Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/574

556 soon carried to Los Angeles the tidings of the disaster at San Buenaventura. Cárlos Carrillo had time to collect his friends and the remnants of his demoralized army and retire to San Diego before Castro came and took possession of the city, probably on the 1st of April. Very little can be learned about events of the next two weeks and more. Castro's only act at Angeles, so far as known, was to issue a recommendation, or credentials, to a committee of citizens who went to meet Alvarado with a view to secure a cessation of hostilities. On April 8th he had retired to San Fernando, whence he modestly acknowledged the receipt of Alvarado's letter expressing satisfaction with his past achievements, and promised still more good service when his force should be joined by that of the governor. Alvarado, having left Santa Inés as late as the 6th, and spent perhaps a few days at Santa Bárbara, joined Castro at San Fernando on or before April 16th. On this date he addressed another letter to Don Cárlos, deploring the latter's policy and the resulting hostilities, but reminding his 'dear uncle' that there was yet time to prevent serious calamities by submitting his credentials to the diputacion and consenting to a conference.

Meanwhile Carrillo was at San Diego again preparing for war, at the instigation of Bandini,