The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-07
THE NEW ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, SUNDAY JULY 7, 1873.

wood followed her track. Nothing was
known ct that time OF the host1litleB
Impending, except that the American
army was on the eastern bank OF Cne
Rio Grande. The information that De.
termined SloAt to sail northward ana
hoigt the stars and stripes in the terri
tory came from two citizens OF AmeTl-
ca-James r.. Bolton, then In Mazatlans
and John Parrott. The operations OF
Gen. Taylor, communicated by, these
gentlemen, led to the sailing OF the 30
vannah on the seventh of June, l54b,
and with o. press of sail the course was
laid for the harbor of Monterey. Mean
while the revolution had broken out in
California, under the historic Bear flag.
Capt, Merrill took the initiative In
resistance to the Californians, and he
Joined Lieut.. John @. Fremont, who had
arrived in the country on his exploring
expedition. On the twenty.third OF
June Sonoma was surprised, and Gen.
Vallejo and others taken prisoners. The
Bear flag was impTovtsed, with Its, lone
star and motto, "CaliforDia Republic"
The battle on the Santa Rosa plains
was decisive for the Americans, and De
La Tore retreated to San Rafael,
which, upon being followed, he eyacu-
ated for San Francisco. Northern
California was in possession OF the
revolutionist5. After o passage OF
twenty.eight days the Savannah, on
the second of July, 1876, dropped au-
Choir In the Bay of Monterey, and on the
seventh $50 marines landed and took
possession of the town and fort unresist-
eddy. Dispatches were sent by .couriers
to San Francisco that the American flag
waved over the ancient capital. These
reached Capt Montgomery on the
J,f l1 fYasr Ia IN
Of marines landed and ran up the
American colors In the Plaza, since APP
priately named Portsmouth. square.
The flag was raised at Sonoma on the
eleventh and then at Suffers Fort.
There was no opposition. The Colling-
wood arrived In Monterey Harbor too
late for action, had there been any such
| intention. Com. Stockton, who had
also arrived, had to provide against op-
position In Southern California. He
| landed his forces at San Pedro, and
marched upon Los Angeles, while Free
mont, south at San Diego, was In readi-
ness for operation there. The commo-
dore won @ bloodless victory, and the
whole territory acknowledged the Uni
| ted States, Kit Carson, the noun
taineer, was sent across the country to
Washington with news Of the conquest.
Com. Stockton was accorded a splendid
reception at San Francisco. and while
coming ashore between Sacra-
mento and Clay streets, at
Montgomery, he prefaced an animated
address with the remark, you have
met me at high water mark" But hos
tilities broke out afresh in the South.
] The Savannah WIS dispatched to San
Pedro, and Capt. Fremont proceeded by
| land In command Of the volunteers.
| On the Salinas Plain Capt. Burrows and
| Capt. Foster, in command OF thirty
three men, and having In charge 400
| horses for Fremont, we're attacked by
| 175 of the Californfans, and one OF the
great disasters OF the war occurred.
Meanwhile Gen. Rearney was on his
march from New Mexico, and he en-
oountered Kit Carson. Part OF his force
was sent back, and be continued west
ward with the remainder, reaching q
point near San Diego on the seventh Of
September. A reverse to his force soon
occurred, but on the twelfth of De-
cember he entered San Die
go. Overtures we're made for ces-
gai1on OF hostilities until the result of
the general war with Mexico was known,
but they were firmly rejected. At
length, on the eighth Of January, the
battle Of San Gabriel was fought, and on
| the ninth the decisive battle OF the
Mesa, as the result Of which Flores
yielded to Stockton. The capitulation
was followed by the signing OF the treaty
OF peace on the second Of February,
fourteen days after the discovery Of
gold. In seven months the country had
| been conquered. Mr.. Williams made
reference to the arrival Of Sherman and
Halleck and Stevenson's volunteers,
and, Ia conclusion, discussing the merits
and the praise due the commanders In
the war, awarded the honors to Com
modore Stockton.