Battle of Cahuenga Pass
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Cahuenga Pass of 1831 was fought near Los Angeles between the unpopular Mexican Governor of California (Manuel Victoria
), and local settlers. Two men, Pacheco on the one side and Avila on the other, were killed. Victoria was severely wounded.
got together and petitioned Governor Victoria asking for democratic reforms. Victoria called two of the men "traitors" (José Antonio Carrillo
and Abel Stearns), and said the men must be executed; he then "stayed" his execution orders and had the two men banished from Alta California
The previous governor, Jose Maria de Echeandia, was more popular, so the leading wealthy citizens, the two "traitors," and several other land owners suggested to Echeandia that Victoria's stay as governor would be coming to an abrupt end soon. They built up a small army, marched into Los Angeles, and "captured" the town. Victoria gathered a small army and went to fight the upstart army, leading it himself. He met the opposing army on December 5th., 1831, at Cahuenga Pass
.
Victoria's army was less than half the size of his enemy's army. Victoria was undaunted by the challenge, and he ordered his men to shoot at the other army: they did so, more or less—they all, to a man, shot over the heads of the enemy. The rebels answered by firing a volley over the heads of Victoria's army. The two opposing forces then stood staring at each other.
Unfortunately, when Victoria ordered his men to shoot, Captain Jose Antonio Romualdo Pacheco (father of the future governor Romualdo Pacheco
), misunderstood: he thought the order was to charge the enemy on horseback.... which he did, alone. He was armed with a lance; when he discovered he was the only one charging the enemy, he halted his horse between the two armies. Jose Maria Avila, of the rebel army, took offense and went out to meet Pacheco on a horse armed with a lance, for single combat.
The two fighters were excellent horsemen, and neither had an advantage over the other. Both armies relaxed to enjoy the show; some climbed nearby trees to get a better look of the fight. Pacheco's horse was black, and Avila's horse was white.
They charged each other three times, and each time they managed to evade each other's lances. On the forth charge, Pacheco struck Avila's lance from Avila's hands and it fell to the ground. The loss of his lance infuriated Avila, so he drew his pistol and shot Pacheco out of the saddle, and Pacheco died. Avila was shocked at his own behavior, and sat his horse in a kind of horrified stupor.
Victoria, upset at such a unchivalrous act, drew his pistol and shot Avila to death.
Captain Portilla felt that shooting Avila to death was uncalled for, so he charged Governor Victoria and put his lance through Victoria's face, ripping off a chunk of flesh and cartilage. Governor Victoria fell off his horse and writhed on the ground in agony.
Governor Victoria survived, but he resigned the governorship of Alta California. The previous governor, Echeandia, took the job, which he did until Jose Figueroa took over on January 14th., 1833.
This battle should not be confused with the Battle of La Providencia which is also known as the Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass.
took over on January 14th., 1833.
Manuel Victoria
Manuel Victoria was Governor of the Mexican territory of Alta California from January 1831 to 6 December 1831.The revolt leading to his twelve month abbreviated tenure and subsequent exile were due to his nullifying the order of his predecessor, José María de Echeandía, to secularize the missions...
), and local settlers. Two men, Pacheco on the one side and Avila on the other, were killed. Victoria was severely wounded.
Background
A small group made up of the more wealthy citizens of Alta CaliforniaAlta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
got together and petitioned Governor Victoria asking for democratic reforms. Victoria called two of the men "traitors" (José Antonio Carrillo
José Antonio Carrillo
Captain José Antonio Ezequiel Carrillo was a Californio rancher, officer, and politician in the early years of Mexican Alta California and U.S...
and Abel Stearns), and said the men must be executed; he then "stayed" his execution orders and had the two men banished from Alta California
The previous governor, Jose Maria de Echeandia, was more popular, so the leading wealthy citizens, the two "traitors," and several other land owners suggested to Echeandia that Victoria's stay as governor would be coming to an abrupt end soon. They built up a small army, marched into Los Angeles, and "captured" the town. Victoria gathered a small army and went to fight the upstart army, leading it himself. He met the opposing army on December 5th., 1831, at Cahuenga Pass
Cahuenga Pass
The Cahuenga Pass is a mountain pass through the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Hollywood district of the City of Los Angeles, California....
.
The events
The armies were made up of brothers, sons, uncles, nephews, and friends of each other and by no stretch of the imagination could it be even considered that they would harm each other, let alone kill each other.Victoria's army was less than half the size of his enemy's army. Victoria was undaunted by the challenge, and he ordered his men to shoot at the other army: they did so, more or less—they all, to a man, shot over the heads of the enemy. The rebels answered by firing a volley over the heads of Victoria's army. The two opposing forces then stood staring at each other.
Unfortunately, when Victoria ordered his men to shoot, Captain Jose Antonio Romualdo Pacheco (father of the future governor Romualdo Pacheco
Romualdo Pacheco
José Antonio Romualdo Pacheco Jr. was an American politician and diplomat. Involved in California state and federal politics, Pacheco was elected and appointed to various posts and offices throughout his more than thirty-year career, including the California State Senate, the 12th Governor of...
), misunderstood: he thought the order was to charge the enemy on horseback.... which he did, alone. He was armed with a lance; when he discovered he was the only one charging the enemy, he halted his horse between the two armies. Jose Maria Avila, of the rebel army, took offense and went out to meet Pacheco on a horse armed with a lance, for single combat.
The two fighters were excellent horsemen, and neither had an advantage over the other. Both armies relaxed to enjoy the show; some climbed nearby trees to get a better look of the fight. Pacheco's horse was black, and Avila's horse was white.
They charged each other three times, and each time they managed to evade each other's lances. On the forth charge, Pacheco struck Avila's lance from Avila's hands and it fell to the ground. The loss of his lance infuriated Avila, so he drew his pistol and shot Pacheco out of the saddle, and Pacheco died. Avila was shocked at his own behavior, and sat his horse in a kind of horrified stupor.
Victoria, upset at such a unchivalrous act, drew his pistol and shot Avila to death.
Captain Portilla felt that shooting Avila to death was uncalled for, so he charged Governor Victoria and put his lance through Victoria's face, ripping off a chunk of flesh and cartilage. Governor Victoria fell off his horse and writhed on the ground in agony.
Governor Victoria survived, but he resigned the governorship of Alta California. The previous governor, Echeandia, took the job, which he did until Jose Figueroa took over on January 14th., 1833.
This battle should not be confused with the Battle of La Providencia which is also known as the Second Battle of Cahuenga Pass.
Aftermath
Governor Victoria survived, but he resigned the governorship of Alta California. The previous governor, Echeandia, took over until Jose FigueroaJosé Figueroa
General José Figueroa , was a General and the Mexican territorial Governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835.Figueroa oversaw the initial secularization of the missions of upper California, which included the expulsion of the Spanish Franciscan mission officials.This also involved the issuing of...
took over on January 14th., 1833.