The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-11-24
Operations af CAPT FIRE.
AiVATIh UPPER CALIFORNIA

fthen Cap,ain1 FREAes1'e operations IN
Upper california, I deem my d"iy te
Law before rou the private letters which
trve received from that officer, fer the
purposc Of showing YOU his actual posi-
sion at the latest dates; the unwilling
manner IN which he became involved in
hos,liies with the Mexican authorities OF
.hat PROVINCE. before he had heard Of the
war with Mexico and especially TO dis
1roye the accusation, made officially a
raius. hun bv Governor Castro, of having
rone into California with body OF Uni
ted States troops, under the preteXt OF q
~scientiic expedition, hul in reality TO ex-
cite the Americans settled in that prev
ince to IN instruction against the Mexi-
caB Government. This accusation is of
ahe gravcst character, most seriously i'm
plicaung the good faith and honor OF our
Governments, ard officially made by Gov
ernor Castro, 10 a despatch TO the Minis
ter OF War and Marine, under date oil the
Ist of April last, and Published IN II
.M0nilOr Republican,, in the city OF
Mexico, by tae order oil the Mexican
Government. on the ltth OF. May last. A
copy Of this paper was sent 10 Mrs. FRE-
MONT, M daughter, by The Hon. NJ.
e.
SLIDELL, and an English translation OF 1t
Is herewith presented.
When Captain FREMONT left the United
STATES to complete his scientific laborS bey-
ond the Rocky Mountains, it was with a
irli knowledge Of the political as well as
personal difficulties Of the enterprise
He knew that the relations of The United
States were critical both with Mexico and
Great Britain that he was going through
the territories OF the one and among the
settlements of the other; that jeaiously
would attach 10 his movements, and ali
his acts be referred 10 MS Government;
and be was perfectly determined to use
the uGmos circunspection in all his con-
duet, combining himself wholly to his sci
entiic pursuits. and carefully avoiding as
sycli The appearance as the reality OF eth
er a political or military mission. With
flis siew, and after having traversed the
desert, and crossed the Great Basin which
lies between the Rocky Mountains and
the .Sicra Neuada of the .4ia California
he left his men upon the frontier, an hun
dred miles from Monterey, and went alone
30 thai city 10 explain his object and wish
es in person 10 Governor Castro. lie
did this 10 the most formal and official
manner in company with the United States
Ccrsul, Mr.. Larkin, lat whose house he
stopped; } and, conforming to the whole
detail OF Spanish ceremonial, he not only
called or the governor, but also on the
prefeet and the alcalde. The interview
yas entirely satisfactory. To the Gov
ernor's remark that he was bringing a
considerable body Of United States troops
with him, Capt F. answered that it was
not so-that he had no troops at all, only
a few hired men for security against Indi-
ans and killing game; that ne was not e.
ven an officer of the line, but of Topo-
graphical Engineers; and that he was
seeking a rev route iamong other objects
o fscience) 10 the mouth of the Columbia,
upon a line further south than the present
travelling route, and which had brought
him through the unsettled parts Of the
Upper California and that he now wish
ed to winter in the valley OF the San Joa-
quin, where there was game for his men
and grass for his horses. To this the
Governor agreed, and Capt. Fremont left
Monterey to bring his men TO the beautiful
valley which he had explored in his pre-
vioas expedition, and TO which both him.
self and his men looked forward as TO a
paradise Of repose and refreshment, after
their toilsome and p~erilous march of three
thousand miles among savage tribes, and
through wilderness and desert countries.
Scarcely had he arrived in this valley
whea, information began 70 reach HIM
from al quarters that the Governor was
raising the province against him, and
coming upon him with troops Of all arms
Cavalry, artillery, and infsntry-and
that his situation was most critical and
dangerous. The Consul sent a special
messenger 10 warn him of his danger the
American settlers below offered to Join
him but he utterly refused their assis-
lance because he would not compromise
them. But he did what honor and self
preservation required, and what the cour-
age and fidelity ofhis men enthusiastically
seconded. He took a position, and wait
ed the approach of the assailants; and
that position was nearer 10 them, on the
summit of the Sierra, overlooking Mon
terey, at thirty miles distance, and whence
with their glasses, thoy could plainly see
the troops. with their artillery, which had
crossed the bay (of Monterrey 10 San
Juaa, On iaeir way to attack him. The
Governor, with these troops, and with all