USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The beginnings of San Francisco : from the expedition of Anza, 1774, to the city charter of April 15, 1850 : with biographical and other notes, Vol. I > Part 22
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Thus ended the famous interview. It does not appear in any of the documents that express permission was given Frémont to winter his men in the San Joaquin valley, but that consent was understood. This is the testimony of those present: Larkin and Castro .* A few days later Frémont left Monterey to look for his men.
The main body of the expedition remained on Kern river waiting for Frémont until January 18th, when they broke camp and started northward, and on February 6th camped on the Calaveras river near the present Stockton. Hearing that Frémont was at San José the command moved into the Santa Clara valley and joined him on February 15th at the Laguna Seco rancho, a little below San José. A week later Frémont started with his entire company, crossed the Santa Clara valley, passed into the Santa Cruz mountains, and descended to the coast southward by the route later followed by the railroad; thence into the Salinas valley and camped on March 3d at the Alisal rancho, about eighteen miles from Monterey.
* Larkin's official correspondence MS. ii. 44-5. Castro-Doc. MS. i. 316. ii. 55. . Doc. Hist. Cal. MS. ii. 86, 89.
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The bringing of a body of armed men into their settle- ments was a piece of effrontery which expressed the con- tempt in which Frémont held the authorities of California. The insult was calculated to alarm and anger them, and their displeasure was increased by the insolent manner in which the strangers conducted themselves towards the people. While at the Laguna Saco Sebastian Peralta, a ranchero, owner of the Rinconada de los Gatos, visited the camp and pointed out some horses which he claimed had been stolen from his rancho some months before. A very extensive business had been carried on by Indian horse thieves in stealing horses from the ranchos and selling them to dealers who took them out of the country, and Frémont had been warned against buying horses from Indians and other irresponsible persons. He refused to give the horses up to Peralta and ordered him from the camp. Peralta complained to the alcalde of San José who sent Frémont an official communication on February 20th. In reply the captain stated that all of 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," Frémont continued, "and which was authorized by myself, con- sisted in his being ordered immediately to leave the camp. After having been detected in endeavoring to obtain animals by false pretences, he should have been well satisfied to escape without a severe horse-whipping.
Any further communications on this subject will not, therefore, receive attention. You will readily under- stand 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
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complaint will be forwarded to the governor. I would beg you at the same time to enclose to his Excellency a copy of this note." The alcalde forwarded the correspondence to the governor with the statement that Peralta was an honest man.
While at the Alisal three of Frémont's men visited the rancho of Don Angel María Castro, an uncle of General Castro, and offered insult to one of his daughters. The father, an old man, who had in his younger days served the king, defended his daughter from outrage when one of the trappers drew a pistol and presented it at his breast. The old man, whose strength had not yet failed him, seized his assailant by the throat, wrested the pistol from his hand and rolled him over the floor. At this the men withdrew, threatening to return .*
On the 5th of March an officer arrived in Fremont's camp 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 department; and this being prohibited by our laws, I find myself obliged to notify you that on receipt of this you must immediately retire beyond the limits of the department, such being the orders of the supreme govern- ment, which the undersigned is under the obligation of enforcing." At the same time the prefect sent Frémont similar orders,t saying that if he did not obey, the
* Osio: Hist. Cal. MS. p. 458. Bancroft Collection.
+ "I have learned with surprise that you, against the laws and authorities of the Mexican republic, have entered the pueblos of the district under my charge, with an armed force, on a commission which the government of your nation must have given you to survey solely its own territory." etc. Manuel Castro to Frémont. Niles Register, Nov. 21, 1846.
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prefect would take measures to make him respect his determination. Both orders were communicated at once to Larkin and by him to the government of the United States.
To these orders Frémont sent back no written reply but merely a verbal refusal to obey. He then moved his camp to the summit of Gavilan peak, erected forti- fications and over them raised the flag of the United States. On March 6th Castro reported to the minister of war that Frémont had presented himself at head- quarters some days previous with request for permission to procure provisions for his men whom he had left in the mountains. This permission had been given him. "But two days ago I was much surprised at being in- formed 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."
Larkin, alarmed at the direction affairs had taken, sent a communication to the prefect and also to the general urging caution in proceeding against Frémont on account of causes arising, possibly, from false reports or false appearances, and recommending that any party, going to the camp of Captain Frémont be commanded by a trustworthy and experienced officer, lest affairs be brought to some unhappy conclusion. The prefect, in reply, stated that the orders to Frémont had not been founded on false reports or appearances, but on the laws and oft-repeated instructions from Mexico, and he complained that the consul, instead of ordering Fré- mont to depart, had to a certain extent defended his
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entry. He urged him to impress on the captain the necessity of submitting at once if he would avert the consequence of his illegal entry. Larkin enclosed this letter to Frémont with one of his own in which he warned that officer that Castro would soon have at least two hundred men in arms against him. Larkin did not know what instructions Frémont had received from the govern- ment, but could not comprehend his movements. "It is not for me to point out to you your line of conduct," he wrote, "you have your instructions from the government, and my knowledge 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, your care may prove insufficient.
