Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-07-04

Exploring Expedition on the Pacific
Coast. and thus 10 embrace con.
nec,ed survey OF the almost unknown
regions on both sides o. the Rocky |
Mountains. The party. including |
thirty.nine persons. started from the
village Of Kansas on the Goth Of May, |
IB43. and we're employed In The ex
ploration till Angus, Of the next year.
Il was this exploration that 6rst iurn-
ished any accurate Information rs 10
/ the Great Salt Lake, the great interior
basf.n Of Utah, and the mountain range
Of the Sierra Nevada. and first brought
20 light. as il were. the region now con
shutting tho Territory OF Utah and
the State Of California.
After preparing the report Of ll,is
expedition in the Spring Of i8a5. Free
mont. now Captain. set out on
third expedition designed 10 m nke
more particular survey OF the regions
which he had previously visited. II
Was while engaged in TINS expedition.
and before he bad received any init.
nation OF the commencement OF q
war with Mexico. thai. nfser having
himself been once ordered off by the
authorities, he was induced by the en-
treaties Of the Amefican settlers in the
valley Of the Sacramento, whom the
Mexicans threatened 10 drive out Of
the country, 20 pat himself At their
head Thus led. they defeated the
Mexicans. Fremont put himself into
communication with the naval com
manders on the coast. and soon. in
communist with Commodore Stock
ION. obtained complete possession OF
California. Of which. on he Gath Of
| August. he was appointed by Stock.
ton Military Commander The fight
ing. however, was not yet over. The
Callfornians rose in insprreclion; hat
the arrival OF Gen. Kearney with his
dragons from New Mexico. enabled
the Americans. after some hard fought
battles. TO maintain themselves in pos
session. Pending these operations,
commission arrived FOR Fremont as
Lieut.. Colonel--a promotion which
neither he nor his friends had solic
lifted. but which he gladly received as
u ratification on the part Of the Gov
ernment OF bis intervention, on his
own responsibility, in the affairs Of
California. r-t
From The moment Of Kearney's ar
rival dispute had sprung up between
him and Commodore stockton as TO
| the chief command. Kearney sought
70 throw upon Fremount the response
bility Of deciding between their re-
specliye claims. This be declined.
protesting his readiness. II they would
i agree between themselves, to obey
either; but declaring his intention, ill
that point was settled. 10 continue to
obey the commander under whom he
had FIRST placed himself. and by whom
the war lad been conducted. Kear
ney was greatly dissatisfied at this.
but dissembled his resentment ill they
both reached Fort Leavenworlh on
their return home. when he arrested
Fremont for disobefience Of orders
aud brought him to trial before court
martial.
i AS this Court held that Kearney
was the righlfai commander. tley
found Fremont guilty Of the charges.
and sen enced him to be dismissed
from the service. Mr.. Polk. then
; President. signed the sentence as be.
ing technically right. but at the same
time offered Fremont new commits
sion OF tie same grade as that OF
which he had been deprived. This
Fremont refused. and returned sim
pie citizen TO private life. Thus, dis
charged from the service Of the Go :
eminent. he undertook fourth explo
ring expedition Of his own, with a view
10 discover passage across the
Rocky Mountains souiheriy Of the
South Pass. near the head Of the Ar.
kansas, which might serve the pur.
pose OF railroad communication with
California. lie started from Pueblo,
on the Upper Arkansas. with thirty
three men and a hundred and thirty
three mules: but. mised by his guides.
all his mules and a third Of his men
persisted in the SHOWS and cold Of the
Sierra San Juan. and he himself ar
rived on foot at Santa Fe. with the
: loss OF everything but his life. Not.
however. TO be balnrd. he rvfited the
expedition ana IN hundred days, NJ
yer ,resn uansers, fs"eneu the Daha'
VI tue o"cramsnso'
In the rising state oil California ~
wh'ch ne nAo oee"me ONE OF 'he eur
nest American proprle'ors oy me pnr
e chase during nj. former slsl. OF .h'
/, ,.hce famous Ma''posa grant, m'
i Fremont TOOK q grea. Interest. ~
+ was "cu'e ~ 'he 'o.mauon o. m'
: state constitution, ana w securing "
J. that doeumenta positive exclusion o
: slavery anu was CHOSEN o"e % 'n'
. nfst Senators 10 represent the ne"
81 In A A..U .4Es4 A.