S2 E5 Accidental Annexation of California 1842

October 1842, Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones  believes he is about to place his name in the  records of American expansionist history, stating Mexico made a declaration of war against the United States, He plans to seize every California port from Yerba Buena to San Diego, before Mexico can enact their plan to sell California to England, to pay off debts.

But, sometimes, things aren't what they seem...

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Transcript

Prologue

Sometimes, things aren’t what they seem. We’ve all taken data points out of context, and made connections, which fit the narrative we want to believe. Sometimes, these situations become funny stories, in retrospect, and sometimes, they remain situations you’d rather forget. But, if you’re lucky, you get a spin doctor to make the mistake … heroic.  

I left off in 1846, and wanted to dive into the annexation of California, But, as I did my research, I came across an event that would play into the eventual annexation. What I describe today is an interesting tale in California and United States history, by setting the future landscape for how the annexation would eventually happen. The actual touch points to Yerba Buena/San Francisco are peripheral, but, meaningful. 

We backtrack to 1842. But, trust me, this is a good story, and precursor to the actual annexation. 

Are you ready? Here we go. 

First Take Over of California

Thomas Ap Catesby Jones: Commodore of Manifest Destiny

It’s 1842 and the tensions are high between the United States and Mexico, regarding California. In a nutshell, Mexico is starting to require passports for Americans living in California. In addition to the United States, England and France are also interested in California.

On October 18, 1842, Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, Captain Armstrong, and Captain Stribling are a few hours outside of Monterey Bay on the frigate/warship called ‘United States’ and the sloop of war ‘Cyane’. 

Commodore Jones informed his command “We are now approaching the shore of California, the territory of Mexico, the enemy of our country, whose flag, it is our duty to strike and hoist in its place, our own. It is not only our duty to take, but we must keep it afterwards at all hazards. This may or may not be an easy task; we are prepared for all the worst. In just a few hours, we shall be in possession of Monterey.”

Commodore Jones is arriving, with a war ship. But, why? Jones understood Mexico was about to sell California to England, for $7,000,000, to settle a debt for 1.5 million pounds. That 1.5 million pound debt in 1842, is worth 68 million dollars, today. 

Additionally, Commodore Jones understood Mexico’s President Antonio Lopez Santa Anna had written a letter to Secretary of State Daniel Webster, on June 4, 1842, stating Mexico made a declaration of war against the United States.

Jones feared the English would arrive to Monterey before him, to purchase California. But upon arrival he only saw one Mexican ship in the Monterey Bay. Actually, the seas were very empty as he travelled to California. But, he was correct in his timing, and arrived before the British had arrived. Data point.

The next day, October 19, 1842, Commodore Jones, Captain Armstrong and Captain Stribling arrive in Monterey Bay and quickly seized the Mexican ship Joven Guipuzcoana , and captured a very surprised Englishman, Captain Joseph F. Snook. 

Commodore Jones proclaimed they were under orders to seize every California port from Yerba Buena to San Diego, before Mexico could enact their plan to sell California to England, to pay off debts. Captain Snook was caught off guard, and said he had no knowledge of a diplomatic situation. But, Jones did not believe the Englishman’s attempt at ignorance, especially as he maned a Mexican ship. 

Snook asked to be released, but was taken capture on the Cyane.  

Okay, the preverbal shots are fired. Jones 1 Mexico 0.

Commodore Jones came prepared for his mission and arrived with the Articles of Capitulation written in advance, with copies in English and in Spanish.

Jones states he is about to place his name in the history records of American expansionist history by presenting Monterey, and the California governor, with his Proclamation! The articles of capitulation had been written with blank spaces, as you normally see on a legal contract, to be executed later in time, and in other cities. He came prepared.

At about 4 o’clock in the afternoon, Jones sends Captain Armstrong to shore to deliver the proclamation, expecting Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to comply with his demand by 11 o’clock the next morning. 

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From the Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, commander-in-chief of the United States naval forces on the Pacific, to his excellency the Governor and military and civil commander of the department of Monterey de California 

FLAG SHIP UNITED STATES

MONEREY BAY October 19, 1842

Sir: In the name of the United States of America, and with the earnest desire to avoid the sacrifice of human life and the horrors of war, which must be the immediate consequence of your non-compliance with this summons, I call on you to surrender to the arms of the United States the form, military posts, and stations, under your command, together with all troops, arms, and munitions of war, of every description subject to your jurisdiction and control. 

