Battlelines 11-14 Color

1

Vol. XXVII, No 6 November/December 2014

CALENDAR

Sunday, November 2

Living History, Park

Friday, November 21

Board Meeting, 11 am-1 pm

(note schedule change)

Tuesday, November 25

History Discussion,, Joslyn Sen-

ior Ctr Escondido, 4:30 to 6:30 p

Harper’s Magazine led by Ron

Hinrichs

Sunday, December 7

Battle Day, Park

Friday, December 19

Board Meeting, 11 am-1 pm

(note schedule change)

Happy

Holidays

Coming in 2015:

Sunday, January 4

Living History, Park

Saturday, January 31

Mormon Battalion Day, Old

Town SDSHP

President’s Message: by Tom Vilicich

Battle Day is fast approaching.This year things are going to be alittle different. We will not becrossing the highway for the re-enactment. There will be demon-strations of horsemanship andskill by Californios and US Dra-goons. We will have all the otheractivities that we had in the past,and we will be adding more ac-tivities. Kids will be able toenlist in the Dragoons and bedrilled in the proper militaryfashion. We will also have a dra-

matic reading of the “BattleStory” as told through the eyesof a Dragoon and Californio.Event times are 11:00 am to3:30 pm on Sunday, December7.

Our annual meeting in Octoberwas well attended. Board mem-ber reelected for a three yearterm include Don Coates, TomCook, Richard Meyer, and BobWohl. We wish to thank AlexaClausen for her informative and

(Continued on page 2)

Cannon crew, December 2013. Photo courtesy of Michelle Wolf.

2

BATTLELINES Nov/Dec 2014

Park Hours:

Saturday &

Sunday, 10 am

to 4 pm

Park Phone

Number:

(760) 737-2201

weekends only or

(619) 220-5422

www.parks.ca.gov

www.spbva.org

SPBVA Info:

Tom Vilicich

(951) 674-0185 or

[email protected]

School & Adult

Tours Contact:

Darlene Hansen

(760) 480-6320

BATTLELINES

Contributions

Deadline :

December 19,

2014

Contact editor,

Ellen Sweet,

[email protected]

well-illustrated talk on the adobehomes of Escondido.

We have extended the deadline forthe Name the Private (of Company C)contest. Please see the list of namesand information in Battlelines on page6 to help you choose a name for ourvisitor center Dragoon. Email Tom Vat ([email protected]) or vote at the

visitor center.We have a school group coming to

the battlefield in the near future. And Iam sure we will be hosting many oth-ers as the school year progresses. Wehave also had some inquiries from theUS Marines for what they call a “staffride” for one of our tours.

Hope to see many of you on BattleDay!

(Continued from page 1)

President’s Message continued

Living History at SPby Supervising Ranger Chris Lozano

As the 2014 summer comes to anend and the mind wanders to turkeylegs and presents under the holidaytree, I want to remind and encourageothers that Living History at SanPasqual is happening. Living Historyoccurs the first Sunday of each monthand comes with a live cannon demon-stration. The park has a great group ofassociation members, volunteers, and

park staff who provide an entertaining,educational, and interpretive programabout the battle of San Pasqual and itsparticipants. What a great way to startoff the month with a history experi-ence! So we hope to see you at thenext living history program. And,please, bring a friend or two. We don’tmind.

Special Thanks by Supervising Ranger Chris Lozano

For those who don’t know, SanPasqual’s most popular special event isfast approaching. The event annually isknown as Battle Day. Battle Day wouldnot be such a success if it were not forthe support of the San Pasqual Battle-field Volunteer Association, its board,and its members. Their continued pas-sion for history, devotion to the park,and dedication to the story of San

Pasqual is priceless. I continue to learnfrom each of them on so many differentlevels and the stories they tell are so en-gaging that I always want more. So,please, when you come out and visit thepark on Battle Day or any other time,stop by and thank them for all they do.And if you are lucky, maybe they willtell you a story or two.

Living History, October 2014Photo courtesy of Chris Lozano

3


4

SPBVA 2014

BOARD

MEMBERS

Shirley Buskirk

Cliff Clifford

Royce Clifford

Donald Coates

Tom Cook

Jake Enriquez

Randall Hamud

Darlene Hansen

Ron Hinrichs

Gisela Koestner

Richard Meyer

Leroy Ross, Jr.

