St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-22
CAPTURE OF CALIFORNIA.
A Romance of FremOnf--oId COM
m0dOre Sloat's AchleVement-.A
KggoedIesS War.

According to Gen. W. IT. Sherman. the
idea of California's acquisition was in the
minds of statesmen away prior to 1845.
Gen, Sherman said: Il believe that long
anterior to the Mexican war our govern
ment and most of our leading American
statesmen had resolved to acquire Cali
fornia, cost what it might, as an essential
step in our national progress. remember
well to have met a man at Bodega In 1S48
who had in operation the only steam saw
mill at that time in California, who told me
that Mr.. Webster had, long before the
Mexican war, advised him to emigrate to
California, because that country was des-
tined soon to become part of the
United States In the same
speech Gen. Sherman gives a most
interesting description of the actual meas
ures taken to take California. Among
other statements is one that has never be-
fore appeared in print, to the effect that
Fremont was really inspired to his bold
stand in 1916. by secret message he had
received from Senator Benton, his father
in-law, sent from Washington in Noyem-
Der. 1S45. by the hand of Lieut.. Gillespie,
of the United States marines. Gillespie
brought the letter from Vera Cruz across
Mexico to Mazatlan. and found Fremont
away up in California near what is now
Mount Shasta. Fremont had been ordered
out of the country by the Mexican general.
Casio, and was on his way to Oregon. when
Gillespie overlook him. Nobody now can
doubt that the marine officers message,
while really from Benton, was in fact from
the administration, for he travelled every
step of the way at government eX-
pense. The message was that he
(Fremont) should not leave California, but
that he was to stay, Identify himself with
the American settlers and take lead in
public events, for war was sure to break out
between the two countries and the conquest
of California was certain. Fremont got
this message away up in Northern Cafor-
mia May 9. 1910. on the very day Gen. lay
lor fought the battle of Palo Alto! But
that is not all. On the very day Palo Alto
was fought. Commodore Sloat with his
feet, the Savannah, Cyane, Leyant, War
rem and Erie, as Gen. Sherman expresses 1T
most OPPORTUNITY" found himself at Ma
Zatlan. John Parrot, the famous San
Francisco banker of later days, man who
left millions when he died. was then United
States consul at MaZatlan. He got news
of Taylor's fight at Palo Alto. and at once
carried it on board of Sl0at's flagship. 1t
was then known that the commodore
had had secret orders for months
that as soon as he heard OF hostillties he was
to slip up the coast take possession of
Monterey, the capital, and the magnlhcent
harbor of Yerba Buena (San Franciscol.
The old commodore was wide awake. de
sent the Levant and Cyane to Monterey
and in day or two followed in the Savan-
nah. He sailed June % and arrived July
. NJ InIu IA
landed large force under Capt. William
Meryine, and hoisted the flag on the al
calde's house and took possession of all Cal
ifornla in the name of the United States
At the same time he sent dispatch to
Commander Montgomery. then lying in
Yerba Buena (San Francisco), in the sloop
Portsmouth. to send on shore, hoist the
Amerc IAN flag and take possession. How
the names of those old naval men are now
perpetuated. Montgomery street. San
Francisco, is in honor of old John Il. Mont
gomory, and Portsmouth square. once the
very nobbiest of plaZas in The new city.
was after his ship. Millions upon millions
of dollars in gold dust have changed hands
in Portsmouth square. The Chinese occupy
it now. Fremont, who had needed his
father-ln-law's advice, but who failed to
profit by it. had organized regiment. and,
with the aid of these troops and the
famous Bear Flagg battalion, the navy held
the whole country until Gen. Kearney ar
rived across the plains with regiment of
regulars and the battery of artillery (TOmp-
kins', Company F, Third regiment), Of
which Gen. Sherman was lieutenant, ar
rived around the Horn. There was
no lighting in California, but the ma mes OF
those who upheld the flag are
well remembered. Commodore Sloat
alone was forgotten. He was summarily re-
lieved from command, and Commodore
Stockton took command of the naval
forces. Stockton street in San Francisco
is now a great thoroughfare. SO is Kearney
street, named after the Gen. Kearney who
marched across the plains. Jones street is
another-named after Commodore T.
Catesby A. Jones' Dupont street is after
another naval officer, who served under
Stockton and Jones. and who was after
ward the captor of Port Royal and one of
our first rear admirals. Powell street. Ma
son street, Leavenworth-all are named
after young officers who in those days did
something to make them remembered by
the early CalifOrnianS. Powell was naval
officer. who died few years ago as rear
admiral Mason and LeavenwOrth were
colonies in the army.
She Found kais Fault.