The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-06-20

GraliAla ana Castillo. The Costa Riean are sufiern
badly from cholera, and revolution Is troubling u,
country
Greytown miserable place-no sale for goods Of an
description Shippers would act wisely 10 hold OT iii al
fairs in Nicaragua are better.
Secretary Marcy's Opinion or Col. Fremont
tFron the annual report Of the Secretary Of War d.
cembcr S, 1851
[Extract]
WAR D,rAR.xsr, Doc. s. ls4s.
In Nay, ls45, John c. Fremont, then brevct capta,
in the corps Of Typographical Engineers and since 10
pointed lieutenant coasne left here under orders from
this department 10 pursue his explorations the regou
beyond the Rocky Mountains The objects Of thL, ser
vice were as those Of his previous explorations had been
OF scientific character without anV view whatever /,
military operations. Not officer or soldier OF tn.
United States army accompanied him; and his Who'll,
force consisted OF sixty two men, employed by hmsel
for security against Indians and for procuring subsistence,
IN the wilderness and desert country through which hs
was TO pass.
One OF the objects he had in view was 70 discover Q
and shorter route from the the Rocky
Mountains to the mouth of the Columbia river This
search, for part Of the distance would carry him
through the unsettled, and aerward through
the settled parts of California He approached these set
Elements IN the winter of 1856 Aware Of the critical
state Of affairs between the United States and Mexico and
determined TO give of offence to the authorities
Of the province with commendabc prudence he halted
his command the frontier, one hundred miles from
Monterey and proceeded alone TO that city explain the
object OF his comng1 to the commandment general Castro
and 10 obtain permission TO go to the valley OF the san
joaquin, where there game for his and grass
for his horses and inhabitants TO be moeSted by his
presence The leave was granted; but scarcely had he
reached the desired retreshment reposc
fore he received information from the American settle
Eents and by expresses from Consul at Monterrey
that General Castro was preparing to attack him with
comparatively large force OF artillery, cavalry aud in
tanry upon the prctext that under the Of sccn
tic mission, he exciting the American settlers to
to repe an attack, he then took position mountain
overlooking Monterey, ut distance of about thirty miles
entrenched II, raised the flag Of the United states and
with his own men, sixytwo in number awaited the APP
preach oil the commandment general.
From the It'll to the 10Th Of March, Colonel Fremont
and his little band maintained this position. General
Castro did not approach within attacking distance and
Colonel Fremont adherin9 To his plan of avoiding all col
lsions and determined neither to compromit his govern
mcnt the American settlers ready join him at all
hazards il he had been attacked abandoned his position
and commenced his march for Oregon intending by that
route to return to the United States. Dccmng ali danger
from the MeXcans to be passed he yielded 10 the wishes
OF some OF his men who desired to remain the country
discharged them from his service and refused receive
others in their stead, cautious he to avoid doing
nythng which would cOmpromit the American settlers
give color OF offence 10 the Mexican authorities
He pursued his march slowly and esurey, the state
0. his men and horses required, until the middle Nav
and had reached the northern shore Of the greater Tia
nah lake, within the limits OF the Oregon Territory when
he found his further progress in that direction obstruced
by impossible snowy mountains and hostile Indians who
had been excited against him by General Castro had
killed and wounded four of his men, and left him no re-
pose either in camp or on his march At the time
reached him that General Castro in addition
to his Indian allies, was advancing III person against him.
with artillery and cavalry, at the head four or five
hundred men. ttt LJcy were passing around the head
Of the Bay Of san Francisco 20 rendezvous the north
side Of it, and that the American settlers the valley Of
the Sacramento comrchended in the scheme Of dc.
structon mcditated against bis own party.
Under these circumstances. he determined to turn upon
his Mexican pursucrs anG seek safety both for his
party and the American settlers not merely in the defeat
of Castro but in c total overthrow Of the Mexican
thorty in CALIFORNIA and the establishment Of indie
pendent government in that extensive department 1t
was the 9th Of June aud before the commencement
OF the war between the United States and lcyco could
have there been known, that this resolution TAKEN
and by a., ~. "f July. it Mas carried int euegt BY
ries Of rapid attacks, by small body of adventurous
men, under the conduct of an intrepid leader quick 70
and able 70 direct the proper measures Tor
complshng such daring enterprise.
