Battle of Providencia
| Battle of Providencia | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Alta California |
 Centralist Mexico | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Juan Bautista AlvaradoJosé Antonio Castro |
Manuel Micheltorena | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| N/A | N/A | ||||||
TheBattle of Providencia(also called the "Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass" ) took place inCahuenga Passin early 1845 onRancho Providenciain theSan Fernando Valley,north ofLos Angeles,California.NativeCaliforniossuccessfully challenged Mexican forces regarding autonomy ofAlta California.
The conflict[edit]
Alta California,originally a province ofNew Spain,had been a territory under Mexican rule since 1822. As the native-bornCaliforniopopulation reached adulthood, many of them became impatient that the government of Mexico continued to choosenon-native born governors.Following the CalifornioJuan Bautista Alvarado,the central government in 1842 appointed theOaxaca-bornManuel Micheltorenaas governor, who proved very unpopular. By 1844, a revolt against him arose, culminating in the Battle of Providencia.
Micheltorena had been sent to California from Mexico, along with an army that had been recruited out of Mexico’s worst jails. He had no money to feed his army, which then spread out to people’s homes and farms “like a plague of locusts, stripping the countryside bare.” This enraged the Californians and led to widespread hatred of Micheltorena. Women were not considered safe from the depredations of Micheltorena’s army.[1][2][3][4]
Juan Bautista Alvarado,the governor who had been forcibly replaced by Micheltorena, organized a revolt against Micheltorena. Upon learning of the impending revolt, Micheltorena appointedJohn Sutterto lead troops in opposition. Sutter came toJohn Marsh,who had one of the largest ranchos in California, hoping he would join. Marsh wanted no part of it, but Sutter forced him to join his army against his will.[5][6][7][8]
The two forces met inCahuenga Pass,near Los Angeles, and fought the Battle of Providencia (also known as the Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass). In spite of an extensive artillery barrage[9]battle casualties were similarly slight as in the firstBattle of Cahuenga Pass,being limited to one horse and one mule.[10]
On the long march to the battle Marsh had taken every opportunity to dissuade the other soldiers from Micheltorena’s cause. Ignoring Sutter, Marsh seized an opportunity during the battle to signal the other side for a parley. Many of the soldiers on each side were settlers from the United States. Marsh convinced them that they had no reason to be fighting each other. At Marsh’s urging, these soldiers on both sides united, abandoned Micheltorena’s cause, and even captured Sutter. Micheltorena was defeated, and California-bornPío Picowas returned to the governorship.[11][12][13][14]
References[edit]
- ^Lyman and Marsh 1931, pp. 250–252.
- ^Stone, Irving.Men to Match My Mountains,pp 68–72, Berkley Books, New York, 1982.ISBN0-425-10544-X.
- ^Winkley, John W.Dr. John Marsh, Wilderness Scout,pp 66–69, The Parthenon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1962.
- ^Stone, Irving.From Mud-Flat Cove to Gold to Statehood,pp 66–68, Word Dancer Press, Clovis, California, 1999.ISBN1-884995-17-9.
- ^Lyman and Marsh 1931, pp. 250–252.
- ^Stone, Irving.Men to Match My Mountains,pp 68–72, Berkley Books, New York, 1982.ISBN0-425-10544-X.
- ^Winkley, John W.Dr. John Marsh, Wilderness Scout,pp 66–69, The Parthenon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1962.
- ^Stone, Irving.From Mud-Flat Cove to Gold to Statehood,pp 66–68, Word Dancer Press, Clovis, California, 1999.ISBN1-884995-17-9.
- ^"Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass".Wes Clark Blog.
- ^"Landmark Events in L.a. Minority History".Archived fromthe originalon 1999-04-28.Retrieved2012-05-12.
- ^Lyman and Marsh 1931, pp. 250–252.
- ^Stone, Irving.Men to Match My Mountains,pp 68–72, Berkley Books, New York, 1982.ISBN0-425-10544-X.
- ^Winkley, John W.Dr. John Marsh, Wilderness Scout,pp 66–69, The Parthenon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1962.
- ^Stone, Irving.From Mud-Flat Cove to Gold to Statehood,pp 66–68, Word Dancer Press, Clovis, California, 1999.ISBN1-884995-17-9.
External links[edit]
- Frank J. Polley (1894)."Americans at the Battle of Cahuenga".Annual Publication of the Historical Society of Southern California, Los Angeles.3(2). Historical Society of Southern California: 47–54.doi:10.2307/41167583.JSTOR41167583.