Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/477

Rh, however, that there was a foreign influence in the whole affair quite distinct from that exerted by the members of Graham's company.

It was apparently on the evening of November 3d that the revolutionary forces under José Castro approached the capital. I quote from Alvarado's letter, as the best authority extant, the following account of what happened during the next few days: "Finally we arrived at Monterey with upwards of 100 men. The place was fortified with over 50 men assembled in the plaza. On the night our arrival we passed on with some strategy and took the castle, and the height near the house of Linares, so that the plaza," that is, the presidio within the walls of which Gutierrez had his garrison, "was commanded. With aid from the people of the town, from the merchants, and from the vessels, except that of Don Federico Becher, we armed ourselves sufficiently and sent a flag of truce, with a demand that Gutierrez should surrender the plaza at discretion. In it were all the officers, including Portilla who had lately arrived, and a multitude of convicts whom Gutierrez had armed. The reply being delayed, we fired a cannon-shot from the fort, and the ball was so well directed that we put it into the zaguan of the comandante's house, while the officers were conversing in the court. Such was their fright that they were not to be seen for an hour. Then Gutierrez replied that he would not surrender. Such was the anger of the division that every man dismounted, arms in hand, to attack. We had also a company of 25 riflemen. When the movement was seen from the plaza, they sent a messenger to stop it, and to