To avoid unnecessary delay, I have hereunto annexed articles of capitulation, and fully empowered, the bearer, Captain James Armstrong, to unite with your excellency, or such persons as your excellency may name, to sign and execute the same on the part of our respective Governments. 

THOMAS AP C. JONES.

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Articles of Capitulation entered into this ____ day of ___ , 1842 between ___, on the part of Mexico, and

 ___, on behalf of the United States of America. 

(I’ll just read one of the six Articles of Capitulation to be signed.) 

ARTICLE 1. The garrison of ___ shall march out on ___ at ___o’clock, with music and colors flying, and shall ground arms in presence of the American forces, which will immediately enter the fort; whereupon the flag of Mexico will be lowered by a Mexican officer, and that of the United States instantly hoisted in its place.  

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For the sake of time, I’ll quickly review the recent backstory. 

Alvarado was recently voted out as governor, lost the election to Manuel Micheltorena. New Governor, was enroute to Monterey, and remained enroute, as all this was happening. Done.

In this moment, Monterey is, or isn’t, without a physical governor onsite when Jones arrived. I’ve read conflicting reports. More on that in a moment.

Thomas Larkin, a United States citizen, successful Monterey merchant, and American counsel in California, met with Captain Armstrong, Armstrong’s secretary, and two Monterey officers. Larkin is asked to be the interpreter and saw Armstrong and company to the current ‘acting’ Governor’s house, to deliver Commodore Jones’ articles of capitulation on behalf of the United States. 

In one account, which I am choosing to believe, after losing the election, Alvarado left Monterey, to his Alisal Rancho, near Salinas, 19 miles away from Monterey, and wasn’t present to receive the letter, as Jones had expected. Datapoint. 

Later that day, being 4 hours away by horse, Alvarado receives the news, and the letter, and returns to Monterey, to handle the situation.

Larkin plays a unique role. His successful merchant store relies on his friendly business relationships with the Californios. As a United States citizen living in Mexico’s California, and holding a government position as an American counsel, he walks a delicate line, in this situation. 

Larkin says in a letter to his friend Atherton, that on this day, during the first hour of being in the Governor’s house, while all this was happening, he was very uncomfortable. 

That night, Alvarado sent Jones this response:

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From J.B. Alvarado to Commodore Jones

MONTEREY, October 19, 1842, 10 o’clock P.M.

Sir: On the delivery of the letter requiring the surrender of this department, by the officer who you had commissioned for that purpose this evening, I had the honor to inform him that I was not invested with the offices of governor and commandant general, as supposed by you from the address of that note; and it is, in consequence, unnecessary for me to explain to you that I am incompetent to make a capitulation in the name of the Mexican nation, as my authority, being at present confined within the limits of the civil branch, cannot in any way extend to the military. Confimrably with these views, which I conceive will be satisfactory to you, sir, I have conferred with the military commandant; and the result has been, that a commission is sent to you composed of Captain Don Pedro Narvaez, on the part of the military commandancy, and Don Jose Abrego representing the civil authority. 

Juan B. Alvarado. 

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So, with incoming Governor enroute to Monterey, and Alvarado voted out, Alvarado wasn’t going to deal with this headache… I mean, situation. Alvarado hands it over to Monterey’s military commander, Don Mariano Silva, with the aid of Narvaez and Abrego.

Captain Pedro Narvaez and Jose Abrego, with Thomas Larkin, acting as an interpreter, go onboard Jones’ ship. Despite their questionable authority, they agreed to sign the Articles of Capitulation, and remove the Mexican flag, the next day.

The two Californios leave the ship, and, Jones asks Larkin to stay behind, to speak privately.

Now, alone, Larkin takes this moment to ask Jones … who exactly had declared war? Mexico or the United States? Larkin informs Jones, as recently as a month and a half ago, the Mexican newspapers said nothing about war. 

