Vol.

XXV, No 5

September/October 2012

CALENDAR
Saturday, September 8 Grape Day, Escondido Tues, September 18 History Discussion, Escondido Library, 3:30 to 5:30 pm, Sam Brannan with Richard Meyer Fri, September 28 Board Meeting, 11 am-1 pm Sunday, October 7 Living History, Park Tues, October 16 History Discussion, Escondido Library, 3:30 to 5:30 pm, Capt. William Warner with Ron Hinrichs Sat, October 20 Annual Meeting & Lunch, SPBVA office at Park (behind Arch Ctr), noon Fri, October 26 Board Meeting, 11 am-1 pm

YES, WE ARE STILL OPEN!!!

SPBVA President Tom Vilicich at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park for Stagecoach Days

Presidents Message:
Yes, we are still open and the Battle Re-enactment will be taking place on the first Sunday in December 2012. So, once again, we are
looking for mounted Dragoons and Californios, along with many other volunteers to help with the Battle Day activities. San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park will stay open as long as the State Park officials and the possible sponsor group are in
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by Tom Vilicich the midst of negotiations. I wish that I had more information to share with you, but I do not. We will get that information out to you as soon as we get it. The California State Parks Foundation (a nonprofit) has sent out an email encouraging all citizens of California to send a message to their legislators regarding Assembly Bill 1478. By the time this newsletter arrives, they will have voted on the bill. So I am hoping
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Sep/Oct 2012

SPBVA 2012 BOARD MEMBERS

Shirley Buskirk Jim Caldwell Cliff Clifford Royce Clifford Donald Coates Tom Cook Randall Hamud Darlene Hansen Ron Hinrichs Gisela Koestner Richard Meyer Leroy Ross, Jr. Ellen Sweet Tom Vilicich Bob Wohl

Presidents Message: continued

(Continued from page 1)

for the best. The email reads, in part: Assembly Bill (AB) 1478 will appropriate $20.5 million in State Park and Recreation Fund funds to keep the parks open. In addition to allocating this funding, AB 1478 also includes several other important provisions: Prohibits the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) from closing or proposing the closure of a state park in the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 fiscal years. Strengthens the State Park and Recreation Commission to improve their ability and capacity to provide oversight and more meaningful connection between the public, park stakeholders, and the parks department. Provides a one-time appropriation to ensure that all ongoing internal and external investigations in the DPR are fully funded.

Welcome news is the inauguration of a new website for SPBVA, under board member and webmaster, Don Coates. The website is just getting started, so please bear with us. The site is www.SPBVA.org. The San Pasqual Battlefield Volunteer Association annual general membership meeting will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at noon at the meeting room behind the Archaeology Center. Lunch will be provided and we are planning a guest speaker. If you are able to attend, please RSVP so we can have a head count for lunch. All members are welcome and are encouraged to attend. I hope to see you there. Editors Note: As this newsletter goes to press, AB 1478 is on the Gov. Browns desk for his consideration.

President: Tom Vilicich Vice-President: Ron Hinrichs President Emeritus: Leroy Ross, Jr. Treasurer: Jim Caldwell Recording Secy: Ellen Sweet Corporate Secy: Ron Hinrichs

SPBVA members Tom Vilicich (left photo) and Richard Meyer (right below) participated in Stagecoach Days at Old Town San Diego State Historic Park in August.

