The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1870-10-15
Acquisition OF California.

Stcdt aEFtNSu AT tue pitAtcdu capt
tai of California, took possession of the town,
and hoisted the American flag. Several in
significant battles subsequently took place he
tween the American and Mexican forces. but
from that day dates the proprietnrship of the
United States of California. Few eveats in
history. at the time of their occurrence aprar-
emily of So little import hsve been so rapid
" followed bv results affecting the interests
OF the whole civilized world. IS F. Examiner.
We had the good fortune to hear, from the
| venerable Commodore's own mouth. the par
siculars of the important event. The Com
modore was lying at Mazatlan. with frigate
and a sloon- of-war-while Admiral SevLlour.
of the British navy. was there. with the line
of-hattle shin Collingwood. Slast had orders
to take Monterey whenever he heard of actu-
al hostilities between the United States and
Mexico. Circumstances led him to believe
that Admiral Seymour had similar orders, or
| that there was an understanding between
England and Mexico that the former should
take California. and holG it from the United
States. A courier arrived from the City oil
Mexico. bringing dispatches to Seymour. but
none to Sloat. Seymour was. after the arri-
val Of the conrier, ''all in alp with the lead
ing Mexicans. while they looked daggers at
Sloat. The Commodore watched the move
|
hove short on her anchors and made ready
for a voyoge--the two little American vessels
little in comparson) did the same. The Col
lingxood weighed anchor, and With clouds Of
canvas spread she moved maiestically out of
the harhor. Within a half hour the Savan-
nah and the Preh'e were blowing the bosom
of the deep, while the mind of The gallant old
Commodore was made ur to take California or
have the American navy number two ships Of
war and one commander less. On the 9TH Of
July as stated above nv the Examiner, he ar
rived Mt Monterey. without having seen any
thing of the Colingwood. He lost no time
in demanding the surrender of the town, ard
in short time. without firing gun. the stars
and stripes floated over the fort and the Gus
tom House. Very soon after the surrender
we think it was the rextdav. the Colliagwood
hove in sight. The decks Of the two Ameri-
can Vessels were cleared, the anchors were
hove short. the matches we're lighted. snd thu
gunners stood by loaded cannon. the yard
arms we're full of men ready To drop the sails
on the instant of signal. "In fact" saws
the Commodore, 1--WE did everything but show
our teeth"-rnn the guns ont at the port
holes. On came the huge ship of-the-line:
and although he must have seen the state of
| nffairs MS soon as he entered the harhor, the
=
On she cane within stones throw Of the
flagship. and dropped her anchor. TIE Com
modore Instantly lowered boat and sent an Of
frer with his compliments to the Admiral.
The Admiral came in person to return the
compliment His practiced eve could not
help but observe the preparations for imme
diate action.
'You seem about to give your men some
practice in the art of cunning" said the Ad-
miral, as lie shock hands with the Commo-
dore.
The American commander pointed to the
flag on shore. and remarked that he did not
know but it would take some practice to keep
it there.
twill you answer ME candidv enc ques-
ton ~ asked the Admiral. ibid yon get
any dispatches through Mexico just before
you left Nazatlan?''
81 did not" was the prompt answer.
After few moments study, the Admiral
said: "You did right. perhaps. and yonr
Government will no doubt srstan you, the
case now stands: but don't you know. Com
modore, that there is not an officer in the
British Navy who would have dared to have
taken the responsibility you have done. You
doubtless had orders to take Monterey in
case of war, but when you left Mazatlan there
were onlv few leading Mexicans and my
self who knew of the existance of hostilities
Tt is al, over now" he continued, ''but tell
me, Commodore. since YOU are not man to
shrink from responsibility, what you would
have done had there been, when you reached
here, the flag of another nationality floating
where yours nox floats, and that flag guard
ed hy n ship-of the-line.'
81 would,' said the Commodore, shave
fired at least one shot it; perhaps have gone
to the bottom. and LETT my Government to set
tie the matter as it thought hest"
Thus we are indebted To tie promptness
and bravery of this brave old Commodore for
our possession of California. and we have Of
ten thought, when monuments to prominent
men have been spoken Of, that Commodore
Sloat better deserved a monument at the
hands of California than any other man con-
nected With our history. rs the Pioneers
celebrate the dav uoon which the flag was
raised. WHY don't they take some stems to-
ward honorng The man who dared to place it
there without any positive knowledge of the
existence of hostilities? Had he hestated.
We wonld not have had California to-day, ex-
cert we had been able to wrest it from the
power Of Great Britain ColnSd San.
A steamboat captain on Lake Erie was re-
Gently feeling his wav along in the dark,