in the belief that England is endeavoring with ardor to become possessed of California. It is necessary to prevent this result, for this reason you will use your influence to have all those favorable to the United States take up arms for the cause and declaration of a republic in the territory which form of rule may be maintained until a declaration of war between the United States and Mexico will justify this government to take possession of the country. War will soon be commenced; until that time don't leave any trace, either by word or act, of any connection between your doings and this department."

tured without firing a shot. Merritt after that resigned and John Grigsby was elected captain, and when he, with nine of the men, left with the prisoners for Sutter's fort, Sonoma was given in charge of Wm. B. Ide, as captain of twenty men, with Henry L. Ford first lieutenant, Granville B. Swift first sergeant, Sam Gibson second sergeant.

Notwithstanding the capture of Sonoma was effected without any bloodshed, it seems to have been destined that the first blood should flow in connection with this affair. Captain Ide, in want of some powder, sent two of his men to the Fitch ranch, where a After another rencontre with the Indians in the brother of Kit Carson was foreman, and they not reModoc country, Fremont retraced his own steps to- turning in time, he ordered two other men to look wards the Sacramento Valley, arriving at the Marys- after the matter, but when they failed to return, the ville Buttes May 27, and camped there for about one fort got alarmed, and Sergeant Gibson with a posse week, meantime reinforcing his army by drawing vol- of four men, was sent on the night of June 20, to prounteers. Continuing his march south he received cure the powder and hunt after those four of their information from Wm. Knight, of Knight's Landing, comrades. The sergeant succeeded in the first half on June 8, that Gen. Castro's private secretary, Lieu- of his commission, but could learn nothing of the tenant Francisco de Arce, with some eighty horses, men. Returning he was attacked at Santa Rosa by had passed the Sacramento river the previous day, at four men, but the Americans were on the lookout and his place. These horses were expected to be on the captured two of them, taking them back to Sonoma. way towards Castro's headquarters to serve in the com- One of these prisoners was Bernardino Garcia, in after ing encounter, and on the morning of June 9th eleven years better known under the nom de plume "Three men, under Ezekiel Merritt's command, left Fre- fingered Jack," the famous bandit who was killed by mont's camp in pursuit of Lieut. de Arce, whom they Harry Love's rangers July 27, 1853, at the Pinola surprised before daybreak on the morning of the roth, pass, not far from the Merced river. From these capturing the whole party. Castro's men and their prisoners Capt. Ide learned the fate of his men. The lieutenant were allowed to continue their journey to second detail of men were prisoners, but the first two San Jose, retaining their arms and riding horses each. had been inhumanly murdered. Captured by a party The taken-away horses were driven into Fremont's of thirteen Californians, they were tied to a tree with camp on the next day. lariats and used as targets for the practice of throwThis was the introduction to the hostilities enacted ing knives, and after tiring of this, stones and other by the American settlers, generally called the "Bear missiles were thrown at them; and in this way, imita Flag War," The discussed question, what could be ting the style of the most savage Indians, these done next, was answered unanimously by showing human beasts tortured them slowly to death. They activity in response to Castro's war-like proclama- were found just as they had died, a ghastly spectacle. tions, and it was determined to capture Sonoma, to take possession of all military stores at the place, and declare the independence from Mexico. And the next day already saw twenty brave men under Captain Castro issued another fulminant proclamation from Merritt crossing the Sacramento river at Knight's his headquarters at Santa Clara, calling on the native Landing, on their way towards Sonoma, being joined at Californians to rise for their religion, liberty and indeGordon's ranch by twelve men, one of them Wm. L. pendence. Capt. Ide answered with another proclaTodd, who painted the Bear Flag, and Capt. Jack Scott, mation from Sonoma to the Americans and other who brought the report from Sonoma back to Fremont foreigners, to rise and defend their rights as settlers ; that Sloat had hoisted the American flag at Monterey. and they responded numerously, so that Fremont They hurried on, and early on the morning of June having received the news of Gen. Castro's move on to 14, 1846, Sonoma, with the garrison of six soldiers, Sonoma June 23, by Harrison Pierce, and promising together with the Commandant General M. G. Vallejo to march to the rescue of that place as soon as he and his officers, Lieut. Colonel Victor Prudon, Capt. could mount ninety men, was able to do so the very S. M. Vallejo and Jacob P. Leese, besides nine brass same day, and to arrive at Sonoma at two o'clock on cannon and two hundred and fifty muskets were cap- the morning of the 25th. Meantime Lieut. Ford

Cowie and Fowler were buried at Santa Rosa, but their memory lives in history as the first victims in the struggle for American supremacy in California.

