New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-30
FREMONT IN CALIFORNIA
BY An EYEWITNESS.
BY THos. o. LARKIN, ESQ,
,n.vyR,Y UNITED STATES CONSUL, NAVY AGENT
.vnr.y.L sTOREKEEPI.R At MONTEREY.

Pros. The Soa FraHei.co Cayoaiclr
N ba. frequently been stated in the pcpers % the
Atlantic States that John c. Fremont never Witnessed
n hattie or skir1nsh between the Amercans and Cali
f,rniap. Some papers even deny that he was in Cai-
fsnis during the campaign Of 1857 Having been
engaged in that campaign, am daily, almost tou'ly'
s,est,o ned concerning Col Fremont. vi therefore,
from memory, give my impressions Of he military opc'-
,.en. Of the Cahfonians and Americans at that time
is trus that Fremont did not see battle in CaI'r
Ma, as wac not part Of the tactics Of Gov Poo ana
General or Prefecto Caro, 10 encounter Fremont anu
Ais riAemen they invariably gave him vide track
nom sonoma TO San Diego-and kept Themselves nc
suainted with his progress day by day step ny s''.
Their plan was to drive obs anfbios pam adoo
tsmphibious or vet-footed tho naval forces oul %
Catalonia, hoping that, when that Vas
thsy should be in receipt Of money and men o'.i,""'
from Sonora and with experience III ''i' ~ ~
ts able 10 cope successfully WIN fI'ui'
psrty. When Fremonts Battalion "as a' I" N-,'
fAe Cahforpians were successful III lhoI oo'''' w.
The naval forces and reguiATs-"no POSI- o'e' 'ni!
men IN hattie; but when the Bauahoh was "'.''"
two davs march the reverses Of the 'oHIh7nauS
v.rs fully apparent; consequently IT was the P''ty
- H. Cslifouians to give their poor h"lsos 10
Ereroout reteryipg the best for Themselves. during
fbe Winter of ISi5-46, "Junts Mllller wa con-
vrned at Monterey, TO take into consideration inc
sessd and approved of, 10 have aD election by the
Whole people in the districts of San Diego, Los Al
Rslss Santa Barbara, Monterey, Ye'ba Bnena and
Sonsra for del. gates 10 General J1nta, ior me pur
oese VI advising with each o'her and to take acton
er the safety OF tho coonry and personal protccton
hsD foes, both at home and abroad Having no pres
snt hope Of any benefit 10 be received fr0m Mexico
vas in contemplation to consider the t1p6d|niy OF
SEEKING 'empo ary and perhaps permanent protection
rem come foreign poser The French Consul gave
ahem TO understand that they could not expect any an
swN from bis Government upon that subject the
HssRsb Consul that hi, Government could NOS accept
any such proposition, but would, on the other hand
y much dissatisfied 10 have any otaer Government to
entertain the project The United States Consul ad
vhed them to avoid European vassalage; tina. the
sdsseDt boundary Of the Quilted States, the love OF
Ebsrty Of The two nations, gave evidence OF what .H
f,uIe action should be. Ths toe state oi affairs
WIEN Fremont then Lieutenant, arrived at Monte
sy IN March, 1896 and, with mytef virite1 Avaredo,
Gen. Casio, Prefecto Castro, and Aicalde Diaz. He
Was kindly and politely received by esch. he stated
20 them that he had the charge OF 6ty-sx men mot
one Of them belonging 10 the United Stats Army,
With orders from The United States Government TO e1-
Dloqe the country between the United States and the
psof Coast that be had left his encamped some
dis,sb from the settlements and came alone to Mon
Ary TO see the United States Consul, and to obtsn
ka6s for the purchase Of horses and provisions This
was all satisfactory TO the authorities Lieut.. f. OBJ
iDed fupds and left in two or three days for hs camp
near The San Joaqu River.
