Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-11-14

researches FOR tho express purpose Of avoiding all offence to
the Mexican authorities OF the in the valley of the
San Joaquin and the camp the Sierra, he speaks few
WORDS without detail but descriptive o his condition, char
actesc Of his prudence in compromising his country
and worthy TO be repeated in his language He says
"The Spaniards mewha rude and inhospabe be-
low and ordered out Of the country after having
permission to winter there. My OF duty did
nit me TO fight them, but retired slowly and growngy
before iorce OF three four hundred men, three
Of artillery Without the shadow Of cause the Governor
suddenly raised the whole country against me- Issuing false
and scandaous proclamation OF course, did not dare 10
the United States against which appearances
would have been strong but though in power
crease my party by Americans refaned from committing
solitary act of hostility or impropreiy."
His next letter is dated the l4ih of May, and informs
that IN his progress TO Oregon, he found himself and party
unexpectedly attacked by the Klamath ndians-the most
warke of that quarcr-had lost five in killed and
woundedand still expected be in the United States in the
month Of September.
This the last letter received from Captain Fremont
TIL the one Of July 26th from Monterrey of the Pacific ocean,
and brought in by Commodore Soat. The which
brought him back you have learned from that Commodore
but the which led these necessary be
known for the justification of Captain Fremont for although
actually justified by the existence OF the with Mexico
yet he knew nothing of the when these took place
and though knowing OF when he wrote yet he would not
avail hin self OF his subsequent knowledge 10 justify previous
acts and therefore chose to rest every thing upon the state Of
facts, he them, when he resolved and acted These
causes and the events which they led rapidly sketched
by him in this his last letter. and while the whole letter is
herewith submitted 10 you, vet for your convenience, col
ect its substance into the smallest compass and lay before
you. The substance is this At the middle of May, Capt
Fremont pursuance Of his design reach Oregon and
turn by the Columbia and Missouri through the Northern
Pass in the Rocky Mountains had arrived the great Tia
math Lake. in the edge OF the Oregon territory where be
found his further progress completely barred by the double OBJ
sacle 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 region
the same as the middle of winter These the difficult
ties and dangers in 'front.' Behind and the north bank of
the San Francisco Bay, at the military post of Sonoma
General Castro, assembling troops with the avowed intention
Of attacking both Fremons party and all the American set
Tiers, against whom the Indians had been already excited
Thus his passage barred in front by impossible and
in by savage Indians who were thin
ming the ranks of his little party-enaced by general at
The head of enod forces of all armshe American settlers
California marked for destruction on false accusation
d medlahng revolt under his instgaion-his and
horses suffering from fatigue, cold and amine-and after the
anxious deberaon upon all the dangers of his position
Ind upon all the responsibilities of his conduct Capt Free
mont determined to turn upon his puuers and fight them
instantly without regard to numbers and seek safety his
party and the American settlers by overurnng the Mexican
government in California.
IL the 9th day of June that he came to this deter
nnaon and the resolution being once taken all halfway
measures discarded and rapid execution of the plan
commenced. On the lth Of June supply of two hun
rcd horses for Castros troops, the his camp con-
uced by officer and fourteen men, suIpzed at day.
light, and the whole captured the and officers being re-
eased and the horses retained for American On the
9th, at daybeak, the military post of Sonoma he point of
endezvous and intended assupzed and taken
With nine pieces Of brass caunon two hundred and fifty stand
muskets other and ammunition, with several superior
feers General Vallejo, (VaLya-ho) his brother Captain
'aeo, Colonel Geuxdon and others oil of whom were de-
aimed and confined prisoners Captain Fremont then repair
to the American settlements the Rio de los Anericano
obtain assistance and receiving express from his little
OF fourteen in Sonoma that General Castro pre-
ang to the bay Of San Francisco and attack them with
he in tho afav ..nff 11r
With ninety mounted remen, and, travelling day and night
arrived at o'clock in the morning of the 25th Sonoma
ghy miles distance. The vanguard of Castros force had
crossed the baya squadron of seventy dagoons commanded
ny de Ia 1orrewhch attacked and defeated by twenty
Americans, with the loss of killed and wounded
the part of the Mexicans and injury themselves de la
Iors barely escaping with the loss Of his transport boats and
spkng pieces of artillery. In the time of Capt
Fremons men, going express, captured by de Ia
Torres men, and being bound to trees, pieces
alive with knives In return for which, three of de Ia Torres
men being taken, they instantly shot The north side Of
the bay of San Francisco cleared the enemy and on
the fourth day Of July Capt Fremont called the Americans
together at Sonoma addressed them upon the dangers their
situation, and recommended declaration of Independence and
upon Castro and his troops the only of safety
The independence Immediately declared and the war pro-
claimed few days afterwards officer from Commodore
Soa brought intelligence that the American flag was hoisted
al Monterey-an example which Immediately followed
wherever the news flew.
The pursuit and defeat Of Castro was then the only re-
naming enterprise He had fled south towards the hume
ous Mexican towns and settlements beyond Monterey with
lis four or five hundred and Capt Fremont leaving
one fifty men in garrisons, with hundred and
xty mounted rhemen in the pursuit. when he received in
rucuons from Commodore Soat TO march upon Monterey.
de did and found Comm dore Stockton in command APP
proving the pursuit of Castro and aiding by all the
bis power. The sloop ofwa Cyane put at bis ser
'ce Capt Fremont, with hundred and sixty American
ihemen and seventy marines embarked that vessel and
aed down the coast the 26th of July San Diego four
hundred miles south Of Monterey and hundred south OF
Puebd dc los angeles, where Castro understood 10 be-
With increasing force of five hundred men, The descent
If the coast far San Diego with the view to get
ahead Of Castro and be in position either to intercept
iim if he fed south to Mexico Lower California or to
urn back upon him if he remained in Pue6a de Jos Ange-
e any Of the numerous towns in its neghborhood In
either event. the enterprise will probably have had its concu
non early in August and official detais may be looked
by the first arrivals from the North Pacific ocean In the
mean time hope the information able give though
Ill Of private character written solely for the information of
friends, and expected go before the public may be
sufficient TO relieve present anxiees 10 dpove the
ions Of Governor Castro, and to justify the operations Of
Capt Fremont. make this communication you sir upon
he responsibilities Of American Senator, addressing the
President Of the United States and with the sole view Of vim
Heating the American Government and its officer from the
ou imputation of exciting instruction in the provinces Of
ncghborng Power with whom we were then at peace.
could add much 10 prove that Capt Fremonts private
views and feelings in unison with his ostensbe
hat the passion Of bis soul the pursuit Of SCIENCE and
hat he looked with dread and upon possible
collision either with Indians Mexicans British that could
urn him aside from that cherished pursuit formal
occasion for the exhibition of these further and other proofs
may but the exgency Of the circumstances
I'd to me TO require that time should be lost in comnunca