The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-05-06

The Conquest OF Cahfornia-Stockton and
JAMES GoRDos BEsNrrr, ESD
| Dear -Sir-The HERALD Of the Goth ult contains
reference to matters in California, in 1876 and ~,
calculated to do injustice to parties whom do not
suppose you have any disposition or desire to inurc
Tho immense circulation Of your HERALD, and
the enormous influence which it yields, render its
historical accuracy of serious Importance.
In justice therefore, to the publishers of work on
California, "The Commerce Of the Pacific &C., now
in press, whose interests may be affected, if the
statement in question should gain general credence
will you have Che goodness to publish, in your
HERALD, the following letter from Colonel Fremont,
and the extract from an original MS. Of the late j.
| Fenimore Cooper.
| No one would more readily do justice in this
matter, were he in the country, than the gallant
and chvalrous Fremont HIMSELF whose distinguished
reputation, acquired in the exploration of our
Western continent requires no borrowed lustre and
seeks for no credit that is not justly his Very
respectfully, i. COTrRELL CLARKE.
COLONEL FREMONT TO GENERAL KEARNY.
CIUDAD DE LOS ANGELES,
January IL, 1917.
! SIR have the honor to be in receipt of your
favor Of last night, in which / am directed to
pend the execution of orders, which, in nv capaoity
| Of Commandant of this Territory, ] had received
| from Commodore Stockton, Governor and Commal-
| der in-chief in California.
| avail myself of an early hour this morning to
make such reply as the brief time allowed for re-
Election will enable me.
| found Commodore Stockton in possession Of this
country, exercising the functions of Military Com
mander and Civil Governor as early July of last
year, and shortly thereafter received from him the
commission of Military COmmaHdant, the duties Of
which Immediately entered upon, and have con-
timed to exercise to the present moment. found,
also, on my arrival at this place. some three or four
days since, Commodore Stockton still exercising the
functions of Civil and Military Governor, with tho
same apparent Difference to his rank, the part Of
all officers, (including yourself) as he maintained
md ron iro1y vhaph cd II, I,,lx 1oak
l learned also in conversation with you, that on
the march from San Diego, recently, to this place,
you entered upon and discharged duties implying an
acknowledgement, on your part, of supremacy to
Commodore Stockton.
| feel myself, therefore, with great Difference to
your professional and personal character constrained
to say, that until you and Commodore Stockton ad-
just between yourselves the question OF rank where
respectfully think the difficulty belongs, ! shall
have to report and receive orders, heretofore,
from the Commodore.
With considerations Of high respect am, sir,
Lieutenant Colonel u. s. Army and Military
Commaudant of the Territory Of California
10 Brigadier General s. W. kEARNy,}
u. s. Army.
From the decision and orders of the President of
the United States, the finding Of the court martial
we make an extract -
Lieutenant Colonel Fremont viii accordingly be released
nom arrest and will resume his sword and report for
duty. JAMES. X. POLK. n
Lieutenant Colonel Fremont is accordingly releasc,
from arrest and will join his regiment in Mexico The
NJ Brooke Is president, is heryby dssolvedBy order !,
r. JONES Adjt. Gen. 4
Col Fremont, at the instant ofreceiving the mott
fcation conveyed in the General Order, resigned
his place in the army, upon the ground that he was
not conscious OF having done anything to merit the
finding OF the court martial against him. and could
not seem to admit its justice by accepting executive
clemency.
COL Fremont had arrived in California with his
corps OF Typographical engineers, and with the aid
Of certain disaffected parties, whom he found in the
country, heroicay and successfully resisted an un-
just interference with the performance Of his duties
duties in themselves legal, and such all civilized
nations delight to foster and encourage. But he
the just claims of Commodore Stockton confirming
his appreciation of their relative positions by q
voluntary sacrifice Of his commission in the army
of the United States.
1.-THE ARMY OF THE WEST" IN CALIFORNIA
Accounts having met the "Army of the West on
its march, that all was tranquil in California" the
main body was directed to return, while General
Keany, with but little over 100 dragons proceeded
on to the Pacific. From the official report of the
march, as furnished by "W. II. Emery, Brevet
Major, corps OF Typographical engineers, (see docu
ments furnished Senate by the Secretary Of War,
Thrtieth Congress, first session, 1870 take the
following passages =
December 6.-* As day dawned the smoke
cleared away, and we commenced collecting our
officers and men killed on the field, and thr-
teen wounded. Our provisions were
exhausted, our horses dead our mules on their last
legs, and our men, now reduced to third their
number, were ragged, worn down by fatigue, and
ema ciated.
december day dawned on the most tattered
and lifted detachment of men that ever the United
States mustered under her colors.' (Yet, in this
hopeless condition, they still thirty mine miles
distant from Commodore Stockton's quarters, at
San Diego.) The enemy's pickets and portion
OF his forces were seen in front"
With heoric fr1nness this little band maintained
n nd
mounted foe. After two more skirmishes,
attended with further loss of men and provisions
Lieutenant Emery's official report thus continues
:. December I0.-* : In Il few minutes
we heard the tramp of n column. followed by the
hail of the sentinel. 1t detachment of a
hundred tars and eighty marines, under Lieutenant
Gray. sent to meet us by Commodore Stockton
The detachment left San Diego on the
night Of the 9Th cached themselves during the day
OF the 10th, and joined the night of that day
These gallant fellows busted themselves till day
distributing their provisions and clothing to our
naked and hungry people"
Commodore Stockton thus saved the remnant of
the Army of the West" which reached San Diego
Just i'm time TO aid in the operations which he had
already matured against the capital of California.
EXTRACT FROM COOpERs NAVAL HISTORY"
In further explanation Of the position of affairs at
that period on the Pacific, allow me to make an ex.
tract from the MS. continuation of :. The Naval
History Of the United States" by the late j. Fen-
more Cooper, new edition of which is in prepare
ton by his son.in-law. II. +. Phinncy, Esq.
"California," says Nr. Cooper, possessed q pc.
pulaion sngularly well adapted to the emergencies
of the moment. The man almost identical with
his horse, and the latter an exceedingly active and
hardy animal, was capable OF making long marches
in day. AS the distances great, this species
of force would obviously become very formidable
when well conducted and abundantly supplied Al
though the Americans had certainly party in the
country, it small, and confined to those who
dwelt near the great ports. former abortve
movement of Commodore Jones naturally made even
these persons cautious and it not difficult. under
all the circumstances of the ease, for Governor Pco
the Chief of the State to rally force inland, that
possessing mpidity of movement and u perfect
knowledge OF the country, might render itself very
formidable to the dispersed parties of Americans.
The political capital of the State Los Angeles,
which lies near the southern extremity The local
Legislature being in session at the moment of the
invasion, it was In the power of the Mexican autho.
rites to concentrate their efforts. and to make
rally for, at least the command of the Interior" Sc.
The details Of Commodore Stockton's military