On the 18th of June convoy Of 200 horses FOR Cstros
camp with an officer and IA men, were surprised and
captured by II Of Frcmonts party. On the 18th, at day
break the military post Of S.noma also surprised
and taken, with nine brass cannon go stand OF m'sket
and several officers and and munitions OF
Leaving a small garrison at Sanoma, Colonel Fremont
the Sacramento 10 rouse the American settlers
but scarcely had he arrived there when an express
reached him from the garrison at inoma with nforma
lion that Cistros whole force crossing the bay TO at
tack that place This intelligence received In the
Afternoon Of the 23d Of June while he was ON the Amer
Fan fork of the Sacramento so miles from the little garr
son at Sanoma and at o'clock on the morning Of the
25 he arrived that place with 80 ricmen from the
American settlers In that valley The enemy had not yet
appeared. Scouts were sent out 70 rcconnoitre and
party N 20 fell i'll with squadron OF 10 dragoons (al OF
Castros force which had crossed the bay attacked and
defeated it, killing and wouning i've, without harm to
themselves: the Mexican commander DE Ia Tore barely
escaping with the loss Of bis transport boats aud nine
pieces Of brass artillery, spiked.
The country north OF the Bay OF San Francisco being
Cleared OF the enemy Colonel Fremont returned to Sno
ma on the evening Of the 4h Of July, and, the morn
ing of the 9Th called the people together, explained 10
them the condition OF things i'll the prOvsrce and recon-
mcndcd immediate declaration Of independence. The
caration was made and he selected to take the
chief direction Of affairs.
The attack on Castro was the next Object. He at
Santa Clara an enenched post the upper south side
the Bay Of san Francisco, with 100 and two pieces
Of field artillery. circuit of more than hundred miles
be travcrsed TO reach him. On the 9th Of July the
pursuit commenced by body of l6O mounted rihe-
men commanded by Colonel Fremont in person, who in
three DAYS arrived the American settlements ON the
Rio de los Americanos Here he learnt that Castro had
abandoned santa Clara and retrcag south towards
Cuad de los Angeles, (he city of the Angels the seat
Of the Governor General Of the CALIFORNIA; and distant
400 miles II instantly resolved on to pursue him To
that place. At the moment of departure the gratifying
intelligence was received that with Mexico had com
meuccd that Monterey had been taken by our naval
SDrce and the flag of the United States there raised on
the eth Of July and that the fleet would cooperate IN the
pursuit IL Castro and his forces. The flag ot indepcnd
ence was hauled down. and that OF the United states
ho.tcd amidst the herty greetings and 10 the great JOY
Of the American settlers and The lorcus uAlcr tue oo
mand Of Colonel Fremont
The combined pursuit was rapidly continued; ana on
the 18th Of August, Commodore stockton anu .oohei
Fremont with detachment OF marines from the squadron
and some remen entered the city OF the Angels, with
out resistance or objection the Governor General Pico,
the ConnandantGencra Castro, and all the Mexican ai-
thoritios having fed and persed. Commodore sock.
ton took possession Of the whole country a. conquest oil
the United states and appointed Colonel Fremont dover
nor under the law Of nations 10 assume the functions Of
that Office when he should return 10 the squadron.
Thus ia the short space OF sixty days rom the trst
decisive movement, this conquest was achieved by
small body Of men, 10 an extent beyond their own ex
Itctaton for the Mexican authorities proclaimed con
quest MOI merely Of the northern part but ol the Whole
province of te CALIFORNIA;,
The Cornmandant General Castro, on the 'th Of August
from his camp at the Mesa and next day on the road
10 sonora announced this result 10 the people together
with the actual lght and dispersion Of the former auho
rites and al the same time, he officially comm icatt
the fact OF the conquest 70 the FRENCH English ana Spanisf
Consuls IN California; and 10 crown the whoe The oica
ropcr Of the Mexican government on the l6th OF October
In LAYING these official communications before The public
introduced them with the emphatic declaration " The los
~ Tho "a ornia. Is sonsumnatcd' The wholo prOyinc
was Welded up to the United States anu y now ID on
military OCCUPANCY small part oi the troops sent on
~ subject this province will constitute i presumed,
sufficient force TO retain possession, and the remain
der will be dsposabIc for other objects OF Inc war
W. L. MARCY
To the PRECEDENT or THE UNITED STATES.
DHATu OF SLAVE FROM CRUEL TREATMENT
49, 81, slN4I. yt,n