Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-15


The Mexican government in California But not all the
proof which shows the British desire possess Caora
and especially the magnificent bay Of San Francisco. That
desire passion with that Power From the time of
the great navgaor Capt Cook, her eyes have been fixed ON
the Northwest coast of America Three times within half
century, have British national vessels surveyed that coast
and especially the bay Of San Francisco Vancouver Beecher
and Bechey have each surveyed it. and the bay itself with all
the particularly of the survey Of British harbor Here chart
of this bay made by Bechoy in 1925 published The Royal
Photographic Bureau, exhibiting the most comnodous and
capacous habor upon the face of the earh large enough to
hold all the navies of the world easy and deensbe
trance from the sea- opening out forty miles to the right and
le sheltered from every wind receiving two handsome
draining basin Of five hundred miles OF fertile valleys and
picturesque mountains, healthy and delightful climate, and
backed at the distance of hundred and twenty miles by
the lofty ridge Of the Sierra Nepad crowned with eternal
Upon this bay Great Britain has had her eyes fixed
for half century; and, in june l846 at the moment Of Mr.
Femonfs return from the Klamath Lake, all her long defer
red and cherished nclnaons seemed 10 be on the point oil
aizaon.> The revolt Of the settlers frustrated this pcned
hope, in the apparent moment of uton and placed the
veied prize under the flag of the United States.
This finishes the first act OF the conquest of California II
finishes the revolutionary movement in favor Of Independence,
and brings Mr. Fremont and his victorious battalion to Mon
ereyheir flag Of independence exchanged for that of the
United Sateshemselves uniting with the naval forcesand
turning all the fruits OF their successful enterprise the
Government Of the United States.
The committee, apprecating at its full value all the mpor
ance Of this revolutionary movement both concerns
ons and individuals and the truth Of history have instituted
q searching
have stated, and what the document OF evidence proves
And their opinion that, although this
meIt was made without the authority knowledge OF the
Government and without the knowledge that existed at
the time between the United States and Mexico yet such be-
ing the fact and the United States having received all the
benefits OF the movement they bound in honor and in
conscience 10 pay all its expenses.
Commodore Sloa returned to the United States; Commo-
doe Stockton succeeded to the command and here COM
menced bis connexion with the conquest Of California He
proposed to complete the conquest by pursuing Castro to the
south, and taking the sicily Of the angels" Buthe aid of
land force indispensable hisenerpse and here the
American settlers again showed their courage and patriotism
Commodore Stockton applied Fremont and Gillespie join
with their baaono under him, and obey his orders
They agreed to do So both and officers, and this was
fully by Commodore Stockton before the late court
tlal On receiving the command from Commodore Soat,
he says:
81 Immediately to Major Fremont inform him of
what had occurred and to let him know that he and Lieut.
Gillespie with the volunteers who with them, would vol
unteer under my command long might be in
of California and desired their services that would
form battalion by appointing him (Capt Fremont major
and Lieut. Gillespie captain and all the other necessary o
This all done in the of the day and the next
ing when they ordered embark board the United
States ship Cyane be landed San Diego. These men
were not of the kind Of personnel which sometimes compose
regular armies They principally free American c
zens who had settled in California. They men Of re-
speeaby OF influence, and OF property they were no Or
dnay because when told that had offered them
ten dollars month"; they said told that they would
accept that pay would pay their expenses but
that they would volunteer under command with
out (fxed) compensation"
Thus the of the battalion passed into the service Of
the United States without stipulation for fixed compensa
ton but with the full expectation that justice would be done
them. Mr.. Fremont actuaed wholly by public and patriotic
considerations took command under Commodore Stockton
His influence carried along with him the whole Of the bsa
on He gave up his independent position; became subord
nate to Commodore Stockton carried with him the men OF
the country and ensured the complete conquest OF the coun
try for without land forces the conquest could not have
been accomplished.
This the last Of July Leaving their horses Shore
the Immediately board the Cyane, sailed down
the five hundred miles San Diego, and marched for
Los Angeles distant hundred and fifty miles This city
the capital Of the Caionias taken early in August
and with its capture the conquest Of California complete
But the conquest to be preserved The orders 10 the
val officers to conquer hold and govern California; and
do that the service Of land forces further wanted The
and marines wanted board the vessels no
troops Of the United States there The further services
of Fremons battalion became indispensable. They demand
ed twenty five dollars month, (Which very the amount
allowed by law TO mounted men,, and only remained IN
upon condition Of receiving it. So estfes Capt Hens
ley officer OF the battalion, and gentleman OF character
and intelligence who examined before the committee He
says;
'was present when the California battalion
into the service OF the United States and the then posi-
lively reusedto for eleven dollars per month They
NAMED in the service without any rate of pay being specified
UNTIL in August 1876, the City of Angels COL Fremont
ordered to inquire OF my company at what rate OF pay
they would consent TO remain in the service They unan
mouy demanded twenty-five dollars per month, and refused
remain any longer service unless that pro-
missed them considered the Of pay demanded by the
reasonable for that country, and under all the circum
stances"
Upon these they remained in service to garrison the
country
But new and arduous service required from the
California battalion In the fall Of $40 nsurrection broke
in Southern California and the battalion called upon to
join its suppression. Most Of them had returned TO the
north Another campaign the south required, and
many recruits necessary to complete its strength body Of
emgranis bad just arrived from the United States and stopped
in the valley Of the Sacramento. Leaving their families
slightly provided with shelter and subsistence above two hun
dred Of them joined Mr. Fremont for this expedition Of
hundred miles distance At first was attempted
from the San Francisco bay by Baed IN that attempt
after twenty days contest with adverse winds, return TO
Monterey and overland march to Los Angeles, became
unavoidable Il the beginning Of winer-he cold rains
already set ina country Of de6les and mountains, and in
state Of instruction, be raversedand every thing 70 be
procured, and without money In few weeks all was ready
mounted beef cattle procured, six hundred horses
collected. Il march Of extraordinary hardship well
requiring military skill Every day many horses pershed
Of hunger and co and Christmas day above hundred
died the Santa Barbara mountain in STERN OF wind and
rain black with the tempest from the Pacific ocean The
march required skill but il with something more than
soldiers eye that Mr. Fremont felt to be his duty to survey
the field before him. He knew that the Calornans against
whom he going themselves
insurgents against Mexican auhonyand conscious that they
must either under the American British flag Con-
caon his policy. To gain these people by mild
and Justice instead Of crushing them by arms became
bis object the OF this object all his military
movements became subordinate and subserven San Luis
0bpo afocus Of nsuecon, the seat Of commandan and