The Hawaiian gazette., 1873-06-25
A Sketch of OIden Times.

The recent visit of the U. S. S. Portsmouth
has already called out one sketch of the Mexican
and the capture Of San Francisco, in which
she was engaged. Mr.. j. Watson, who served
on the U. 5. 5. WUrea, has sent US the follow
ing sketch of what he saw, at that time:
This made the third cruise of the old Ports
mouth around this part of the world. She ar
rived at Callao, Peru, between twenty-seven and
twentyeight years ago, commanded by Capt.
Montgomery, making a passage from the States
TO Callao. in sixty-lour days, stopping at Rio
Janeiro twenty four hours. At the commence
ment of the Mexican war; she was ordered TO go
in to San Francisco, and hoist the American
flag. When she arrived, Capt. Montgomery
found General Castro there with a thousand men.
Capt. Montgomery landed with two hundred men,
and himself ut the head of them. Gen. Castro
left the place without firing shot, and Capt.
Montgomery raised the American flag with his
own hands and then he built fort on Clarkes
Point. and mounted twenty-four guns. He also
built large block house at the head of Mont
gomery street, and on thus be put a twentyfour
FOUNDER, to protect the place within three miles
around. Lieutenant Bartette was sent ashore
as Police Justice of San Francisco We were
sent from Monterey by Commodore Stockton 10
relieve the Portsmouth,. When we got in to
Frisco, i was sent ashore. with fourteen men TO
take command of the blOck-house, aud Lienien-
ant Ratlidge, with a hundred men was sent to
take charge of the Barracks. All the crew Of
the Portsmouth that was ashore was sent aboard,
except Lieutenant Bartlette, who still remained
ashore. The next day they got ready for sea,
and the fourth day they sailed. She did not re-
turn again that year. This occurred about the lat
ter end Of October, 1916. 1t was some time after,
when tue WdTTen's launch sailed up to Sacramento,
with crew of fifteen men, and three officers. Two
of these officers, were Capt. Montgomery's own
soDs. One of them sailing master OF the Var
rem, and the other young midshipman. The
whole crew belonged to the Warren. She had on
board fourteen stands of arms, fourteen Roman
swords aud dozen and a hall of ships pistols, aud
great quantity OF round bail cartridges, iorthe pur
pose of musket aud pistols. Officers all had side
arms, and brace of pistols likewise, aud $500 in
cash.-We heard that she passed where Benicia is
now, next morning. A day or two alter she leit,
Lieut. Bartlette was taken prisoner, with five sea-
men, By the Mexcans, and he kept prisoner till
the sth day Of January, lS47. The Earren'S launch
was gone several weeks, and not word FROM her.
Capt. Hull sent Mr.. Ridley in search of her. After
an absence OF couple of weeks, lie came back, and
reported that he could not find the launch hear
a word from her. He well acquainted with the
Spanish language. There was no other went in
search of the launch but him. Soon alter, about
the Stu of January, Lieut. Bartlctte was released,
and went back 10 his own duty, Police Judge.
In the month OF March, the sloop.oi-war Ifeble
came in, and released u.s. We went down to the
bay of Monterey, where we found three Commo-
Biddle, Shubricl and Stock
ton, and plenty OF volunteers that came out by land,
aud here we stayed till October, in ls47 and was
discharged aud then came down to these Islands"