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Sep/Oct 2012

Park Hours: Saturday & Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Park Phone Number:

(760) 737-2201

History Discussions
Lees Ferry led by Jim Newcom, July In the July discussion, Jim Newcom continued with the ferry after Lees execution. Emma Lee assumed ownership and operated the ferry and farmed the Lonely Dell Ranch. The ferry has two crossing points, depending on the height of the river. The upper crossing has a very rugged pathway on the south side and is known as Lees Backbone. On the lower crossing, a dugway is created, but it is narrow and prone to rockfalls and washouts. In 1879, the Mormon Church directed Warren Johnson to assume full control of the ferry. Emma was to receive 100 head of cattle. There is a question as to how many she actually received. Some say 14. Johnson continued on with the ferry until 1895. Jim Emett was assigned to operate the ferry. He asked that a cable be stretched across the river. This was done in 1896. He also contracted to complete the dugway, a 10 to 12 feet wide road. Poor as it was, it was used for 30 years. In 1909, the Grand Canyon Cattle Company purchased the ferry from the Mormon Church. They hired Warren Johnsons son to operate the ferry. In 1910, Coconino County bought the ferry. Numerous accidents with the ferry brought rise to consideration of a bridge to replace it. Work on the bridge began in 1927. The last ferry trip ended in disaster. Two men with a Model T were on it with Adolph Johnson manning the ferry. Unable to snub the ferry on the south shore, Johnson swam to the ferry. He was not able to control the cable pulley and the craft capsized. All three were lost. The bridge contractor had to move equipment from one side of the river to the other. He had to make an 800 mile trip
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by Ron Hinrichs to get to a place only 800 feet from the starting point. The bridge was opened to traffic on January 12, 1929. James Knox Polk led by Gisela Koestner, August The 11th U.S. President, James K. Polk, was the subject of the August discussion, led by Gisela Koestner. Polk was born in North Carolina on November 2, 1795, the oldest of 10 children. He was a frail child and when he was 17 he was operated on for bladder stones. It is thought that this procedure also made him sterile. He lived in Tennessee, but attended the University of North Carolina in 1816 to 1818 and won top honors. Back in Tennessee, he married Sarah Childress in 1824. In 1825, he became a lawyer. He was elected to Congress for 14 years and Speaker of the House from 1834 to 1839. During this time, he was a great supporter of President Andrew Jackson. Polk served a term as governor of Tennessee and then returned to his law practice. In the 1844 Democratic Convention, the party could not agree on any of five candidates. Polk, though not an original candidate, was chosen on the ninth ballot. His opponent was Henry Clay. It was a close race, but Clay lost New York because of an abolitionist giving the win to Polk. Clay had campaigned on four points: re-annexation of Texas, occupation of Oregon, resolution of the tariff problem, and an independent treasury. He was able to accomplish all of these campaign issues while serving as president. He had also stated that he would be a one-term president. With his wife as his secretary, he led a very strict regimen for six days a week while observing the Sabbath. His wife was a very social person and enter(Continued on page 4)

SPBVA Info:
Tom Vilicich (951) 674-0185 or
[email protected]

School

& Adult

Tours Contact: Darlene Hansen (760) 480-6320 BATTLELINES Contributions Deadline : Oct 26, 2012 Contact editor, Ellen Sweet,
[email protected]

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Sep/Oct 2012

WE APPRECIATE OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS and ENCOURAGE YOUR PATRONAGE

Randall B. Hamud, Attorney at Law 1200-Third Ave, Ste 1321, San Diego 92101 619 696-0815

First Sergeants Corner

SCHOOL OF THE PLATOON, MOUNTED. Direct march of platoon in line, cont. 497.The platoon being in line, the instructor commands: 1. Open files to the left (or by the right.) 2. MARCH. 3. Right (or left)DRESS. 4. FRONT. At the command MARCH, all the troopers, except the right file, passage to the left, as prescribed, No. 342; the second trooper straitens his horse and halts as soon as he has gained an interval of one pace between himself and the trooper of the right. Each of the other troopers execute the same movement, regulating the interval by the trooper on his right. The troopers of the rear rank follow their file-leaders, and keep their proper distances. The instructor orders the alignment the moment the second trooper from the right has attained his interval.

from Tom Vilicich

Milo Johnson Automotive Service 535 N. Quince Escondido 92025 760 745-3841 San Diego Archaeological Center
preserving pieces of the past

