Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-09-26

"Col. Fremont, the defendant, was in California
at the commencement Of hostilities between the mi
ted states and the Republic Of Mexico; he there
raised and COMMANDED a battalion Of California Vol
untecrs, consisting of about four hundred men. HIS
soro.S tccrc utg ~u1Iuabic; he bore n conspicuous part
IN The conquest ot california AND IN MY OPINION
Is BETTER ENTITLED TO BE CALLED THE
C~ONQUEBOR OF CALIFORNIA THAN ANY
OTHER MAN lie continued in tho actual COM
mnnd Of the battalion throughout the month OF
Mar h, one thousand eighthundred and forty-scven;
hut there were other troops in California, othcl
troops of the United States, under the command oil
Gen. kearncy, who was afterwards the military com
mnnlant and Governor Of California, as ! have al
ready stated in my answer to the eighth interroga-
tory. Ic1np0i undatakc 10 decide the dispute 10 tctich
Ih1ro airca8y rcfcrcd bdiccrn Co onei Frsmo I and
Gcgerai heayney; but as long as the California bat
talon existed, they were under the separate and in
dependent command Of Col. Fremont, whilst Gen.
Kcnrncy commanded the other troops Of the United
>titcs.''
The following testimony of Mr.. Buchanan
shows shat Col. Fremont gave the coup DE
grdcc to the contest which resulted IN the
conquest of California
"Tho last actual resistance, Of which | am aware,
was on tho sh and 9TH of January, lsi7. The
forces Of the United states in these engagements
were uudor the command Of Commodore stockton
and Gen. Eearney. Tho results Of these engage
mcnts were go disastrous TO the enemy that the lead
Crs of the Caliluruiaus, u few days thereafter, met
Lieut.. Col. Fremont, twho was in command OF the
battalion Of California Volunteers, and VINO was
has ening to the scene OF action, but did not arrive
in time to take part in these cngagcmcnts), and en-
T. rcd into a capitulltion with him, whereby the poo
pie under arms and in the field agreed to dispcrse
and rcwaiu quiet aud pcaccablc. ThTs mas '' nc
,ulI b1uir fourh aftrrpriy m California 10 my hnoDi-
oigc, but the state Of war between the two republics
continued, of course, till the treaty Of peace!
Concerning the bills of huffman ~ Goa,
we find the >uhioincd questions and replies
q. Do You know whether or not the defendant
himself Individually, for his own private use or
benefit, ever received any consideration for the sud
bills. or any of them; or was there any cousidcrn-
tion whntcyer for tn drawing or tho accepting Of
the sumo bills, or any or either of them, other thnn
the siil supplies To- cor for tnc said forces ui the gov
crumcut of the Uuitcl Stntcs}
A.. uoItbcr know nor believe that the defendant
nlusrll individually. OF for his own private use or
benefit, ever received any consideration for said bill.
or any of them. aId do not believe there was any
consideration whatever for drawing. or accepting OF
the same bill.. or any or either of them, other than
TO procure supplies for the forces under his command
IN california.
I-lou'l have accepted anil paid these bills, from
my general knowledge Of things IN California, had
Congress appropriated any money and placed IT at
my disposal, which could be applied to their pay
mant. though it would have been morc correct t1
have drawn these bills ON the secretary Of War.
should have accepted and paid these bills and had
them charged in account against Col. Fremont, to
bo s%,ttlol for nj the general settlement of his nc
counts as commander of tho California battalion
had any such appropriation been made.