Fresno-Tulare-Kern County CA Archives History - Books .....The American Immigration 1892
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Counties Of Fresno, Tulare, And Kern, California

THE AMERICAN IMMIGRATION.

  The first Americans reached California overland during Echeandia's
administration, in 1828. These were a small company of hunters and trappers
commanded by Captain Jedediah S. Smith. The party were treated with signal
cruelty by Echeandia and forced to leave the country. Following this event came
the insurrection headed by Herrera and Solis, two appointees of the government,
on the night of November 12, 1829. The insurgents were arrested and sent to
Mexico, where in a short time they were liberated.

  Next came a revolt of the San Jose and Santa Clara Indians; the rise of Santa
Ana in Mexico; the successive appointments as Governors of Manuel Victoria, Jose
Figueroa (who founded the village of Yerba Buena), Colonel Gutierrez and Colonel
Mariano Chico.

  Just prior to the American conquest of California came, on November 6, 1836,
the revolution of Alvarado, which ended in placing him in the Governor's seat,
and also placed his uncle, Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, in military command of the
State.

  The State was then divided into two cantons and an independent system of
government was adopted.

  The steady flow of Americans into California caused the Mexican government
some anxiety, and in 1840 Alvarado was instructed to take a census,-the first
ever taken within the boundaries of the State.

  This census developed 148 foreigners scattered about over the various
missions, not including hundreds of others who had settled without permission.
In his report Alvarado stated that the condition of California was helpless, and
that Americans were literally pouring into the country. No sooner did Santa Ana,
who was once more in power, hear of this, than he appointed a new governor in
the person of a brigadier general of the Mexican army, by the name of Jose
Manuel Micheltorena, who assumed office at Los Angeles, December 3, 1842.

  A few weeks prior to this event Commodore Jones, in command of the American
squadron then stationed at Callao, receiving erroneous information that war had
been declared between the United States and Mexico, repaired to Monterey in the
frigate United States, and took possession of the town in the name of the
American Republic, October 19, 1842. Subsequently ascertaining that there was no
war between the two governments, he drew down the American flag with many
apologies, and went on board his vessel with his marines.

  This incident so exasperated the Mexican authorities that in 1843 an order for
the complete expulsion of Americans from California was issued. This resulted in
the formation of two factions,-Governor Micheltorena and J. A. Sutter, of
Sacramento, on the one side, and Alvarado, Pico and Castro on the other. Each
party gathered around them their coherents, and the opposing forces met on the
plains of Cahuenga, near San Fernando, February 15, 1845. Scarcely had the
battle begun when it was ended, by Micheltorena's capitulation, and Pico, the
last of the Mexican governors, was once more placed at the head of affairs in
California, February 22, 1845.

  The same year, in the month of May, a United States expedition of a scientific
character for the Pacific coast was organized, and John Charles Fremont, an
officer of the United States Topographical Engineers, placed at its head. This
expeditions-kick numbered sixty-two men, reached California in January, 1846.

  Fremont met Castro at Monterey and explained to him the object of his
expedition, to which Castro did not apparently object. In March, however, Castro
wrote Fremont that he would have to leave the country; but instead of doing so
Fremont moved to a commanding ridge of the Gabilan mountains, back of San Jnan
Capistrano, where he threw up works for defense and defiantly waved the stars
and stripes over his fortifications. Castro gathered his men, numbering 200, and
prepared to assail Fremont's position. The latter withdrew, however, and marched
off toward Sonoma. Castro did not attempt pursuit, but issued his proclamation
of March 13, in which he declared Fremont and party a band of highwaymen.

  The first event of importance to the Americans in California was the capture,
on June 14, 1846, of the military post of Sonoma, commanded by M. G. Vallejo.
Fremont had just been informed of hostilities between Mexico and the United
States, and of the determination of the United States authorities to capture and
hold California. After several consultations with Fremont, William B. Ide and
Ezekiel Merritt, two American settlers, with a number of men captured the post
without a struggle, with eighteen prisoners, nine brass cannon, 250 muskets, and
public property valued at $1,200. Two days later, a piece of coarse white cotton
cloth, about two yards long and a yard wide, was procured, and along the lowrer
edge of it was sewed a narrow strip of red woolen stuff, cut from a worn-out
undershirt of one of the men. On this was painted a single star, and also a
figure of a grizzly bear. Beneath the whole was painted the inscription
"California Republic." As soon as it was completed it was run up, amid the
shouts of the Americans assembled, in place of the Mexican colors. This event
took place June 14, 1846, and such were the origin, composition and raising of
the "Bear Flag" of California.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History
OF THE COUNTIES OF
Fresno, Tulare, and Kern, California

Illustrated
Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Prospective Future: with Profuse Illustrations of its Beautiful Scenery,
Full-page Portraits of Some of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of
Many of its Pioneers, and also of Prominent Citizens of to-day.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants." -Macaulay.

CHICAGO:
The Lewis Publishing Company.
Undated, but OCLC lists a publication date of 1892

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