16666 San Pasqual Valley Rd Escondido 92027 760 291-0370

The troopers being aligned, the instructor indicates to the guide of the right, or of the left, a fixed point in the direction perpendicular to the front of the platoon; he instructs him to take an intermediate point, never to lose sight of these two points, in order to keep himself always in the proper direction, and to select a more distant point as he approaches the one nearest to him. To give a point of direction, the instructor places himself exactly behind the right file, or the left file, and indicates to the trooper of the front rank an object on the ground which is immovable and can be distinctly seen, such as a house, a steeple, a mill, a tree; the trooper of the rear rank keeps himself always in file and at his proper distance, so that the front rank-man will conceal from him the point of direction indicated. 498.To march the platoon forward, the instructor commands: 1, Platoon forward. 2. Guide right (or left.)
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US Seagoing Marine Assn Lt. Col. Stan Smith, ret. Escondido, 92027 Www.seagoingmarines.com

History Discussions continued

(Continued from page 3)

Valley Camper Sales 450 West 13th Ave Centre City Pkwy at 13th Ave, Escondido 92025 760 745-2463

tained foreign diplomats on Sundays. He was away from the office only 37 days during his whole term. Polks accomplishments as president included the four issues that he had promised. His idea of Manifest Destiny became real with the resulting in the U.S.-Mexican War and the Treaty with Great Britain about Oregon. The Walker Tariff and the Independent Treasury Bill fulfilled the other two items. The Naval
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Academy was established in 1845 and the Department of the Interior in 1849. Polk died within a few months of leaving office in 1849. His worth as a president was not realized by historians until the mid 1900s. Coming Attractions: Tues, Sep 18, Sam Brannan, led by Richard Meyer. Tues, Oct 16, Capt. William Warner, led by Ron Hinrichs.

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Sep/Oct 2012

First Sergeants Corner continued

(Continued from page 4)

3. MARCH. At the command MARCH, all the troopers move straight forward, at the same gait with the men on the side of the guide. As the troopers are not boot to boot, they should give a glance from time to time towards the guide. During the march, the instructor is sometimes at the side of the guide, to assure himself that the troopers march on the same line; and sometimes behind the guide, to observe that he follows the direction indicated.

499.To halt the platoon, the instructor commands: 1. Platoon. 2. HALT. 3. Right (or left)--DRESS. 4. FRONT. At the command HALT, the troopers stop. At the command RightDRESS, they align themselves. At the command FRONT, turn the head to the front.

Celebrate California Admission Day: September 9, 1850 Visit a California State Historic Park
Thanks to these loyal members for their renewals:

Cook, Tom & Jacqueline Hinrichs, Ron Jimenez, MaryLou LaGrone, Terry & Marge Price, Antoinette Ross, Leroy Sweet, Melvin & Ellen Tellez, Carlo Wohl, Bob & Robyn

San Diego Escondido Cypress San Diego San Diego Vista La Jolla Anaheim Carlsbad

WATCH OUR NEW WEBSITE GROW! www.SPBVA.org

Dragoon Level Members ($100 or more this year)

Agnew, Anstes Bowman, Bob & Judy Coates, Donald Cowgill, Jane Stokes Foucar, Allen & Barbara Hill, Greg
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Key, Robert S. Lobdell, Kym Pique, Michael Sweet, Melvin & Ellen Vilicich, Thomas M.

