Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-07-25
8 5 G..
From the Report of the Secretary of War Dec. 1915
Secretary Marcy's Opinion of Col. Free
mont.

GHSlHeeISi anu Since appointed lieutenant COL
onel, left here under orders from this Depart
ment to pursue his explorations in the regions
beyond the Rocky Mountains. The objects
of this service were, as those of his previous
explorations had been, of scientific charac-
ter, without any view whatever to military
operations. Not an officer or soldier of the
United States army accompanied him and his
whole force consrted of sixty-two men, en-
ployed by himself for security against Indians,
and for procuring subsistence in the wilder
ness and desert country through which he
was to pass.
One of the objects he had in view was to
discover a new and shorter route from the
western base of the Rocky Mountains to the
mouth of the Columbia river. The search.
for part of the distance, would Gerry him
through the unsettled and afterwards through
corner OF the settled parts of California;
lie approached these settlements in the WIN
ter of 1876. Aware of the critical state of
affairs between the United States and Mexico,
and determined to give no cause of offence to
the authorities of the province, with com
mendable prudence he halted his command
on the frontier, one hundred miles from Nom
! terey, and proceeded alone to that city to ex-
| plain the object Of his coming to the COM
| mandant general, Castro, and to obtain permits
| sion to GO to the valley of San Joaquin, where
there was game for his men and grass for his
| horses, and no inhabitants to be molested bv
his presence. The leave was granted but
| scarcely had he reached the desired spot for
reireshment and repose, before he received in
formation from the American settlements, and
! by expresses from our consul at Monterey,
| that General Castro was preparing to attack
| him with comparatively large force of artil.
lery, cavalry and infantry, upon the pretext
hat dor l,a q
| he was exciting the American settlers to re.
volt. In view of this danger, and to be in a
condition to repel the attack he then took
| position on mountain overlooking Monterey,
at distance of about thirty miles entrenched
it, raised the flag of the United States, and
| with his own men, siT ty-two in number,
| awaited the approach of the commandant
general.
I From the 9TH to the 10th of March, Colonel
Fremont and his little band maintained this
position. General Castro did not approach
within attacking distance, and Colonel FIRE.
mont adhering to his plan of avoiding all col
lisions, and determined neither to compromit
his government nor the American settlers rea-
dy to join him at all hazards, if he had been
attacked, abandoned his position, and com
menced his march for Oregon, intending by
that rout to return to the United States. Deem
ing all danger from the Mexicans to be passed,
he yielded to the wishes of some of his men
who desired to remain in the country, dis
charged others i'll their stead, so cautious was
he to avoid doing anything which would COM
promlt the American settlers, or give even a
color Of offence to the Mexican authorities
He pursued his march slowly and leisurely,
as the state of lis men and horses required,
until the middle of May, and had reached the
northern shore of the greater Klamath lake,
within the limits of the Oregon Territory,
when he found his further progress in that di-
rection obstructed by impossible snowy noun
tains and hostile Indians, who had been ex-
cited against him by Gen. Castro, had killed
and wounded four of his men, and left him
no repose either in camp or on his march.
At the same time, information reached him
that General Castro, in addition to his In dian
allies, was advancing in person against him,
with artillery and cavalry, at the head of four
or five hundred men, and that they were
passing around the head of the Bay of San
Francisco to rendezvous on the valley of
the Sacramento, where they were compre-
hended in the schemes of destruction medi-
tated against his own party.
Under these circumstances, he determined
to turn upon his Mexican pursuers, and seek
safety both for his own party and the Ameri-
can settlers, not merely in the defeat of Cas-
tro, but in the total overthrow of the Mexican
authority in California, and the establishment
of an independent government in that extern
sive department. 1t was on the 9th of June,
and before the commencement of the war
with Mexico could have there been known,
that this resolution was taken; and, by the
9TH Of July it was carried into effect by Sc
ries Of rapid attacks by small body of ad.
venturous men, under the conduct of an in
trepid leader, quick to perceive, and able to
direct the proper measures for accomplishing
such daring enterprise.
On the 1th of June convoy of 200 hors-
es for Castro's camp, with an officer and IA
men, were surprised and captured by II of
Fremonts party. On the 10Th, at daybreak,
the military post of Sonomo was also surpris-
ed and taken, with nine brass cannon, 25O
stand OF muskets, and several officers, and
some men and munitions of war.
Leaving a small garrison at Sonoma, COL
Fremont went to the Sacramento to rouse the
American settlers; but scarcely had he arriv-
ed there, when an express reached him from
the garrison at Sonoma, with information that
Castro's whole force was crossing the bay to
attack that place. This intelligence was re-
ceived in the afternoon of the 23d of June,
while he was on the American fork of the Sa-
cramento, so miles from the little garrison at
Sonoma; and at II o'clock, on the morning
of the 25tE, he arrived at that place with 80
rifemen from the American settlers in that
valley. The enemy had not yet appeared
Scouts were sent out to reconnoiue, and a
party of 20 fell in with a squadron of 70 dra-
goons, (all of Castro's force which had crossed
the bay,) attacked and defeated it, killing and
wounding five, without harm to themselves
the Mexican commander, De la Tore, barely
escaping with the loss Of his transport boats
and nine pieces Of artillery, spiked.
The country north of the Bay of San Fran.
cisco being cleared of the enemy, Colonel
Fremont returned to Sonoma on the ,ening
of the 4th OF July, and on the morning of the
9TH, called the people together, explained to
them the condition OF things in the province,
and recommended an immediate declaration of
Independence The declaration was made.
and he was selected to take the chief dlrec.
ton of affairs.
The attack on Castro was the next object
He was at Santa Clara, an entrenched post on
the upper or south side OF the Bay of San
Francisco, with 400 men and two Lieces of
field artillery. A circuit of more than hum
dred miles must be tra' ersed to reach him.
On the 9th Of July the pursuit was commence
ed, by body of 100 mounted rhemen, COM
manded by Colonel Fremont in person. who.
in three days, arrived at the American settle.
ments on the Rio de los Americanos. Here
he learnt that Castro had abandoned Santa
Clara, and was retreating South towards Gin.
dad de los Angels, (the city of the angels. the
seat Of the Governor General of the Caliior.
MAS, and distant 400 miles. 1t was instantly
resolved on To Dursua him IN that ,,iooo A.