If Larkin was going to make that kind of claim, Jones wanted proof. But, Larkin did not provide proof, which Jones immediately read as an act of reconnaissance. For Larkin to make such a claim and have no proof was…  suspicious! As Jones saw it, Larkin, despite being an American counsel in California, had clearly taken sides with Mexico. Data point. 

As Jones waited for the morning, his war ship and sloop of war fly flags of truce, but keep their cannons aimed at Monterey … just in case.

The next day, on October 20th, at 10 o’clock in the morning, Commodore Jones, sends Captain Armstrong to shore, along with strict orders for the 150 heavily armed soldiers, “No man is to enter a house without an officer, nor touch a female, however low in life she might be, nor to rob however small the article, and to do nothing that you would be ashamed of before God and your Country”.

Once ashore, per Article 1, they marched to the Presidio with the band playing “Yankee Doodle” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” which is how you knew it was serious. When a drummer, trumpeter and flutist are playing your national songs. That’s fighting music.

The Americans ceremoniously take down the Mexican flag and raise the stars and stripes for the first government-official time in California, and the Articles of Capitulation are signed, all without resistance. 

The word of the takeover quickly spreads among the Monterey residents. An American war ship appears, seizes the Mexican ship anchored in the bay, tells you your country has declared war with the United States and was planning to sell California to England? But, today, your country has conceded California to the United States. Huh?

A good portion of the residents didn’t stick around to witness the American flag replaced the Mexican flag, listen to the talented musicians playing American songs, or watch the twenty-six-gun salute. They left with whatever they could, as quickly as they could. Larkin, in a letter, mentions one family who left the doors and windows open, during the hurry they were in.

Armstrong now with the signed terms of surrender, reports back to Jones on the warship. All of today was accomplished without guns fired, injuries, or resistance. Jones said, “This was a conquest, conducted in a most orderly manner”.

On October 21st, Jones finally goes to shore. He’s dressed in full military regalia. He wants to inspect the town, now that California has been claimed by the United States. He wants to see the stars and stripes flying over Monterey.

Jones’ secretary H. LaReintrie approached Jones. He tells Jones they need to speak. Something was wrong. LaReintrie found the Mexican newspapers Larkin was referencing, as well as other dispatches. 

They take the papers to Larkin’s store, and ask Larkin to translate the papers. Just as Larkin stated, the newspapers, as recently as August 22, make no mention of war. And, there’s an official letter from Mexico stating that the rumor of selling California to Great Britain was just that. A rumor! Wait, what?!

But … the datapoints. Recall them all. British ships weren’t present to take over California, as Jones was expecting. When Jones arrived, Monterey was left without a governor at the military headquarters, which you wouldn’t expect if war was declared. The Californios were not prepared for, or have knowledge of, the war. And, Larkin’s private conversation with Jones. 

Same datapoints, now interpreted very differently. Oh, noooo.

Commodore Jones, realized, in that moment, he was mistaken. Mexico had not declared war on the United States, and Mexico was not planning to sell California to England. Ugggghhh. Wanna get away?

Jones announces, “In my opinion, the motives ,and only justifiable grounds for demanding a surrender of this territory, have been removed, or at least rendered so doubtful, as to make it my duty to restore things as I found them with the least possible delay.”

He did arrive before the English ships came to purchase California. But, then again, the English were never going to arrive for that reason. 

Something Was Wrong

Going back a few months, June of 1842, the Mexican newspaper El Cosmopolito printed parts of a letter between the Mexican government and Waddy Thompson, which, taken out of context, would lead you to believe Mexico had declared war on the United States. Also, a Boston newspaper reprinted a loosely written article from the New Orleans Advertiser which incorrectly said “…according to authentic information, Mexico has ceded the Californias to Great Britain for $7,000,000”. At the time, Jones concluded these reports should be accepted on face value, and act on them. And, here we are.

Jones manipulated the incoming datapoints, to match what he already believed. 

Dear listener, by this point, the United States flag had been flying over Monterey for over 24 hours. What does a gentleman do in this situation? I mean, the idea to whistle and walk back to the ship like nothing happened isn’t an option.

The obvious first step was to remove the stars and stripes and replace it with the Mexican flag, and return any seized property. That’s a good start. Good thing Jones had extra copies of the proclamation with empty lines. Why? Because he had to fill out another one, but this time, surrendering California back to Mexico. What a circus!