Stan Smith

Ellen Sweet

Tom Vilicich

Bob Wohl

President:

Tom Vilicich

Vice-President:

Don Coates

Treasurer:

Gisela Koestner

Recording Sec’y:

Ellen Sweet

Corporate Sec’y:

Ron Hinrichs

Mailing Address:

PO Box 300816

Escondido, CA 92030


Catalina Island was Shirley Buskirk’ssubject for the June history discussion.With a long history of Native Americansettlements, Catalina was later a basefor Russian otter hunters until Gover-nor Pio Pico granted it to Thomas Rob-bins in 1846. Robbins, who was mar-ried to a Californio lady, established aranch there, but sold after squatters be-came a problem. The next owner triedraising goats and then sold half interestto Albert Packard, who raised 20,000sheep and 600 cattle.

In 1857, Charles Scammon was thefirst to hunt gray whales in CatalinaHarbor from what would becomeknown as Scammon’s Lagoon in BajaCalifornia.

In 1863, the US Army took posses-sion fearing Confederate sympathizerswould outfit privateers. Regular mailservice took ten days, but homing pi-geons cut that time to 45 minutes. Thefollowing year James Lick bought theisland, leased it for sheep, and the LickTrust, controlled by the University ofCalifornia, took over after his death in1876. In 1887, George Shatto createdAvalon, built the first pier, the 80-roomHotel Metropole, and started daily boatservice. When Shatto defaulted on hisloan in 1892, the island went back tothe Lick Trust.

The Banning brothers bought the is-land three weeks later and formed theSanta Catalina Island Company, devel-oping the island as a resort. In 1919chewing gum magnate William Wrig-ley Jr took over, added daily seaplaneservice, and brought his Chicago Cubsthere for spring training until 1951.

During World War II, the island wasused exclusively by the military fortraining the US Maritime Service,Coast Guard, and top secret units: Sig-nal Corps, OSS (CIA) and Underwater

Demolition Teams (Seals). In 1975,88% of the island was deeded to theCatalina Island Conservancy.

July’s presenter was Bob Wohl,whose subject was Early Jews in OldTown. In 1848, there was a mass mi-gration from Europe. People, first at-tracted by the gold rush, came southwhen their fortunes failed to material-ize. Anglos and Jews arrived at thesame time, lived in the same area, andhad the same interest in growth. Theywere separated more by language thanreligion.

Members of the Jewish communityserved on the railroad committee,brought the first lumber ships, partici-pated in military defense units, servedon the County Grand Jury and asjudges. They were on the CountyBoard of Supervisors and the CityBoard of Trustees. One was the schoolsuperintendent.

They had a role in creating BalboaPark, joined the San Diego Lyceumand Debating Club, and were Masonicofficials. They were active in all kindsof businesses, such as mattressesstuffed with kelp, and worked as labor-ers and farmers.

The first High Holy Service was heldin 1851 “by the only three Hebrews intown.” In 1887, Congregation Beth Is-rael incorporated and a temple wasbuilt in New Town two years later.That original temple is now restoredand in Heritage Park. Twenty-one indi-viduals were also discussed.

Rancho Azusa was Richard Meyer’ssubject in August. In 1842, Luis Arenaswas granted 4,431 acres, named it ElSusa Rancho, and began farming andraising stock. Two years later he sold itto Henry Dalton, who named it RanchoAzusa de Dalton. An Englishman, Dal-

(Continued on page 5)

History Discussions By Ron Hinrichs and Shirley Buskirk

5

SPBVA’s HISTORY DISCUSSIONS:

Tues, November 25 4:30─6:30 pm

Harper’s Magazineled by Ron Hinrichs

(No History Discussion in December)

*Joslyn Senior Center, Board Room210 E. Park Ave (off North Broadway), Escondido

,

Call Ron Hinrichs, 760-746-8380 for information.


ton came from Peru in 1823 and was wealthy. Hebought and shipped goods from Peru to Californiaand owned land in Mexico. He increased his landholdings in California until, by 1851, he was thesecond largest land owner: 45,280 acres.

