Mississippi Democrat., 1846-12-02

leltef from senator benton, ana SeVeral
lengthy aPpen dices, detailing and explain
Ing the operations Of the gallant and indo-
miiable Fremont, in Upper California. He
is the son-in-law of the Senator, and the
information is mostly derived from private
letters. 1t will be remembered that Free
mont started some eighteen months ago,
with the intention OF completing hls scien-
tfc explorations beyond the Rocky noun
iains. The political rupture with Mexico
was tie cause Of his being involved in diff
iculties the most trying, in facing which
be has shown himself to be gallant and
sagaeious soldier, as well as the most in
domilabIe voyageur of the age. We have
not room for the whole of the interesting
letter in the Union, but we avail ourselves
of the following synopsis, which We find
in one Of our exchanges.
Captain Fremont, upon his first arrival
ia California, called upon Gov. Castro,
and after explaining the object of his ex-
pedition, requested the privilege Of winter
ing in the valley Of San Joaquin, where
there was game for his men, and grass for
his horses The Governor expressed his
satisfaction with the explanation, and
granted his request, but capt. f. had
scarcely got TO the valley when news be-
gan to reach him from all quarters, that
the Governor was raising the province
against him, and coming upon him troops
of all arms, and that his situation was
most critical and dangerous. The Anne
rican settlers offered him assistance, which
he declined, because he would not COM
promise them. But he did what honor
and sell-preservation required, and what
the courage and fidelity of his men en-
Enthusiastically seconded; he took a posi-
ton, and waited the approach of the
assallants; and that position was nearer
10 them, on the summit of the Sierra,
overlooking Monterey, at thirty miles
distance, and whence, with their glass.
es, they could plainly see the troops
with their artillery, which had crossed the
bay (of Monterrey on their way TO attack
him. The Governor, however did not at
tack him; and finally, about the 10Th of
March Capt. F..withdrew toward Oregon,
not wishing to have collision, if it could
be avoided. He proceeded up the coun-
try, abandoned all idea of returning home
by the Southern route, and determined to
cross the Rocky Mountains by the North
ern Pass. Here it is best TO give Col.
Benton's own language. He says:
AT the middle of May, capt Fremont, in
pursuance of his design to reach Oregon,
and return by the Columbia and Mis-.
souri, through the Northern Pass in the
Rocky Mountains, had arrived at the
great Tlamath Lake, in the edge of Ore.
gon territory, when he found his further
progress completely barred by the double
obstacle of hostile Indians, which Castro
had excited against him, and the lofty
mountains, covered with deep and falling
SHOWS, which made the middle of May in
that elevated region the same as the mid
die Of winter. These were the difficult
ties and dangers in front. Behind, and on
the north bank of the San Francisco bay,
at the military post Of Sonoma, was Gen.
Castro, assembling troops with the avowed
intention of attacking both FremonI's par
ty and all the American settlers, against
whom the Indians had already been excit.
ed Thus his passage, barred IN front by
impossible SHOWS and mountains hem.
med in by savage Indians, who were thin.
ming the ranks of his little party--menac-
ed by general at the head Of ten.fold
forces Of all arms-the American settlers
in California marked out for destruction
on false accusation of meditating revolt
under his nstigation--his men and horses
suffering from fatigue, cold and famine
and after the most anxious deIiberation,
upon all the responsibilities of his conduct
Capt. Fremont determined to turn upon
his pursuers, and fight them instantly.
without regard to numbers, and seek safe,
~ for his party and The American settlers,
by overturning the Mexican government
in California, 1t was on The 9th day OF
June that he came to this determination
and, the resolution being once taken, half
way measures were discarded, and ra-
pid execution of the plan was commenc
ed. On tho Nth of June, a supply ol
200 horses for Casro's troops on the way
to his camp, conducted by an officer and
fourteen men, were surprised at daylight,
and the whole captured--the men and of.
ficer being released, and the horses retain
| ed for American use On the I5ih AT
daybreak, the military post Of Sonoma the
point ofrendczyous, and intended headquar.
ters, was surprised and taken, with nine
pieces Of brass cannon, two hundred anc
fifty stand of muske's, other arms and
ammunition, with several superior officers
gen. Vallejo, his brother, capt. Vallejo
col. Greuxdon, and others; all of whom
were detained and confined as prisoners
Cant. Fremont then repaired 10 the Anne