Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 713  

24 HISTURY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. would not brook any insubordination to his will or commands, but in dealing with the Indians he seems to have pursned a policy wise and just beyond anything ever before attempted in California. In the Indian Chief Solano he saw the ready means to acquire easy control of all other Indians occupying a wide sweep of country. In making Solano his friend and coadjutor in keeping distant tribes in respectful submission, he seems not to have compromised himself in any manner 80 as not to hold Solano himself subject to control and accountability. Having been speaking of the turbulence of southern Indians for the years from 1836 to 1840 Mr. Bancroft says: Turning to the northern frontier we find a different state of things. Here there was no semblance of Apache raids, no sacking of ranches, no loss of civilized life, #nd little collision between gentile and Christian natives. The northern Indians were more numerous than in the San Diego region, and many of the tribes were brave, warlike, and often hostile; but there was a comparatively strong force at Sonoma to keep them in check, and General Vallejo’s Indian policy must be regarded as excellent and effective when compared with any other policy ever followed in California. True, his wealth, his untrammeled power, aod other circumstances contributed much to his success; and he could by no means have done as well if placed in command at San Diego; yet he must be accredited besides with having managed wisely, Closely allied with Solano, the Suisun chieftain, having always—except when asked to render some distasteful military service to his political associates in the south— at his command a goodly number of soldiers and citizens, made treaties with the gentile tribes, insisted on their being liberally and juatly treated when at peace, and punished them severely for any manifestation of hostility. Doubtless the Indians were wronged often enough in individual cases by Vallejo’s subordinates; some of whom, and notably his brother Salvador, were with difticulty controlled; but such reports have been greatly exaggerated, and acts of glaring injustice were comparatively rare, The Cainameros, or the Indians of Cainama, in the region toward Santa Rosa, had been for some years friendly, but for their services in returning stolen horses they got themselves into trouble with the Satiyomis, or Sotoyomes, generally known as the Guapos,or braves, who in the spring of 1836, in a sudden attack, killed t venty-two of their number and wounded fifty. Vallejo, on appeal of the chiefs, promised to avenge their wrongs, and started April 1st with fifty soldiers and one hundred Indians besides the Cainamero force. A battle was fought on the 4th of April, and the Guapos, who had taken a strong position in the hills of the Geyser region, were routed and driven back to their ranches, where most of them were killed. The expedition was back at 8onoma on the 7th without having lost a man, killed or wonaded.. On June 7th Vallejo concluded a treaty of peace and alliance with the chiefs of seven tribes—the Indians of Yoloytoy, Guilitoy, Ansatoy, Liguaytoy, Aclutoy, Chumptoy and the Guapos, who had voluntarily come to Sonoma for that purpose. The treaty provided that there should be friendship between the tribes and the garrison, that the Cainameros and Guapos should live at peace and respect each other’s territory; that the Indians should give up all fugitive Christians at the request of the commandante, and that they should not burn the fields. It does not appear.that Vallejo in returo promised anything more definite than friendship. Twenty days later the compact was approved by Governor Chico. A year later, in June, 1837, Zampay, one of the chieftains of the Yoloytoy—town and rancheria of the Yoloy, perhaps meaning, “of the tules,” and which gave the name to Yolo County—became troublesumy, committing many outrages and trying to arouse ths Sotoyomes again. The head chief of the tribe, however, named Moti, offered to aid in his capture, which was effected by the combined forces of Solano and Salvador Vallejo. Zampay and some of his companions were held at first as captives at Sonoma, but after some years the chief, who had been a terror of the whole country, became a peaceful citizen and industrious farmer. In January, 1838, Tobias, chief of the Guilicos, and one of his men were brought to Sonoma and tried for the murder of two Indian fishermen. In March some of the gentile allied tribes attacked the Moquelumnes, recovered a few stolen horses and brought them to Sonoma, where a grand feast was held for a week to celebrate their good deeds. In August fifty Indian horse-thieves crossed the Sacramento and appeared at Suseol with a band of tame horses, their aim being to stampede the horses at So. noma. Thirty-four were killed in a battle with Vallejo’s men, and the rest surrendered, the chief being shot at Sonoma for his crimes. On October 6, Vallejo issued a printed circular, in which he announced that Solano had grossly abused his power and the trust placed in him, and broken sacred compacts made with the Indian tribes by consenting tothe seizure and sale of children. Vallejo indignantly denied the rumor that these outrages had been committed with his consent. declaring that Solano had been arrested, and that a force had been sent out to restore all the children to their parents. Vallejo’s statement in regard to this backsliding of Chief Solano is that evil-disposed persons have plicd him with liquor until he was 60 dazed as not to be master of his actions, and that after being sobered up in the guard-house he was both ashamed and penitent. In this year, 1838, there came a terrible