Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-07-04

'N w u'hNuClpn Deuitated
against his own rntty.
Under these circumstances. he
determined to turn upon hts Mexican
pnrsuers, and seek safety both for
fis own party and the American set
Hers, tot merely IN the d, feat Of
Castro bot ~ the total overthrow of
The Mexican authority in California.
and the establishment of an lnde-
pendent government in that exten-
sV department. II was on the 9th
90! june, aud before the commence
muut OF the war between the United
states and Mexico could have there
been known, that this resolution had
been taken and, by the 9th of July,
u was carried into eifett by series
OF rapid attacks, by a small hnhv of
adventurous men, under the conduct
of an intrepid leader, quick to per-
ceive and able to direct the proper
measures for accomplishing such a
darlig enterprise.
On the | lth of June a convoy of
200 horses Tor Casjro's camp. with
|an officer aud Ii men, werc surprised
and captured by l2 Of Fremont's
party On the 18th, at da,break,
the nnIuary post oi Sanoma was
also surprised aud taken, with nine
brass canon, $50 siand of muskets,
1ud several officers and some men
md mutations ot war.
Leaving small girrison at Sano-
ma, Col Fremont went to the Sa-
crameulo to rouse the American set
licrs but scarcely had he arrived
there, - hen an express reached him
rom tle Z r,Isnn ni Sannma, with
luiom uuu that C,stro's whole force
was crus-ug the bay To attack that
place. TINS intelligence was re-
ceved Ia the afternoon of the 23d
of June, whllr he was on the Amer
lcun tork Ot The Sacramento, so miles
from The lItle garrison al Sanoma
and, al , O'Clock on the morning of
the 25lh he arrived at tnat place
with 80 rhemen from the American
settlers n that valley. The enemy
hid not yet appeared. Scouts were
sent out TO reconnoitre, aud d parry
OF % tell in with squadron of 10
Dragons. (all of Castro's force which
had crossed the bay attacked and
defeated Il, killing and woundIng
hve, without harm to themselves
the MeXlean commander, De La
FORE, barely es, aping with the loss
OF his transport boats and nine p eces
OF brass arullery spiked
The country north of the Bay Of
san Francisco being cleared OF the
enemy Col Fremont returned to Sa-
noma on the evening OF The 4ih Of
July and, on the morning of the 5Ih.
called tie people together, explain
cd 80 them the condition of things
~ the province, aud recommended
AN immediate declaration OF lnde-
pendeuce. The declaration was
made, and he was selected 10 take
The chef direction of affairs.
Tue attack on Castro was the next
object. lie was al Santa Clara, an
enlrenched post on the upper or
south side OF the Bay oi San Fran
CISCO, with 400 men and two pieces
of field artillery. A circuit OF more
than a hundred miles must be traver-
sed to reach hun. On the 9th of
July the pursuit VAS commenced by
a body ol 100 mounted nilemen,
commended 10y Col. Fremont in per-
son, VINO, ia three days, arrived at
the American settlements on the Rio
de los Amencanos. Here he learnt
tnal Castro had abandoned santa
Clara, and was retrealIng south to-
wards CIudad de los Angeles, (lhe
olty ol the Angels,) The seat ol the
GnvernOr-General ol lhe Lahiorul-
ans, and distant 400 miles. IL was
Instantly resolved on to pursue him
TO that place AT the moment of
departure The grauly Ing Intelligence
was received that war with MleAlco
had c" tnnence tlal Monterey had
.iren lahen by our naval ioice, aud
The ilag OF tne UnIed Sales there
raised on The 9Th OF July aud lnat
q fleet would CO. Jperale IA the pur-
suit Of Ca-ifo aud ms forces. The
iiag Ol independence was hauled
down, aud that OF The Unled Siales
hoIsied, amidst the hearty greetings
ana To the great Joy ol The American
settlers and the forces under The
command OF Col. Fremont.
II he combined pursuit was rapidly
continued aud the I2lh OF August,
stockton aud Col. FREE
mont, Hilh detachment ol marines
from The squadroh and some nile
men, entered The cuy of Angels,
without resistance or onjccllOn the
Governor General .Plco, the Com
mludani Genefal Castro, aud all tie
MexIcua authorizes, having He'd aud
dispersed. Commudure stockton
look possession OF the Whole euun-
ny as conquest OF the Unned
States, aud appointed Col. Fremont
under the law Ol nations,
10 assume The functions OF that office
when he should return TO the squad
run
Thus, in The short space of sixty
days from the first decisive move
meot, thls conquest was achieved,
by a small body OF men, to an extent
beyond their own expectation for
The Mexican authorities proclaimed
Il Il conquest, not merely of the