General José María Flores (1818–1866) was a captain in the

Mexican Army The Mexican Army () is the combined Army, land and Air Force, air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National Defense o ...

and was a member of ''la otra banda''. He was appointed Governor and ''Comandante General'' ''pro tem'' of

Alta California Alta California (, ), also known as Nueva California () among other names, was a province of New Spain formally established in 1804. Along with the Baja California peninsula, it had previously comprised the province of , but was made a separat ...

from November 1846 to January 1847, and defended California against the Americans during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

Mexican–American War

Captain José María Flores arrived in California in 1842. He was a secretary for Governor

Manuel Micheltorena Joseph Manuel María Joaquin Micheltorena y Llano (8 June 1804 – 7 September 1853) was a brigadier general and adjutant-general of the Mexican Army, List_of_governors_of_California_before_1850#Mexican_governors_of_California_(1837–47), gover ...

. He was a captain in Comandante General José Castro's military army. In August, 1846, Castro sent Flores to deliver a message to Stockton stating that Castro was willing to accede to the wishes of the United States. Stockton did not recognize Castro's authority and rejected it. Castro, seeing no alternative, fled California. Governor

Pío Pico Don (honorific), Don Pío de Jesús Pico IV (May 5, 1801 – September 11, 1894) was a California politician, ranchero, and entrepreneur, famous for serving as the List of governors of California before 1850, last governor of Alta California und ...

followed shortly thereafter. Flores and other military officers were left behind in Los Angeles. Stockton placed Lieutenant

Archibald H. Gillespie Major Archibald H. Gillespie (October 10, 1812 – August 16, 1873) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the Mexican–American War. Biography Born in New York City, Gillespie was commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1832. He ...

in charge of Los Angeles. Gillespie exerted tyrannical control of the populace. Californios, upset by Gillespie's iron grip, assembled a force to retake Los Angeles. Captain José María Flores, one of the officers, was chosen to act as ''comandante general''. Captain

José Antonio Carrillo Captain José Antonio Ezequiel Carrillo (1796–1862) was a Californio politician, ranchero, and signer of the California Constitution in 1849. He served three terms as Alcalde of Los Angeles (mayor). History A member of the prominent Carrillo ...

was made second in command, while Captain

Andrés Pico Andrés Pico (November 18, 1810 – February 14, 1876) was a Californio who became a successful rancher, fought in the contested Battle of San Pascual during the Mexican–American War, and negotiated promises of post-war protections for Calif ...

, as ''comandante de escuadrón'', ranked third.

Battle of Chino

Flores's troops outnumbered Gillespie's. Flores demanded that the Americans leave. In September, 1846, Gillespie agreed to leave Los Angeles. Gillespie sent for Benjamin Wilson in the

San Bernardino San Bernardino ( ) is a city in and the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the List of ...

area to bring a force of American sympathizers to aid in securing Los Angeles. Word reached

José del Carmen Lugo The Lugo family of California were prominent during the periods of Spanish and Mexican rule. They were among the early colonists who became known as ''Californios''. Francisco Salvador Lugo Francisco Salvador Lugo (1740–1805), born in Sinaloa, ...

that Wilson was looking for Lugo in order to arrest him. Lugo put together a Californio militia and went after Wilson. The two forces met at the

Battle of Chino The Battle of Chino, a skirmish of the Mexican–American War occurred on September 26–27, 1846, during which 24 Americans led by Benjamin D. Wilson, who were hiding in the adobe house of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino, were captured by a group ...

. Afterward Lugo took forty prisoners and turned them over to Flores. Flores asked Lugo to join forces with him, but Lugo declined. Flores wanted to send the prisoners to

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

, but many people opposed the idea. Benjamin Wilson sent a message to Gillespie asking him to leave California completely. On October 4, 1846, Gillespie left San Pedro. A few Chino prisoners were exchanged for Californio prisoners. Flores began reclaiming California. Flores dispatched

Manuel Garfias Rancho San Pascual, also known as Rancho el Rincón de San Pascual, was a Ranchos of California, Mexican land grant in present-day Los Angeles County, California, given to Juan Marine in 1834 by Mexican Governor José Figueroa. The former Rancho S ...

to retake Santa Barbara. Garfias accomplished his mission without a fight. Manuel Castro was sent to secure the north. He occupied

San Luis Obispo ; ; ; Chumashan languages, Chumash: ''tiłhini'') is a city and county seat of San Luis Obispo County, California, United States. Located on the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of California, San Luis Obispo is roughly halfway betwee ...

. Francisco Rico was sent south to retake

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

. He did not make it there, because he was recalled back to Los Angeles. Rico sent a few Californios to watch over San Diego and to keep the Americans at bay. Flores now had control of California from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, but his army had few arms and little ammunition. All male inhabitants of Southern California were asked to become soldiers. However, only about 200 men were kept in active service. On October 6, 1846, 420 Americans, including 203

United States Marines The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the Marines, maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expedi ...

