band maintained this position. General Castro did not approach
within attacking distance, and Colonel Fremont, adhering to his
plan of avoiding all collisions, and determined neither to
compromise his Government nor the American settlers, ready to join
him at all hazards, if he had been attacked, abandoned his
position, and commenced his march for Oregon, intending by that
route to return to the United States. Deeming all danger from the
Mexicans to be past, he yielded to the wishes of some of his men
who desired to remain in the country, discharged them from his
service, and refused to receive others in their stead, so cautious
was he to avoid doing anything which would compromit the American
settlers or give even a color of offence to the Mexican
authorities. He pursued his march slowly and leisurely, as the
state of his men and horses required, until the middle of May, and
had reached the northern shore of the greater Tlamath Lake, within
the limits of the Oregon territory, when he found his further
progress in that direction obstructed by impassable snowy
mountains and hostile Indians, who, having been excited against
him by General Castro, had killed and wounded four of his men, and
left him no repose either in camp or on his march. At the same
time, information reached him that General Castro, in addition to
his Indian allies, was advancing in person against him with
artillery and cavalry, at the head of four or five hundred men;
that they were passing around the head of the Bay of San Francisco
to a rendezvous on the north side of it, and that the American
settlers in the valley of the Sacramento were comprehended in the
scheme of destruction meditated against his own party.
"Under these circumstances, he determined to turn upon his Mexican
pursuers, and seek safety both for his own party and the American
settlers, not merely in the defeat of Castro, but in the total
overthrow of the Mexican authority in California, and the
establishment of an independent government in that extensive
department. It was on the 6th of June, and before the commencement
of the war between the United States and Mexico could have there
been known, that this resolution was taken; and, by the 5th of
July, it was carried into effect by a series of rapid attacks, by
a small body of adventurous men, under the conduct of an intrepid
leader, quick to perceive and able to direct the proper measures
for accomplishing such a daring enterprise.
"On the 11th of June, a convoy of 200 horses for Castro's camp,
with an officer and 14 men, were surprised and captured by 12 of
Fremont's party. On the 15th, at daybreak, the military post of
Sonoma was also surprised and taken, with nine brass cannon, 250
stand of muskets, and several officers and some men and munitions
of war.
"Leaving a small garrison at Sonoma, Colonel Fremont went to the
Sacramento to rouse the American settlers; but scarcely had he
arrived there, when an express reached him from the garrison at
Sonoma, with information that Castro's whole force was crossing
the bay to attack that place. This intelligence was received in
the afternoon of the 23d of June, while he was on the American
fork of the Sacramento, 80 miles from the little garrison at
Sonoma; and, at two o'clock on the morning of the 25th, he arrived
at that place with 90 riflemen from the American settlers in that
valley. The enemy had not yet appeared. Scouts were sent out to
reconnoitre, and a party of 20 fell in with a squadron of 70
dragoons (all of Castro's force which had crossed the bay),
attacked and defeated it, killing and wounding five, without harm
to themselves; the Mexican commander, De la Torre, barely escaping
with the loss of his transport boats and nine pieces of brass
artillery, spiked.
"The country north of the bay of San Francisco, being cleared of
the enemy, Colonel Fremont returned to Sonoma on the evening of
the 4th of July, and on the morning of the 5th, called the people
together, explained to them the condition of things in the
province, and recommended an immediate declaration of
independence. The declaration was made, and he was selected to
take the chief direction of affairs.
"The attack on Castro was the next object. He was at Santa Clara,
an intrenched post on the upper or south side of the Bay of San
Francisco, with 400 men and two pieces of field artillery. A
circuit of more than a hundred miles must be traversed to reach
him. On the 6th of July the pursuit was commenced, by a body of
160 mounted riflemen, commanded by Colonel Fremont in person, who,
in three days, arrived at the American settlements on the Rio de
los Americanos. Here he learnt that Castro had abandoned Santa
Clara, and was retreating south toward Ciudad de los Angeles (the
city of the Angels), the seat of the Governor General of the
Californias, and distant 400 miles. It was instantly resolved on
to pursue him to that place. At the moment of departure, the
gratifying intelligence was received that war with Mexico had
commenced; that Monterey had been taken by our naval force, and
the flag of the United States there raised on the 7th of July; and
that the fleet would cooperate in the pursuit of Castro and his
forces. The flag of independence was hauled down, and that of the
United States hoisted, amidst the hearty greetings and to the
great joy of the American settlers and the forces under the
command of Colonel Fremont.
