Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-10-31
FROM THE PACIFIC.


United States frigafe Savannah, dated
car SEA, JuLr 81, 1916.
On the 9TH Of June the Commodore received information
at Mazaan that the Mexican troops six thousand
strong, had by order of the Mexican Government invaded
the territory of the United States north of the Rio Grande and
had attacked the forces under General Taylor and that the
squadron of the United States bockadng the coast of
Mexico on the Gulf
tThese hoslites, he considered would justify commenc
ing offensive operations the He therefore sail
ed the 9Th, in the Savannah for the of California
leaving the Warren Mazatan bring any dispatches
important information that might reach there. We arrived
Monterey the I'd Of July, where found the Cyane and
Levan and learned that the Portsmouth San Fran
cisco.
Son the morning Of the 7th having previously examined
the deences and localities of the town. the Commodore
Captain Mervne with to the military commandant
Of Monterey, requiring him surrender the place forthwith
the forces of the United States In reply he stated that he
not authorized to surrender the place. and referred the
Commodore to the commanding general Of California Don
Jose Castro.
Eyey arrangement having been made the day previous the
Commodore Immediately embarked the necessary force about
hundred and fifty and marnes in the boats of the
squadron which landed at o'clock under of
Of the ships with great prompude and good order under
the immediate command Of Capt VIM. Mervne assisted by
Commander H. N Page second
The forces Immediately formed and marched to the
customhouse where Commodore Soas proclamation to the
inhabitants Of California read the standard of the United
States hosted amid three hearty cheers by the troops and
foreigners present. and salute of twenone guns fired by all
the ships Immediately afterwards the proclamation, both in
English and Spanish posted up about the town. and
justices OF the peace appointed order and punish
deinquencies-the acaldes declining to serve.
"Previous to landing general order read to the
Of all the ships for their guidance under the ccum
stances in which they placed We feel confident that
the inhabitants of Monterey and all other places where our
forces have been safe from the least depreciation the
slightest insult
Immediately after taking possession of Monterey, Com.
Soat dispatched courier to General Castro, the military
commandment of California with letter and copy of his pro-
camaton, to which he received reply On the 9th he dis
patched letter by courier to ST. Pho Pco, the Governor
Santa Barbara.
= OF July dispatched D., 10 Cum
mander Montgomery to take immediate possession of the bay
of San Francisco, &C., and at A. M. of the 9th that Off
hoisted the flag San Francisco read and posted up
Commodore Soas proclamation, and took of that
part Of the country in the Of the United States.
On the l3h at the request of the foreigners the Pueblo
Of San Joe the Commodore furnished flag to be hoisted
that place. about 20 miles interior from Monterey and ap
pointed justice of the peace preserve order in the town.
the acaldes declining to The flag hosed the
18th.
On the sh Commodore Sloat selected Purser D. Faunte-
to organize company of 35 Dragons from volunteers from
the ships and citizens Shore to reconnoe the country
keep open the communication between Monterey and San
Francisco and prevent the Of the country from being
robbed &c. and directed him purchase the horses
and equipments to mount them
"Passed Midshipman Louis McLane having also volun-
tered for that service he appointed him first lieutenant of the
company On the 18th Mr.. Faunteroy directed re.
connoe the country with his command far the mission
Of St. Johns to take possession of that place hoist the flag
and ten brass guns said to have been buried there
by General Castro when he reeated from that place. On his
arrival there Mr. Fauneroy found the place had been taken
possession Of hour previous by Capt Fremont with
whom he returned to Monterey the 10th. He sub
sequenty sent to the place. dig up the guns
of
been secreted there all of which he accomplished before
sailed from Monterey between which, the Pueblo of San
Jose and San Francisco perfectly free communication
maintained.
"On the afternoon Of the 18th July the Congress arrived
with Commodore Stockton.
"On the 10th the British Admiral (Sir George F. Sey
mour) arrived in the Collngwood, so. An officer inn
medaey sent by Commodore Soat to tender him the usual
couescs and the facilities of the port He subsequently
furnished with set of topgalan masts and other spars for
his ship and sailed the 23d for the Sandwich Islands
"The visit of the Admiral have doubt very SER
vceable in California, the inhabitants fully
believed he would take part with them and that would be
obliged TO abandon conquest but when they the
friendly subsistng the two commanders
and found that he could not interfere in their behalf they
abandoned all hope Of seeing the Mexican flag fly in
California again.
On the 23d Commodore Sloat directed Commodore
Stockton the command of the forces and operations
shore, and the 29h having determined return to the
United States via Panama he hosted his broad pehnan on
board the Levant and sailed for Mazaan and Panama
leaving the remainder OF the squadron under bis command
cat the time Of leaving Monterey the United States
were in quiet possession of all Alta California north of
Santa Barbara.
"The Cyanc sailed for st. Diego on the Goth to carry
down Captain Fremont with about $50 demen Americans)
take possession there and off Gen. Castros retreat
to Lower California Mexico.
"The Congress to sail the both for San Pedro to
take possession there. That place miles from
the city of Angels where Gen. Castro and Governor Pico
then and believed that Immediately on her arri
val they would surrender, which would put end all OPP
position the United States in the Calornas
efforts being made along
the line of the Erie Canal and the Lakes to push TO market
a. &C. j