Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-11-14
OFFICIAL.
TKoa ruE UNION" OF YESTERDAY.
OPERATIONS OF CAPTAIN FREMONT IN UPPER
CALIFORNIA.
Lener Grom Senator Benton 10 he President.

Letter from Senator Benton TO The President.
Str In the of official information the subject
Of Lieutenant Colonel hcn Capain FREmosrs operations
in Upper California deem my duty to lay before you the
private letters which have received from that officer for the
purpose of showing you his actual position the latest dates
the unwilling in which he became Involved in HOSTILE
ties with the Mexican authorities that province before he
had heard Of the with Mexico and especially dispove
the accusation, made officially against him by Governor Cas-
tro, Of having into California with body of United
troops under the petext of scientific expedition but
IN reality excite the Americans settled in that province to
an instruction against the Mexican Government This ac
cusaton of the grave character seriously duplicating
the good faith and honor Of Government and officially
made by Governor Castro, III despatch to the Minister of
War and Marine under date of the LIST of April last and pub
shed in FL Monitor Rpubfeano, in the city of Mexico by
the order # the Mexican Government the 10th of May
last. copy of this paper sent to Mrs Fremont my
daughter by the Hon. Mr. SLIDELL and English transla-
ton Of it is herewith presented.
When Captain FHEnosT left the United States complete
his scientific abo beyond the Rocky Mountains was with
full knowledge of the political well personal difficult
lies of the enterprise liz knew that the relations of the Unit
ed States critical both with Mexico and Great Britain
that he going through the territories of the one and among
the settlements Of the other that jealousy would attach TO his
movements and all his be referred his Government
and he perfectly determined use the utmost circum
sPechon in all his conduct combining himself wholly to his
scientific pursuits and carefully avoiding well the appear
ance as the reality Of either political military mission
with this Siew and after having traversed the desert and
crossed the Great Basin which lies between the Rocky Noun
ains and the Sierra Nepada Of the Alta California he left
his men upon the honer hundred miles from Monterey
and went alone TO that city explain his object and wishes
In person TO Governor Castro He did this the for
mai and official manner company with the United States
Consul Mr.. Larkin, Cat whose house he stopped y and
conforming TO the whole detail of Spanish ceremonial he not
only called the governor but also the project and
acalde The interview entirely satisfactory. To the
Governors remark that he bringing considerable BODY
OF United States troops with him, Capt. F. answered that It
was not sothat he had troops all, only few hired
men for security against Indians and killing game that he
not officer of the ne but OF Typographical En-
gneers and that he seeking (among other
objects OF science TO the mouth of the Columbia upon line
further south than the present travelling route and which had
brought him through tue unsettled parts of the Upper Caor
MA and that he wished TO winter in the valley of the
San Joaquin where there game for his and gass
his horses To this the Governor agreed and Capt Fremont
left Monterey to bring his to the beautiful valley which
he had explored his previous expedition and which both
himself and his looked forward paradise of repose
and refreshments after their tosome and perous march of
three thousand miles among tribes and through wilder
and desert countries.
Scarcely had he arrived in this valley when information be-
gan TO reach him from all quarters that the was
raising the province against him. and coming upon him with
troops OF all armscavaly, artillery, and inany-and that
DIS situation was most critical and dangerous The Consul
sent special messenger to him of his danger the
American settlers below offered Join him but he utterly
refused their assistance because he would not compromise
them But he did what honor and sefpesevaon required
and what the courage and fidelity of his men enthusiastically
seconded He took position and waited the approach of
the assailants and that position to them on the
summit Of the Sierra, overlooking Monterey, thirty miles
distance, and whence, with their glasses they could plainly
see the troops with their artillery, which had crossed the bay
(of Monterrey to S, Juan, on their way to attack him
The Governor, with these troops and with all his threats a
Ter coming towards the camp the SeyTd did not come TO
it and Captain Fremont faithful to his design to avoid COLI
possible finding himself attacked determined
retire. and TO proceed 10 Oregon his intended route of the
valley of the Sacramento, the Klamath lake. and the valley
OF the Wahlahmah river Accordingly, about the 9th Of
March, he le his position the Sierra, descended into the
valley Of the San Joaquin and commenced his march by
slow and easy stages of four and miles day towards
Oregon
is Of this encampmeni the Sierra that Governor Cas-
o makes particular complaint in his despatch the Minister
Of War and Marine evidence Of hostile intentions and
where the American flag raised, forfcaon built and
the American settlers called in for its defence Unhappy
have letter from Captain Fremont detailing the events
of these days. but the Of such letter well supplied
by the official communications from the American Consul at
Monterey To Secretary of State, and by Captain Free
monts brief note TO the Consul written pencil while ex-
pecng the attack of Governor Castro and which has been
heretofore Published papers Mr. Buchanan furnished
" as soon they received with copies of these dcs
patches which herewith laid before you and from which
will be that Governor Castros accusations against
having exced the Americans revolt he absolutely refused
to receive those who offered Join him. And more that
after leaving this POSITION and granting discharges to five or
Of his men, he refused TO fill their places from the men in
the country determined he to avoid as well in appear
anco in act the smallest act offensive injurious TO the
Mexican Authorities. The correspondence shows the
entire fslsehood Of all the suPeave gascoade which
Castro put into his official report about the spo Of the
campfire dispersion of Fremont and his men-her flight
INTO the uushes and through the deserhs sufocation in
the cradle Of dangerous consptracy &C. with all which
Imaginary exploits bis official despatch filed while Ere
mont with slxy-two and two hundred horses,
slowly retiring IN body almost in his view, and utterly alb
staining IRON any act Of offence to the province It's autho
ties was no doubt this false report his Government and
the Tidlcue he incurred by in California that led his sub
sequen operations in May extemnae Fremonts party
and all the American settlers on the Sacramento.
On return from the evacuated camp the Sierra the Gov
ernor also put forth proclamation, in the Of his report
and even worse, styling Fremont and his band high
way robbers, punderng the people, &c. which accusation Of
pnnderng the Consul took the trouble to investigate and
found to be very trivial offence Of manners mot Of law or
morals which the injured party valued five dollars and for
which Capt Fremont gave ten. For the rest the Consul
after all this declares the inhabitants Of the country to be well
pleased with Capt Fremont, and that he might walk the
streets OF Monterey the next day Alone if he chose The only
uu IN Governor Casros despatch is that Captain Fremont
TOOK military position, enenched it, and raised the Ame
can ag but these events the consequence and not the
cause oil Gov Castros against him and this is
luy shown IN that Brief heroic note written in pencil in
answer 70 the Cousus warning, in which Capt Fremont
aer refusing the aid Of the American settlers declared for
himself and his sixytwo that they had done nothing
rurnn In fha..