During the war with Mexico, he lost $6,160 worthof goods to US troops, loaned $30,000 worth ofsupplies and cash to Mexico City (for which he wasnever repaid), and US troops broke into his house,ransacked his wine cellar, cut down his oak fencefor firewood, and smashed his dinnerware.

In 1853, Dalton had 25,000 head of cattle drivennorth and lost both the cattle and his vaqueros. In1858, an erroneous survey took 1.5 miles from hissouth boundary and 1.5 miles from his east bound-ary─18,500 acres of his best land─and opened it to homesteaders and squatters. After 24 years of litiga-tion he lost everything to his banker, who gave him46 acres to live on.

Dalton had imported the first citrus trees andhoney bees, brought alfalfa seeds from Peru, andhad 7,000 vines. He had left three children behindin Peru, but at age 43 married 14 year old Guada-lupe Zamarano. They had 11 children.

Dianne Cowen led the September discussion onRancho San Julian (no connection to our nearbytown of Julian), which is located north of SantaBarbara at the foot of the Santa Ynez Mountains. In1816, José de la Guerra, commandante of SantaBarbara Presidio, was granted the right to graze cat-tle on the Rancho del Rey. Renamed Rancho Na-cional when Mexico took over, it supplied the pre-sidio with meat, tallow, horses, and wool.

After California became part of the United States,De la Guerra was granted a patent on the land. Asevere drought caused him to mortgage the ranchand he lost it to Gaspar Oreña, who had married Dela Guerra’s cousin. Five years later the ranch wassold to a Dibblee-Hollister partnership. ThomasDibblee married De la Guerra’s granddaughter andwhen the partnership broke up Thomas got the cen-ter tract of land and renamed it Rancho San Juliande la Dibblee y de la Guerra.

The 1882 fence law required 240 miles of wire toenclose the ranch, which was 40 miles in circumfer-ence. Today the ranch is still run by family descen-dants and is an “agricultural preserve.” Cattle havereplaced sheep. Crops include lima beans, hay, andlavender. They are also considering vineyards.

(Continued from page 4)

