The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-09

imnassable barred our road; had no PROVISIONS
ons animals were already feeble, and WINE any
o,hsr way was Open could not bring myself 70
ausmpt such doubtful enterprise an passage ~
thYss unknown mounsins in the dead OF winter,
Evsrv day the snow was falling; and m the lace OF
,bs decreasing influence exercised on the people by
The loss of our men, and the unprom'sins APP
pearanee of things, judged lt inexpedsnt 70 P1r-
me our Journey farther in this direction, ana de-
,sr.,in, A 10 retraee my Steps, and carry out the
views of the government by reaching the ironher on
the line of the Colorado river. had scarcely
reached the lower Sacramento, when Gen. Cas.o,
then in the north lat Sonoma, 10 the department VI
Ssnoma north of the bay Of San Francisco, com
nanded nv Gen Vaejo,) declared his deIermna-
lion Immediately 10 proceed against me, ana alle'
dfss,no me 10 proceed against the foreigners set
lied in the country, for whose expulsion an oTaST
lad lust been issued by the governor OF the Cat
assembled force at the Mission Of Santa Cara
stronp place on the northern shore OF the Francisco
hav You will remember how grossly outraged
and insulted we had already been by this omeeri
many in my own camp, and throughout the eoun-
try thought that | should not have rsuealed ~
an. main objects proposed by this expedition had
hsen entirely defeated and Il the opinion OF the
oAicn,s Of The squadron (soI was Informed by Mr.
GIespie) that could not again retreat consistently
with any military reputation Unable 10 procure
supoIies else where, l had sent by Mr.. gillespie
Cap,aio Montgomery, commanding the United
States ship-of-war Portsmouth, then lying al Mon
tenev a small reguisition for such supplies as were
ndispe nsaby necessary 10 leave the Valley ana my
animals were now in such state that could not get
out Of the valley, without reaching inc county
which lies on the west side Of them In an entirely
destitute condition. Having carefully examined my
nosition and foreseeing, ] think, clearly, ALL the
consequences which may eyentuate TO me rom sueh
a step determined TO take such active and antici-
patory measures as should seem TO me most expo
a. nd m
acter was well aware Of the grave responsibility
which assumed, but also determined that, having
once decided 10 do so, | would assume It and It's
consequences fully and entirely, and go through
with the business completely to the end. regret
that by a sudden emergency, have only an hour
for writing TO all friends and that therefore from the
absence Of detail, what | say to you will not be
clearly understood. Castro's first measure was an
attempt to iRete the lndan population OF the Joaquin
and Sacramento valleys, and the neighoorng noun
ains TO burn the crops of the foreigners ana olher
wise proceed Immediately against them. These In
dams are extremely numerous, and the success OF
his measure would have been very destructive; but
he failed entirely. On the 9th OF June decided on
the course which would pursue, and Immediately
concerted my operations with the foreigners nhaot'
ing the Sacramento valley. A few days afterwards,
one of Castro's officers with party Of IA men, at
,empted TO pass drove Of 900 horses from Sonoma
TO Santa Clara via New Helyetia, with the avowed
purpose Of bringing troops into the country. On
The llth, they were surprised at daylight on The
Cosumne river by party Of IL from my camp
The horses were taken but they were the mem DIS
missed without injury. At daybreak on the l5th the
military fort of Sonoma was taken by surprise, with
brass pieces Of artillery, $50 stand OF muskets,
some other arms, and a quantity OF ammunition.
General Vallejo, his brother, (Capt Valejo,) Col.
Greuxdon, and some others, were taken prisoners,
and placed at New Helyeta, fortified post under
nv command. In the meantime launch had reach
ed New Helvelia with stores from the ship Ports
mouth, now lying at Yerba Buena, on Francisco
bav News of General Castro's proceedings against
~. in March had reached Commodore Soat at Ma
zstIan at the end Of that month, and he had Imms-
da,elv despatched the ship Portsmouth to Mon
terey, with general instructions to protect American
interests in California.
These enterprises accomplished, | proceeded 10
the American settlements on the Sacramento and
the Rio de los Amercanos, to obtain renforcements
Of men and rifles.
Cartain Montgomery, in relation to my position,
induced that officer Immediately to proceed to feroa
Buena, whence he had despatched his launch TO me.
Immediately wrote to him, by return of the boat,
describing to him fully my position and intentions,
. in order that he might not by supposing me to be
acting under orders from our government unwi-
tingly commit himself in sfIording me other than
such assistance as his instructions would authorize
him naturally to offer an officer charged with an i'm
portsnt public duty; or, in hne, to any citizens OF
the United States.
Information having reached me from the COM
handing officer at Sonoma, that his post was threat
ened with an attack by force under Gen. Castro,
raised camp the American fork on The afternoon
If The o3J and. accompanied by Mr.. Gillespie, at
in the morning of the 25th, reached Sonoms,
with 80 mounted rifemen, having marched 80 miles
Our people still held the place, only one division of
Castro's force squadron Of cavalry, numbering ~
men, and commanded by Joaquin de la Tore, Zone
of his best ofcers,) having succeeded IN crossing
the straits, francisco bay) This force had attacked
an advanced party of twenty Americans, and twas
defeated with the loss Of two killed and two
or three wounded Tbs Americans lost none
This was an unexpected check to the Californlans,
who had announced their intentions to defeat our
people without firing a gun; to beat out their
brains with their 'stapdderos" and destroy them
"con c,lchillos p,yos." They were led to use this
expression from the circumstance that few days
previous they had captured two OF our men, Ian
express) and after wounding, had bound them TO
trees, and cut them to pieces while alive, with an
exagperaton of cruelty, which no Indian would be
capable Of In a few days de la Tore was driven
from the country, having barely succeeded in effect
ing his escape across the straits, the guns (slx large
and handsome pieces spiked at the tort on the SCUM
/ side of entrance to Francisco bay, and the commu-
Enicaon with the opposite side entirely broken off,
1.-The boats and launches being either destroyed or IN
Aour possession. Three Of Castro's party having
Handed on the Sonoma side in advance, were Killed
near the beach; and beyond this there was no loss
has acted with me- We reached Sonoma again on
the evening of July 4, and in the morning called
the people together, and spoke to them in re-
a,on to the position of the country, advising a
course of operations which was UNANIMOUSLY
aadop,ed. California was declared Independent,
the country put under martial law, the force organ
kzed, and officers elected. A pledge, binding them
selves support these measures. and TO obey their
officers, was signed by those present. The whole
was placed under my direction. Several officers
IL.
Leaving Captain Grigssby with SO men in command
Of Sonoma, left that place the 9th, and reached
kny encampment on the American Fork in three
Nays Before we arrived at that place, Gen. Cas-
20 had evacuated Santa Clara, which he had been
gaged in terrifying, and with force 81 about 4oo
len, and two pieces Of artillery, commenced his re-
pea, upon ST. Johns fortified post, having spices
artillery, principally brass, On the evening of
Pc we were electrified by the arrival Of an
Express from Captain Montgomery, with informa-
-. lad h.;at thp Han pf