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Sep/Oct 2012

San Pasqual Battlefield Volunteer Association

15808 San Pasqual Valley Rd P.O. Box 300816 Escondido, CA 92027 Escondido, CA 92030-0816 September 1, 2012

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE

In accordance with Article V, Section 2 of the Bylaws, this is to notify all members of the San Pasqual Battlefield Volunteer Association that the ANNUAL MEETING will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012, at the park beginning at 12 noon. In accordance with Article VI, Section 1, additional nominations will be accepted if: 1. Any ten members nominate candidates for directorship at any time before the 10th day preceding the election. On timely receipt of a petition signed by the required number of members, the secretary will cause the names of the candidates to be placed on the ballot along with the candidates named by the nominating committee. 2. Any member present at the meeting may place other names into nomination. (This assumes they have permission.) The Nominating Committee has selected the following members to be elected for THREE YEAR TERMS starting January 1, 2013: * Shirley Buskirk *Darlene Hansen *Randy Hamud *Ron Hinrichs *Ellen Sweet *Tom Vilicich Prior to the above election any new business brought to the floor will be discussed. TOM VILICICH., President * Incumbent

SPBVA ANNUAL MEETING

Park Boardroom behind Archaeology Center Saturday, October 20, 2012
12:00 Noon Lunch provided \ Program & speaker to be announced Lunch: Please RSVP by Wed, October 17 to Ellen Sweet at (858) 459-7759 or by email to [email protected]
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Sep/Oct 2012

JOIN NOW! Our non-profit organization supports the activities of the San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park. All members receive a subscription to BATTLELINES, a 10% discount on all bookstore items, special programs, field trips, history discussions, and opportunities to participate in our Living History Sundays and in our annual December re-enactment of the Battle. SAN PASQUAL BATTLEFIELD VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION P.O. Box 300816, Escondido, CA 92030-0816 (760) 737-2201
This is my/our membership application & dues for the following category: ____Student ($5) ____Individual ($15) ____Family ($20) ____ Sustaining ($50) ____Organization ($25) ____Corporate ($100) ____Dragoon ($100 or more) ____Benefactor ($1,000 or more) Please make checks payable to: SPBVA

NAME(S)_______________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY _______________________________________________________ STATE _______________ZIP _________________ PHONE_____________________________________________ EMAIL________________________________________ OCCUPATION_________________________INTEREST/SKILLS_____________________________________________

SPBVAS HISTORY DISCUSSIONS: Join us on Third Tuesdays! Tuesday, September 18 3:305:30 pm

Sam Brannan led by Richard Meyer Tuesday, October 16 3:305:30 pm Capt. William Warner led by Ron Hinrichs
Please call Ron Hinrichs 760 746-8380 for information. Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia, 2nd floor conference room.

SAN PASQUAL BATTLEFIELD VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 300816 Escondido, CA 92030-0816

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Escondido, CA 92025 Permit No. 414

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

BATTLELINES

Sep/Oct 2012

Off the

Shelf...

by Shirley Buskirk trader husband started down the Santa Fe Trail for Chihuahua, Mexico, in June of 1846. That same month General S.W. Kearny and his men started for California. Their trails crossed at Bents Fort and Santa Fe. Susan tells of moving from town to town for fifteen months. When she gave birth to her first child, she wrote, This thing of marrying is not what it is cracked up to be. Mr. Polks War is the video shown at the visitor center. Youll get an overview of the entire U.S.Mexican War in ten minutes. Dos Californios is a childrens book about an 1818 pirates raid along the coast. Hippolyte de Bouchard was a real pirate and the story is in both English and Spanish. The Mormon Battalion: United States Army of the West, 1846-1848 covers the longest march by any unit of the United States Army. After covering 2,000 miles, they arrived in San Diego a month after the battle.
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Five bookstore items are now down to single copies, so Id like to take this opportunity to tell you about them. The Mexican Frontier, 1821-1846: The American Southwest Under Mexico is about the history of that area when it belonged to Mexico. For 25 years, Mexico reigned over this land. Previously, the Spanish had sent the padres into the area to hold it against the encroaching Russians. They established missions and rounded up the Indians. Soldiers were brought in to keep order. Many liked the country and stayed. Mexico got its independence and closed the missions. Some prisoners were released into the area, helping to increase the population. Mexico City was far away and busy with its own problems; settlers in the far north were mainly left alone. Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico is the journal of Susan Shelby Magoffin. Susan was a bride of less than eight months when she and her