History Discussions continued

6


George Ashmead: Born about 1816, Baltimore. Painter. Enlisted several times. Killed in action at San Pasqual.Stephen A. Bishop: Born about 1817, NY. Stage Driver. Enlisted several times.Zarah Bobo: Born about 1819, Ohio. Blacksmith. Enlisted Jan 1846. Served in Civil War. Died 1864 West Va.John Brown: Brn abt 1826, PA. Left sick Sn Diego after battle, Dec 29, 1846. Dischrged May 1847 Los AngelesGeorge S. Bryan: Born about 1823, Ohio. Printer. Enlisted 1844, discharged at Sonoma Oct 1849.Joseph T. Campbell: Born about 1818, Philadelphia. Clerk. Killed in action at San Pasqual.Mark Childs: Born about 1823, NY. Farmer. Wounded in heel & ankle, Los Angeles (Mesa), Jan 9, 1847George Coffelt: Born about 1816, York, PA. Enlisted several times. Deserted May 1849, apprehended 1851.Jeremiah Crab(b): Left sick in San Diego, Dec 29, 1846. Continued in Army. Died 1904.bur Dayton Natl CemEdward Curran: no information found yetMichael Curran (Curren): Enlisted May 1842, discharged May 1847 at Los Angeles.William Dalton: Born about 1822, Ireland. Boatman. Enlisted 1844 Louisville. Killed in action at San PasqualA.C. Donaldson: no information found yetThomas A. Douglass: Born about 1810, Union, PA. Enlisted several times. Deserted Oct 1850.John Dunlap: Born about 1819, Ireland. Laborer. Killed in action at San PasqualPeter Forney: Born 1816-17, Lancaster, PA. Enlisted several times. Deserted April 1847.Thomas Grady: Born about 1819, Ireland. Laborer. Enlisted several times. Discharged Jan 1851 Sonoma.John Hemmerle: Born in France. Cabinetmaker. Enlisted Apr 1846 St. Louis. Died Los Angeles, July 4, 1847Joseph B. Kennedy: Born about 1819, Philadelphia. Clerk. Died Dec 21, 1846, San Diego, from wounds at SPMatthew Lauber: Born about 1823, Germany. Shoemaker. Enlisted Feb 1845 St Louis, deserted Sep 1848William C. Leckey: Brn 1821, PA. Clerk & Farmer. Enlisted Dec 1845, leaving wife, son.. Killed in action at SP.Jacob Mauser: Born about 1813,PA. Boatman. Enlisted several times. Deserted 1848, apprehended 1849.John McNeilly: Born Ireland. Clerk. Enlisted May 1844 St. Louis. Discharged May 1849 Sonoma.James Murphy: no information found yetJohn Murty: Born about 1815, Ireland. Enlisted several times. Discharged SF February 1849George F. Myers: Born abt 1823 PA. Shoemaker. Enlisted Dec 1845 Dayton. Deserted March 1849Ferdinand Nicholas: Brn abt 1815, Newark, NJ. Blacksmith. Enlisted 1844 St Louis, discharged 1849 SonomaJames A. Osbourne: Left sick at San Diego Dec 29, 1846. Applied for pension 1889 from AZ TerritoryAmasa Palmer: Brn abt 1825 Iowa. Enlisted 1846. Left sick SD Dec 29, 1846. Assassinated Los Angeles 1848George Pearce: Born 1822, KY. Clerk. Enlisted 1844 Louisville. Discharged Sonoma. Elected State Senator 1863James Pinkerton: Born about 1824, Ohio. Cooper. Enlisted Feb 1846 Dayton, deserted Feb 1848.Henry Purcell: Born about 1817, Dublin, Ireland. Sadler. Enlisted several times. Deserted May 1849.Isaac N. Randolph: Brn abt 1822, PA. Clerk. Enlisted 1844. Dischrgd 1849 Sonoma. Suicide 1883 Sutter Creek.James Reppeto: Born about 1817, Albemarle, VA. Laborer. Enlisted Dec 1845. Deserted March 1849.Samuel T. Repose: Born about 1823 NY, Teamster. Enlisted Dec 1845. Killed in action Dec 6, 1846 San PasqualJohn Stokely: Born about 1822 Ohio. Carpenter. Died Los Angeles Dec 9, 1847 “accidentally wounded.”David B. Streeter: Brn 1825 NY. Left sick SD Dec 29, 1846 after SP. Married a Valdes. Died 1863 Sta BarbaraChristian Tenchman: Transferred from Jefferson Barracks to Ft Leavenworth June 1846.Michael A. Tubb:Brn abt 1818, Nova Scotia. Enlisted several times. Dischrged Sonoma. Alcalde, Mormon campWilliam Tubb: Born about 1824, Nova Scotia. Stonecutter. Enlisted several times. Died 1849, no explanationPaul Vanaken: Born about 1813, Philadelphia. Cabinetmaker. Enlisted several times. Discharged SF Dec 1848John Vyer: Born about 1826, Ohio. Laborer. Enlisted Dayton Nov 1844, deserted March 1849Jacob Westfall: Born about 1823, Ohio. Laborer, Enlisted Dec 1845, deserted April 1849John White: no information found yetGeorge N. Williams: no information found yetJohn D. Wood: Born about 1821, Massachusetts, Bootmaker, Enlisted several times, discharged Sonoma 1849

US 1st DRAGOONS, PRIVATES of COMPANY C─Contest Extended

7


Bob & Judy Bowman Justin & Michelle Burkhard Ronilee Clark & Brian Arnold Cliff & Royce Clifford Donald & Vicky Coates Jane Stokes Cowgill Jake & Tammy Enriquez

Greg Hill Kym & Debbie Lobdell Michael Pique Melvin & Ellen Sweet Thomas M. Vilicich US Seagoing Marines Assn (Stan Smith)

Dragoon Level Members ($100 or more this year)

Lucy Berk, Escondido Justin & Michelle Burkhard, Escondido Cliff & Royce Clifford, Encinitas Tom & Jackie Cook, San Diego Jane Stokes Cowgill, San Diego

Nancy Gentile, Escondido George & Benita Gray, San Diego Frank & Stacy Konyn, Escondido Richard & Kay Matheron, Escondido

Membership Renewals─We appreciate your support! Thanks!!

Alvora M. Beck, Vista Val & Marla Germann, Columbia, MO

Please welcome these NEW MEMBERS to SPBVA

First Sergeant’s Corner submitted by Tom Vilicich

School of the Platoon, MountedSkirmishing.

