One of the men, Michael Nye, who gone down to San Jose to look for work cam back to Marsh’s ranch with the report that the other men were “detained” there, and the Mexican authorities wanted the rest of the party to deliver themselves as well, since they had not brought proper passports with them from the States.

Nye “likewise brought a letter from the Spanish Commander in Chief of Upper California (that would have been Vallejo) to Marsh, requesting him to come, in all possible haste, and answer or rather explain the intention of the company in coming to California.” Marsh was put out at having to go on this errand, but he set out for San Jose on the 12th. It would not do to further agitate the Commandante.