San Andreas independent., 1858-07-31
The Raising of the Bear Flag.

The raising of the Bear Flag by the
American settlers in California in 1916,
was one of the most important events in
our history; but very little beyond the
mere fact is generally known. The Sac
ramento Mercury furnishes the following
account of that movement:
On the 5th of June, 1849, one Lieut..
Arce, of the Mexican army, arrived at
Suffers Fort, and stated that he was on
his way to Sonoma to get horses for Gen.
Castro, to mount force to march against
Fremont, and drive him and all the Amer
leans out of the country. The news ar
rived upon the upper Sacramento on the
evening of the 9th, and spread with the
wind in every direction. On the 7th the
settlers started for Fremont's camp on
Bear River (Johnson's,) where they ar
rived about II o'clock at night. On the
morning of the Sth, Mr.. Knight, who had
been sent out to watch the movements of
Arce, arrived in camp, and reported that
Arce had crossed the Sacramento River
at the Embarcadero (Sutter's landing)
with band of horses. Arce had made
many foolish threats, and thereby exposed
the business upon which he had been sent
This aroused the American blood, and the
settlers determined to take the initiative
to pursue Arce, capture his party, and
defeat Castro's contemplated visit to the
valley. Ezekiel Merritt, Grandville Swift,
Samuel Gibson, w. and T. Potter, Ander-
son Beason, John Sanders, DR.. Semble,
Cochran, Sam Neal, Booker (killed at
San Pascual,) Willard Buzzle, HI. l..
Ford, and knight, started in pursuit and
overlook Arce at Cosumnes.
They surprised and captured him and
his party without any trouble After a
little discussion, the arms were returned
to the Mexicans, and one horse given to
each, and Arce was told to 90 home and
tell Castro "that the horses he had expec-
ted would be driven up the Sacramento
valley, and that if he wanted them he
must come after them in person." Hav-
ing taken the first step, the settlers deter
iIAhSu W iOcC HO tILuC anu dUUdCh OOuOIlld
the headquarters of Mexican authority
in the north-as soon as possible, and
started from this valley on the 10th of
June; halted in Napa valley the 18th to
recruit the party, and marched that night
at 10 o'clock-thirty-three strong. Mer-
ritt being the Oldest man, was elected
Captain. On the morning of the 18th,
our friends attacked the Sonoma garrison,
and made every man prisoner, in the
most perfect surprise. The garrison con-
sisted of General NJ. g. Vallejo, Colonel
Pruden, Captain Salvador Vallejo, three
non-commissioned officers and twenty-sev-
en- privates, some of the remnant of Gov
ernor Micheltorena's Mexican soldiery,
and large quantity of arms, but little
ammunition. The officers were sent to
Suffers Fort, and the rest disarmed and
released. A good deal of censure has been
cast upon these brave men for detaining
General Vallejo and his associates. 1t
their only safety, for the Vallejo influence
was all-powerful throughout the country,
and Merritt's forbearance towards Saliva
dor Vallejo was told of in terms of admira-
tlon far aud wide. Fremont's connection
with the captivity of the Vallejos after the
Flag of the United States had been raised
in the valley, reflected no credit upon him,
and 1T was not until the autumn that they
succeeded in getting release, through an
order of Commodore Stockton.
After Captain Merritt left Sonoma to
convey his prisoners to Suffers Fort, an
election was held for another Captain or
Chief. John Golsby was chosen, but de-
clining the honor, VIM. B. Ide was elected
and afterwards became famous for his
Declaration of Independence, and styling
himself Governor and Commander-in-
Chief of all the CALIFORNIA;. 1t was at
this time that it was considered necessary
to have flag. Several designs were rec
commended and rejected At length H.
l.. Ford proposed ga grizzly bear upon a
white field, with one Star for the Union F."
This was adopted unanimously. A piece
of common unbleached American domes-
tic was obtained from Mrs. John Sears,
a paint pot from the wheelright shop, and
by the art of man by the name of Todd,
the first standard of the Americans in
California was made, and the Bear Flag
was hoisted, on the 18th of June, to the
flag staff where heretofore the Mexican
colors waved. After this the military or
ganization of the company was completed
under the direction of H. L. Ford who
had been chosen first Lieutenant. Ford
was young man, and had been a few
months private in the second dragons,
where his instructions had somewhat fitted
him for the position in which he was
placed. Ammunition was very scarce at
Sonoma- Ford dispatched two parties, of
three each, in search of powder and lead.
They first went towards Fitch's rancho and
was most inhumanly murdered by the
Californians Clos hijos del pais.) AS soon
as Ford heard of this outrage he started
with eighteen men in pursuit of the ene-
my. Upon arriving at Santa Rosa he
found that the Californians had retreated
before him. Following their trail, he ar
rived at about sunset at the rancho San
Padilla, where he learned from the Indians
that the enemy would encamp that night
of ha IL