As stated already, Fremont returned back to Sonoma on July 4th. The following day he held a review of his battalion, it having been increased to two hundred and fifty men, and in the presence of the assembled people the independence of the State was declared, the bear flag hoisted and Fremont chosen to take charge of affairs. The historic standard called the Bear Flag, after a tolerable likeness of a grizzly bear, made by means of a blacking-brush, with berry juice, on a piece of cotton cloth, is now in the possession of the California Society of Pioneers.

Fremont, with one hundred and eighty men, started, on July 6th, from Sonoma by the way of Knight's Landing and Sutter's Fort, to attack Castro in his en trenched camp at Santa Clara. When about nearing the fort, on the tenth, Captain Jack Scott came in full gallop after them, bringing the news from Sonoma that Commodore Sloat, on board of the United States

with twenty-three men, and two prisoners taken along ple having been charged with the commission to cap for guides, had started on the 23d of June from So- ture the old fort San Joaquin, near the Mission at San noma with the intention of keeping the enemy away Francisco, and make the Captain, R. T. Ridley, a and in check until Fremont could arrive; and by the prisoner, returned to Sacramento on July 8th, and way to try if Wm. L. Todd and others, having been delivered his prisoner at Sutter's Fort as a proof of his captured by Juan Padilla's band, could not be recap- success. tured. Thus moving on to San Rafael with only fourteen of his men, having left eight in guard of Padilla's ranch, he just had captured about eighty corralled horses, and nearing a house, when out poured the enemy, numbering to their surprise about eighty, with horses ready to be mounted behind the house. Ford did not hesitate to form his men in platoons, when the Californians advancing, charged upon him; but after being thrown back twice by the rifle sharp-shooters, who had taken positions behind trees, and as the situation allowed it, they gave up the fight, leaving the field to the fourteen men; who found eleven of the enemy dead and wounded. The prisoners, Todd and companion, had been left in the house. They were soon liberated, and all returned, with the prisoners to Sonoma. Here Fremont did not stay more than a few hours, but advanced forthwith to San Rafael, going into camp there for a few days. An Indian scout was captured and brought into frigate Savannah, had captured Monterey on July camp. He carried a letter from De la Torre to Castro, informing the latter that he (Torre) was drawing together his forces to make an attack upon Sonoma the next morning while Fremont was absent. This, however proved to be a trick enacted for the purpose to remove Fremont from San Rafael, for while the latter was rushing to the relief of Sonoma, where no enemy came in sight, the Californian forces made their escape While Commodore Sloat with his fleet, consisting from Saucelito by water, to join Castro who had ad- of the frigate Savannah and five smaller vessels, was vanced from Santa Clara to about San Leandro, and waiting for orders in the harbor of Mazatlan, Sir stood two hundred and fifty strong at Estudillo's ranch; George Seymour, the British Rear Admiral, with a returning to the old headqurters after a few days, on force of nine or ten vessels kept a strong watch of June 29th. The day before, Fremont's men had cap- the American movements, cruising up and down tured three Californians-one Berryessa and two de the coast, and when Sloat started for Mazatlan Haro brothers-doing spy services from Castro to De la Torre; they were shot summarily, in requital for the murder of the two Americans at Santa Rosa.

7th; that Captain Montgomery, of the Portsmouth, had hoisted the American flag on the plaza at Yerba Buena on the 8th, and that the Stars and Stripes had been raised at Sonoma on the 10th. The Bear Flag came down while the Stars and Stripes went up, amid general cheering, saluted by twenty-one guns, out of a little brass cannon called "Sutter."

Seymour put out to sea under full sail, and both their vessels ran a competing race, but the former outsailed the latter, and when the British On July 1st, Fremont, with Lieut. Gillespie and vessel came around the Point of Pines at Monterey twenty men went across the bay, took the Presidio and she found the Americans in full possession of the spiked all the guns there; took a lot of supplies from harbor. Entering the port, Commodore Sloat saluted the American bark Moscow, that happened to cruise the Mexican flag, not having received yet any official around, and returned on the second by the way of information that war had begun, although the battle of Saucelito to Sonoma, to arrive there on the 4th of Palo Alto was fought more than a month before. He July. He also took with him a great supply of ammu- found there the American war vessels Levant and nition that had been stored on the shore by Captain Cyane, and all were anxious to see events developing Montgomery, of the Portsmouth, left there, under that hung like clouds in the air; but Sloat let pass the guard, for Fremont to capture it.* Dr. Robert Sem- 4th of July uninspirated, like the days previous. On the evening of the sixth a launch, under command of Lieut. N. B. Harrison, after having been at sea for

* This was the way to furnish these rebels ammunition, etc., without showing the hand of the Government of the United States in the affair.

