The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-11


ties without restriction.
The advance column under Brigader General Wool
about 400 strong, destined for Chihuahua, commenced
tember and was followed in few DAYS thereafter by the
rear division OF equal number By the last advces from
that officer copy Of which Accompanies this report il
appears that the column under his command had crossed
the Rio Gnnde, penetrated the department OF Coahula to
within thirty miles OF Santa Rosa, and pursuing It's
route TO Chihuahua in the direction Of Moneloya Sat-
isiactory, though official, information has Just been
received that he entered Moncoya on the of 0cto-
Der, without resistance, and received in friendly
manner BY the inhabitants. F. ...u.
On the Both of June BTgadier General Keany, with
the force under his command amounting, in all 10 about
! 900 men, regulars and volunteers moved from Fort
Leavenworh upon Santa Fe, where he arrived, after a
march OF s73 miles, on the 18th Of August, and took
military possession Of New Mexico without resistance.
The Mexican forces about 1900 in number, which had
been collected near that city under the late governor
Amo to oppose his progress, dispersed the approach
of our troops and the governor himself fled with q
small command OF dragons IN the direction OF Chhua-
hua. Under the apprehension that the ioree which left
Fort LeayenwoTh in June might not be sufficient fully 10
effect the purpose of the expedition which was if found
pnctcable TO pass ON To California after conquerng and
securing New Mexico, General kearny authorized
10 organize and muster into battalion Of the
emlgrants which were on the way To California or
Oregon This has been done, and also thou
sand additional volunteers from Missouri were sent
on achievements, and TO augment his dsposabe
! force for California; but they had not joined Gene
raj Keamy when he departed for that country. Al
ter making the necessary arrangements at Santa Fe,
leo, General kearny moved with a part OF his force
10 the village OF Tome, about 100 miles down the Rio
Gande. The inhabitants, not only at Santa Fe, but
throughout the whole Of this department, represent
ed TO be well satisfied with the change which had taken
place and the general reports that there can no longer be
apprehended any organized resistance to troops in
! that territory
With a regular force OF about so dragons, leaving or
ders for part OF the volunteers follow, he commenced
his march from Santa Fe for California, intending to pro-
coed down the Rio Grande about two hundred miles
thence 10 strike to the CHA and 10 down thai
river TO It's mouth, then the Colorado to the
Pacific, where he hoped to arrive about the last OF No
vembeT. After proceeding about sO miles on his route
he met by express from California sent by Lieu
tenant Colonel Fremont. On learning the condition Of
things IN that quarter, and deeming that additional
force would not be required IN California he directed mos
OF that with him to return TO Santa Re. Selecting about
hundred men TO accompany him. he continued on his
route The prompt and energetic manner in which Gen
era kearny has conducted to a successful termination
very difficult and distant enterprise is worthy OF high
commendaiOn
For various reasons it was deemed important that mill
tary occupation should be taken OF California Early at
tention given to this subject After taking and
curing the of Santa Fe General Keany d.
rected TO proceed with what force he could spare
| the Rocky mountains to that country. company OF
United States artillery, July, and regiment of New
York volunteer infantry, September, sent by sea
TO California; but before these forces had reached their
destination, and before their departure from the Uni
ted States, the Mexican authority in the whole province
of the CALIFORNIA; had been subverted As the series OF
which led to the overthrow of the Mexican power
in that extensive country, and It's occupation
quest of the United States, not contained in any Off
ca report yet received but collected from various sources
considered authentic deem it not inappropriate to pre-
sent them with more than usual particularly.
In May, 1915 John c. Fremont then brevet captain
in the corps OF Typographical Engineers and since APP
pointed lieutenant colonel left here under orders from
this department pursue his explorations in the regions
beyond the Rocky mountains. The objects of this
vice were those of his previous explorations had been
of scientific character, without any view whatever 10
military operations Not officer or soldier of the Uni
ted States army accompanied him. and his whole force
consisted OF slxtytwo men, employed by himself for Sc
cury against Indians and for procuring subsistence in
the wilderness and desert country through which he
to pass
One of the objects he had in view was to discover
and shorter route from the western base of the
Rocky mountains to the mouth of the Columbia river.
This search, for part of the distance would carry him
through the unsettled and afterwards through corner
OF the settled parts of California. He approached the
settlements in the winter of 1S45-6. Aware of the
critical state of affairs between the United States and
Mexico and determined TO give no cause of offence TO
the authorities OF the province, with commendable pru
dence he halted his command the frontier, hun
dred miles from Monterey and proceeded alone to that
city, to explain the object of his coming to the Com
mandant general, Castro, and TO obtain permission to
go TO the valley of the San Joaquin, where there was
game for his and grass for his horses, and in
habtants be molested by his presence The leave
granted but scarcely had he reached the desired spot for
rereshment and reposc before he received information
from the American settlements, and by expresses from
consul at Monterey that General Castro was preparing
to attack him with comparatively large force of artl-
ley cavalry, and infantry, upon the pretex that under
the cover of a scientific mission, he was exciting the
American settlers to revolt In view of this danger, and
to be in condition to repe attack, he then took posi-
ton mountain overlooking Monterey, at distance
of about thirty miles, entrenched it, raised the flag OF the
United States, and with his men, sixty two
ber awaited the approach of the commandant general
From the It'll to the 10th of March, Colonel Fremont
and his little band maintained their position. General
Castro did not approach within attacking distance, and
Colonel Fremont, adhering to his plan of avoiding all
collisions and determined neither to compromit his gov
eminent the American settlers, ready JOIN him at
,, LoL -,
ton and commenced his march for Oregon intending, by
that route, to to the United States Deeming all
danger from the Meycans to be passed. he yielded to the
wishes of of his men, who desired to remain in
the country, discharged them from his service and refused
TO receive others in their sead-so cautious he to
avoid doing anything which would compromt the Amer
lean settlers, give a color of offence to the Mex
lean authorities He pursued his march slowly and les-
urely the state OF his men and horses required until
the middle of May and had reached the northern shore
of the greater Klamath Lake, within the limits of the Ore
gon Territory when he found his further progress in that
direction obstructed by impossible mountains and
hostile Indians who had been excited against him by
General Castro, had killed and wounded four of his
and left him repose either in camp on his march
At the time information reached him that General
Castro addition to his Indian allies, advancing in
person against him with artillery and cavalry, the
head of four five hundred men that they were pass
ing around the head of the bay OF San Francisco to
devious the north side of it, and that the American
settlers in the valley Of the Sacramento were compre
hended in the scheme of destruction medtaed against his
own party
Under these circumstances he determined to turn upon
his Mexican pursuers and seek safety both for his
party and the American settlers not merely the defeat
of Castro but in the total overthrow Of the Mexican
thority in California, and the establishment OF indie