When Argentina attacked Spanish California...
EN ESPAñOL: Cuando Argentina atacó la California española...
|
By Miguel Pérez
Among the many monuments in Monterey, perhaps the most unforeseen, at least for me, was the plaque and flag recognizing the six days when the bay was invaded and the town was ransacked by anti-Spanish rebels – who came all the way from Argentina! They were led by Hippolyte (Hipólito) de Bouchard, a French-born privateer who had served in Napoleon's Navy in the war against England, joined the revolution against Spain in South America and fought for the independence of Argentina, Peru and Chile. |
|
|
He became a Navy commander in the service of Argentina. But after Argentina won its independence in 1816, Bouchard kept sailing under the flag of Argentine rebel forces and attacking towns that remained loyal to Spain.
After attacking several Spanish ports, blockading the port of Manila, Philippines, and stopping in Hawaii to purchase supplies and hire more men, Bouchard set his sights on the Pacific coast of New Spain (now the United States and Mexico). Some three years before Mexico gained its independence from Spain, they came to fight against Spanish California. "On November 20, 1818, he sailed into Monterey, capital of Spanish Alta California," according to a historical marker here. "After firing upon the fort, El Castillo, he demanded the surrender of Monterey to the revolutionary forces. Governor (Pablo Vicente de) Sola refused and sent the residents of Monterey to safety inland. Bouchard's men pulled down the Spanish flag, raised the Argentine flag which flew over Monterey for six days, and ransacked Monterey." |
|
|
The marker explains that Bouchard "is celebrated in Argentina as a hero and patriot and a founder of the Argentine Navy," but it notes that "Californians at the time viewed him as a rebel and pirate." In fact, Spanish colonists in California called him "El Pirata Buchar."
Indeed, when he invaded Monterey with two ships and 360 men on November 20, 1818, the tone of his message to Governor Sola was more like that of a corsair than a liberator. |
|
|
"I now desire the surrender of your city with all the furniture and other belongings of the King," Bouchard demanded, according to an exhibit at the Presidio of Monterey Museum. "If you do not do so, the city will be reduced to cinders, and also the other surrounding villages."
Historical markers at the site of these events note that one of the invading ships, Santa Rosa, "engaged in the only land-sea battle ever to occur on the Pacific Coast of the United States." They explain that upon seeing Bouchard's ships approaching the Spanish fought them off with artillery. |
|
|
"Forewarned, the Spanish cannons returned fire and damaged the ship, causing its surrender," the markers say, but only until "the pirates landed 200 men, and attacked the fort from the land. They quickly overcame the defenders, and held the Presidio for six days before leaving. During that time, they stole cattle, weapons, and other valuables, and burned down the fort and much of the surrounding town."
|
|
|
After burning the governor's house and storerooms, the makers say "Bouchard's forces sailed from Monterey to raid southern California."
Apparently fearing that the Santa Barbara Presidio and mission were too heavily fortified, Bouchard bypassed the Santa Barbara pueblo and on December 16, 1818, attacked further south, at San Juan de Capistrano, where his men seized and set the town on fire, sparing only the Franciscan mission. |
|
|
From there, Bouchard sailed south to present-day Mexico, where he continued to raid Spanish settlements and seize Spanish ships. After the end of his voyage in 1820, Bouchard joined the Peruvian navy, and in 1829, he became Admiral and commander of Peruvian Navy. But in Argentina, was even honored in a postage stamp.
Depending on where he is remembered, Bouchard can be a liberator and hero or a ruthless and dreaded pirate. But at the Lower Presidio State Historic Park in Monterey, the Hippolyte Bouchard Monument, donated by Argentina through its exchange students in 1980, has to stand out as the most unforeseen by park visitors. |
|
|
Amid several monuments there, you come across only one that has a flagpole, and you see that it is waving the golden sun on the white and light blue flag of Argentina.
Sometimes new chapters on our Hidden Hispanic Heritage are waiting to be discovered! |
|
EN ESPAñOL: Cuando Argentina atacó la California española...
CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIP/25
|
|
