History of California, Volume XXII, Part 2

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816

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" Jan. 24th, Fremont's letter, in Niles' Reg., lxx. 161. He is now going to see some gentlemen on the coast-on business; and then will complete his survey as soon as possible.

6 Jan. 24th, Sub-prefect Guerrero to prefect. Announces departure of Fre- mont and Leidesdorff. Castro, Doc., MIS., i. 311. Arrival on Jan. 27th. Doc. Hist. Cal., iii. 86. Lancey tells us that they spent the three nights of the journey at the ranchos of Francisco Sanchez. Antonio M. Sunol, and Joaquin Gomez. Wm F. Swasey says that Fremont's men, Godey and others, were left at Yerba Buena, and went with the writer a little later to S. José by water. Swasey's Cal. in 1845-6, MS., 4.

7 As a matter of fact, Fremont had at this time no knowledge of his com- pany's whereabouts; for all he knew, they might have perished in the moun- tains; but it was safe enough to say he had left them 'on the frontier.'

CASTRO'S LICENSE.

his journey to Oregon. This explanation-repeated at a personal interview between the parties named, in presence of the alcalde, Colonel Alvarado, and Gen- eral Castro, and also duly forwarded to Governor Pico and the supreme government-was satisfactory, at least to such an extent that no objection was made; and Frémont was thus tacitly permitted to carry out his plans. Pico made no objection, but directed that a close watch be kept on the explorer's movements, with a view to learn if he had any other design than that of preparing for a trip to Oregon.8

It should be noted particularly here that the only license given to Frémont at this time was a tacit, or implied, permission to recruit his men on the frontiers, away from the settlements, after obtaining the neces- sary funds at Monterey. That is, Castro did not order Frémont to quit the country at once, thus in- directly authorizing him to remain. This rests not on the statements of Castro, but of Larkin and Fre- mont.9 The current version given by Tuthill, Lan-

8 In one instance Frémont, Court-Martial, 372, claimed that his plan (and Castro's license) was to explore southward to the Gila; but there is no other evidence in this direction, and the difference has no important bearing on what followed. Jan. 29th, prefect to Larkin. The date in the original blot- ters being Jan. 28th, but changed to 29th; L. to prefect in reply. Originals in Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 86, 89; Castro, Doc .. MS., i. 316; official copies in Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i. 76; ii. 146; copies in Sawyer's Doc., MS., 1- 2; and printed in Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 188. Same date, prefect to gov. Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 90, 121. Same date, Id. to sup. govt. Dept. St. Pap., MS., vi. 107. Feb. 18th, Pico's reply. Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 15.

9 L. mentions the interview in his letter of March 4th. Fremont's Cal. Claims 1848, in U. S. Govt Doc., 30th cong. Ist sess., Sen. Repts, no. 75, p. 64; Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 188-9. Also in the letter of March 9th, in which he says that F. 'informed them of his business; and there was no objection made.' Frémont's Cal. Claims, 65; Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 44-5. To his office copy of the letter of Jan. 29th, he appends this note: 'The gen- eral was at his own request officially informed by Capt. Fremont of his motives in coming here; which motives were accepted by Gen. Castro in not answering the letter.' Id., i. 76. Benton, in his letter of Nov. 9th, Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 173, and in his Thirty Years in U. S. Senate, ii. 688, states that F. asked and received verbal permission to recruit his men 'in the valley of the San Joaquin,' or ' in the uninhabited parts of the valley of the S. Joa- quin.' This is also the version given by the sec. of war in his report of Dec. 5th, 29th cong. 2d sess., H. Ex. Doc. 4, p. 50; and Cutts' Conq. of Cal., 143- 4. Frémont himself, Court-Martial, 372, says: 'I explained to Gen. Castro th - object of my coming into Cal. and my desire to obtain permission to win- ter in the valley of the S. Joaquin, . .. where there was plenty of game, . . . and no inhabitants to be molested by our presence. Leave was granted,' etc.

