The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-11-24


though it was in my power to increase my
partJ by Americans, / reffaiaed from
committing u solitary act ofhasuli!y or I'M
propriety.'
His next letter is dated the 18th of May
and informs me that, in his progress to
Oregon, he found himself and party unex-
peetedIv attacked By the I'LazArH Indi-
ans-lhe most waritkc of tha! quarter
had lost five men III killed and wounded
and still expected 10 he in the United
States in the nlonih Of September
This was HE last letter received from
Capiain Fremontuntil lie one ofJuly 26th
from Monterey, Of the Pacific ocean, and
hrough, in by Commodore Sloat. The
events whica brought him back voa have
learned from that Commodore: but the
rinse, which led 10 these events ere ne
ccssary 70 he known for the justification
Of Captain Fremont; for although actually
justified hv the existence Of the war with
Mexico, YET he knew nothing Of the war
when these events took place; and though
knowing oft when he wrote. yet he would
not avail himself Of his subsequent knowI-
edge to Justify previous acts: and therefore
chose 10 rest every thing upon the state OF
facts, rs lie saw them, when he res0fred
and ccied. These eases. and the eYents
to which they led, are rapidly sketchedhy
him in this his last letter; and, while the
whole letter IS herewith submitted to yen,
vet, for your convenience, coilectIts sub
stance AT The middle d May, Cap
lain Fremont. in pursuance Of MS design
to reach Oregon, and return by the TO
lumbia and Missouri through the North
era Pass in the Rocky Mountains, had ar
rived al the great Klamath Lake, in the
edge of the Oregon territory, where he
found his further progress completely bar
red BIZ the double obstacle OF hostile lndl-
ans. which Castro had excited against
him, and the lofty mountains. covered
with deep aud falling SHOWS, which made
the middle Of May in that elevated region
the same as The middle Of winter. These
were the difficulties and dangers in front.
Behind, and or the north bank Of the San
Francisco Bay. Z! the military post Of So
mona, was General Castro, assembling
troops with the avowed intention of at
tacking both Fremont's party and all the
American settlers, against whom The In
dams had been already excited. Thus.
his passage barred in front by impossible
SHOWS AMI ACCOMPLISHMENTS in by
savage Indians. who were thinning the
ranks of his hide party-menanced by a
general al the head oi ten-fold forces ofali
arms-the American settlers in California
marked out for destruction OF a false ac-
cusation Of mclita!ing 4 revolt under his
iastigaiion-his men aad horses suffering
from fatigue, cold, and fanine-and after
the most anxious deliberation upon all the
dangers of his position, and upon all the
responsibilities OF his conduct, Capt. FIRE.
mont determined to turn upon his pursu-
crs and fight them instantly, without re-
gard 10 numbers, ana seek safety for his
party and the American settlers by over
turning The Mexican government in Cali
fornia,
Il was on the 9Th day Of June that he
came to this determination; and, the res0-
luton being once taken, all halfway meas
ures were discarded, and . rapid cxecu-
ton Of the plan was commenced. On the
lIth Of June a supply Of two hundred
horses for Castro's troops, o. the way to
his camp, Conducted by an officer and
fourteen men, were surprised al daylight,
and the whole captured the men and Of
fcers being released, and the horses re-
taired for American use. On the 18th,
at daybrcak, he military post CT Sonoma
1.-The point Of rendezvous and intended
headquariers) was surprized and taken,
with nine pieces of brass cannon, two
hundred and fifty stand of muskets, other
arms and ammunition. with several supc-
rior officers, General Vallejo. Fal-ya-ho,)
his brother, Captain Vallejo, Colonel Gre
uxdon, and others all Of whom were de-
tanned and confined prisoners. Captain
Fremont then repaired to the American
settlements on the Rio de les .7mcricGHo
to obtain assistance and receiving all OK
press from his little garrison of fourteen
in Sonoma, that General Castro was pre-
pairing to cross the bay Of San Francisco
and attack them with large force, he set
ont in the afternoon of the 23d of June
with ninety mounted riAemen, and, trav-
day and night, arrived at 2 O'Clock
in the morning of the 25:h at Sonoma,
miles distance. The vanguard of
Castro's force had crossed the bay--a
Of seventy Dragons, command
cd by de la Torre-which was attacked
and defeated By twenty Americans, with
the loss OF two killed and some wounded
on the part of the Mexicans, and nc inju-
~ to themselves de In Tore barely es-
with the loss Of his transport boats,
and spiking SIX pieces Of artillery. In the
mean time two Of Capt. Fremoni's men,
going as al express, were captured by de
Ia Torres men. and. heinz bounds to trees.