27

fifty-six hours, came in port, sent by Captain Mont- of choosing their own magistrates and other officers gomery to advise Commodore Sloat of the Bear-flag for the administration of justice among themselves, war on the northern frontier; but Sloat, to show his and the same protection will be extended to them as standpoint, did not even allow them to leave their to any other State in the Union. They will also enjoy boat, and ordered them to hold themselves ready to a permanent government, under which life, property return with dispatches to Captain Montgomery, order- and the constitutional right and lawful security to ing him to render no assistance to the Americans in worship the Creator in the way the most congenial to their insurrection. Only the intercession of the officers each other's sense of duty will be secured, which, of the flag-ship, as well as other vessels, particularly of unfortunately, the Central Government of Mexico canR. M. Price, Purser of the Cyane, (since Governor of not afford them, destroyed as her resources are by New Jersey) could arouse the commander from his internal factions and corrupt officers, who create conlethargy to come to the understanding that circum- stant revolutions to promote their own interest and stances ordered the immediate seizure of the country, oppress the people. Under the flag of the United and when Price left, late in the night, he returned to States California will be free from all such troubles his vessel with orders from Sloat for Captain William and expenses, consequently the country will rapidly Mervine. The orders for Captain Montgomery were advance and improve both in agriculture and in comchanged to an instruction to take possession of Yerba merce; as, of course, the revenue laws will be the same Buena, and, according to the orders received, Captain in California as in all parts of the United States, Mervine, with Purser Price, Lieutenant Higgins and affording them all the manufactures and products of two hundred and fifty marinės and sailors, went on the United States free of any duty, and on all foreign shore at 10 A. M. on July 7th, 1846, to hoist the goods at one-quarter of the duty they now pay. A American flag over Monterey as the capital of Upper great increase in the value of real estate and the pro California; Purser Price reading the Commodore's ducts of California may also be anticipated. proclamation to the people in the English and Spanish languages, declaring California henceforth a portion of the United States. Thus ended the Bear Flag war, the Government of the United States taking the responsibility out of the hands of those who had done their work of opening the activity, into her own hands.

PROCLAMATION.

TO THE INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA.

The Central Government of Mexico having commenced hostilities against the United States of America by invading its territory and attacking the troops of the United States stationed on the north side of the Rio Grande, and with a force of seven thousand men, under command of General Arista, which army was totally destroyed, and all their artillery, baggage, etc. captured on the eighth and ninth of May last, by a force of two thousand and three hundred men, under command of General Taylor, and the city of Matamoras taken and occupied by the forces of the United States, and the two nations being actually at war, by this transaction I shall hoist the standard of the United States at Monterey immediately, and shall carry it throughout California.

I declare to the inhabitants of California that although I come in arms, with a powerful force, I do not come to them as an enemy to California; on the contrary, I come as their best friend, as henceforth California will be a portion of the United States, and its peaceable inhabitants will enjoy the same rightsprinciples they now enjoy-together with the privilege |

With the great interest and kind feeling I know the Government and people of the United States possess toward the citizens of California, the country cannot but improve more rapidly than any other on the continent of America.

Such of the inhabitants of California, whether natives or foreigners, as may not be disposed to accept the high privileges of citizenship, and to live peaceably allowed time to dispose of their property and to remove under the Government of the United States, will be out of the country, if they choose, without tion, or remain in it, observing strict neutrality. any restric

the inhabitants of the country, I invite the judges, With full confidence in the honor and integrity of alcaldes and other civil officers to execute their functions as heretofore, that the public tranquility may not be disturbed, at least until the Government of the territory can be more definitely arranged.

All persons holding titles to real estate, or in quiet. possession of land under color of right, shall have those titles guaranteed to them.

possession of the clergy of California, shall continue in All churches, and the property they contain, in the the same rights and possessions they now enjoy.

All provisions and supplies of every kind furnished by the inhabitants for the use of the United States' ships and soldiers will be paid for at fair rates, and no private property will be taken for public use without just compensation at the moment.

JOHN D. SLOAT,

Com'dg U. S. Forces on the Pacific Coast.

CHAPTER VII.

