundred men, with four pieces of artillery," etc. This was a mistake, for the Mexicans had only two 

 small cannon, while Stockton had six cannon and plenty of good ammunition. The same writer 

 speaking of the battle of the Mesa the next day, says; "They made a bold and resolute stand; tried 

 our lines on every side ; and manceuvered their artillery with much skill." 



jThis was the grandfather of Jose D. Olivas, who resides on Cypress avenue in Pasadena. 



