Archibald H. Gillespie
Archibald H. Gillespie | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 10, 1812 New York City,U.S. |
| Died | August 16, 1873(aged 60) San Francisco,California, U.S. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1832–1854 |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War |
MajorArchibald H. Gillespie(October 10, 1812 – August 16, 1873) was an officer in theUnited States Marine Corpsduring theMexican–American War.
Biography[edit]
Born in New York City, Gillespie was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1832. He commanded the Marine Guard on board theUSSFairfield,USSVincennes,USSNorth Carolina,andUSSBrandywine.
On October 30, 1845, Lt. Gillespie was sent by PresidentJames Polkwith secret messages to the U.S. ConsulThomas O. LarkininMonterey, California,CommodoreJohn D. Sloatin command of thePacific Squadron,andJohn C. Frémont.[1]Traveling across Mexico, he caught a ship to California, where he delivered his messages to Larkin and Sloat. Finding that Frémont was on his way to Oregon, he borrowed a horse and hurried north, where he caught up with him near the Oregon border. After delivering his messages, Gillespie turned around and headed back to California, where he helped Frémont take over theBear Flag revoltof June 14, 1846, in California. He joined the Frémont volunteers in theCalifornia Battalionas its second in command after it was formed under CommodoreRobert F. Stocktonon July 18, 1846.
Gillespie accompanied Frémont and Stockton to San Diego on board theUSSCyanewhere he participated in the peaceful occupation of San Diego and Los Angeles.
Captain Gillespie, Frémont's second in command of theCalifornia Battalion,was left with from 30 to 40 men to occupy Los Angeles after it had surrendered to Frémont and Stockton's men on August 13, 1846. Frémont was sent back north to recruit more men and Stockton, with his Marines and blue coats returned to their ships of thePacific Squadron.
In Los Angeles, the largest city in California with about 3,000 residents, things might have remained peaceful, except that Capt. Gillespie had placed the town undermartial law.Californians "...could not walk two together down the street, nor gather together in their houses under any pretext..."[2]greatly angering many of the Californios. On September 23, 1846, about 200–300 Californios staged a revolt, under CaptainJosé Maria Flores,[3]and exchanged shots with the Americans in their quarters at the Government House. Gillespie and his men withdrew from their headquarters in town toFort Moore Hillwhich, unfortunately, had no water. Gillespie was caught in a trap, outnumbered more than ten to one by the besiegers. John Brown, an American, called by the CaliforniosJuan Flaco,meaning "Lean John," succeeded in breaking through the Californio lines and riding to Yerba Buena, where he delivered to Stockton a dispatch from Gillespie notifying him of the situation. Gillespie, on September 30, finally accepted the terms of capitulation and departed for San Pedro with his forces, weapons and flags plus two cannon (the others were spiked and left behind), accompanied by the exchanged American prisoners and several American residents.[4]
Later, Gillespie's forces fought in theBattle of San Pasqual,theBattle of Dominguez Rancho,and theBattle of Rio San GabrielwithU.S. MarinesandCalifornia Battalionmembers successfully ending the abortive four-month battle for Los Angeles and southern California. TheTreaty of Cahuengain January 1847 ended all hostilities in California.
Returning to Washington, D.C., in 1847, he subsequently served there and atPensacola, Florida,until resigning from the Marine Corps October 14, 1854. For his distinguished service in California, he was promoted to captain, and then major, bybrevet.He died August 16, 1873, in San Francisco.
Namesake[edit]
USSGillespie(DD-609)was named for him,[5]as wasGillespie Fieldairport inEl Cajon, California.[6]
Notes[edit]
- ^David Nevin,The Mexican War.Time-Life Books, 1978ISBN9780809423019,p. 99.
- ^Coronel, Antonio; edited by Doyce B. Nunis, Jr. (1994) p. 34. "Tales of Mexican California." Bellerophon Books, 122 Helena St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
- ^Walter R. Borneman,Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America.New York: Random House, 2008ISBN978-1-4000-6560-8,p. 274.
- ^Denger,"Los Angeles in the War with Mexico".
- ^"Gillespie",DANFS.
- ^"Gillespie Field".San Diego County.Archivedfrom the original on May 2, 2009.RetrievedMarch 21,2009.
References[edit]
- Coronel, Antonio, edited by Doyce B. Nunis, Jr. (1994), "Tales of Mexican California." Bellerophon Books, 122 Helena St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.
This article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
- Denger, Mark J."Los Angeles in the War with Mexico".The Mexican War and California.California Center for Military History.RetrievedMarch 15,2009.
- "Archibald H. Gillespie Papers, 1845-1860".Department of Special Collections, Library, University of California, Los Angeles.RetrievedMarch 21,2009.
Further reading[edit]
- Marti, Werner H. (1960).Messenger of Destiny: The California Adventures, 1846–1847, of Archibald H. Gillespie, U.S. Marine Corps.The John Howell series on the U.S. Navy in Old California. San Francisco: J.Howell-Books.