Your encamping so near town has caused much excite- ment. The natives 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 resident Americans. I myself have no fears on the subject, yet believe the present state of affairs may cause an interruption to business. Should it be impossible or inconvenient for you to leave California at present, I think in a proper representation to the general and pre- fecto, an arrangement could be made for your camp to be continued, but at some greater distance; which arrange- ment I would advise if you can offer it. I never make to this government an unreasonable request, therefore never expect a denial, and have for many years found them well disposed to me." This letter was forwarded on the ninth, one copy being entrusted to an American and another to a Californian. On the same day Larkin wrote to John Parrott, United States consul at Mazatlan, enclosing copies of the correspondence and requesting
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that a man-of-war be sent to California without delay. This brought the Portsmouth which arrived April 22d.
The American courier sent by Larkin to Frémont was captured and the dispatches fell into the hands of Castro. The Californian, provided with a pass by Alcalde Diaz of Monterey, reached the camp and returned at eight o'clock p. m. with Frémont's reply which bore no date and was written in pencil. "I this moment received your letters," wrote the captain, "and without waiting 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 unjustly 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 done wrong to the people or the authorities of the country, and if we are hemmed in and assaulted 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 at the house of Don Joaquin Gomez."
In a letter to the president of the United States dated November 9, 1846, enclosing Frémont's letters, Thomas H. Benton says: "To my mind this entrenching on the mountain, and raising the national flag, was entirely justifiable under the circumstances, and the noble resolu- tion which they took to die if attacked, under the flag of their country, four thousand miles distant from their homes, was an act of the highest heroism, worthy to
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be recorded by Xenophon and reflecting equal honor upon the brave young officer who commanded and the heroic sixty-two by whom he was supported."*
Notwithstanding his declaration to fight to extremity Frémont abandoned his camp that same night and moved off eastward, giving his men to understand that the United States consul so ordered it.t The California army was disbanded and returned to their homes on the thirteenth by an order in which the general announced to them that the highwaymen who had abused their hospitality and raised the United States flag on California soil had, at the sight of two hundred patriots arming for the defence of their country, abandoned their camp and fled, leaving behind some clothing and war material. Frémont had abandoned some worn out clothing and articles not worth removing.
So ended the famous affair of Gavilan Peak celebrated in the annals of San Benito and Monterey, and in honor of which an unsuccessful attempt has been made to change the name of the sierra from Picacho del Gavilan to Frémont Peak.
Frémont's statement before the court-martial con- cerning this incident is disingenuous and misleading, if not made with deliberate intent to deceive. He says:
"I explained to General Castro the object of my coming into California and my desire to obtain permission to winter in the valley of the San Joaquin for refreshment and repose, where there was plenty of game for the men and grass for the horses, and no inhabitants to be molested by our presence. Leave was granted, and also leave to continue my explorations south to the region of the Rio Colorado and of the Rio Gila.
"In the last days of February I commenced the march south, crossing into the valley of the Salinas or Buenaventura
* Niles Nat. Reg. Ixxi, 173-4.
t Martin, Narrative, 12. The writer was one of Frémont's men and was with him on Gavilan.
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and soon received a notification to depart, with information that General Castro was assembling troops with a view to attack us, under the pretext that I had come to California to excite the American settlers to revolt.
"The information of this design was authentic, and with a view to be in a condition to repel a superior force, provided with cannon, I took a position on the Sierra, called Hawk's peak, entenched, raised the flag of the United States and awaited the approach of the assailant."*
There is nothing in this statement to explain to the court how the captain could march his men from the place of rest and refreshment into the Salinas valley on his way south to the Rios Colorado and Gila. In the absence of any clear idea of the geography of Cali- fornia, it was not to be expected of the members of the court to know that the place where Frémont was per- mitted to winter his men was more than two hundred and fifty miles southeast of the point where he "com- menced the march south by crossing into the valley of the Salinas. "
The only understanding the court could have, in the absence of explanations and a map of the country, is that after giving Frémont permission to winter in the valley Castro treacherously prepared to attack him. That it was so understood by the people generally is shown by the usually accepted statements regarding Castro's treachery.t
The absurdity of the contention appears to have occurred to General Frémont in his later years, for in an article in the Century in 1891, he says: "My purpose (in visiting Monterey) was to get leave to bring my party into the settlements in order to outfit and to obtain the
* 30th Cong. Ist. Ses. Senate Ex. Doc. 33. p. 372.
t See map facing page 102; the camp of Frémont's men on Kern river is indicated.
