New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-22
FREMONT IN CALIFORNIA.
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONs OF ONE OF
HIS MEN.
THE AMERICAN SETTLERS IN CALIFORNIA AMI
THE BEAR FLAG REVOLUTION.

. | THE AMERICAN SETTLERS IN CAIVO9nA AND
THE BEAR FLAG REVOLUTION.
The close of the year 1916 wss . gloomy period ID
the history of the American settlers in California The
revolution which deposed Mcbeltorena and placed Al
varado Castro and certain agents Of the Brtsh Crown
the head Of the government, scarcely less dis
- 'ous To the Mexican General than il had been for
fh.n some OF them had taken par with him in the
war. an castro seizng this a pretext renewed
against sk<s the abuses and expressions which
Of the early c. uornia Governors had prsctced
6scatnc their p,e> @ny nstgatng the Indian tribes
against them, and l. 'ea'enhg TO send las was once
done parties Of them Pm o"eis 70 Mexico But was
apparent to our ceunsryn>en tnst TINS m+sestInent
preceded less from jealousy 'ne n'eneresee il the
political affairs Of the country TIA the secret hesy
of another class Of foreigners who WE using Castro 10
effect the radiance Of the Americans ana 70 Pouoote
their own deepaid schemes Of ndvidci ana national
acquisition They resolved to watch web the move
mens of these parties, and, Pcssis's, prevent the
communication of their designs.
There weYp at this time not more than eight Hundred
or thousand Americans in population Oh 'Sn .n0u'
sand native and foreign nhabhans in California These
were about equally distributed between ehs seaPo"
towns and the ranches grazing ferns o. the IN
of more Or less favorirg the busy scheses tAat were
on foot They were traders chiefly, in the hides and
talow O, he country; agents or employees OF Boston
bouses Revolutions were not in The line n their pur-
suits to keep up friendly relations With the sSthonnss
and chief actors in political insssaal msvelnens'
was decidedly to their interest, however, sni am
sorry TO saw that some Of counynen were not un-
Justly suspected of completely with the dt@igD o' 'he
Government. Others, Ike some of our Northern mer-
chants of the present day. deprecated any exo'eme"I
that nterfered with their Southern trade 1hs diver
sty of interest among the American residen sof town
and country left but handful TO watch tho tendency
of events.
These men, denounced and prescribed by tfe Gov
eminent and its sympathizes, and too few sad Ill of.
ganized to attempt opposition, ere yet worthy Of
occupying the post of honor in the march OF empire
They had been, mostly, adventures from cary life -
the wild regions of the West, and now settaed
upon the coil of Cafona with the steady deesmina
ton Of defending their homes az they had defended
their lives in the days Of their wanderings against
every species Of foe intruder Many had resided
California since the beginning of the present ce1tury
and owned considerable property in herds and ands
They were familiar with danger and hardship, feeress
in the saddle and expert with the rife Intelligent
hardy and brave, they formidable enemy and
land was well known 20 Castro and his advisers. A.
socated with this little band of brave felows-n their
trials as well as in their senments-were the overland
emgrants of later years who had been led by FIRE.
nont's Narrative to California.
Such were the men who, on hearing OF Nemonts
arrival in the country during the eventful Winter OF
45-'6 hurried to communicate their apprehensions 10
him and seek his counsel for their future government
He had Just returned from the conference with the
Californian commandan at Monterey, in which he had
received permission to winter his exhausted panty III
the valley of the San Joaquin, and he could only
promise the settlers the protection OF his campn case
they were attacked, advising them to stand nfn ana
keep viglant guard the destines OF the country
II was evident to his own keen apprehension that
transfer of the sovereignty of the soil was contempia
ed. and that it was based on new and undevel-
oped relations Of the United States Government with
Mexico.
Ipass over the occurrences of the hosting OF the
United States flag at the PcO de Gabelan, thirty
miles from Monterey, and the retreat Of Capt Fremont
| through the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys.
They have been related though very imperecty, by
his biographem. That Castro was bent upon his cap
ture or destruction there was any doubt in the
minds of our countrymen in California. Tho horse
thief Indians of the Tuare Valley logged every step
of his way The klamath Indians nearly cut him off,
Castro had excited the whole country against him VIA
evident Reused to desperation by these outrage.
conscious of his integrity toward the authorities, and
remembering the situation Of the settlers and their aps
peal to him. he determined 10 retrace his steps.
The first mornings in June found him at the base o.
well-knOwn landmark in California styled the Butfes.
The Three Butes are isolated mountain peaks rising
out of the center of vast plain at the confidence OF
the Sacramento and Feather rivers. They are visible
at distance of eighty hundred miles, and afford
an admirable lookout the surrounding country.
Here he established his position sent his scouts Abroad
and raising his cOuntry's flag second time over his
CAMP made preparations for active hostilhies. His
lockout gave warning of the approach Of horsemen.
Posting his men and securing his animals he was
ready for sharp defense, when party Of settlers
from the valley below rode eagerly into his camp.
The meeting was welcome on both sides. They
had heard of Castros attack upon his party his re-
treat through the north, and exaggerated rmors o.
his death or captivity spread through the country
They repotedthe settlers all in arms furious to revenge
him if he had fallen-to recapture him If taken.
Their words were confirmed by the appearance that
day and the next Of small parties of Americans, all
Of whom were OverOyed to find him alive and we'll
Riders dispatched far and near with intelligence
of his safety and he joined by nearly all the
Americans north of San Francisco Bay.
Then commenced deliberations for their safety.
Gathering round the Captains FIRE they once more
presented the dangers to which the country and
their own interests were exposed. They pronounoed
Castro and Avarado usurpers of the nghtful author
ity-the former a knave, the latter dupe.. Their
lives in jeopardy there security for their