Page 5 - sw_yesterdaysoflosangeles1927

California'ss Treaty Shrine

T HE MOST historic spot in California-where on January 13,
1847, the treaty was signed that ended Mexico's resistance
and gave California to the United States-is marked by the
Fremont-Pico Memorial at Campo de Cauenga on Lankershim
boulevard oppo ite the Universal studios.
Here in the priceless collection i a photographic copy of the
Treaty of Cauenga written on both sides of ordinary letter paper
in Spanish and etting forth the capitulation terms agreed upon by
Lieutenant-Colonel John C. Fremont and General Andres Pico,
commander-in-chief of the remaining California forces and per-
sistent revolutionist who earlier had defeated General Kearney at
San Pa qual. This agreement was incorporated in the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, formally ratified by the United States and
Mexico in 1848.
On January 12, Fremont and 450 men, on a forced march
from the north, arrived at Newhall, where he was met by a mes-
enger aying that Lo Angeles three days earlier again had come
into the po session of Commodore Stockton and General Kearney.
The latter, however, had been unable to deal with the leaders of
the revolution who, with remnants of the army, had rallied in the
San Fernando Valley.
Fremont marched through the Pass of San Bernardo (now ewhall
Pa ) expecting resistance. But the Californians fell back across the
valley toward Cahuenga Pass. That night Fremont sent a messenger
with overtures for urrender to General Pico's camp and, as he later
wrote in his memoirs, "the next morning, accompanied only by Don Jesus
Pico, I rode over to the camp of the Californians and in a conference
with Don Andres the important features of a treaty of capitulation were
agreed upon."