2IO ELDORADO 



The enterprising and irrepressible American now en- 

 tered upon a new role in California. Commodore 

 Jones, of the United States navy, being on the coast, 

 learned in some way that trouble existed between his 

 government and Mexico. Inferring that this "strain- 

 ing of diplomatic relations" would result in war, he 

 entered the port of Monterey, hoisted the Stars and 

 Stripes, and took possession of the capitol, and pro- 

 claimed California a part of the American republic. 

 On the following day, however, he learned that his 

 acts were premature and quietly hauled down his ban- 

 ners and departed. In the same year, 1842, the Mexi- 

 can government appointed General Micheltorena gov- 

 ernor of California, with authority to exercise all the 

 power hitherto vested in Alvarado and General Vallejo. 

 These two, with General Castro, entered into a con- 

 spiracy to drive Micheltorena out of the country. 

 Castro, with a small force, marched to San Juan, and 

 captured the town and all the government ammunition 

 which was stored there. The governor, fearing defeat, 

 called for aid from Captain John A. Sutter, who had 

 been a foreign resident of the country since 1839. 

 Sutter responded, and with one hundred mounted men, 

 mostly foreigners, went to the rescue. General Castro, 

 at the head of the "rebel" army, met the government 

 forces a short distance from Los Angeles on the 21st 

 of July, 1845, where an engagement took place. It 

 lasted two days, with the result that four persons were 

 killed and Micheltorena surrendered unconditionally 

 with all his forces, who were shipped to San Bias on 

 board an American vessel. Once more California was 



