Washington sentinel., 1856-07-22


Ger, who bore distinguished part in the scenes
to which he alludes, satisfactorily disposes OF
Fremont's preposterous claim to share in the
conquest Of California
"Honor TO whom Honor is due"
To the Editors Of tie Richmond Enquirer
1t is with great reluctance that appear be
fore the public, but sense Of that duty which
l owe to the profession, Of which | have been
a member for nearly thrty-two years, compels
me to claim for the navy and marine corps,
and for the navy and marine corps alone, the
entire credit, if any is due, for the conquest OF
California, saving and excepting the personal
services Of the late Gen. Kearney and his hand.
full of officers and men, numbering in all not
more than a dozen persons, all that was left OF
the gallant band that met with fate so disas-
trocs at "San Pasqual !" the particulars OF
that affair are fresh in the memory of many OF
our citizens from the fact, that in this bloodest
action Of the war, there fell one Of the most
gallant and accomplished officers of the army,
Capt A. r. Johnston, of dragons, native OF
Piqua, Ohio, and the son Of our venerable and
distinguished fellowcitizen, Col. Johnston.
again repeat, that with this exception, all
credit for the conquest Of California is due to
the navy and marine corps. 1T is well known
that the late war with Mexico afforded but lit
tie opportunity Of distinction to the navy; and
it is hard if the little distinction it did gain is to
be wrested from them to make capital for an
aspirant for the Presidency. / allude to the
fact that the friends Of Fremont are claiming
for him the lions share of the little glory
achieved by that conquest.
| am prepared to prove that so far from his
being entitled to any credit for his particpa-
ton in the conquest Of California that his hav-
ing failed to cooperete heartily and efficiently
with Commodore Stockton, so far from assist.
ing in the conquest, embarrassed him Stock
ton in his operations, and rendered the vic.
tory less complete than it would have been
had we received from Fremont that assistance
we had right TO expect--mounted armed,
and equipped as be was. am further prepar
ed to prove that in every emergency and every
engagement and every rout of the enemy
which took place in California, Fremont was
invariably too late to take part; and, TO sum
up all, assert that during the whole of his
service in California, he never was within hear
ing distance of the enemy's guns. This cause
Of inefhciency | will not hear discuss.
His other claims to the distinguished honors
which it is intended to confer upon him, |
know nothing of, and care nothing about. /
am no politician. / am neither for Fillmore
or Buchanan, for Stockton or Gerrit Smith,
and certainly not for Fremont, knowing him
as do. Since ! have stepped so far ont Of
my proper sphere as to appear before the
public in the character Of a newspaper para
graph writer, hope to be excused for telling
who am, and how came in possession of
this Information, and great deal more upon
the same subject, yet untold
went to California in 1916 with Commo-
dore Stockton, and was at that time lieutenant
of more than eleven years standing, and during
his operations there, was for some time his
aid-de-camp and quartermaster Of the forces
was present and assisted with my own hands
in hosting our flag at "Santa Barbara ut
"San Pedro" and at "Puebla los Angeles, .
and was at this latter place the next officer
in rank to Commodore Stockton, when Birst
Lieutenant and Breyet Captain Fremont ar
rived there with his Hundred" Just thirty-six
hours too late to take part in the rout Of Gen