Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-07-08

10y -
In May, 1915, John c. Fremont, then
brevet captain In the corps of Topo-
graphical Engineers, and since appointed
a lieutenant colonel, left here under or
/ ders from this department to pursue his
explorations IN the regions beyond the
Rocky Mountains. The object of this
service were, as those OF his previous ex-
! plorations had been, of scientific chara, :
/ ter, without any view whatever to milit :
/ ~ operations. Not an officer or soldier
OF the United States army accompanied
him; and his whole force consisted Of six
ty-two men, employed by himself for Sc
curlty againstthe Indians, and for procu-
ring subsisten e in the wilderness and de-
! sert country through which he had 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
This search, for part of the distance,
would carry him through the unsettled,
and afterWard through q corner of the set
tied parts Of California. He approached
those settlements In the winter OF 1855.
Aware of the state of affairs between the
United States and Mexico, and determined
to give no cause of offence to the author
tiles of the province, with commendabie
prudence he halted his command on the
frontier, one hundred miles from Monte
rev, and proceeded alone to tia city to
expllin the oblec. of his coming to the
commandant general, Castro, and to OBJ
tam permission TO 60 to the valley of the
San Joaquin, where there was game for
his men and grass for his horses, and no
inhabitants to be moIested by has presence.
The leave was granted; but scarcely had
he reached the desired spot for refresh
N eut and repose, before he received IN
formation from American settlements, and
by expresses from our Consul at Monte
rey, that General Castro was preparing to
attack him with u comparatively large
force OF artillery, cavalry and infantry,
upon the preteXt that, under cover OF d
scientific mission, he was exciting the
American settlers to revolt. La view Of
this danger, and 10 be IN a condition to
repel an attack, he then took a position on
a mountain overlooking Monterey, at Z
distance of about thirty miles, entrenched
it, raised the flag of the United States,
and with his own men, slxty-two in num-
tANfAAtN0 l@AC ~NtSAA u N~A-i1AeN4A
dant general.
From the 9Th to the 10Th of March,
Colonel Fremont and hislittle band..maia-
tanned this position. General Castro did
not approach within attacking distance, and
Colonel Fremont, adhering to his plan Of
avoiding all collisions, and determined nei-
thcr to compromit his Government nor
he American settlers ready TO Join him
at all hazards, if he had been attacked,
abandoned his position, and commenced
his Ilarch for Oregon, intending by that
route to return to the United States.-
Deeming all danger from the MeXiCans
to be past, he yielded to the wishes of
some Of his men who desired to remain
in the country, discharged them from his
service, and refused to receive others III
their stead, so cautious was he to avoid
anything which would compromit the
American settlers, or give even color of
offence to the Mexican authorities. lie
pursued his march slowly and lelsurely,
as the state of his men and horses re-
quired, until the middle Of May, and had
reached the northern shore of the great
er klamath Lake, within the limits of the
Oregon Territory, when be found his fur
ther progress in that direction INSTRUCTED
By impossible snow mountains and hostile
Indians, who had been excited against
him by General Castro, had killed and
wounded four of his men, ard left HIM no
repose either in camp or on his march
AT the same time,- information reached
him that GeneIal Castro. III addition to
his Indian allies, was advancing IN per-
son against him, with artillery and caval-
rv, at the head of four or five hundred
men; that they were passing around the
head Of the Bay Of San Francisco to a
rendezvous on the north side of it, and
that The American settlers in the valley
of the Sacramento were comprehended IN
the scheme of destruction lneditated against
his own party.
ITnon these circumstances, he deter
mined 10 turn upon his Mexican pursuers,
and seek safety both for his own party and
/ the American settlers, not merely In the
! defeat of Castro. but IN the total over
throw of the Mexican authority III CAN
! fornia. and the establishment OF an lnde-
pendent in that extensive department. 1t
was on The 9th of June, and before the
commencement of the war between the
United States and Mexico could have there
been known, that this resolution was ia
ken and by the 9th Of July, It was car
ried into effect by a Tles OF RAPID at
tacks. bv a small body Of adventurous men
under the conduct of an intrepid Leader
ouic}z 10 perceive and able to direct the
prooer measures for accomplishing such
a daring enterprise. oo
On the 18th of June. convoy OF 2Ut
horses for Castros camp, with an oftcei
and Id men, were surprised and captured
| by II of Fremonts party. On the l5tt
) at day-5reak, the military post OF Sanom;
was also surprised and taken, with nin'
! brass cannon, $50 stands of muskets, ant
: several officers, and some men and mum
tons OF war.
{ Leaving small garrison at Sanona
: Col. Fremont went TO the Sacramento {
: rouse the American settlers but scarceI
a had he arrived there, when an express