The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1846-11-28


For these purposes Castro Immediately as
sembled a force at tho Mission OF Sanli
CIar,, strong place on the northern shore
| of the Francisco bay. You will remembe
how grossly outraged and insul'ed we haC
already been by this officer; many in my
own camp, and throughout the country
though, that should not have rerealed II
March last felt humilaIed and humble,
one Of the main objects proposed by this
expedition had been entirely defeated ant
il was the opinion CT the off GERS Of The
SOU ,dron 10 was inGOrmedb by Mr. Giles
pic that could not again retreat consls'
.enty with any military reputation. Una
bic TO procure supplies elsewhere had
sent by Mr.. Gillespie, 10 Capt. Mon'gom'
cry, commanding lne United States ship Of
war Portsmouth, then lying at Monterey, 3
small requisi'ion for such supplies as were
ndispensibIy necessary TO leave The valley;
and nv animals were now in such a state
that could not got Out of the valley, with
out reaching the country which lies on the
west side of them in an entirely destitute
condition.
Having carefully examined my position,
and loreseeing, ! think, clearly, ALL the
consequences which may eventuale 10
me from such step, | determined 10
take such active & anticipatory measures
as should seem 10 me most expedient 10
protect my party and justify my owe
character. ! was well aware Of Ih.
grave responsibility which ] assumed
bul also determined that having oncr
concluded to do so. | would auume il
AID its consequences fully aud entirely
and 90 through with ME business com.
plelely to the end. Ilegrel that, Ly :
,dden emergency, | have only an hou'
for wiIrg 10 ali friends, and that there
fore from The absence Of detail, whs, ]
say to you will no, be clearly under
sood. Casro's frs, measure WIS an ai-
temp, TO inciIe the Indian population b
he Soaqnin sudS'cramen'o val'eys,a"c
he eghboIiog M un'sins, 10 bum The
crops Of the foreigners snd otherwise
proceed Immediately against hem.The'e
Indians are extremely numerous, and th
,uccess OF this measure would have hce'
very destructive, but h. failed entirely
Ga The 9Th of June decided Oh TIE
course which | would pursue, and m.
mediately concerted my operations will
he foreigners Inh,bi'og The S'cr'men'
10 valley. A few days afterwards, on
of Gaslro's officers, with party OF IA at
Demp'ed 10 passa drove oC2o0 horses, from
Sonoma to Santa Clara, via New Hel
velia, with the avowed purpose oI bring
ing troops into the country: On the
ll,h, they were surprised at daylight
on the Consume liver, by a party oI
l2 from my camp. The horses were
taken, but they One men) were dismiss
ed without injury. At daybresk en-
the l5lh, The military fort oI SoHoma
was taken by surprise, with 0 brass pie
aes Of artillery, $50 stands Of muSkelS,
some other arms. aud quantity OF am
nunilion. Gen. VaII~jO, his brother,
capt. VALLEJO Colonel Greuxdon, aud
some Others, were taken prisoners, and
IpIaced at New HeIvets, a fortified posi-
lander my command. 10 the meantime
Iauucb had reached NewllelveIia with
stores f,om the ship Portsmouth, now
living a, Yerba.Bucna,on Francisco bay
News Of Gen. Caslro'5 proceedings a
gansl me in March, had reached Com
nodore SIoa, q, MazalIan al the end o
hat mouth, and he had Immediately
despatched the ship Portsmouth, toni n
Itrr,y, with general Instructions TO pro
,Ilecr American Interests in California.
These enterprises accomplished,
\ proceeded TO The American sc'rlemen'
ion the Sacramento, and the RIO de J,
D IAmericanos, TO obtain Illuiorcemenls L
men and rhes.
The information brought by MrGl
/ Iespie 10 Captain Montgomery, in r'
: alton 10 my posIt lou, induced that oil