First Quarter 2019 Volume 13 Number 1 President’s Message Richard B. Rothwell Gaspar de Portolá’s Travels Two hundred Through and fifty years ago, in 1769, Camp Gaspar de Portolá led his party of Spanish soldiers Pendleton and Franciscan by Richard Rothwell missionaries north from San Diego, in route to Monterey. Author’s note: This year, After several weeks of marching, he 2019, marks the 250th paused long enough to name the anniversary Spain’s Santa Margarita River and for the colonization of Alta missionaries traveling with him to California, then an immense, perform the first Christian baptism in unexplored territory of Mexico. Alta California. So began the recorded In turn, Mexico was one of history of the land we know today as Spain’s vast holdings in the New Camp Pendleton. World collectively known as Neuva España. Gaspar de Portolá led the Oil painting of Gaspar of Portolá, circa 1770 CPHS is assisting a young man, Garrett expedition. But, by 1769 Spain had Blandford, with his Eagle Scout project already been in the New World for civilizing the heathen natives. They by underwriting the expenses for over 250 years. During 86 of those did this through a series of missions materials. His objective is to prepare years there had been a Spanish populated by clergy, newly baptized display cards for each exhibit in the presence in Baja California. What Indians, called neophytes, and a Camp Pendleton Mechanized Museum. took them so long to colonize Alta surprisingly few soldiers. The latter The cards will identify the equipment, California and why did they finally provided defense and served as provide pertinent information about come at all? Who was Gaspar de sheriffs to find and return converted it, and give some interesting historical Portolá and why was he chosen to Indians who bolted after objecting facts. It is a win-win situation: we lead the expedition? Finally, how did to the rules of the mission. are helping to make the Mechanized his journey affect Camp Pendleton? Museum more meaningful to visitors By 1697 the Dominicans, Franciscans, while assisting a high school student Spain colonized the New World and Jesuits, had begun extending earn one of the most significant honors through a partnership between their missions into Baja California. achievable for someone his age. the government, meaning the king, and the Catholic Church. The In the high stakes competition for The passing of an era may soon be two parties had different, though territory played by 18th Century approaching. Building 1133, built in complimenting aims. The king 1942 as a temporary headquarters for European monarchs, King Carlos III wanted colonies for their resources, of Spain held a bad hand. When he divisions training at Camp Pendleton particularly gold. The Catholic during World War II, has served as ascended the throne in 1759, the Church, represented in Mexico once magnificent Spanish Empire the headquarters of the 1st Marine by four orders: the Augustinians, Division since that division returned had been in a slow, but steady Dominicans, Franciscans, and Jesuits, from the Pacific Theater in 1947. The decline for over 100 years. The new focused on Christianizing and Continued page 3, Message Continued page 2, Portolá Portolá, cont. king faced daunting challenges at King’s nemesis, the Jesuits, offered a in the mother country identified him home and abroad. solution, although not in the sense as a Peninsular -- the highest level of they would have hoped. a complex cast system in New Spain At home the royal treasury was society. Only Peninsulars could hold woefully bare after funding a series In just 24 hours on Feb. 3, 1768 under the highest governmental positions of costly wars. He was not amused secret orders from the king Spanish in Spanish colonies. when told that Jesuits in Neuva provincial governors arrested all España were operating gold and Jesuits in Mexico. They transported Portolá entered the Spanish Army as silver mines, huge ranches, and other them to Vera Cruz where they were a young man and rose through the business enterprises in violation placed aboard ships and sent back to ranks, reaching the grade of captain of their agreement with the crown. Europe. Their lucrative business and after 30 years of service. He was Jesuits diverted profits to their own financial assets became property of sent to New Spain and appointed uses rather pay taxes. Carlos’ humor the king. Suddenly, Carlos’ exchequer governor of Baja California in 1767 did not improve when in 1766 he cupboard was no longer bare. to oversee the Jesuit expulsion there. had to crush a revolt at home; Jesuit inspired many With his newly acquired said. wealth Carlos could afford to stave off England and Abroad, his massive, Russia by beginning far-flung empire was the colonization of Alta increasingly vulnerable. California. Continuing Of particular concern was the long