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

went 10 the Sacramento rouse the American settlers
but scarcely had he arrived there, when express reach
ed HIM from the garrison at Sanoma with information
mat CasTos whole force crossing the bay TO attack
that place This intelligence received in the after
noon Of the 23d OF June, while he the American
FORK OF the Sacramento eighty miles from the little gar
18th he arrived at that place with ninety rlfemen from
the American settlers III that valley The enemy had not
yet appeared scouts were sent out to reeonnoe and
party OF twenty fell in with squadron OF seventy dra.
goons, Gall Of Castros force which had crossed the bay
attacked and defeated it, killing and woundng fve with
out harm To themseyes-the Mexican commander De la
Tore barely escaping with the loss OF his transport
boats, and nine pieces of brass artillery spiked
The country north Of the bay of San Francisco being
cleared OF the enemy, Colonel Fremont returned TO Sano
ma on the evening oil the 4th OF July, and the morn
ing OF the 9th called the people together, explained TO
them the condition OF things in the province and
mended an immediate declaration OF Independence The
declaration was made, and he selected to take the
chief direction of affairs. u
The attack on Castro was the next object, He at
Santa Clara, an entrenched post the upper south
side OF the bay OF San Francisco, with 100 and two
pieces Of field artillery. circuit OF more than hun
dred miles must be rayerseG to reach him. On the 9Th Of
July the pursuit commenced bya body Of 100 mount
ed rflemen, commanded By Colonel Fremont in person,
who, IN three days. arrived at the American settlements
on the RIO de los Anereanos Here he learnt that Castro
had abandoned Santa Clara, and reeang south to-
wards Cuiddd de los AngeeS, (he City of the Angels,
the seat of the governor general of the CALIFORNIA;, and
distant four hundred miles II instantly resolved on
To pursue him TO that place At the moment of departure
the gratifying intelligence was received that war with
Mexico had commenced that Monterey had been taken
by our naval force and the flag Of the United States there
raised on the 7th Of July and that the fleet would CO.
operate the pursuit OF Castro and his forces The flag
of independence hauled down. and that of the United
States hosted amidst the hearty greetings and to the great
Joy OF the American settlers and the forces under the
mand Of Colonel Fremont
The combined pursuit was rapidly continued and on
the 18th OF August, Commodore Stockton and Colonel
Fremont with detachment Of marines from the squad
and some rhemen, entered the City OF the Angels
without resistance objection, the Governor General,
Pico, the Commandant General Castro, and all the Mex
lean authorities having fled and dispersed. Commodore
Stockton took possession OF the whole country
quest of the United States and appointed Colonel Ere
mont governor under the law of nations TO assume the
functions of that office when he should return to the
squadron.
Thus in the short space OF sixty days from the first
decisive movement this conquest achieved, by a
small body OF men, 10 an extent beyond their own eXpec
tation for the Mexican authorities proclaimed it a
quest not merely of the northern part but of the whole
province of the CALIFORNIA;.
! The Commandment General, Castro, on the 9th of Au-
gust from his camp at the Mesa and day ION the
road 10 Sonora announced this result TO the people, to-
geher with the actual fight and dispersion Of the former
authorities; and al the time he officially communi-
Gated the fact OF the conquest to the French English and
Spanish consuls in California; and, crown the whole,
the official paper OF the Mexican government the 10th
of October laying these official communications before
the public, introduced them with the emphatic decara-
ton" The loss Of The CALIFORNIA; eOsummdted" The
whole province was yielded up to the United States and
is now IN our military occupancy. small part OF the
troops sent out TO subject this province viii constitute, 1t
is presumed, sufficient force to retain our possession,
and the remainder will be dsposabe for other objects OF
the war.
In the foregoing remarks have presented your
sderaton the destination and operation OF the public
forces the commencement of the with Mexico.
W hen its existence recognised by Congress in May
last our entire military force, then stationed at different
points in widely extended country did not exceed
1910 Our preparation for large expansion OF the
army, and particularly for carrying military operations
beyond territorial limits were, in many respects,
quite deficient. Such demanded to meet the
wants of army suddenly augmented from 1910 to
than 10000 men, to be sent forth on several different and
distant expeditions, could not at once be made.
The duties of this department have BEEN since the
commencement of the war, arduous and embarrassing,
and its unremed efforts have been directed to discharg
ing them in the best calculated to facilitate the
operations of our forces in the field To these forces be-
longs the merit OF the successes which have attended
their movements and these not nconsder
able By the operations of the land and naval forces
now in military possession of the department of
Tamaulpas, of the right bank of the Rio Grande for
several hundred miles from It's mouth and OF the depart
ment of New Leon Coahula and chihuahua are, in eff
feet, wresed from the control of Mex leo; all Mexican
authority both civil and military, has been displaced in
New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;, and these large and
important provinces in quiet occupation. Such
are the achievements OF our arms within the short Pc
rod OF seven months from the commencement OF war,
suddenly forced upon when force IN the field
less than three thousand effective men, with hostile
army of double its numerical strength prepared to assa
it, and exulng in the confident hope of decisive VIC
| tory
But our enemy is not yet disposed to offer listen
10 peace u Is undt pre-
. sent to YOU relation to the further prose-
cution of the war.
Authority given at the last session of Congress to
increase the rank and file of the regiments in the regu
to than double the former number Prom pit
measures taken to procure recruits but they have
not been attended with the desired effect When filled
up to the maximum allowed by law and executive ap-
probation, regular force will be lG 09S officers and
men; but it does not exceed 10000 The want of
better success in recruiting is, apPrehend mainly to
be ascrbed to the large number of volunteers which has
in the meantime been called out The volunteer service
is regarded generally by citizens preferable to
that in the regular army; and long volunteers are
expected to be called for it will be difficult to fill the ranks
of regular regiments, unless additional inducements are
offered, the terms of service modified. A small pecu-
mary bounty given at the time of enlistment land at
the end of the term OF service would it is believed have
most beneficial effect. Probably equally favorable
result would flow from annexng condition to the pre-
sent period of service, allowing the recruit to be dis
charged at the end OF the present war 1t Is presumed
there many thousand patriotic citizens who would
cheerfuly enter the service for the war, they could
return to the pursuits of civil life at its close.
is not possible to forete with much precision what
number of troops the exgences OF the may require
for the ensuing year The estimates presented to the
ent establishment of the regular troops wholly filed up,
giving total force of 699s, exclusive of enlisted men
of ordnance; upon ten additional regiments to be raised
to to the end of the war, which will amount to
$3.50 and upon contingent force of ten thousand vol
unteers to be organized under existing laws, and called
into service if needed.
| The volunteers who have encountered the enemy in
the present campaign have more than justified the high
expectations formed of this description Of troops but It's
be preferred in to be prosecuted in foreign
try Besides considerations of economy are decidedly in