| Battle of Cahuenga Pass | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Rebel forces |  Alta Californian government | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 killed |
| ||||||
The Battle of Cahuenga Pass of 1831 was fought at Cahuenga Pass near Los Angeles between the unpopular Mexican Governor of California (Manuel Victoria), and a force assembled by wealthy local landowners.
Only two men, the lancer Pacheco on the government side and a rebel Jose Avila, were killed. Victoria was severely wounded. [1]
A small group made up of wealthier citizens of Alta California united and petitioned Governor Victoria for democratic reforms. Victoria called two of the men, José Antonio Carrillo and Abel Stearns, "traitors", and ordered their execution. He later stayed the sentences and had the men banished from Alta California.
The previous governor, Jose Maria de Echeandia, had been more popular, so the original dissidents, including the two "traitors," along with several other land owners, suggested to him that Victoria's stay as governor would shortly be coming to an abrupt end. They built up a small army, marched into Los Angeles, and "captured" the town. Victoria gathered a small army to drive them off, leading it himself. The forces met on December 5, 1831, at Cahuenga Pass, with Captain Portilla in charge of the rebels.
The opposing armies were made up of brothers, sons, uncles, nephews, and friends, who though angry at one-another preferred to avoid mortal combat.
Victoria had half the troops of his opponents. Undaunted, he ordered his men to fire. They did so, but aimed their volley over their adversaries' heads. The rebels answered with a similar reply, and a stand-off ensued.
Alone among the government troops Captain Jose Antonio Romualdo Pacheco (father of the future governor Romualdo Pacheco) interpreted Victoria's order as a command to charge the enemy on horseback, spurring on his mount with outstretched lance. When he discovered he was alone he halted between the two forces. Jose Maria Avila of the rebel army, a former alcalde of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, took offense and went out to challenge Pacheco in mounted combat.
Excellent horsemen, the pair were evenly matched. After three unsuccessful charges, Pacheco finally knocked Avila's lance to the ground. Infuriated, Avila drew his pistol and shot Pacheco from the saddle, killing him. Shocked at his reflexive act, Avila sat on his horse in a kind of horrified stupor.
Upset at such unchivalrous behavior, Governor Victoria, drew his pistol and shot Avila dead.
This angered Captain Portilla, who charged Victoria and put his lance through the Governor's face, ripping off a chunk of flesh and cartilage. Victoria fell writhing at the wound. Both forces broke off the conflict. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Governor Victoria survived, but subsequently resigned the governorship of Alta California. The previous governor, José María de Echeandía, resumed his role until Jose Figueroa took over on January 14, 1833.
Governor Victoria's wounds were tended to by Joseph Chapman, a naturalized U.S. immigrant living in the area.
This battle should not be confused with the Battle of Providencia (also known as the Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass). [8]
Don Pío de Jesús Pico IV was a Californio politician, ranchero, and entrepreneur, famous for serving as the last governor of Alta California under Mexican rule from 1845 to 1846. He briefly held the governorship during a disputed period in 1832. A member of the prominent Pico family of California, he was one of the wealthiest men in California at the time and a hugely influential figure in Californian society, continuing as a citizen of the nascent U.S. state of California.
José Antonio Romualdo Pacheco was a Californio statesman and diplomat. A Republican, he is best known as the only Hispanic man to serve as governor of California since the American Conquest of California, and as the first Latino to represent a state in the U.S. Congress. Pacheco was elected and appointed to various state, federal, and diplomatic offices throughout his more than thirty-year career, including serving as a California State Treasurer, California State Senator, and three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Juan Bautista Valentín Alvarado y Vallejo usually known as Juan Bautista Alvarado, was a Californio politician that served as governor of Alta California from 1837 to 1842. Prior to his term as governor, Alvarado briefly led a movement for independence of Alta California from 1836 to 1837, in which he successfully deposed interim governor Nicolás Gutiérrez, declared independence, and created a new flag and constitution, before negotiating an agreement with the Mexican government resulting in his recognition as governor and the end of the independence movement.
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Agustín Vicente Zamorano (1798–1842), was a printer, soldier, and provisional Comandante General in the north of Alta California.
José María de Echeandía (?–1871) was the Mexican governor of Alta California from 1825 to 1831 and again from 1832 to 1833. He was the only governor of The Californias that lived in San Diego.
José María Figueroa was a Californio politician and military leader. He was a General and the Mexican Governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835. His Manifesto (1835) was the first book published in California.
Captain José Antonio Ezequiel Carrillo (1796–1862) was a Californio politician, ranchero, and signer of the California Constitution in 1849. He served three terms as Alcalde of Los Angeles (mayor).
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