Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05
RAISING THE FIRST FLAG

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A proclamation by Mayor McAieer
declaring the afternoon Of August 10
next public holiday in Honor Of the
first American flag raised over Los
Angeles, calls attention to the circum-
stances and incidents surrounding that
event, which occurred in 1916.
sixty years ago, or on July Z, 1s46,
Commodore Sloat formally unfurled
the American lag at Monterey and de-
clared the CALIFORNIA; in possession
Of the United States government The
commodore was at that time in i'll
health and upon the arrival of Com
modore Stockton a few days later the
command of both the naval and land
forces was turned over to Stockton,
while Sloat sailed away to Mazatlan
and Panama. Before his departure
Sloat sent a proclamation to Jose Cas-
tro, commandant general of the Mexi-
can forces, declaring the possession Of
the CALIFORNIA; by the United States
government. Castro, who was then at
San Juan Bautista, determined to push
on, fighting as he went and by a coali-
tlon with Gov. Ploo at Los Angeles
make a last stand here or else escape
with his followers to either Sonora or
east of the Colorado. Pico sent mes
sengers from Santa Barbara to Los
Angeles directing the quick enrolment
of an armed force, to be sent north
ward for a junction with Castro, but
later Pico learned of the flag raising
episode at Monterey and became aware
that it was national and not a preda-
tory incident, and that therefore his
militia would be needed at home.
1t was at this point in the campaign
that Stockton appointed Capt. FIRE.
mont a major and Lieutenant Gillaspy
a captain and directed them to ship at
once for San Diego, where they landed
on July 29, with orders to procure
horses and march to San Pedro, there
to be met by Commodore Stockton and
his naval force. But Fremont failed
to find any horses at San Diego, and
so after raising the American flag over
that pueblo he moved forward to San
Pedro, afoot, on August 8. Stockton
reached San Pedro on August 6. His
army consisted of over 400 men, we'll
armed and supplied. The number
under Fremont was about 120.
Meanwhile Castro had formed a
junction with Gov. Pico at Los Ange-
les and all the available Mexican forces
were brought together here. Castro
learning of the arrival of Stockton at
San Pedro, sent to that port a commits
sion authorized to treat for a cessation
of hostilities, but Stockton was not
satisfied of their authority and refused
to enter upon a conference.
On August II Stockton with Fremont
began his march toward Los Angeles.
The natives had intrenched themselves
in a camp about three miles southeast
of this city on the high or table land
known as La Mesa. From that point
Castro sent word, on the return of his
commissioners, that "he intended to
defend the country to the very last eX-
tremity, and that If the Americans
marched upon Los Angeles they would
find it their grave" To this fiery epis-
tie Stockton replied with a note direct
ing Castro to have the Los Angeles
bells tolled at s o'clock the next morn
ing, as by that time he would be there"
But there wasn't any fight after all
Castro and Pico, alarmed at the reports
made by the commissioners, caused a
dispersal of their army and fled.
And so history records that ION
August 1S. 1916, Stockton and Fremont
marched into and took possession of
Los Angeles, at once raising above the
town the American flag
This is the incident which Los An
geles will celebrate, for the first time,
on Monday, August 1S, under the aus
pices of the Associated Veterans of the
Mexican War. the Pioneer society, the
Native Sons and Native Daughters. It
is we'll to remember these landmarks
in the development of this great coun-
try.