572.—The platoon being supposed to form a partof the squadron, it is dispersed as skirmishers, inorder to cover the front and the flanks of the squad-ron.

The platoon being in line at the extremity of theground, the instructor causes the schabraques to beraised, the holsters uncovered, and the arms loaded;he marches the platoon forward, and when hewished to disperse the troopers as skirmishers, hecommands:

1. Six files from right─as skirmishers. 2. MARCH.3. Guide right.At the first command, the file-closer places him-

self in front of the six files of the left, or whom hetakes command.

These six files are destined to support the skir-mishers and to relieve them.

At the command MARCH, the file-closer com-mands HALT to the sic files of the left, and causesthem to draw the saber.

At the same command, the six files of the right

continue to march forward; after going 10 paces,they disperse as skirmishers, extending themselvesso as to cover the supposed front of a squadron, inpassing beyond each of its flanks. The right trooperobliques to the right, the left trooper to the left. Thetroopers of the rear rank come up as soon as possi-ble, abreast of the front rank each one placing him-self on the left of his file-leader, and as soon as theyare in line all take the position of advance-CARBINE, or raise-PISTOL. They continue tomarch until the signal halt, No.2.

The instructor causes the halt to be sounded whenthe skirmishers are at 100 or 150 paces from thereserve.

The troopers keep at 5 paces apart, regulatingthemselves toward the guide during the whole timethey act as skirmishers.

The assistant instructor places himself in the rearof the skirmishers, in order to superintend theirmovements.

TO BE CONTINUEDNote: A schabraque is a saddle cloth that is placed

over the saddle and covers the great coat and hol-ster. The schabraque will give the saddle a dressedup look.

8

JOIN NOW! Our non-profit organization supports the activities of the San Pasqual Battlefield StateHistoric Park. All members receive BATTLELINES (email or regular mail), a 10% discount on allbookstore items, special programs, field trips, history discussions, and opportunities to participate in ourLiving History Sundays and in our annual December re-enactment of the Battle.

SAN PASQUAL BATTLEFIELD VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONP.O. Box 300816, Escondido, CA 92030-0816

(760) 737-2201

This is my/our membership application & dues for the following category:

____Student ($5) ____ Sustaining ($50) ____Dragoon ($100 or more)

____Individual ($15) ____Organization ($25) ____Benefactor ($1,000 or more)

____Family ($20) ____Corporate ($100) Please make checks payable to: SPBVA

NAME(S)_______________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY _______________________________________________________ STATE _______________ZIP _________________

PHONE_____________________________________________ EMAIL________________________________________

OCCUPATION_________________________INTEREST/SKILLS_____________________________________________


Off the Shelf... by Shirley Buskirk

I’ve taken the bull by the horns and have orderedall the missing books─well, not all as some are now out of print and some are on back order. Every dayeither the UPS guy or Mr. Brown in the FedExtruck come up my driveway with another box ofbooks. So far we’ve increased our selection bytwelve book s that we were completely out of andadded to the twelve that we were almost out of. Notall of the books I’ve ordered have arrived yet, buthopefully by the time you get here, they will.

So what has come so far? There are five booksabout the US-Mexican War and the Battle at SanPasqual plus the DVD that is shown at the visitorcenter. We’ve received books about the history ofCalifornia, its land, an historic atlas of the state, oneabout the history of the San Pasqual Valley writtenby an early resident and author, and Kit Carson’sautobiography. And we did get more miniature can-nons after checking to make sure they were notmade out of lead.

Still to come is a book about the Julian area, oneabout the ranchos, and another about the soldierpioneers who stayed here when their tour of duty

was over. That last one may not appear brandnew─it has been sitting in boxes for a long time─so we are cutting the price on it.

Speaking of prices─while looking at the books you may find that some copies of a book have a dif-ferent price thanother copies of thatsame book. Somehave increased inprice as much as$2.00 since lastyear and rather thanput new prices onthe, I decided togive you the bene-fit. So come in andpick up one of thosebooks and saveyo ur se lf so memoney. Rememberthat SPBVA mem-bers receive a 10%discount.

Battlelines 11-14 Color

Documents

Transcript of Battlelines 11-14 Color