The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1846-12-05
Lieut.. Col. Fremont.

Lieut.. Col. Fremont.
Mr.. Benton has furnished the Government at
Washington with letters from Lieut.. Col, FIRE.
mont, giving a connected account Of his ope-
rations in California, There was a hiatus to be
supplied extending from Fremont's intended
withdrawal from the country down to the time
when Com. Sloat availed himself of his servi-
ces. Fremont was compelled to wage HOSTILE
ties against the Mexicuns long before he heord
of the war, and upon his individual RESPONSE
bility. Upon what ground he assumed such
responsibility he states in his letters to Col.
Benton, and that gentleman gives the following
brief summary ofthem, and ofthe events which
have ensued. Most Of these events will be
entirely new 10 our readers -PIcayWne.
In the middle Of May, Captain Fremont, in
pursuance Of his design to reach Oregon, and
return by the Columbia and the Missouri thro'
the northern pass in the Rocky Mountains, had
ariived OF the great Klamath lake, in the edge
Of the Oregon territory, w1e he found bis
further progress completely barred by 'he loa-
bic obstacle Of hostile Indians, which Castro
had excited against Aa, ana hsla!sy Hosg7
tains, covered with deep and falling SHOWS.
which made die middle Of May ID that elevated
region the same as the middt 0fwiugsf Tlas.
were the difficulties and dangers in front. Be-
hind, and on the north bank ofthe San Francis
-
co bay, at the military post of Sonoma, was
Gen. Castro, assembling troops with the avow-
ed intention of attacking both Fremont's party
and all the American settlers, against whom
the Indians had already been excited. Thus
his passage barred in front by impossible
SHOWS and mountains-hemmed in by savage
Indians, who were thinning the ranks of hi
little ~party--menaced by a general at the hoaC
of ten fold forces of all arms--the American
settlers lin. California marked out for destruc
ton on a false accusation of meditating a re
volt under his instigation-his men and horses
suffering from fatigue, cold and famine-ant
after the most anxious deliberation upon all tn,
t dangers of his position, and upon all the res
!, possibilities of his conduct, Capt Fremont de-
termined to turn upon his pursuers and igh
t them instantly, without regard to numbers
r and seek safety for his party and theAmerical
settlers, by overturning the Mexican Govern
ment in California. 1t was on the 9th day o
3 June that he came to this determination, and
/ the resolution being once taken, all half wa,
,or 80 oroo J;co,rJ 4 noI roU,.
execution of the plan was commenced. Oh
the llth ofJune, a supply of two hundred hor
ses for Castro's troops, on the way to his camp
conducted by an officer and fourteen men
were surprised at daylight and the whole cap
1 tured--the officer and men being released, an
s the horses retained for American use.
On the 18th, at day break, the military pos
| Of Sonoma, (the point of rendezvous and inter
> ded headquarters were surprised and take
f with nine pieces of brass cannon, two hundre
0 and fifty stand Of muskets, other arms and an
y munition, with several superior officers, Ger
t Vallejo, his brother, Captain Vallejo, Co
l Greuxdon and others: all of whom were detain
d ed and confined as prisoners. Capt. Fremon
: then repaired to the American settlements o
the Rio de los .AmericGaos, to obtain assistance
and receiving an express from his little garri
g son Of fourteen in sonoma that Gen. Castr
was preparing to cross tie bay Of San Francis
co and attack them with a large force, he Sc
out in the afternoon Of the 23d Of June will
ninety mounted rihemen, and travelling da
J and night, arrived at two O'Clock on the morn
: ing of the 25th at Sonoma, eighty miles distanc
The vanguard Of Castlo's force had crosse,
s had crossed the bay-a squadron Of seventee
| dragons commanded by De la Torre-whic
! was attacked and defeated by twenty AmeI
leans, with the loss Of Of two killed and som
wounded ON the part Of the Mexicans, and n
a injury to themselves. De la Tore barely eG
Gaping with the loss Of his transport boats, an
i spiking six pieces Of artillery. In the mean
i time, two of Capt. Fremont's men going an ex
: press, were captured by De la Torres men, be
, ing bound to trees, were cut TO pieces aliv
with knives--in return for which, three OF D
la Torres men being taken were,instaptly shot
: The North side Of the bay Of San Francisc
was now cleared of the enemy, and on the At
: day of July, Captain Fremont called the Amer
: leans together, addressed them upon the dan
0 gers Of their situation, and recommended
Declaration Of independence, and war upol