"The combined pursuit was rapidly continued; and on the 12th of
August, Commodore Stockton and Colonel Fremont, with a detachment
of marines from the squadron and some riflemen, entered the City
of the Angels, without resistance or objection; the Governor
General, Pico, the Commandant General, Castro, and all the Mexican
authorities, having fled and dispersed. Commodore Stockton took
possession of the whole country as a conquest of the United
States, and appointed Colonel Fremont Governor, under the law of
nations; to assume the functions of that office when he should
return to the squadron.
"Thus, in the short space of sixty days from the first decisive
movement, this conquest was achieved by a small body of men, to an
extent beyond their own expectation; for the Mexican authorities
proclaimed it a conquest, not merely of the northern part, but of
the whole province of the Californias.
"The Commandant General, Castro, on the 9th of August, from his
camp at the Mesa, and next day 'on the road to Sonora,' announced
this result to the people, together with the actual flight and
dispersion of the former authorities; and at the same time, he
officially communicated the fact of the conquest to the French,
English, and Spanish Consuls in California; and to crown the
whole, the official paper of the Mexican government, on the 16th
of October, in laying these official communications before the
public, introduced them with the emphatic declaration, 'The loss
of the Californias is consummated.'
"The whole province was yielded up to the United States, and is
now in our military occupancy. A small part of the troops sent out
to subject this province will constitute, it is presumed, a
sufficient force to retain our possession, and the remainder will
be disposable for other objects of the war."
We shall not stop to examine the Stockton and the Kearney controversies,
the Monroe duel, nor the troubles which beset the gallant explorer and
officer. Suffice it to say, that out of all he came with clean hands,
and an unspotted reputation. Though a court martial, asked for by
himself, sentenced him to be dismissed the service for disobedience of
orders, or rather for not selecting the proper officer in California
to obey, the President remitted the penalty. Too proud to hold an
office in any army of any nation under such circumstances, Col.
Fremont tendered his resignation as Lieutenant Colonel in the United
States army.
It was the old story of the triumph of Red Tapism and dull routine
over genius and services of transcendent importance; but, however Col.
Fremont might fare before a board of jealous officers, the people took
his cause up, and make him a hero. From all parts of the land, and
from countries over the sea, letters of congratulation and admiration
of his scientific explorations, poured in upon him.
In October, 1848, Mr. Fremont set out upon his _fourth_ trip over the
Rocky Mountains, which proved to be the most dangerous and fearful of
all. Though 120 mules were frozen in one night, and some of his
comrades were starved, he had succeeded in reaching California. The
trip was made entirely at his own expense, but its results were given
in the journals at the time for the benefit of the nation.
The year previous to his fourth Overland Expedition, Col. Fremont had,
for $3,000, bought the since famous "Mariposa Estate," which will
eventually make him a very wealthy man, if he succeeds in establishing
his rights in California.
In 1849, General Taylor appointed Fremont Commissioner to run the
boundary line between the United States and Mexico; but while he was
deliberating upon an acceptance or declination, the new legislature of
California, assembled at San Jose, elected him United States Senator.
In the Senate his course was distinguished by great industry and
indefatigable exertion in favor of his constituents, and it was much
regretted by those who knew the youthful senator, that he chose the
short term, so that his term of office expired in March, 1851. In the
Constitutional Convention in California, Col. Fremont had taken a very
decided part against slavery, and in Congress his course had been so
unpartisan that he lost the support of his party, and a reelection was
out of the question. His subsequent history is known to every man. He
was nominated in 1856 by the Republican party as its candidate for the
Presidency, and polled a tremendous vote. The enthusiasm in his favor
in the East and the Northwest, was intense, and in the opinion of
many, nothing but the intervention of a third candidate--Mr.
Fillmore--prevented his election.
Mr. Fremont, _as a politician_, is little known to the country, for he
has had little to do with politics, and is uncorrupted. He is,
however, known to favor, first of all things, a Pacific railroad, is
opposed to lawless filibusterism, and thoroughly in favor of the
supremacy of free labor over slave labor. He unhesitatingly indorsed
the Philadelphia platform, and can always be relied on to oppose the
schemes of the slavery-propagandists.
As _a man_, Col. Fremont is known to the country to be fearless,
brave, devoted to fulfilling all his duties, and ready to brave the
frowns of millions, if necessary, in redeeming a pledge. Such a man
can be _trusted_, whether in or out of office.
THE END.
End of Project Gutenberg's Presidential Candidates:, by D. W. Bartlett