To facilitate the procuring OF horses and provisions
De exploring party moved near to the e1Mlssi3n OF
Ban Juan. Complaint was made one day by ranchero
San Alcslde that one of the party had insulted meu
Der Of his family, and done HIN pee1naIy injury;
Fremont promised him redress The Alcsldod msodea
One FIR the insult and remuneration for the injury,
beth Of which be received and gave written acRnow.
ejg nen,. To prevent repetition Of any thing of the
Aud and In order to have better facilities for repairing
for dangerous journey to Oregon thaving completed
his pur bases Fremont moved his camp to a high
Nsuntsin the Mission Of San Juaa. During this
period Q mail arrived at Monterey from Mexico via
dazasn or San Bias, with patches for Gen. Castro
end Prefecio Castro instructlng them TO order and
compel any foreign exploring party to leave the ountry
They immediately mustered from two hundred 70 three
Alndred men, sent thor respective orders 10 Fremont
lard copies 70 the u. 3. Consult 70 leave California
Ssrthwtb, suffer tie consequence. Fremont and
parry, after being surr%unded tor re" aays' and al
all surplus tentpoes baggage and useless horses care
fuzzy Mug of several belonging - ranches IN
tnat vicinity that had stray cd into their camp and by
slow and ary marches Travelled to the San Joaquin
and Sa amentO rivers thence ON their way 70 Orgcn.
Soon after this Major G,espic, Of the United States
Marine Corps, anived q. Monterey, from Washington
via Mexico. He Immediately proceeded after Ere;
mon,s party guided and asrsted by Peter Lnssin and
sthers overlook them half way 10 Oregon, and IN
few hours after be reached the they were on their
way back TO California On this trip Fremont lost
svo o. three men by skirmishes with Indians the party
Aswever arrived at Satters Fort and thus ended Ere
ks war was enc ed he made another trip TO California
at s cost, and lost half bis men by starvation or
By being frozen to DEATH. About this time p.oc's.
sc.uOn WA issued BY Sub Prefecto Guerrero. of
sSnsu out Of California, and prohibiting them from
sWlipg land In the country. Reports were circulated
rum Santa Caea and Yerbs Buena, that the Indians
on the Sacramento River instgated 10 bum the
Whsaa 6eds of the Americans In that district and that
- Nexicsn Government would coon endeavor to
be, 80 and finally drive them out Of the country i
he'd conversations with the authorities upon this sub
loot but they denied the charge. The Junta In Mon
3rsy, the contemplated meeting Of citizens: The con:
tentions Of Cen. Castro for the North with Gov Poo
Sss the South and the reports Of expected hoet1es
Notwsen the United States and, Mexico, caused gen.
a excitement among the Califcrnans aud foreigners
q he BAY and on the Sacrament River. IL was in
Shs pssti. ofsfAiIs that Cspt Fremont and his par
suddenly made ,Ss Sss nS had hcsn
NJ plaee of their destination and the field for explora
taon. The ball was now fully set in motion. To an
appearances the exploring party took no par with
rcvOutiOni.e California; whether they were held a.
osrps sfreeeUe, matter of conjecture, and may
remain for long time unkn 'wn. In May or June
Scv resident Americans or English, under Capt L:
Merritt, surprised California officer With az equal
Sbrce and took from them largo csba.iada Of horses
HE ofbser complained that the surprise was unius
aAd gave him Nc opportunity to defend his charge
Merritt kindly offered TO return all the horses ia the
emrAl and then take them again The Caifornisns
9as allowed each to take hOrse, saddle and BRIDE
end return to their superior officer 10 report Zach
party then TOOK up the line OF march toward opposite
DsiAa In Jsne this party Of fore gnsrs being joined
b osAers, making their force about sIty men, took
Go town and gsrsoned Of Sonons and dispatched four
o66cegs TO Suffers Fort
HAirmishes, with bloodshed were Common be-
tween the Caornians and foreigners, 10 which por-
ten Of the exploring party, WOO were onyenicntly
neaT, took part Sme time in june Mexican not 4
Californian and HE company surprised aud put 10
death 10 the most barbarous maoner, two Americans.
The CslifoYnans repuoised this act and toe auth rs
lAsy wee fearful that il would lead TO rShtiul reala
zion ON The par OF toe Americans, Col frenoat then
having four of their prnc pal civil and military officers
prsonSn 10 Suffers Fort. The fesrs OF the Cs'or