The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05
The Man Who Raised the Flag
He Was Nidshpman on the Savannah
Under Commodore Sloat

strangely enough, IL was Iue eApoEAShOo
of William p. Toler. now of Oakland but
in early days midshipman in the United
States navy, to see the American flag run
up at Monterey as a token of taking pos
session of California, on TWO separate occa-
sions, he personally raising it the
second time. The first occasion was
on October 10, 1S42, when the flag
was raised by order of Commodore
Thomas Ap Catesby Jones. The sec
ond was on July Z. 1876, when the
American flag was put up to stay by COM
mand of Commodore Sloat. So far as can
be ascertained M. Toler is the only sur
vivor of those who were officially present
on both of these interesting occasions.
Mr.. Toler has related interestingly to
a representative of THE CALL what he per-
sonally observed and did at that period.
''When the American forces were landed
at Monterey to hoist the flag and TO take
possession of the country on July Z, 1S46, 4"
said he, al was charged with the duty of
having the flag raised on the staff near the
custom-house, which building still re-
mains. l was not directed personally to
raise the flag, OF course, but to see that it
was done at the proper time after the
proclamation had been read. was a
young midshipman on board of the Sa-
vannah and was Commodore Sloat's aid.
1 was not q years old and think that the
Importance of that occasion may not have
been as fully impressed upon me as it
since has been.
'The flag to be raised was carried ashore
by quartermaster, who had it under his
arm. do not recollect his name, but 1
L =.
seaman or he could not have been quar-
termaster. Soon after breakfast, some
time between 8 and 10 o'clock, 1 think,
the sailors and marines, under command
of Captain Mervine of the Savannah,
numbering about $50 in all, went ashore
Commodore Sloat was on board of the
Savannah at that time and did not go
ashore until after the proclamation had
been read and the flag was flying.
sit was a clear day, with little wind.
The boats proceeded in order, meeting
with no opposition or demonstration, to
the beach. There was near the custom
house small pier, or seawall, made of
rough stones, taken, suppose, from the
bluffs near by, projecting out far enough
to furnish smooth space for boat land
ing. This had been constructed for the
use of merchant vessels, to give easy land
ing when the breakers were running in !;
but it was used for man-of-war boats also,
andi was for this place that we were
headed. The people on shore-the native
Californians and other nationalities hav-
ing representatives at Monterey-all
knew, of course, what an expedition
of this sort, moving inshore with glisten-
ing guns and swords, meant. General
Castro was not there. In fact there was
no Mexican force. The Mexican captain,
who had been there in the five days elaps-
ing between the date of the arrival of the
Savannah in port and the appearance of
this armed force, undoubtedly had sufi-
cienI time to decide what he would do
His determination evidently was not to
engage in conflict. Neither he nor his
soldiers made themselves manifest.
Looking back through so many years
and, as 1 say, being less impressed then
with the significance of the days work
than 1 have since been, 1 am not able to
say just what vessels were in port from my
personal recollection, but I recollect that
it was a pretty sight. Point Pinos was
then heavily wooded. The country was
undeveloped largely, but picturesque, and
pleased the eye. In front of US was the
white beach, beyond the rocky bluffs, and
farther on was the small adobe town, in
which the officers of first rank in the
country had made their homes. Back OF
US were the American war vessels. Yes,
il was altogether a very pretty picture,
including the broad sweep of blue water
and the Santa Cruz Mountains across the
bay.
"When the boats reached the shore most
of the population was near. Ladies and
children and the native California men,
spurs on heel, who were at home in the
saddle, looked on with curiosity as we de-
barked within a stones throw of the
custom-house. In the gathering was rep
resented the best society in this part OF
the country. 1t did not take long to get
the sailors and marines ashore, and they
were at once formed and marched up to
surround two sides of the custom house
the side toward the Santa Cruz shore and