The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-08-25
Tn. Ce.sueror Of C.,,s.r.,..

The Co0qucfor OIL CALIFORNIA;
Capt. Schenck, Of the Navy, has written
letter denying that to Col. Fremont is due
the credit Of conquering California. We Dc
not propose to discuss this point with him,
for, happily, Secretary Marcy in his war re.
port, and Senators Of the highest standing
and intelligence, have saved us the necessity
of any such labor. We only desire now to
present short extract from letter OF VIM.
ID. Phelps, a gentleman who was in Califor-
niaat the time, with two ships in charge, en-.
gagged in commercial business, and observed
the Same events which Capt. Schenck wit
messed, and which, as connected with Free
mont, he so partially and unjustly reports.
Capt schenck, in speaking Of certain Sc
rics Of events, at the coast, after Fremont
had secured the interior, says that it was the
marines Ia little self glorification here, for
he was Of the ''marines') who did most Of
the fighting there, which seems to be true,
but oaly for the reason that they were so
poor horsemen that tho Mexicans could fall
on them aud get away from them just when
they pleased. Mr.. Phelps says that it is
true that the Navy arc entitled to great cred
it for their participa,i.n in those late events,
but he adds, on that score and as reason
for Col. Fremont's men being less frequent
II engaged in theAe final con .ests:
They lthe NAVY were we'll clothed and
fed, and always had comfortable quarters
when the days work of building forts,
marching or fighting WAS done. Not 30 with
Col. Fremont. He was chasing the enemy
night and day; with miserable horses, his
people very destitute of clothing, on short
ratons, and undergoing hnrdships and pri-
vations fur beyond those experienced by tn.
sailors. And the reason Of his not being ia
action as much as the crews Of the ships
were, may be very well understood by what
one Of the most efficient Of the California
officers said to me: "We like to have the
"men from ships come to fight US; they are
ono horsemen, and we can hight them rs we
s'hkc, and leave them at our pleasure; ".
''can't drive them, to be sure, but they can'I
"catch us when we want to run-but We
"Fremont." or the share of the credit du,
" pch. tueic AIc VplIlOnS
do not wish to express mine.
Mr.. Phelps, having heard so much of Col
(then Capt.) Frcmont's EXPLOITS, determined
to visit him in his camp, and We give below
his relation. of anticipations concerning him
and the description Of the man rs he foun.
him:
As yet had not seen the Captain, but mi
Imagination had pictured him out somehow
rs thought he ought to look. OF course
know Wedge Of his exploits and renown led m,
TO suppose that should see full whiskerel
military looking man, towering in size above
all his command, stiff with uniform ant
straps, and looking blood, bullets and grin
ely bears. But saw nothing Of the kind
After "a survey Of the different groups about
the camp, could discover no one that Dor,
resemblance TO my picture, and going up tt
u long, lnnk looking specimen OF a kentuck.
ian, dressed in greasy, deer skin shirt, anu
trousers TO match. aud coon-ckin cap on his
mead, with the tail in front, l asked il til.
Captain was in the camp. The individual tthe
long ioctor) replied in the Affirmative, and
pointed out to me as Capt. Fremont Il s!cn-
der and wcll-proportoned man, Of scdate
but pleasing eountenance, sitting 10 front Of
n tent. LIS dress AS near rs remember, was
blue aannel shirt, after the naval style,
open a. thu throat, with white star worked
on each corner Of the collar, which was turn
cd over; over this deer KIN hunting shirt,
figured and trimmed in hunters style, blue
cloth pants and neat moccasins, all Of which
had very evidently seen hard service. His
head was not en- numbered by hat or cap OF
'ny shape, but IA hght cotton handkerchief
hound tightly around his hcnd surrounded a
suit which might not appear very fashio nab 10
at the Nhite House, or ne presrntable at the
Qpcen's Lrvee; but to my eyeit was an al
durable rig TO scui unuer or fight 10. A
few minutes conversation convinced me that
stood in the presence of the King Of the
Rocky Mountains. lie said s'nis opera
''tions were against the military force OF the
country; that his Government had been
''oltrageously insulted in his erson, and he
would compel from Castro public apollo
ICY or hunt him from the country"
WHAr "BELLs" THINKS AaoCr "FAsHIoa A.
BILE SOCIETY," AND MAIaiAosY.--'sBeiieB rit-
aim" the Newport goosIpng correspondent
Of the NV York Mirror, is decidedly origin
a. and sensible in her ways Of thinking.
And she 'speaks right out" Hear her
have not been IA young lady" long but
have already seen enough to convince me
VI the hollow mockery Of what is termed
fashionable society and would much ra-
iher be known us the simple hearted country
girl,--"the flower Of The plsntation''--shs
idol Of the colored people, at home, than
to reign here as ''the belle Of the season -
admired for my aiding beauty; courted for
my fathers 'unccrtain riches; J" and abused
for the very ''charms" that make up my Mt
fractions. When am older and wiser will
write you homiy on this subject, giving
the benefit Of my experience to future gener-
ations.
On the subject of matrimony, too, have
some peculiar notions of my own; and il
time and trial confirm them, perhaps
may some day come out strong ~ "a re-
fopU,op0 ~ tha ropsuyal ;cst.e0t.n, ~.