The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-08
The Conquest Of California.


State, 10 do all in his power 10 render the
people Of California favorable to the United
States, as We were on the eve Off rupture
with Mexico, and il was our intention in the
event Of war, to conquer California. We
quote from the Courier and Enquirer, which
says that the facts arc from responsible
source -
"The point was reached a, which i, became
necessary for Fremon, 10 decide. The In.
dams hal begun TO burn the crops Of the
American settlers, and were assembled in a
large force OF about six bundled warriors, al
or near what is known as Redding's rancho,
about ihirty-dvc or forty miles from his en-
camPmcnt He must either qai, the cOun-
try, aud leave the American settlers, with
their wives and children, TO utter ruin and
fearful fate. or he mus, step forward as
their defender. He mus, either let tina, vast
region pass into the hands Of foreign power
or take instant possession OF it by his own
sword. II was u fearful but grea, crisis in
his life. To head REBELLION in country
with which his own, so far Us he then knew,
was at peace, was assuming most serious
responsibility. But tho question was then
and there 10 be decided. He decided il in
favor Of those who sOugh! his protection, and
took the responsibility Of his position a,
once. lie called his men together, laid be-
fore them The state Of tho case, aud referred
to the destruction impending over those rcs.
idents OF California who were their country
men. He told them, iha. he had no right,
as United States oiiccr, to resist the au-
thOTities, or make war upon the subjects Of
agovcrnmen, with which this county was
nj peace. He would however release them,
for the time being, from tho conditions Of
their service under him as q United States
officer, and relinquish his command. ~
they wished 10 volunteer in defence Of the
American settlers and their families, they
were at liberty TO DO so. He concluded
by announcing that he should himself do it
forthwith. They unanimously declared
their readiness 10 join him, aud appointed
him their commander. He instantly march
cd against tho Indians, leaving about half |
dozen men 10 defend the camp. He broke
up and dispersed five villages in ono day,
in such rapid succession tina, notice, Of his
approach could not be sent forward reach
cd their assembled force before shutdown;
found them engaged in their war dance, in
black paint and white feathers, prepara-
tory to their meditaicd blow upon the set
lers, attacked them on sight and at the |
first charge routed and scattered them, driv- |
ing them into the river and the woods. A,
single stroke. in one day, he thus utterly |
annihilatcd the Indian combination, and res
cued the settlers from threatening ruin,
wilhou, the loss Of man.
lie then returned TO camp, and removed
his force to place called the Buttes, abou,
sixty miles above Suffers Settlemen,.-l
From that poin, he pu, himself into commu-
nicaiion with all fIiendly to the movement.
Not long aner he received information that
Castro had assembled about 400 men at
Santa Clara, and that he had sen, an officer,
with detachment, TO SOnoina, TO procure
horses 10 complete the equipment Of his
force. Fremont instantly started ANAL
body Of men who volunteered i0r the service
and chose Ezekiel Merritt for their leader,
to in,crcep, Castro's detachment on its re-
turn. The service was CALAMITY executed,
and with entire success. The whole body,
horses and all, was captured. heprisOners
were released bat the horses broush, in.
BY rapid and vigorous movements ca,iro's
forces were all driven rom tho country north
of the bay Of San francisco. A, SOnoma,
Gen. Vallejo, two colonsls, ani olh.r prison
crs were taken. A squadroa Of eighty men
under Capt. De Ia Tore. rcusined Toe short
time on pcninss!., ST Ssuesliio, on tie
nOrtherly side Of iks bay, directly opposite
Casiro's encamrnsas 90 me sss, side; bu,
he was pressed 80 h.rI, that b, absnioned
his horses, and ese,?si in launches secSoss
the bay TO Castro fIenon, found there a
bark from the Eastern States, commanded
by a patriotic Ancriean, named David
Phelps, who. en,sriaS heartily ia,o the bust.
ness, lent him his lsaneh, into which he
jumped with ,welss nen, and rowed over
to San Francisco. about eish, miles. where
there was Or, with battery Of guns,
mostly bIsss 6eld-piecss, which they spiked
employing Tor the purpose steel files used
for sharpening knives. which Captain Phelps
happened to have on board his bark.
Having thus established the independence
oil North California, Fremon, sent a mes
sage to Castro. tia, as he could no, &c, his
horse over the bay, il he would wal, for
him, he would pass around its head as
quickly as possible, and NEE, him where he
was a, Santa Clara, and end the con,es, for
the country a, once.
On his way round, finding himself a, So.
mona on the 18th Of July, the DAY was duly
celebrated. On the mex, day, a g,es, con.
course Of people, American settlers, and |
others sympashisins in tho cause, having
come 10 NEE, and welcome him. he declared
the country indePendaat, and the flag Of the
free State Of Cahfarnia, a gn:=iy bear on a
,shite field, 'eas u!fried.
BY the celebrity Of these bold movements,
the Indian enemy was annihila,ed, and the
settles saved fiom massacre, and their fields
from desolaiiou tho power Of Mexico over
North California was broken down forever
and, as We shall soon sec, the whole Of that
golden empire secured to the United States.
On the 10Th Of July, Fremont reached.