, led by Captain

William Mervine William Mervine (14 March 1791 – 15 September 1868) was a rear admiral in the United States Navy, whose career included service in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Merv ...

landed at San Pedro. Flores dispatched

with fifty Californio

Lancers A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by India, Egypt, China, Persia, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...

to meet the advancing American forces, while remaining regular military forces remained to secure Los Angeles.

Battle of Dominguez Rancho

On October 7, 1846, the American forces advanced to the Spanish adobe buildings of the Dominguez Rancho. Flores and some of his troops joined Carrillo's forces, mostly local Californio cattle ranchers, to engage Mervine's forces. On October 8 they defeated the marines in a one-hour battle, killing four while suffering zero casualties, and driving the Americans back to San Pedro Bay. This was the

Battle of Dominguez Rancho A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force c ...

, and in history, one of the few times US Marines have ever been defeated in battle. This victory was also a high-water mark for the Californios' control of their territory.

Comandante general

On October 26, 1846, Flores called the Departmental Assembly of California into session and reorganized the remaining California government. On November 1 Flores became the temporary governor and ''comandante general''. On December 3, Francisco Rico and

revolted against Flores. Flores was placed under arrest for his alleged scheme against the Chino prisoners and for allegedly stealing war funds. Flores decided not to send the Chino prisoners to Mexico City and no evidence was found in regards to the missing funds. On December 5 he was restored to power. Rico and Carrillo were jailed for the revolt, but released shortly afterward.

Battle of San Pasqual

Flores needed help from the national Mexican government. He sent Captain Antonio Coronel and a few men to Sonora to get reinforcements. En route the men learned of General Stephen W. Kearny’s advance. A messenger was sent to Flores. Flores sent Andrés Pico to encounter the Americans. The

Battle of San Pasqual The Battle of San Pasqual, also spelled San Pascual, was a military encounter that occurred during the Mexican–American War in what is now the San Pasqual Valley, San Diego, California, San Pasqual Valley community in the county of San Diego, ...

soon followed. After the victorious battle, Flores requested that Pico return to Los Angeles, but to leave men in the south to watch the American movements. After the battle a few Californios were killed at the

Pauma Massacre The Pauma massacre occurred in December 1846, at Pauma Valley north of Escondido, California. Luiseño Indians killed eleven Mexicans, Californio lancers who had stolen horses from them. The action was related to a series of regional conflicts du ...

. Flores sent José del Carmen Lugo and his militia to

Temecula Temecula (; , ; Luiseño: ''Temeekunga'') is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States. The city had a population of 110,003 as of the 2020 census and was incorporated on December 1, 1989. The city is a tourist and ...

to avenge the killings. The

Temecula Massacre The Temecula Massacre took place in December 1846 east of present-day Temecula, California, United States. It was part of a series of related events in the Mexican–American War. A combined force of Californio militia and Cahuilla Indians att ...

soon followed. By January 4, 1847, Stockton and Kearny had joined forces (totalling 660 men) and were marching towards the Los Angeles area. In the north,

John Charles Fremont John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...

was advancing with 320 men south towards Los Angeles. Flores sent messengers requesting a truce lasting until eventual word from Mexico City about an end to the war. It was a delay tactic. Stockton refused. He requested

unconditional surrender An unconditional surrender is a surrender in which no guarantees, reassurances, or promises (i.e., conditions) are given to the surrendering party. It is often demanded with the threat of complete destruction, extermination or annihilation. Anno ...

. He stated that all would be given

amnesty Amnesty () is defined as "A pardon extended by the government to a group or class of people, usually for a political offense; the act of a sovereign power officially forgiving certain classes of people who are subject to trial but have not yet be ...

except Flores, who would be shot or taken prisoner.

Battle of Rio San Gabriel

On January 8, 1847, Stockton's army encountered Flores's

Californios Californios (singular Californio) are Californians of Spaniards, Spanish descent, especially those descended from settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries before California was annexed by the United States. California's Spanish language in C ...

at the

Battle of Rio San Gabriel A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force c ...

. The Americans won a hard-fought battle and Flores regrouped.

Battle of La Mesa

On January 9, 1847, Flores's troops encountered Stockton's forces one last time at the

Battle of La Mesa The Battle of La Mesa (also known as the Battle of Los Angeles) was the final battle of the California Campaign during the Mexican–American War, occurring on January 9, 1847, in present-day Vernon, California, the day after the Battle of Ri ...

. By January 12, Flores's troops offered a flag of truce. On January 10, 1847, Flores left Los Angeles and stayed at Los Verdugos. He held a final council, in which he decided to leave California. He transferred command to Andrés Pico and departed that night, the 11th, for

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...

. Before leaving Los Angeles he released all of the prisoners.

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Flores, Jose Maria Governors of Alta California Mexican military personnel of the Mexican–American War People of the Conquest of California 1818 births 1866 deaths 19th-century Mexican military personnel 19th-century American politicians