Larkin and Jones had to do more than replace the flag to smooth over this awkward mistake. So, what do they do? The two men quickly organize banquets with music and dancing to defuse the misunderstanding! Might as well. The warship had a talented band, which was playing, the day before. And Californios love a good fiesta and fandango. 

Per California tradition, this fiesta went on for three days. I’m not joking about the ship’s band performing at the ‘Let’s Make Up and Be Friends’ party. (That’s my name for this event.)

Imagine what the locals must be thinking after two days of complete Tom Foolery. And now, a huge party is being thrown? I picture dumbfounded Californios, holding a glass of brandy, while watching a fiesta take place. Who was the first person to serve themselves at this grand event? I mean, who was the guest of honor here? Commodore Jones? Certainly not. 

According to Larkin, he reported that some locals felt this entire ‘mistake’ must have been planned, because this big of a mistake is too huge to be an accident. But, for what reason, and for what gain? No one knew. It shows conspiracy theories have been around a while. 

The aftermath of it all, as in, after the fiesta?

Jones was extremely apologetic in the most gentlemanly way possible and sent letters to several people admitting his mistake and asking for forgiveness. (I bet he did.)

Thomas Larkin, walked away, unsure of how Californios would treat Americans living in their country. Would his previously friendly relationships be affected by this situation? He worried about his business relationships with the Californios, given his role in all of this.

Now, recall, Commodore Jones wanted to place his name in American expansionist history. Oh, he did. This ‘war that wasn’t’ ended up having real consequences. If tensions between Mexico and the United States were present before? It didn’t improve after this.

In addition to this snafu being extremely embarrassing for Jones and the United States, Jones had prematurely showed the United States’ hand. The United States was hoping for a peaceful negotiation. Way to go, Jones.

How could a peaceful negotiation for a harmonious sale of the California province happen, now? This snafu would go on to delay the United States eventual acquisition of California for another four years, and destroyed the original plan of a negotiation for a purchase and a peaceful takeover of California. Aces, Jones.

The Foreign Affairs concluded, after their investigation, that the Monterey takeover was entirely of Jones’ doing and was not a part of any instruction he was given from the United States government. 

Epilogue

I’ve said this in other episodes that time has a way of reshaping historical events. So, how do you imagine our dear Jones gets remembered in American history?

“Without a doubt, Jones proved himself a true patriot when he faced the greatest risk an American officer can be party to – all without authority or intelligence of any official merit, and with only his devout patriotism and astuteness to guide him.” 

Sometimes, things aren’t what they seem. We’ve all taken data points out of context, and made connections, which fit the narrative we want to believe. Sometimes, these situations become funny stories, in retrospect, and sometimes, they remain situations you’d rather forget. But, if you’re lucky, you get a spin doctor to make the mistake heroic.  

Jones received all three on a silver platter.

Go on with your heroic self, Thomas Ap Catesby Jones. You clever and devout patriot, you. 

The sources for today’s episode are:

Smith, Gene A. “The War That Wasn’t: Thomas Ap Catesby Jones’s Seizure of Monterey.” California History 66, no. 2 (1987): 104–13. https://doi.org/10.2307/25591534.

Osio, Anotonio M. “The History of Alta California-A Memoir of Mexican California” Translated from Spanish to California in 1996

“The Affairs at Monterey, October 20 & 21st, 1842 as reported by Thomas Larkin”, from NUNIS, DOYCE B., and Thomas O. Larkin. “Six New Larkin Letters.” Southern California Quarterly 49, no. 1 (1967): 65–103. https://doi.org/10.2307/41170073.

Haas, Lisbeth. “War in California, 1846-1848.” California History 76, no. 2/3 (1997): 331–55. https://doi.org/10.2307/25161671.

Garrett, Lou Ann. “The Commodore’s Decision.” The Historical Society of Southern California Quarterly 40, no. 4 (1958): 337–52. https://doi.org/10.2307/41169367.

Cleland, Robert Glass. “The Early Sentiment for the Annexation of California: An Account of the Growth of American Interest in California, 1835-1846, I.” The Southwestern Historical Quarterly 18, no. 1 (1914): 1–40. http://www.jstor.org/stable/30234620.

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