Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/479

Rh that the revolutionists on approaching the town divided their forces, kindled fires, sounded their trumpets and drums, and did all in their power to make it appear that their force was large; that the fort was taken on the night of arrival without the slightest resistance; that Gutierrez made no effort to defend himself, and took no precautions to avert attack; that the cannon-ball which hit the presidio was the only one in the castillo which a gun could be found to fit, the gunners being Balbino Romero and Cosme Peña the lawyer; that J. A. de la Guerra was at one time admitted to the presidio blindfolded as a representative of Castro; that ammunition and other aid was obtained from the foreign vessels in port, Hinckley of the Don Quixote openly favoring the Californians, while Steele and French of the Caroline and Europe were but little more cautious in their support; and finally, that Castro's force had been much increased and that of the governor weakened by desertions from the presidio. The force at the disposal of Gutierrez has been greatly exaggerated. It could not have been over seventy-five men at the beginning of the siege, only fifty of the number being soldiers. Castro had at first about the same force, besides Graham's men.