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Argüello arrived he found that the Fathers had removed a part of the church property
and concealed it, and he and his men fell to and did all they could toward completing
the work. Bouchard arrived the next day and demanded supplies, which Argüello refused.
Re-enforcements soon arrived, and after much bluster Bouchard drew off without
venturing to give battle, but not before some damage had been done. For this damage
and certain other irregularities the San Juan Capistrano Mission Fathers accused
Argüello. These charges were the cause of much bad feeling and voluminous correspondence,
but General Guerra, who was friendly to the friars, expressed the opinion
that the charges were merely trumped up by the priests to cover their own neglect of
duty.
Extensive preparations had been made at San Diego to receive Captain
Bouchard, even down to such details as red-hot cannon balls. The women and children
were sent away to Pala for safety. But the insurgent vessels passed by without stopping,
and all was soon serene again. When the news of this attack reached the Viceroy,
he determined to re-enforce the Upper California presidios, at any cost, although he
was in extreme difficulties, himself, on account of the civil war then raging in Mexico. He
accordingly managed to send a detachment of a hundred cavalrymen, which arrived at
San Diego on the 16th of September the following year, and about half of them remained
here. They were fairly well armed and brought money for the payment of expenses.
Up to 1819, the military force at the Presidio was about fifty-five men, besides a
detail of twenty-five soldiers at the Mission, and twenty invalids living at Los Angeles or
on ranchos. In that year the number was increased to one hundred and ten, and in 1820
the total population of the district was about four hundred and fifty. In August of this year
the British whaler Discovery put in for provisions--the only foreign ship for several years,
and Captain Ruiz got into trouble by allowing her commander to take soundings of the
bay.
At the close of the Spanish rule, San Diego was still a sleepy little military post on
a far frontier. The fortifications were dilapidated, the soldiers in rags and destined to lose
their large arrears of pay, and the invalids their pensions. The missions had large possessions,
but were impoverished by the enforced support of the military for many years.
Commerce was dead and agriculture scarcely begun. But a better day was at hand.
LIST OF SPANISH AND MEXICAN MILITARY COMMANDANTS AT SAN DIEGO, 1769-
1840.
Lieutenant Pedro Fages, military commandant of California, July, 1770, to May,
1774.
Page 97
Lieutenant José Francisco Ortega, from July, 1771; made lieutenant and put in
formal charge, 1773; continued till 1781.
Lieutenant José de Züñiga, September 8, 1781, to October 19, 1793.
Lieutenant Antonio Grajera, Oct. 19, 1793, to Aug. 23, 1799.
Lieutenant José Font, temporary commandant of military post, ranking Rodríguez,
Aug. 23, 1799, to 1803.