Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-06-26

wounded He then wrote to Commodore
Stockton, that he was entrenched on rocky
eminence near San Pasqual, surrounded by the
enemy. Stockton sent Lieut.. Gray, with two
hundred and fifty men, to his relief and, on
their approach, the besiegers abandoned the
field, and left the relief party to return, unmo-
Tested, with General Kearney and his dragons
Gen. keaney then communicated to Commo-
dorc Stockton his Instructions from the govern
meat but Commodore Stockton did not feel
himself compelled to give up the chief COM
mand, especially as the spirit of the instructions
seemed to be- that the conqueror Of California
should be its governor Gen. Kearney did not
insist, but placed himself under Stockton's COM
mand, and his dragons helped to make up his
force of six hundred men, who joined Fremont
! and entered Los Angeles, after the victory Of
San Gabriel, and still more remarkable one
on the plains of Meza where the Americans
drawn up in a small square, phalanx-Ekc, con-
quered the Spanish Cal:forians, whose onset
however, with the finest cavalry in the world
was very brilliant
With a small body Of men, Major Fremont
afterHard embarked, according to Commodore
Stockton's orders, for Santa Barbara hut on
his way, hearing that in all South California
only San Diego was left in the hands of the
Americans, and that no horses could be pro
cured there, he returned to Monterey, to mount
his men and march overland He arrived De-
tober 9th and was agrecably surprised TO
learn that the President had appointed him
Lieutenant Co!one! in the United States Army
1t was unsolicited by him, CT by any Of his
friends and it sanctioned all that he had done
from the first. He had done it with so little
assurance of being approved by government
though he hoped that his country would bear
him out-that lie had sent to Col Benton, with
the account of shat he had done, a resignation
of his commission, to be given i'll, if the govern
ment had disapprovcd)
In December, COL Fremont, at the head of
four hundred mounted men, commenced his
march southwark, and on his way surprised and
took possession of San LOUIS OviSpo, where he
found Don Jesus Pico, who had been made
prisoner on the plains of Salinas, but had bro
ken his parole and was at the head of the in
surrcction He was tried by court-martal
and condemned to death but was pardoncd
by Col Fremont-a wise act, 10y which he was
attached to the latter for ever after in faith
ful service and the hearts OF his friends, among
whom was the governor, P;co were won Col
Fremont being satisfied" as he wrote to Sen
ator Benton, in another private letter that it
was great national measure to unite Califor-
mia to the Union, as a SISTER state, by n volunta-
ry expression of the popular WILL proceeded
with great wisdom and forbearance, and march
ed all the way to Los Angeles, four hundred
miles, without splling drop of blood, but "col,-
qucring peace" by clcmcncy and Justice
AT Coucnga he found the enemy i'll large force,
and sent word to them to Icy down their arms
| They demanded conference. In company
with his new friend, Don Jesus Pico he went
| to then camp alone, and found them ready to
captulatc, Terms were agreed upon, that
were subsequently sanctioned hy Commodore
Stockton and later, by the United States -
Ample testimony proves the popularity Of Col.
Fremont among the native, rs well as Ameri-
can Californans, from this moment.
But tire dispute concerning the chief com
mand, between General kearrcy and Commo-
dore Stockton, produced difficulties The day
after Col. Fremont was installed Governor,
Gen kearncy and Commodore Stockton gave
! to him exactly contradictory orders respecting
the organization of California corps. 1t was
an attempt on the part of General Kcarney, to
try the question Of relative power with Com
modorc Stockton, and does not seem to have
| oIShtuIeu Ill duI III" 'ii W "a Tcuiont uCn
kcarncy expressing to Col Russell at the same
date, that he should make Col. Fremont gov.
ernor, if he had the chief command
Col Fremont replied to his order in writing,
that if he and Commodore Stockton would
agree between themselves which was the com
mandcrih-chief he would obey the superio,
officer but until that matter was settled
which he had TO power to decide, he felt him
self Obliged to continue 70 obey The commanded
under whom the whole war had been conducted
Failing to obtain from Col Fremont aid in
his plan Of putting Commodore Stockton i.
the wrong, Kcarney transferred his resentment
to Col Fremont But this did not clearly ar
pear until after Col Fremont had rctur ned, in
company with him, to Fort Lcavcnworth, whcr
he ordered him to be arrested, aud charged
him with mutiny, disobedicnes to orders, and
irregular conduct
A court-martial was summoned, and before
ii, in his testimony, be attempted to fasteh OIL
Col Fremont d.shonorablc charge of corrupt
motive.
The defence Of Col Fremont is before tht
country The documents, connected with thu
trial, are the Gully history of the war yet il
print, and the above narrative is meagrc alb
stract of those papers.
The court-martial convicted Col. Fremont
of every charge made, and sentenced him to b,
Dismissed the service but in consideration o
his patriotic conduct and services, recommended
him to the lcnient ccnsideratoAof the Executive
i Mr. Polk signed the sentence, with the cx
preston OF an opinion, that, though Col. Ere
mont pc;rit no actOr9iup tn Srisf milf arv eti