Historical Facts

* Re “The Rest Is History,” Jan. 13.

I would like to make a comment about the so-called Treaty of Cahuenga. Simply put, there was no such thing.

The only thing that happened at Cahuenga on Jan. 13, 1847, was that the (Mexican) Army of California agreed to capitulate to a particular army of the United States. (John C. Fremont was technically a naval officer and got himself court-martialed for signing the “treaty” and other indiscretions).

The Californios didn’t much care for rule by Mexico City, and most Californios were glad to have the U.S. takeover, honor having been served with scattered fighting having taken place across much of the province.

The Articles of Capitulation signed by Fremont and Andres Pico specifically state that it was not a treaty. “It” was a cease-fire and nothing else.

Cahuenga was indeed a momentous event in retrospect, but no land was ceded in California or anywhere else, and no permanent end to hostilities was agreed upon. This would only follow with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.

And by the way, no one thought to invite or ask the opinions of the Indians of California about these proceedings--either in 1847 or in 1997.

ALBERT KNIGHT

Sun Valley

Knight is vice president of the Santa Susana Mountains Parks Assn.