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supplies that had now become necessary. The permission asked for was readily granted."*
The permission to extend his survey to the Colorado and Gila rivers does not seem to have attracted the attention of Larkin, who was present at the interview, for he wrote on March 4th, of Frémont,."He is now in this vicinity surveying. * He then proceeds for the Oregon, returns here in May, and expects to be in Wash- ington about September." Nor was Pico better informed for he directs that a close watch be kept on Frémont with a view to learn if he had any other design than that of preparing for a trip to Oregon.
Crossing into San Joaquin valley by the Pacheco pass, Frémont proceeded to the Sacramento and on March 2Ist was at Sutter's fort, and on the 30th at Peter Lassen's rancho on Deer creek. While here he was called on by the settlers for aid against the Indians who, they claimed, were gathering to attack them. According to Martin, Frémont said he would discharge his men and they could do as they pleased. The result was a raid in which a large number of Indians were killed.t While at this camp Frémont sent out men to buy horses from the Indians. These animals he knew had been stolen from the ranchos, for he was warned of that fact by Sutter. Martin says that they bought one hundred and eighty- seven horses from the Indians of the Tulares, giving a knife and a string of beads for each horse. On April 14th Frémont left Lassen's and proceeded northward
* Century Mag. xix. 921. The difference between this and the previous statements will be noted. The italics are mine.
t Martin, Narrative, 14. The writer says that 175 Indians were killed. Lancey says that the Indians were "defeated" with considerable loss. Cruise of the Dale. 44. There is not the slightest evidence of hostile intent on the part of the Indians. They were probably having one of their annual pow-wows or dances.
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to Oregon. Martin says: "We followed up the Sacra- mento killing plenty of game and an occasional Indian. Of the latter we made it a rule to spare none of the bucks."* "* On the 8th of May Frémont had reached the northern end of Klamath lake where his further progress was barred by lofty snow covered mountains and hostile Indians, and he determined to retrace his steps and return east by way of the Colorado river. Late on the evening of that day two horsemen rode into camp with the information that a United States officer was approach- ing-two days behind-with dispatches; that he had but a small escort and was in danger. The following morning Frémont with nine of his men started back and after a ride of twenty-five miles met Archibald H. Gillespie at nightfall. Gillespie, a lieutenant of marines, United States navy, had been sent in October 1845, by James Buchanan, secretary of state, as bearer of a duplicate of secret instructions to Larkin, with whom he was to co-operate, and he was ordered to communicate the contents of the dispatch to Frémont. Gillespie com- mitted his dispatch to memory before reaching Vera Cruz and destroyed the written duplicate. Then crossing Mexico he reached Monterey in April 1846. He re-wrote the dispatch for Larkin and then proceeded to the Sacra- mento to find Frémont, to whom he also carried a letter of introduction from Buchanan and a package of letters from Benton. He presented his letter of introduction to Frémont, repeated to him the contents of the secret dispatch and delivered the package of family letters. No watch was kept in camp that night and about mid- night there was an attack by Klamath Indians and three of Frémont's men were killed. The Indians were repulsed with the loss of a chief and in the morning the party
* Narrative page 15.
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started north to join the main body. On the return march the party wrecked terrible vengeance on the Indians, and on May 24th reached Lassen's. A few days later they encamped at the Marysville Buttes, fifty miles below .*
In the famous secret dispatch to Consul Larkin that official was informed that the future destiny of California was of anxious solicitude for the government and people of the United States; that the interests of our commerce and fisheries on the Pacific Ocean demanded of the consul that he should exercise the greatest vigilance in discover- ing and defeating any attempts which might be made by foreign governments to acquire control over that
country. "In the contest between Mexico and Cali- fornia," wrote the secretary, "we can take no part, unless the former should commence hostilities against the United States; but should California assert and maintain her independence, we shall render her all the
* Benton says: "He found his further progress completely barred by the double obstacle of hostile Indians, which Castro had excited against him, and the lofty mountains covered with deep and fallen snows. * * Behind and on the north bank of the San Francisco bay, at the military post of Sonoma, was General Castro assembling troops with the avowed intention of attacking both Frémont's party and all the American settlers. Thus, his passage barred in front by impassable snows and mountains, hemmed in by savage Indians who were thinning the ranks of his little party, menaced by a general at the head of tenfold forces of all arms, the American settlers marked out for de- struction, his men and horses suffering from fatigue, cold, and famine, *** Cap- tain Frémont determined to turn on his pursuers and fight them instantly, without regard to numbers, and seek safety for his party and the American settlers by overturning the Mexican government in California." (Benton to president. Niles Register. Ixxi. 173-4). So is history made. Upper Kla- math, where Frémont was, is over four hundred miles by the most direct route from Sonoma where General Castro at the head of "tenfold forces of all arms" was supposed to be menacing Frémont's rear. The hostility of the Klamaths was due to the treatment they had received from trappers and immigrants. The Spaniards had never been in that country, or near it.