OPERATIONS OF FRÉMONT AND GILLESPIE.

cey, Phelps, and others, that Castro gave his word of honor, and on being urged to put his permission in writing indulged in some bluster about the 'word of a Mexican officer,' is pure invention. All agree, how- ever, that it was in the San Joaquin Valley that the foreigners were to recuperate their strength. Natu- rally anxious about the fate of his companions, Fre- mont left Monterey a few days later. Larkin says it was "well known that he was to return when he collected his men;"10 but it is doubtful that this was known to the authorities, and certain that he was not expected to bring his men with him. His route lay over the mountains to the Santa Clara Valley.11

Walker, Talbot, and Kern, with the main body of explorers, remained on Kern River, waiting for Fre- mont, until January 18th, when they broke camp and started northward. On the 26th they reached Kings River, mistaking it for the San Joaquin; and in attempting a cut-off across a supposed 'big bend' of this stream, they floundered for a day or two in the tule marshes, but reached the real San Joaquin on the 30th, and February 6th camped on the Calaveras. From this point Walker with one companion started out in quest of tidings from Fremont, and met 'Le Gros' Fallon, the old mountaineer, who reported the captain to be at San José. Thereupon Walker went to the pueblo, while the company returned to the San Joaquin ford to await orders, hunting grizzly bears with much success in the mean time. On the 11th they were joined by Carson and Owens; and on the 15th, having met a party with fresh horses, they passed through the town, and at noon rejoined their captain and companions at the Laguna farm, or Alvirezs' rancho, or Fisher's-near the historie battle-

10 Letter of March 27th. Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 45-6

11 Feb. 5th he was in the mountains; and Feb. 13th in the valley, proba- bly at Fisher's rancho. Fremont's Geoy. Mem., 36.

FRÉMONT FORFEITS HIS LICENSE.

field of Santa Teresa. The united force amounted to about sixty men.12

After remaining about a week in camp, Frémont started with his whole company across the valley and up into the Santa Cruz Mountains by way of Los Gatos, that of the modern railroad-not the most direct route to Oregon, as it seemed to the Califor- nians. His trip across the mountains, past the big trees, took four days; and then, on February 25th, he descended to the coast at a point near Santa Cruz; was delayed for some days by the prevalent rains and fogs; but finally resumed his march on March 1st, following the bay-coast southward, thence turning inland up the Salinas Valley, and encamping on the 3d at Hartnell's rancho, or Alisal.13 By the very act of permitting his men to enter the Santa Clara Valley, Frémont had broken his agreement with the authorities, and had forfeited every right conferred by Castro's promise, even if that promise had been as direct and definite as any one has ever claimed. His march to the coast without receiving or even asking permission was, under the circumstances, an insult and a menace to the Californian authorities, who, in view of prevalent rumors and fears of war and foreign invasion, would have been justified in mani- festing a greater degree of alarm and anger than they did at seeing an armed force of sixty men marching

12 Kern's Journal, 484-6; Fremont's Geog. Mem., 19, 30-1; Martin's Narr., MS., 10-11. Feb. 15th, Marsh writes from Alvirezs' rancho, where he had come to see Frémont. Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 39.

13 Frémont's Geog. Mem., 36-7; Larkin's letter of March 27th. Id., Cal. Claims, 67. In his letter of March 4th, Id., 64, Larkin says of F .: 'He is now in this vicinity surveying, and will be again at this consular house during this month. He then proceeds for the Oregon, returns here in May, and expects to be in Washington about September.' It should be noted that F.'s movements were but slightly more consistent with a plan of explor- ing southward to the Colorado and Gila, as he claimed was his plan in one document only-Frémont's Court- Martial, 372-than with the trip to Oregon: Yct he says, Id., 'I commenced the march south, crossing into the valley of the Salinas,' and was soon ordered to quit! In his Memoir, Fremont gives considerable attention to the big trees-the largest seen by him being 14 feet in diameter. The big-tree grove is now a popular pleasure resort, and one of its standard traditions is to the effect that Frémont spent a night in the hollow tree still shown to every visitor-as indeed he may have done, though he does not mention it.

OPERATIONS OF FRÉMONT AND GILLESPIE.

through the country under the command of a United States officer.

Besides Frémont's return to the coast, a step that seemed utterly inconsistent with his previously an- nounced designs, there were two other matters, not im- portant in themselves, but which nevertheless tended to foment the prevalent alarm and feeling against the strangers. While the explorers were encamped in the San Jose Valley, Sebastian Peralta claimed some of their horses as his own. Frémont refused to give them up, and ordered Peralta rather unceremo- niously out of camp. Complaint was made to Alcalde Pacheco of San Jose, who sent Fremont an official communication on February 20th. The captain's re- ply of the next day is extant. In it he explained that all his animals, with the exception of four obtained from the Tulares Indians, had been purchased and paid for; and that the one claimed had been brought from the states. "The insult of which he complains," Fré- mont continues, "and which was authorized by myself, consisted in his being ordered immediately to leave the camp. After having been detected in endeavoring to obtain animals under false pretences, he should have been well satisfied to escape without a severe horse- whipping. . . Any further communications on this sub- ject will not, therefore, receive attention. You will readily understand that my duties will not permit me to appear before the magistrates of your towns on the complaint of every straggling vagabond who may chance to visit my camp. You inform me that unless satisfaction be immediately made by the delivery of the animals in question, the complaint will be for- warded to the governor. I would beg you at the same time to enclose to his Excellency a copy of this note. " 14 Alcalde Pacheco simply forwarded the cor- respondence to the prefect, with a recommendation of

