Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-16

State, and family letters from Col. Ben
ton. Under all these circumstances, he
could not but understand that Lieut.. Gil
lespie was accredited by Mr.. Buchanan
as an agent Of the government, and this
the gentleman himself affirmed, inform
ing Captain Fremont that the govern
ment wished him to return to California,
and acquaint hin self with the disposition
rof the inhabitants, and the designs of the
British upon the country; and, if they
were of a certain kind, to counteract
them.
On his return to California, which was
immediate, he found the valley of the
Sacramento in the greatest excitement,
for all the American settlers Lad been
ordered out Of the country, and were
threatened with massacre and the des-
truction of their crops. The arrival Of
Captain Fremont inspired them with a
hope of defending themselves; they ex
pected every moment to be attacked by
the Indians, who had been excited against
them; and they besought him 10 take the
direction of the defence The dam
ger of the American settlers was i'm
minent, and their enemy was also his
own. But he did not know that the Mex
lean war was begun. 1t was impossible
for him TO communicate with the author
tiles at home, vet unauthorized, he could
not commit the United States govern
ment by commencing hoslilities in its
name. But his heart bled for his distress
ed counlrymen, and he made up his
mind that, at all risks 10 himself, he must
embrace their cause. He communicated
bis feelings to his party, who all joyfully
acceeded TO his views; Lieutenant Gil
lespie also. He then advised the Amer
leans TO raise The Bear flag at Sopoma
(for they had no right to that of the
United States, and under il the great
battle of Sacramento was fought, and all
the country north of the Bay of San Fran
cisco was nquered. Independence was
formally declared July 5th, 1876. and
Captain Fremont, by the general voice,
was put at the head of affairs. In the
letter which he wrote to his father in-law,
Senator Benton, and which is in print, he
expresses his confidence that the United
States government would sanction his
course; but, if it should not, he was pre-
pared TO resign his commission.
With one hundred and sixty rifemen
he now started from Sonoma in search of
Castro, who was entrenched south of the
bay, at Santa Clara. On The 10th of
July, being on his way, he learned that
Commodore Sloat had taken possession
of Montgomery on The 7th; from which
he thought war had begun between Mex
leo and the United States. He therefore
Immediately pulled down the Bear flag,
and raised the stripes and stars.
Commodore Sloat was acting under Or
ders received the year before from the
Navy Department, the Secretary { Ban
croft } having directed that as soon as he
should know that the war was declared
against Mexico, he should take posses
sion of California. Hearing of the ex
ploits of Capt. Fremont in the north, he
supposed he must be acting under orders
from the government. This appeared
from his own letters to Captain Mont
gomery, in which he expressed hope
that Fremont would approve of what
they were about to do, and join them
Captain Montgomery, at Sloat's order,
took possession of Yerba Buena { now
San Francisco, at once hosting the o.
S. flag, without opposition, in the public
square. modore Sloat, at the same
time, wrote to Captain Fremont, telling
him what he had done, and requesting
his co-operation;in consequence of which,
Captain Fremont forthwith repaired TO
Monterey, and put himself and his rifle
men under Sloat's command; but told
him at the same time, that he had no
orders from Washington, but had acted
on his own responsibility.
Commodore Sloat was i'll, (he had al
ready asked leave Of absence on that ac-
count, and he was worried by his com.
munication. He therefore very gladly
resigned his command to Commodore
Stockton, who arrived at this moment
July 23d) to relieve him.
Commodore Stockton, finding the state
of The affair, had no hesitation about con
tinuing the conquest of California; and
to Comm odore Sloat's proclamation,
which bad promised the conquered, un-
dr. the protection of the United States,
better government than Mexico had
ever given them, he added another,
. threatening war upon any one who should
modest American citizens. Capt. Ere
mont and Lieut.. Gillespie were both, by
their own appointments under the govern
meRt, independent of Com. Stockton, and
Fremont actually was, by the popular
voice, at the head of affairs. But both
of them, without hesitation, with their
one hundred and sixty riflemen, put them
selves under Stockton, and from this