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kind offices in our power as a sister republic. This government has no ambitious aspirations to gratify and no desire to extend our Federal system over more territory than we already possess, unless by the free and spon- taneous wish of the independent people of adjoining territories. The exercise of compulsion or improper influence would be repugnant both to the policy and principles of this government. But whilst these are the sentiments of the president, he could not view with indifference the transfer of California to Great Britain or any other European power. The system of coloni- zation by foreign monarchies on the North American continent must and will be resented by the United States." The secretary enlarges on the evils of European coloni- zation and acquisition, and states that his remarks are inspired by the act of Rae, agent for the Hudson's Bay company, in furnishing the Californians with arms and money to enable them to expel the Mexicans from the country during the previous fall, and that now the Mexican troops are about to invade the province, insti- gated thereto by the British government. "On all proper occasions," he says, "you should not fail to warn the government and people of California of the danger of such interference to their peace and prosperity-to inspire them with a jealousy of European dominion and to arouse in their bosoms that love of liberty and inde- pendence so natural to the American Continent.
"Whilst the president will make no effort and use no influence to induce California to become one of the free and independent states of this union, yet if the people should desire to unite their destiny with ours, they would be received as brethren, whenever this can be done without affording Mexico just cause of complaint. Their true policy, for the present, in regard to this question, is to let events take their course, unless an attempt should be
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made to transfer them, without their consent, either to Great Britain or France. This they ought to resist by all the means in their power as ruinous to their best inter- ests and destructive of their freedom and independence."
He assures Mr. Larkin that our countrymen in Cali- fornia have the cordial sympathy and friendship of the president and that their conduct is appreciated by him as it deserves.
Mr. Larkin is informed that he is appointed a con- fidential agent in California, in addition to his consular functions, but he must take care not to awaken the jealousy of the French and English agents there by assuming any other than a consular character. The state department would like to be informed of the progress of events and the disposition of the authorities and people towards the United States and other governments; also the aggregate population with the proportion of Mexican, American, British, and French citizens, the feelings of each class towards the United States, the names and character of the principal persons in the government and other distinguished and influential citizens, and other matters pertaining to trade, finance, and resources. Larkin's compensation was fixed at the rate of six dollars a day and necessary expenses. The letter was dated October 17, 1845, and received by Larkin April 17, 1846.
From the fact that Lieutenant Gillespie was instructed to show Frémont the secret dispatch, we must infer that the orders to Larkin were also the orders to Fremont. So particular were Gillespie's instructions regarding Fré- mont that two days after reaching Monterey he started to find the captain to communicate to him the wishes of the governmentof the United States; and this he did at no small risk to himself. He pretended to be an invalid merchant traveling for his health, but was suspected of being a secret agent of the United States government and wa
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liable to be arrested as a spy. Sutter notified Castro of the arrival of Gillespie at New Helvetia and said that in spite of his pretence of being an invalid in search of health, with family letters for Frémont, he believed he was a United States officer with dispatches.
The government of the United States instructed its consular agent in California to whom Mexico had in good faith issued its exequatur, to intrigue with the officers and people of that province to persuade them to separate the department from Mexico and declare her inde- pendence, under the assurance that we would "render her all the kind offices in our power." We may have our opinion concerning the morality of this dispatch and may disapprove the secret instructions to Larkin, but they were the orders of the government to its agents and it is clear that the orders to Larkin were also orders to Frémont.
Let us see then how the young captain of engineers obeyed his orders. First however we will consider the orders in their relation to the Californians and see how far they are in harmony with orders issued to the naval and military commanders. On June 24, 1845, Bancroft, secretary of the navy, wrote to Commodore Sloat on the Pacific station as follows: "If you ascertain with certainty that Mexico has declared war against the United States, you will at once possess yourself of the port of San Francisco, and blockade or occupy such other ports as your force may permit. * * * You will be careful to preserve if possible the most friendly relations with the inhabitants, and will encourage them to adopt a course of neutrality." To General Kearny, the secretary of war wrote June 3, 1846: "In your whole conduct you will act in such a manner as best to conciliate the inhabitants and render them friendly to the United States." In the secret dispatch Larkin (and Frémont)
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