New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-09-23
FREMONT ~ CALIFORNIA.
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF ONE or
HIS MEN.

4 I'll, a
ture Of wd-bery juice and amp-black the figure Of
gisly bear. L. was single star. and the
words REPUBLIC OF CsLUoRst." were in,cr;bed
underneath. II was dcrlsed and czecufei by the
Bear-Hunters who captured and ganisoned Sonoms
On the 9Th of July the American settlers to thu.
number Of l6O or $50, met in large hail in Sonoma
ard formally organized under their Flag of Indepeni
ence. Capt. Fremon. was placed at the head OF
affairs His election carried rird roce with great
enthusiasm The Convention voted that a battalion
should be at formed equipped, and placed a. the
disposal of the Commander-inehief. Officers were
chosen and orders issued the mex, morning for the
companies 10 be ready to march at sunset. The men
were informed Of the promise sent over TO Castro and
made their preparations not 10 fail in either the ap
pointment or their leaders gallant purpose.
Fremont had conquered the country north OF the
Bay of San Francisco He had even carried the war
10 the south side and spiked The guns of an important
battery at the mouth of the Bay There remained
one sn oV piece of work TO perform before keeping his
engagement with Castro. Il was to teach the foreign
synpathizer of that General the duty of respect Ia
the new Authorities of the country. In the town OF
Yerba Buena the present San Francisco, were num-
Der of the class Of traders, specslasos, and Others
whose opposite interests and sympa,hes to the reyau
ton have beer stated. Not the least of these in intu
enee or numbers OF our own countrymen dong
business there. Two or three Russian speculators.
with the English residents, really mschievous IN
their sentiments and designs and were suspected OF
secretly encouraging and assisting Castro, who IN his
ntrenched position less than sixty miles distant
On the night of the 9Th of July detachment Of twelve
men were sent across the Bay by Fremont with in
strucons TO take prisoner certain of the officials of the
Port of Yerba Buena, which service was duly per-
formed the joining his camp on the Sacramento
few days afterward. This bold act had the effect
tended. II slenced for while the opposition, but
thew never forgave Fremont and after the arrival of
the Navy the dsafected in lerbs Buena transferred
their LOYALTY from the Brsh-Mexcan rule TO that Of
the Sailor Generals and Naval Judges and gave in
their most abject adherence TO the shipgovernment
and laws on shore.
Al the head of one hundred and thirty wei equipped
and mounted rhemen Fremont act out upon his march
against Castro He had circuit of between two and
three hundred miles to make to reach his position, and
there were several large streams to swim and noun
tans to cross but he rode fearlessy and confidently
On the evening of the 10th of July while encamped
near Suffers Fcr, on the Sacramento courier
brought the tidngs of the arrival Monterey of Com.
Soat and the raising of the United States hag at THAI
post. The camp Of the rAemen the scene of wild
ioy at the accession of their beloved country to the
| mastery of California knew no bounds. Cheerully
they gave up their scheme of independent conquest.
with all the honors and emouments that would accrue,
and without murmur or a sign of hesitation, every
man volunteered al their leaders call to JOIN the SER
vice of the United States They did not then, nor did
they ever aAerward entertain doubt OF their entire
| ability under Fremont to conquer the country The
mex, morning at SUNRISE the flag raised with APP
propriate salues over Fremont camp and at Fort SUIT
ter to which post n small party had repaired for the
purpose The editor Of the newspaper shortly alter
ward started at Monterey writes of this event; Great
| was our 10Y and enthusiasm. Our gallant leader.
| surrounded by number Of officers and soldiers,
who partook of cup of good brandy, and sang
"nationa song was responded to with hearty cheers
Castro abandoned his position at the head OF the
Bay and fed south on the approach Of Fremont, and
| on the 10Th the riHemeu entered Monterey The re-
suit Of their chiefs interview with CON- Sloat Is wen
known. Stockton assumed command OF the squadron,
and invited service under bin for the subjugation Of
California Had Fremont or his followers been able
10 oesee the consequences of this istared Junction
how on the one it was to bring prosecutions and mis-
fortunes almost crushing in their nature, and to the
brave settlers the denial of their hardwon honors ahd
the defernent of their just claims on the Government
lit ia not unlikely that they would each and al hsvs
declined such ungrateul service And had their plans
been let alone the conquest Of the country would have
been completed several months before the finishing
work was performed by Fremont at Couengo, with
greater honors and less cost to Government wths
The scene of operations was now transferred To
Southern California Castro with force variously
timated from six to eight hundred men, was ntrsnehed
near Los Angeles. the southern capital Of the country.
Gan md with a
Dor and exertion succeeded in mounting his men, lie
had one hundred and forty miles Of sandy and desert
region to traverse to reach the enemys position Ito
Sc. out on the hard march very mperectly provided
with supplies for camp. Stockton should have KNOWN
while planning this expedition that both horses and
beef cattle would be driven by the enemy out Of Ere
norts reach Food was scanty the arid plains for
man and horse and water and fuel were scarcely TO 10
had at ali; but they marched with cheerful hearts and
resoute front straight for the Camp Of the Mesa"
Castro did not wait the appearance OF the dusty col"
umn. Fremont but few leagues distant, when
he broke up his camp Dispersed his army, and buried
his guns himself with considerable body Of the fu-
gitives retreatng 10 the direction OF sonora Fremont
wheeled to the south to intercept him, but couner
having arrived from Commodore Stockton at San Pc
dro announcing that he was then on his way to Los
Angeles be gave up the pursuit, and on the FTP OF
August about the same hour both forces entered the
city.
Com. Stockton published proclamation on the
I7h declaring California free from Mexican dosnion.
His officers reported at Monterey and fer''a b,ena inc
conquest of Los Angeles by the MARINES ana Sansrs
under Stockton; indeed the proclamation a'ole'aiu
states: son my approach to this place WIN 'ne
"under my command, jose Castro 'he oo'n'n''d"n',
General Of California, burfd hls ai.i"ei! ~ anu
fed And in subsequent speeeaa al iefoa buena, ne
cold IS Castro and his troops "Tbey remained station.
-. al osmn M tho Mesa tils the v could