Statewide County CA Archives History - Books .....The Bear Flag - Stars And Stripes 1891 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com November 28, 2005, 3:51 pm Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of Northern California THE BEAR FLAG—STARS AND STRIPES. General Vallejo certainly had a right to be surprised at the foregoing treatment by Fremont. That lie appreciated the real condition of affairs is made very plain by the following correspondence, a careful perusal of which will show that General Vallejo, when taken prisoner at Sonoma, felt warranted in looking to United States authorities for protection. From John B. Montgomery, commanding United States ship Portsmouth, he certainly received more of consideration and cheer than from General Fremont, and yet in both instances the action of the Bear Flag party seems to have been repudiated and ignored entirely. Viewed from this stand-point it is not a matter of wonder that Captain Grigsby and others of the Bear Flag party may have felt a tickling sensation around the neck when they ascertained that their taking of Sonoma was not backed by any positive authority from Fremont or any body else clothed with United States authority. The rank and file of the Bear Flag party evidently acted upon the principle that a "wink was as good as a nod of assent;" and taking their lives in their hands they struck the blow, and took the chances. Like John Adams who, after affixing his name to the Declaration of Independence, remarked, "Well, if we hang we all hang together," they captured Sonoma, and left to the future what the outcome of the venture should be. The following is the correspondence referred to: HISTORICAL CORRESPONDENCE. General Vallejo's message to Captain Montgomery, the day of the capture of Sonoma—Montgomery's reply— Lieutenant Missroon's account of the revolutionists— Highly creditable conduct of the Bears—Ide's pledge to Missroon. UNITED STATES SHIP PORTSMOUTH, SAN FRANCISCO, August 17, 1846. MY DEAR GENERAL:—I am now about to sail for Monterey, and avail myself of this mode of expressing to you ray regret that I shall thus most probably be deprived of seeing you on your contemplated visit to Yerba Buena to-morrow, having anticipated much pleasure from this event; but you well know how little we servants of the public are left to the disposition of our own time. I reached the Portsmouth from Sonoma very comfortably on Friday last about G o'clock in the afternoon, greatly pleased with my visit, and gratified by the very kind and hospitable attentions of my esteemed friends there, the remembrance of which I shall long continue to cherish. In compliance with your expressed wishes while I was at Sonoma, I herewith enclose you, my dear General, copies of the document forwarded to you by De la Rosa in the commencement of the late revolution, and those having reference to Lieutenant Missroon's visit to Sonoma by my orders, with overtures to the insurgent chief in behalf of prisoners and the helpless inhabitants of that place, which you are at liberty to use as you shall think proper. From Monterey it is most probable I shall make a cruise to the southward, and am not without hopes of soon returning with the pleasing intelligence of peace between the United States and Mexico, which I feel assured will be most welcome tidings for you and all who are interested in the prosperity of California. Be pleased to present my most respectful regards to Madam Vallejo and all the members of your interesting family, and express to them my sense of their kind hospitality and attention to me and my little son during our recent visit; and believe me, my dear General, I am and shall ever be, with highest esteem and friendship, sincerely your obedient servant, JOHN B. MONTGOMERY. Gen. Guadalupe Vallejo, Sonoma. Statement of the interview between, Senor Don Jose de la Rosa and Commander John B. Montgomery, commanding United States ship Portsmouth, Lieutenant W. A. Bartlett, United States Navy, interpreter. By order of the commander, John B. Montgomery. Don Jose de la Rosa, on coming on board the ship, desired to inform Captain Montgomery that he brought information from Don Guadalupe Vallejo, military com-mandante of Sonoma, which he desired to give the moment Captain Montgomery could receive him. On being received by Captain Montgomery I was directed to act as interpreter, when Senor de la Rosa proceeded to deliver his message, which I wrote, as follows: Don Guadalupe Vallejo desires to inform Captain Montgomery of the proceedings which took place at Sonoma yesterday morning at 5 o'clock. There arrived at Sonoma a party of about eighty men, as they said, from the Sacramento. They at once took forcible possession of the place, and posted themselves on the "Cuartel." They then made prisoners of General Vallejo, Captain Don Salvador Vallejo, and Lieutenant-Colonel Don Victor Prudhon, all of whom are officers of the Mexican army. Then a Mr. Merritt, who appeared to have command or exercise the authority with the party, handed the General a convention demanding of him the surrender of all the arms and government property in Sonoma, which place they should not leave. The General replied that he must surrender to the force in arms and did so surrender, when the party demanded further that all the above named officers should go with them to their camp on the Sacramento River. General Vallejo then requested them to show their authority or determination (ahajo que plano); and as they said they were Americans, he desired they should exhibit their authority from the Government of the United States. They replied that they did not come under the authority of the United States; but having seen a proclamation of General Castro, threatening to drive all foreigners out of the country, they had taken up arms in self-defense. They then made a prisoner of the Alcalde, and told him that if any person in the place or neighborhood attempted to notify other places of this act, or raise a force to oppose them, they would at once shoot the officers they then held prisoners. The Alcalde was then set at liberty, but told that if he did not