They reached the town late at night, and were wakened by a loud knock on the door early in the morning.
It was Captain Gillespie, who said: "There can be no neutrals in this country; you must either enlist for three months (as the war will probably be over by that time), or be imprisoned on the Congress."
Ames was president of the board of trustees for San Diego during 1853–1855, when the city had no mayoral form of government.
Ames planted a double cactus hedge around the ranch house and raised sheep and cattle.
At his ranch, Ames would throw lavish fiestas that drew guests as far away as Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.