tradition of Alta California. Except for colonializing, the expedition brief coastal explorations would be a joint effort by by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo the church and crown. In in 1542 and Sebastián recognition of Portolá’s Vizcaíno sixty years later, service during the Jesuit Spain had shown little expulsion, Carlos appointed interest in the region. As him to represent the crown far as was known the land as expedition leader. The had no gold or silver for the Dominicans and Franciscans King’s treasury. Ironically, jointly agreed that the that judgment could not Franciscans would carry have been more wrong. the cross to Alta California while the Dominicans would Imperialistic nations of the take up the void in Baja age abhorred a vacuum. If California left by the Jesuits. Spain could not control Franciscan missionary, Alta California, another Father Junipero Serra, high-stake player would. would lead the Franciscans. England, whose navy sailed Together, this government- supreme, lurked. Carlos’ church alliance was known emissaries in Moscow as the Sacred Expedition. reported that Russia also Route of the Portolá Expedition through San Diego County, 1769. From the book, The History of San Diego: v.1 The Explorers, 1492- had an eye on the land. 1774 by Copley Press (1960). The Sacred Expedition’s Clearly Spain needed a strategic goal was to strong, creditable presence establish a mission at in Alta California to protect its Gaspar de Portolá, the newly Monterey. It would be the second in interests. appointed governor of Baja California, a series of missions to be connected had carried out the king’s expulsion by a route known as El Camino Real. While the need to defend the realm order in his province. Don Gaspar The plan to do this was complex and was clear, the means were less so. came from a noble Catalonian family. well thought out. The first step was Colonization of such a large territory Catalonia is a region in northeast to assemble the force at San Diego. would be expensive. Fortunately, the Spain around Barcelona. Being born Four separate elements left Mexico 2 Portolá, cont. in early 1769 to meet there, two the parents watched, the Franciscans overland and two by sea. Because made mystical movements with their of navigation errors, storms, and the hands and arms, sprinkled water, and slow pace of overland parties, the uttered strange words. Afterwards, forces did not fully assemble until the Indians returned to their village June 29. Once there, Father Serra with their dying children, no doubt founded San Diego de Acalá, the first without understanding what they had of what would become 21 missions experienced. The Spanish continued in Alta California. After a brief their march north, probably feeling pause, Portolá divided his group quite satisfied at having performed into two elements. One would travel the first Christian baptism in Alta to Monterey by ship, while Portolá California. The place where that would lead the other overland. He took place is known to this day as set out on July 14 with 63 soldiers, Cristianitos. a gathering of missionaries, and 100 pack mules. Father Serra boarded a Although Portolá and the Sacred vessel and sailed for Monterey Bay Expedition paused at Camp to await Portolá’s arrival. One of the Pendleton for only three days, the missionaries traveling overland, Title page of Portolá’s diary. From the book, effect of their passage was lasting. Father Juan Crespí, was a gifted The History of San Diego: v.1 The Explorers, His overland force reached Monterey diarist. Much of what we know of 1492-1774 by Copley Press (1960). to link up with Father Serra and Portolá’s venture comes from his establish the second Spanish mission writings. in California. Others followed. Twenty-nine years later, in 1798, the Six days after leaving San Diego Franciscans opened the 18th mission and some 40 miles north, Portolá’s in the chain, San Luis Rey de Francia, party camped on the banks of a river just east of present-day Oceanside. It flowing through present-day Camp would become the largest of all Alta Pendleton. Since it was the feast day California missions with a sphere of Saint Margaret of Antioch, they of influence that included all of named it Rio Santa Margarita. The first recorded baptism in Alta California. present-day Camp Pendleton along From the book, San Juan Capistrano Mission with Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, Two days later the party reached the by Engelhardt, Zephyrin (1922). Encinitas, Fallbrook, Temecula, Pala, northern part of present-day Camp and Warner Springs. Pendleton. There they encountered a small group of Indians who had The 21 Franciscan missions made with them two, very ill young girls. possible by the Sacred Expedition One was badly burned; the other lay created a visible Spanish presence very still in her mother’s arms.