AMERICAN CONQUEST-MEXICAN WAR.

Clara and his flight to Los Angeles; and Fremont concluded at once to follow him all those 500 miles. He started by the way of San Jose towards Events Upon the Eastern Field of Battle-Castro's Retreat Monterey and arrived on July 17th at the Mission San

Towards Los Angeles-Prisoners Made-Mission San Juan

Mexico.

Captured-Unpleasant Feeling Between Sloat and Fre- Juan, thirty miles from Monterey, which had been mont-Stockton and Fremont Harmonious-Stockton's used as a government arsenal, for storing surplus Strategy-Castro, Demoralized, Transfers His Headquar- ammunition and arms since the seizure of Monterey ters Into Sonora-Castro's Prisoners-Stockton Returns to by Commodore Jones in 1842, capturing the place Monterey; His Idea, How to Prosecute War Against without firing a shot. The arms and ammunition taken being 9 cannons, 20 kegs of powder, 200 old muskets, and 60,000 cannon shots; and scarcely had he been one hour in possession of stores and place when Purser Fountleroy, with a company of mounted marinesarrived, with orders of Commodore Sloat, on the same errand.

On December 29th, 1845, Texas had been admitted into the North American Union, but this act, instead of laying down the rivalry of the other Republic, and putting a stop to those border troubles that had been kept up since the first revolution, more than ten years before, increased the restlessness of the sister Republic more and more, till the border troubles got the character of open hostilities, and finally got bold enough to attack the United States troops on the north side of the Rio Grande. In the counter attack at Mata. moras, on April 19th, 1846, just one week after the United States Minister, Slidell, had left Mexico, Lieut. Porter was defeated, but Brigadier-General Taylor, in command of the American army of two thousand three hundred men in all, won his laurels in a grand victory over the Mexican army, numbering seven thousand, under General Arista, in two battles, on the 8th and 9th of May, at Palo Alto, and the next day at Resaca de la Palma. All the Mexican artillery, baggage, etc. fell into the hands of the victors, who took the city of Matamoras and occupied it.

There is a connection in the contemporary appear ance of similar actions that become active without

the knowledge of one another; thus on May 9th, 1846, on the same day, where, in Texas, the battle of Recaca de la Palma was fought, Lieut. Gillespie delivered his dispatches to Fremont, causing the commencement of hostilities on the Pacific coast without any telegraphic communication.

The news of Commodore Sloat's proclamation, and declaration of taking possession of the country, reached the headquarters of General Castro as early as the 8th of July, at Santa Clara, and was the cause of his immediate breaking camp and hastily retiring his forces to Los Angeles; but having captured just before, close by in the mountains, Captain C. M. Weber, Washburn and D. T. Bird, who were on their way to join the American forces, he took them along as prisoners.

Fremont and Gillespie reported themselves on duty the next day at the headquarters of Commodore Sloat, at Monterey, and it was here where the Commodore's (as we believe) jealousy caused him to interview Fremont, on whose authority he had commenced hostilities against Mexico in California, and Fremont answered him that he had done what was done on his own responsibility. This did not allay the anger of the old gentleman, and he declared to Fremont in the course of this unpleasant interview that he might just as well continue to prosecute the war on his own responsibility, as he (Sloat) did not propose to cooperate with him (the rebel), concluding that he should turn over the control of affairs to his junior officer and return to Washington.

This junior officer, Commodore R. F. Stockton, had arrived on July 15th, and when reporting himself upon Sloat's order, he asked that officer the favor to take command of the land forces. This request was granted, and Stockton and Fremont were working harmoniously together from that time forth. Soon. after, on the 23d, the old commodore sailed for home, and Stockton assumed full command of all land and naval forces of the United States on this coast.

The same day, Commodore Dupont with the Cyane was dispatched by Stockton to carry Fremont and his battalion to San Diego, while Stockton himself embarked for San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles, on the 1st of August, after having issued his proclamation, on July 28th. Going ashore at Santa Barbara, he took possession of the presidio without resistance, learning at the same time that Fremont had reached San Diego, and that Castro and Pico, with a force of about a thousand men and seven field-pieces of artillery were at Los Angeles, about twenty miles from

Fremont, advancing in his pursuit of Castro, was just about to enter Sutter's Fort, with the same banner un-port. furled that had already waved on the top of Hawk's After landing at San Pedro, five days were occupied Peak, near Monterey, on the 6th of March, when in drilling his marines in infantry services generally, he received the news of Castro's evacuation of Santa and such movements as might be necessary in resist