The weekly union record., 1864-06-18
Scrap of California History---Bear Flag.

De bear + Jag was The CT>t banner under
which Americans fought in California. Few.
very few here or elsewhere. know is tue his
toFyi therefore short narrative Of eveats Of
that time, June, 1876, may not be uniuteres'-
ing
1t was the creation Of s. small number Of
hardy men, who. until they came west Of the
Rocky Mountains, had seen waving Ger them
a standard which they loved as foudly as their
lives, and feeling. at the moment, thas they
might compromise their country by using the
flag Of their ratiee land. they determined 10
fight under banner Of their own. trusting III
God and their highland leaving ii 10 Amer.
leans 10 do them Justice before the world.
Fremont encamped at the Butte Mountains
on the third OF June. 1876. Tie had just been
brought back to California from The Southern
portion of Oregon by Major Gillespie. and ar
rived at Lassen's ranch eight miles below Te-
hama. on the oath Of May. On his march
down the valley be met the news of CaStro's
intention to burn the crops, then ripe, and
drive the settlers from the country and old
men and women came TO his camp. begging
bis protection from the Indians who had been
excited against the whites by The emisaries of
the Mexican military commandsnt.
On the fifth of June. one Lieutenant Arco,
Of the Mexican army. srrived at Suffers Fort
and stated that be was on his way to Sonoma
to get horses for Gen. Castro, TO mount q force
to march against Fremont, and drive him and
all the Americans from the country. This
news arrived upon the upper Sacramento on
the evening Of the 9th, and spread with the
wind in every direction. On the seventh the
settlers started for Fremout's camp on Bear
river, Johnsou's. where they arrived about 2
o'clock at night. o. the morning Of the Sth,
Nr. Knight, who had been sent ont to watch
the movements of Arco had crossed the Sac
ramento river al Embarcadero, Suffers land
ing, with band of horses. Arco 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 inltiative-to
pursue Arco, capture his party and defeat
Castros contemplated visit to the valley. +.
Merritt. Granville Smith, Samuel Gibson W.
and T. Potter. Anderson Peason. John San
ders. Dr. Semple. Cochran. Sam Neal. Booker
killed at San Pascual, William Buzzel, III. l..
Ford and Knight started in pursuit and over
took Arco at the CoSummes. They surprised
and captured him and his party without any
trouble. After little discussion the arms
were returned TO the Mexicans and one horse
given to EACH and Arco was told to 20 home
and tell Castro that "the horses he had ex-
pected had been driven up the Sacramento
valley, and that if be wanted them he must
come after them in person. Having taken
the first step, the settlers determined to attack
Sonoma, the headquarters of Mexican author
tiles in the north, as soon as possible. and
started from this valley on the tenth of June,
halted IN Napa valley on The eleventh TO re-
cruit the party and marched that night at ten
o'clock, thirty three strong. Merritt. being
the Oldest man, was chosen Captain. On the
morning of the 18th our friends attacked the
Sonoma garrison, and made every man pris
oner. The garrison consisted OF Gen. NJ. &.
Vallejo Col Pruden. Capt. Salvador Vallejo,
three non-commssoned officers and twenty Sc
ven privates some of the remnant of Governor
Mitcheltorena'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 detain
ing General Vallejo and his associates, 1t was
the only safety, for the Vallejo Influence was|
all powerful throughout the country. and Mer
ritt's forbearance towards Salvador NallejoI
was told of in terms of admiration far and widel
Fremont's connection with the captivity oil
the Vallejos was after the flag of the United
States had been raised in the valley, and it |
was not until the autumn that they succeeded
in getting release, through an order OF Com !
modOre Stockton.
After Captain Merritt lef, Sonoma to convey
his prisoners to Suffers Fort an election was
held for another captain or chief John Goisby |
was chosen, but declined the honor, VIM. b
Ide was elected and afterwards became famous
for bis Declaration of Independence and styling
himself Governor and Commander in Chief of
f.A oil . sh.,tM
it was considered necessary to have flag
Several designs were recommended and reject
ed. At length Ii l.. Ford proposed "grz
zIy bear upon white field, with one star fo1
the Union" This was adopted unanimously
A piece of common unbleached American
domestic was obtained from Mrs John Sears
a paintpot from the wheeright 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 oI
the thirteenth of June. TO the flag staff wherd
heretofore the Mexican colors had waved
Soon after this had been done the military or
ganiZaton of the company was completed uni
der the direction of Fl. l. Ford, who had been
chosen first lieutenant Ford was q young
man and had been few months private il
the second dragons, where bis instruction had
somewhat fitted him for the position in which
be was placed. Ammunition was very scarce
at Sonoma. Ford dispatched two parties o
three each in search of powder and lead. 1b'
first went toward Fitchs rancho and was mos
inhumany murdered by the Cafornians. A
soon as Ford heard Of this outrage be started
with eighteen men in pursuit of the enemy
Upon arriving ats Santa Rosa he found The
Califoruians had retrealed before him Follow
ing their trail he arrived about sunset at tha
rancho of Juan Pada, where be learned from
some Indians that the enemy would encam
that night at the Laguna de San Antonio.
After short rest Ford contipued the pur
suit, and at daylight next morning beat up thI
camp and found all had fed, save six Mexican
who had been left to watch the movements o
the Americans Having secured these mer
and exchanged their own tired horses for fresh
ones, the settlers followed the trail; and when
having ridden some twelve miles. they came i
sight of the Mexican force. which now wa
under the command of Captain joaquin de L
Tore, who had joined Pada with cOmpan
81 IL g,