"+Feb. 21st, Frémont to Pacheco, from 'camp near road to Sta Cruz,' printed from original then in possession of Manuel Castro, in S. Francisco Alta, June 15, 1866. Original Spanish translation by Hartnell, in Castro, Doc., MS., ii. 28. The letter has been frequently reprinted from the Alta.

INSULTS-ORDERS TO QUIT THE COUNTRY.

Peralta as an hombre de bien.15 Whatever may have been the merit of Peralta's claim, it is evident that Fre- mont's refusal to obey the summons of the legal au- thorities was altogether unjustifiable, and the tone of his refusal most insolent.

From the southern camp in the early days of March three of Fremont's men visited the rancho of Angel Castro. One of the men under the influence of liquor behaved rudely to Don Angel's daughter, insisting on her drinking with him, and was ordered out of the house by the angry father. He was ejected by his companions, though making resistance and drawing a pistol. A fine of ten dollars was paid for the offence. This is the version given by Larkin, and there is no reason to doubt its accuracy. The affair reflects no discredit upon Frémont; but naturally exaggerated reports were circulated, by no means favorable to the Americans.16

From his camp at Hartnell's rancho, Frémont wrote to Larkin the 5th of March, thanking him for news, declining his invitation to visit Monterey at present, announcing his hope of passing the spring pleasantly among the Californian flowers before proceeding north- ward, and stating that he would that night move his camp to the banks of the Salinas River.17 Before night, however, a Californian officer arrived with the following order from General Castro: "This morning at seven, information reached this office that you and your party have entered the settlements of this de- partment; and this being prohibited by our laws, I find myself obliged to notify you that on the receipt

15 Feb. 23d, Pacheco to prefect, in Doc. ITist. Cal., MS., iii. 120.

16 Larkin's letter of March 27th, in Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 46. This part of the letter is omitted in Fremont's Cal. Claims, 68. Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 458-9, makes the insult offered a much more serious one, present- ing a vivid picture of the old man Castro defending his daughter from out- rage.

17 March 5th, F. to L., in Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 61. Larkin's letter, not extant, is said to have awakened some memories which made Frémont's occu- pations less interesting, but the allusion is not intelligible.

OPERATIONS OF FREMONT AND GILLESPIE.

of this you must immediately retire beyond the limits of the department, such being the orders of the su- preme government, which the undersigned is under the obligation of enforcing." A similar order was is- sued by the prefect in behalf of the civil authority. Both orders were communicated to the supreme gov- ernment, to Larkin, and by the latter to the govern- ment of the United States. 18 It was understood by Larkin at the time that Castro claimed to have just received special orders from Mexico not to permit Frémont's entry ; and certain Californians have con- firmed this view of the matter; but it is nearly certain that Castro neither received nor pretended to have received any such instructions. General orders, with which the reader is familiar, were more than sufficient to justify Castro's measures in the eyes of the national government; while Fremont's actions afforded ample justification from a legal and equitable point of view.19

Frémont not only did not obey the orders of the authorities, but he did not even vouchsafe a written reply in explanation of his past action or present deter- mination. He merely sent back a verbal refusal to

18 March 5, 1845, José Castro to Frémont; Prefect Castro to Frémont, both transcribed to Larkin; L. to U. S. sec. state, with copies-all English trans- lations not agreeing verbally with each other-in Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 42-4, 147; Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 189. Later correct translation by Hittell of the prefect's order in S. F. Alta, June 15, 1866, and from that source copied in Lancey's Cruise, 38; Yolo Co. Hist., 14; and various newspapers. Castro's original blotter I have in Hittell, Papeles Históricos de 1846, MS., no. 2. This is a collection of half a dozen originals pertaining to the Fremont affair, presented to my Library by John S. Hittell, a most important contribution. The order in question is as follows: 'I have learned with much displeasure that you in disregard of the laws and authorities of the Mex. repub. have en- tered the pueblos of this district under my charge, with an armed force, on a commission which the govt of your nation must have given you to survey solely its own territory. Therefore, this prefecture orders you as soon as you receive this communication, without any excuse, to retire with your men be- yond the limits of this department; it being understood that if you do not do it, this prefecture will adopt the necessary measures to make you respect this determination.' This was also sent to Larkin, with the following note on the same sheet: 'On this date I say to Capt. Fremont, etc. [as above]; and I have the honor to transcribe it to your honor for your knowledge, and in or- der that so far as it may pertain to yon, you may demand of Capt. Fremont compliance with what is ordered in the said note.' Yours, etc.