prevent any opposition to them he would also be shot. General Vallejo desires to inform Captain Montgomery of these facts, and to ask him to use his authority or exert his influence lo prevent the commission of acts of violence by this party, inasmuch as they seemed to be without any effectual head or authority. To this end he hoped for an officer to be sent to the place, or a letter that would have the effect of saving the helpless inhabitants from violence and anarchy. Senor Don Jose de la Rosa was directed by General Vallejo (at 11 A. M. yesterday) to come with this message, but could not leave until 3 P. M. A few moments past 11 the party left a garrison of twenty-five men at Sonoma protected by seven pieces of cannon. The others, with the prisoners, left for the Sacramento. Reply of Commander Montgomery to the message of General Vallejo. SIR:—You will say to General Vallejo, on my part that I at once and entirely disavow this movement as having proceeded under any authority of the United States, or myself as the agent of my Government in this country, or on this coast. It is a movement entirely local, and with which I have nothing to do; nor can I in any way be induced to take part in the controversy which belongs entirely to the internal politics of California. If they are Americans, as they avow themselves, they are beyond the jurisdiction of the laws and officers of the United States, and must now take all the responsibilities of the position in which they have placed themselves, being answerable to the laws of Mexico and California. I have now for the first time heard of this movement, and in making the most positive disavowal, for myself and for my Government, having in any wise instigated or aided this. I also disavow the same on the part of Captain Fremont, United States topographical engineer, now in the country for scientific purposes. If my individual efforts can be at any time exercised to allay violence or prevent injury to innocent persons, it shall be exerted; but as an officer of the Government of the United States I cannot have anything to do with either party. They must take the responsibilies of their own acts. From what has already transpired I think it clear that no violence will be committed on any one who is not found with arms in their hands. You will assure General Don Guadalupe Vallejo of my sympathy in his difficulties; but I cannot positively interfere in the local politics of California. Senor de la Rosa then thanked Captain Montgomery for his sentiments and sympathy; stated that all was distinctly understood and translated, and that he would place his statement in the hands of Don Guadalupe Vallejo at the earliest moment. I hereby certify that the preceding statement is a fair translation of the message and reply read to Captain Montgomery arid Senor de la Rosa. (Signed) W. A. BARTLETT, Lieutenant United States Navy. United States Ship Portsmouth, Sausalito, June 15 1846. (COPY OF ORDER TO LIEUTENANT MISSROON.) UNITED STATES SHIP PORTSMOUTH. SAN FRANCISCO, June 15, 1846. SIR:—By an especial messenger sent to me by Don Guadalupe Vallejo, I am notified of the forcible occupation of the town of Sonoma by a party of insurgents (foreign residents) of the country, among whom are said to be some persons from the United States, and that General Don Guadalupe Vallejo, with several other Mexican officers, have been sent prisoners to the Sacramento and threatened to be detained as hostages for the quiet submission of the surrounding country, leaving their families and other inoffensive persons in and about Sonoma in a painful state of agitation through apprehensions of violence and cruel treatment from the insurgent party in charge of the town. In consequence of this state of things, General Vallejo has appealed to me, requesting the interposition of any authority or influence I may possess over the insurgents to prevent the perpetration of acts of violence on their part upon the defenseless people. I have, in my reply to General Vallejo (by the messenger), stated my previous ignorance of the popular movement in question; distinctly and emphatically disavowed all agency of the United States Government or myself as her representative in producing it, and disclaimed all right or authority to interfere between the opposing parties or in any way to identify my movements with theirs. But, in compliance with the urgent calls of humanity, I deem it my duty to use my friendly endeavors with the dominant party to secure (by the power of God) for the defenseless people of Sonoma that security of life, property and privilege to which all are entitled. In pursuance of these views, sir, you are directed to proceed in one of the ship's boats to Sonoma, and, on your arrival there, you will wait on the officer or person commanding the party having possession of the town; and as it is possible he is not fully aware of the extent and nature of the feelings produced in the minds of the population by this recent movement you will inform him of the state of apprehension and terror into which it seems to have thrown them, and disclaiming all right or purpose on my part of interference between them and their actual opposers; and without touching upon the merits of their cause further than may not be avoided in course of conversation, be pleased (in such terms as your own sense of propriety will dictate) respectfully to request from me, that he will extend his protecting care over the defenseless families of their prisoners and other inoffensive persons of Sonoma, and exert his influence with others in order to secure to them the uninterrupted enjoyment of their domestic and social privileges. You will afterward wait on the Alcalde, or presiding civil officer of Sonoma, and inform him of what has been done (at the instance of Don Guadalupe Vallejo), communicating any satisfactory assurances which you may have received from the insurgent chief calculated to allay the general apprehension; after which, when sufficiently recruited, you will return to this ship and render to me a written report. Respectfully, I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) JOHN