The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-05-19
BRAVE TARS OF 1913.
HOW JACK CAPTURED MEXICO AND
LETIT GoAGAIN.

quiry Boards Rendered verdicts Be-
fore They Slept.
One day, in the year 1S42. Captain
Thomas - Catesby Jones, then at
Callao in command of a strong squad
ron, which had been sent to the Pacific
coast by the United States to prevent
the seizure of California by the British,
picked up a newspaper and read there
in an article which declared that Mex
leo had just ceded California to En-
gland. Before the close of the day a
British frigate came into view, and,
stopping only long enough to take
brief look at the Yankee squadron,
sailed northward. The appearance of
the English warship and her apparent
haste to move northward, seemed to
Captain Jones to substantiate the
newspaper story he had Just read. If
the British were taking possession of
California he had work to do. Up
went his anchors and the prows of his
ships were headed Californiaward. He
reached Monterey harbor, and at once
landed and took possession of the
town. The next day, very much to his
chagrin, he learned that the newspaper
story was fake, and that he had taxi
en- forcible possession of a town be-
longing to a nation with which the
United States was at peace. He
promptly surrendered the town and
made what amends he could.
This Is an interesting fact because It
shows that the first warlike act on the
part of the United States against Mex
leo was made by naval officer some
four years previous to actual hostili-
ties, and illustrates the distrust with
which England was regarded by the
United States at this period.
The official declaration of war was
made four years later, on May 13,
1876; but it was not until the Sth day
Of the following June that Captain
John Drake Sloat, commander of the
Pacific squadron, then stationed at
Mazatlan, Mexico, learned that war
had been declared. He at once headed
his ship, the frigate Savannah, for
Monterey, California. When he reach
States ships, the Warren Cyane, and
Levant at anchor in the harbor. Two
hundred and fifty men were ordered
to land and take possession of the
town, which was accomplished without
opposition on the part of the Mexicans.
Captain sloat resigned on July 90.
and the more active Captain Robert
Field Stockton was ordered to take his
place.
Stockton proved to be the right man
in the right place. He at once moved
against Los Angeles, with three hum
dred and fifty men, and. on August 10,
1886, he entered the city without oppo-
sition. Here he organized a state
government with John C. Fremont
at the head The MeXicans rallied ard
fought fiercely for their homes. Los
Angeles and Monterey were retaken
and Santa Barbara threatened. The
Mexicans in the country far outnum-
bered the Americans; but the superior
courage and skill OF the Yankees event.
ually carried all before them. Brig
Stcphen w. Kearney
came frcm Sante Fo, New Mexico, with
one hundred men, and, reinforced by
two hundred and fifty men, marched
to San Diego. An army of seven hun
dred men was raised for another at
tack, on Los Angeles, and that city
was re-captured on January Is. 1S47.
CAPTAIN Stockton now returned to
the east, and Commodore William
Bradford Shubrick. with the liner In
deperdence, and the brig Preble, and
Commodore Rridd!c came to the coast.
In short time every Mexican port
north OF Acapulco was blockaded. The
custom-house at Mazatlan was admin
istered by the Americans and nearly
5000 600 collected ON imports.
An incident will illustrate the char
acter of the naval warfare along the
Pacific coast. Daring the blockade at
Mazatlan, Lieutenant G. w. Harrison
was out with three small boats on the
watch for blockade runners. In his
zeal he wandered far from the protec-
ton of the guns Of his ship. The Mex
leans, observing this, determined TO
ming four big barges with at least three
times rs many men as Harrison had,
started after him. Harrison's men
could easily outrow the Mexicans; but
flying from such an enemy did not
suit the bold Yankee officer, and he
headed the boats straight for the Mex
leans. The Mexicans' courage eyap-
Grated, and they turned about and
fed for their lives the moment the
American rifle balls began whistling in
their ears, and this, too, when they
were supported by field guns on the
beach. No wonder the Yankee sailors
lelt themselves vastly the superior OF
the timid Mexicans.
The first work of the navy in the
Gulf of Mexico was at the battle OF
Palo Alto, when Commodore David
Connor, commander of the Calf squad
ron, landed five hundred, men to help
protect the garrison left by General
Taylor at Point Isabel. An attack was
made on Alvarado, IN important mort