13 In Lancey's Cruise, 38; S. José Pioneer, March 24, 1877, a rumor is men- tioned that a man named Green warned Castro that F. was plotting to nnite with the foreigners and take the country; but this has no support.

A CHALLENGE TO THE CALIFORNIANS.

obey, which was virtually a challenge. Then he moved his camp to the summit of the Gavilan Peak, hastily erected fortifications, and raised over his fort the flag of the United States. It was a hasty, foolish, and altogether unjustifiable step.20 On March 6th, the same day that Frémont began the construction of his log fort, General Castro stated the case very fairly in a report to the minister of war, as follows: "This man presented himself at my headquarters some days ago, with the object of asking permission to procure pro- visions for his men, whom he had left in the moun- tains-which was given him. But two days ago I was much surprised at being informed that he was only two days' journey from this place. Consequently I at once sent him a communication, ordering him, on the instant of its receipt, to put himself on the march and leave the department. But I have received no answer, and in order to make him obey in case of resistance, I sent a force to observe his operations, and to-day I march in person to join it and to see that the object is attained."21 On the same day Larkin wrote to the general and prefect, not criticising their orders, but urging caution in selecting an officer to command the force to be sent to Gavilan, so as to avoid a possibly needless conflict growing out of false rumors and de- ceptive appearances. Evidently the consul did not

20 The only possible excuse for the step-one never made, so far as I know, by Fremont or any of his friends-might be found in a statement of Alvarado, Ifist. Cal., MS., v. 159, etc., that Lieut Chavez, who was sent by Castro to the camp, did not deliver the written order, but a verbal one instead, in very violent and insulting terms. This statement is not, however, supported by any other testimony.

21 March 6th, Castro to min. of war. Translation in Lancey's Cruise, 39; Yolo Co. Ilist., 14-15. There are added to what I have quoted the usual assurances of patriotic determination, etc., & lo Mejicano. This communica- tion is referred to in a later one of April Ist, in Monitor Republicano, May 10, 1846; Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 187-8, in which Castro says: 'This officer, failing in the respect due to the laws of the republic and the authorities of the country, introduced himself into the midst of the population of the department, with a respectable force, under the pretext of coming with a scientific commission from his govt; and treating with contempt the notice referred to, he took possession of the heights of the sierra, having made only a verbal reply .. . that he would remain on that spot prepared to resist any force that should attack them.'

OPERATIONS OF FRÉMONT AND GILLESPIE.

quite comprehend Frémont's movements, but thought either that Castro's orders had not been clearly under- stood, since he now sent copies and translations of those orders, or that the captain had secret instruc- tions from his government.22

On the 7th there was no correspondence to be noted except an unimportant note from the general to the prefect.23 Next day the prefect, in a reply to Larkin, maintained that his orders to Frémont had not been founded on 'false reports or appearances,' as implied, but on the laws and oft-repeated instructions from Mexico; complained that the consul, instead of order- ing Frémont to depart, had to a certain extent de- fended his entry; and urged him to impress on the captain the necessity of submitting at once if he would avert the consequences of his illegal entry-whether it had been from malice or error.24 Larkin enclosed this letter to Fremont with one of his own in which he warned that officer, without venturing to criticise his policy, that Castro would soon have at least 200 men in arms against him. "It is not for me to point out to you your line of conduct," he wrote; "you have your instructions from the government; my knowl- edge of your character obliges me to believe you will follow them; you are of course taking every care and safeguard to protect your men, but not knowing your actual situation and the people who surround you,

22 March 6th, Larkin to the Castros. Castro, Doc., MS., i. 151; ii. 32-3; Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i. 79; Hittell, Pap. Hist., MS., no. 4; Niles' Reg., Ixxi. IS8; Sawyer's Doc., MS., 4-5. Same date, L. to Fremont, with copies of the orders. Id., 4.

