Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-21

friendly to the movement. Not long after he
| received information that Cast1 had assembled
| about 400 men at Santa Clara. and that he had
sent an officer with detachment to Sonoma, to
procure horses to complete the equipment of his
force. Fremont instantly started small body
OF men, who volunteered for the service, and
chose Ezekiel Merritt for their leader, to inter-
cept Castro's detachment on its return The
service was galanty executed, and with entire
success. The whole body, horses and all, was
captured. The prisoners were released but the
horses brought in.
BY rapid and vigorous movements Castro's
fereeswere all driven from the country north of
! the bay of San Francisco At Sonoma Gen.
Vellejo, two colonels. and other prisoners were
taken. A squadron of eighty men, under Capt.
De Ia Tore, remained for short time on
peninsula at Sancelito, on the northern side of
the bay, directly opposite Castros encampmen
on the east side; bat he was pressed so hard that
he abandoned his forces, and escaped in laun
ches across the bav to Castro Fremont found
there barque from the Eastern States, com
manded by patriotic American, named David
Phelps who, entering heartily into the business
lent him his launch, into which he jumped with
twelve men, and rowed over to San Francisco,
about eight miles, where there was fort with
battery of guns, mostly brass feldpiecas
which they spiked, employing for the purpose
steel files used for sharpening knives, which
Captain Phelps happened to have on board his
baique.
Having thus established the independence Of
North Ciifornil, Fremont sent message to
Castro, that as he could not get his horses over
the bay, if he would wait for him, he would
pass around its head as quickly as possible. and
meet him where he was, at Santa Cara, and end
the contest for the country at once
On his way round, finding himself at Sonoma
on the 4th of ia y, the day was duly celebrated
On the next day, great encourse of people
American settlers and Others synpathizing in
the cause, having come to meet and welcome
him he declared The country independent, and
The fag Of The free Stale of Caltorna. gri2
sly bear on a '0hte field, was unfurled.
By the CELEBRITY of these bod movements the
Indian enemy was annihilated, the settlers saved
from massacre and their fields from desc lation
the power of Mexico over North California was
broken down forever and as we shall soon sec
the whole of that golden empire secured to tht
l United States.
On the 10th of July Fremont reached on hi
way 10 Santa Clare, in the fulGiimcnt of hi
promise TO Castro, the nearest point at whic
cavalry could ce, around the head of the bay
at Suffers Fort. About sunset an expires
reached him from Commodore Sloat, announcing
his capture of Monteray The nert morning
at sunrise, he hoisted The flag Of the America
Union at The fort, under national salute, am
lciM great rejoiccings Thus ended VIII at wa
called the /" Bear war;
tle then moved down with great celer ity
along the south side of the bay. His troop
consisted of 100 mounted rinemen. Castro fie
before him. and on the 10Th July he reache
Monterey.
A lieutenant in the American Navy, (now
commander) George Minor under examination
by the military committee of the United Senate
described the impression made uNon him b
Fremonls entrance into Monterey IN thes
: words taken from his deposition
1.-The undersigned was on duty on shore whe
Captain Fremon, arrived with his force at Mon
terey, from the North. The undersigned be
lieves that the appearance "f this body OF men
and the well-known character of lis commando el
not only made strong Impression on the Brit
= ish admiral and officers, but an equally lmPres
sive and more happy one upon those OF IA
American navy then in Monterey. For hlmse'
the undersigned can say that after he had see
Cant. Fremont's command, all his doubts abo'
the conquest of California were removed