23 Mar. 7th, Jose to Manuel Castro from Tucho rancho. 'Capt. Fremont came down this morning with 40 men in search of La Torre's party, advising some rancheros not to join either side. It is a declaration. If you can move some force, take the Pájaro road to S. Juan. If not, join Narvaez, to whom I send an order to quarter all the men he can in the govt house, securing the artillery.' Yours, etc. Original in Hittell, Pap. Hist., MS., no. 3.

24 Mar. Sth, C. to L. Doc. ITist. Cal., MS., iii. 286; Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 148: Hittell, Pap. Hist., MS., 4; Sawyer's Doc., MS., 5-7; Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 188. On an original translation, Larkin notes that Castro has mis- interpreted his note. In Sawyer's Doc., MS., 26, there is a copy of a proel. by Gen. Castro on Mar. Sth. The first part is almost literally the same as that of Mar. 13th, to be noted later, and with which Sawyer confounds it. The last part is a call to arms with a view to 'lance the ulcer,' etc. Its gen- uineness may be doubted.

LARKIN'S ADVICE.

your care may prove insufficient. . . Your encamping so near town has caused much excitement. The na- tives are firm in the belief that they will break you up, and that you can be entirely destroyed by their power. In all probability they will attack you; the result either way may cause trouble hereafter to resi- dent Americans. . . Should it be impossible or incon- venient for you to leave California at present, I think, in a proper representation to the general and prefecto, an arrangement could be made for your camp to be continued, but at some greater distance; which arrange- ment I should advise if you can offer it."25 This letter was not forwarded till the 9th, when one copy was in- trusted to a Californian and another to an American courier.26 On the same day Larkin wrote to John Parrott at Mazatlan, enclosing with copies of past correspondence an explanation of the critical situation of affairs, and a request that a man-of-war be sent to California with the least possible delay. These de- spatches, with another to the secretary of state, were sent to Santa Bárbara to overtake the Hannah, which had a few days before left Monterey for Mazatlan. The result was to hasten the coming of the Portsmouth, which arrived in April.27

Larkin's communications to Frémont, sent by an American whose name does not appear, were inter-

25 March 8th, L. to F. Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i. 80; Sawyer's Doc., MS., 8-11; Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 188. L. offers to visit the camp.

26 L.'s letter of March 27th, in Fremont's Cal. Claims, 67, and elsewhere. March 8th, L.'s instructions to the couriers. They were to show their dc- spatches to any official who might demand to see them; but if forcibly de- prived of their papers, to note who took them and tell Fremont of what had occurred, warning him also to beware of treachery or attack by night, and not to expect regular warfare. The couriers were to start the next day (Mon- day). Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i. 72; Sawyer's Doc., MS., 7-8.

27 March 9th, L. to sec. state. Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 44; Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 189; Frémont's Cal. Claims, 63. In this despatch, L. complains: 'Having had over half of my hospital expenses of 1844 cut off, and know not why, and even my bill for a flag, I do not feel disposed to hazard much for govt, though the life of Capt. Fremont and party may need it. I hardly know how to act.' March 9th, L. to the commander of any U. S. ship-of-war at Mazatlan or S. Blas. Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., i. 82-3; Sawyer's Doc., MS., 13-16. March 9th, L. to Parrott. Fremont's Cul. Claims, 65; Lancey's Cruise, 39-40.

OPERATIONS OF FRÉMONT AND GILLESPIE.

cepted by Castro, and a little later sent to Mexico.2) Prudencio Espinosa, however, succeeded in reaching the explorers' camp with the duplicates; and he came back at 8 p. M. on the 9th with a note in pencil from Frémont-his only communication from the camp on the Cerro del Gavilan-which was as follows: "I this moment received your letters, and without wait- ing to read them, acknowledge the receipt, which the courier requires instantly. I am making myself as strong as possible, in the intention that if we are in- justly attacked we will fight to extremity and refuse quarter (!), trusting to our country to avenge our death. No one has reached my camp, and from the heights we are able to see troops-with the glass- mustering at St John's and preparing cannon. I thank you for your kindness and good wishes, and would write more at length as to my intentions did I not fear that my letter would be intercepted. We have in no wise dong wrong to the people, or the au- thorities of the country, and if we are hemmed in and assaulted here, we will die, every man of us, under the flag of our country. P. S .- I am encamped on the top of the sierra, at the head waters of a stream which strikes the road to Monterey at the house of Don Joaquin Gomez."29

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History of California, Volume XXII, Part 2

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 816

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816