B. MONTGOMERY, Commander. To Lieutenant John S. Missroon, Executive Officer United States Ship Portsmouth. APPENDAGE TO MR. MISSROON'S ORDER. DEAR SIR:—As an appendage to the orders handed you last evening, I wish you to endeavor in as forcible a manner as possible, to represent to the person or persona of the insurgent party with whom you may confer at Sonoma and to impress their minds with a sense of the advantages which will accrue to their cause (whatever its intrinsic merits may be) from pursuing a course of kind and benevolent treatment of prisoners, as well as toward the defenseless inhabitants of the country generally, with whom they may have to do, and endeavor, as far as propriety will permit, to obtain a promise of kind and humane treatment toward General Vallejo and his companions in their possession as prisoners. I am,sir, respectfully, your obedient servant. (Signed) JOHN B. MONTGOMERY, Commander. To Lieutenant John S. Missroon, United States Ship Portsmouth. Report of Lieutenant Missroon on his return from Sonoma, with accompanying documents B. UNITED STATES SHIP PORTSMOUTH, SAN FRANCISCO, June 17, 1846. SIR:—In pursuance of your order of the 16th instant, to proceed to Sonoma and endeavor by all proper means in my power to secure to the female and unoffending portion of the population of that district some degree of security for their persons and property during the occupancy of the place by certain insurgents, chiefly foreigners, I have the honor to report, in obedience to that order, that I left the ship on the day of receiving your instructions, and reached the town about sunset, where I found about twenty-five men under arms, and having six or seven pieces of artillery with several hundred stand of arms. The whole party is only thirty-five. I waited upon the commanding officer, Wm. B. Ide, and received from him both verbal and written assurances of his intention to maintain order and to respect both the persons and property of all persons residing within the limits of his command. He also handed me a copy of a proclamation which he had issued on the day after his occupation of the town, and which I herewith present to you, marked "A," in which you will observe that these promises of protection are set forth in explicit terms, and which I would remark to you, seemed to me to have fully assured the inhabitants of their safety, although Sonoma is evidently under martial law. By this proclamation you will also observe that California is declared to be an independent republic. The insurgent party has hoisted a flag with a white field, with a border or stripe of red on its lower part, and having a star and bear upon it. I informed the commanding officer of the state of terror into which his movement upon Sonoma had thrown the inhabitants in and about the Yerba Buena, as directed by my instructions. I then waited upon the Alcalde of the place, informed him through my interpreter that my visit was entirely of a peaceful character, and that it had been induced by the message which my commander had received from the late Mexican commander, General Vallejo, now a prisoner in the hands of the insurgents, asking his (my commander's) interference for the protection of females and unoffending inhabitants; that assurances of respect and protection were freely given me by the commanding officer of the party underarms, and that I explicity made it known to him, for the information of the surrounding country, that my commander disclaimed any and all interference in the matter other than what was dictated by motives of humanity. After these interviews I then called upon the family of General Vallejo and moderated their distress, by the assurance of safety for the General, which I had received, and informing them that the prisoners were held as hostages Having completed the object for which I went to Sonoma, I left the place yesterday with the thanks of both parties, about meridian, and reached the ship about sunset. Before taking my departure I deemed it best to reassure the Alcalde, in order to prevent any necessity for future explanation, which is so apt to grow out of a business transacted with Mexicans, especially through an interpreter. I therefore addressed the letter marked "B," appending to it the written pledge, or a copy of the pledge, which I had obtained from the commander of the foreigners in possession of the place, and which I herewith hand you a copy of. It only remains, sir, for me to add that, so far as I could judge and observe, the utmost harmony and good order prevail in the camp, and that I have every reason to believe that the pledges of kind treatment toward all who may fall into their hands will be faithfully observed. Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) J. S. MISSROON, First Lieutenant United States ship Portsmouth. To Commander Jno. B. Montgomery, commanding United States ship Portsmouth, Bay of San Francisco. Document B, accompanying the foregoing report. SONOMA, June 17, 1846. SIR:—As you were informed yesterday, through my interpreter, my visit to this place is of a strictly mediatorial character, and was induced by the application of General Vallejo through his messenger, Senor Rosa, to Captain Montgomery, requesting of him to adopt measures for the protection of the females and peaceable inhabitants of Sonoma. I have the pleasure to assure you of the intention of the foreigners now in arms and occupying Sonoma, to respect the persons of all individuals and their property, who do not take up arms against them, and I leave with you a copy of the pledge which the commander of the party has voluntarily given to me, with a view to the pacification of all alarm. Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed) J. S. MISSROON, Lieutenant United States Navy. TO THE ALCALDE OF SONOMA. I pledge myself that I will use my utmost exertion to restrain and prevent the men in arms under my command, all of whom present acknowledge my authority and approve the measure of forbearance and humanity, from perpetrating any violence, or in any manner molesting the peaceable inhabitants, in person or property, of California, while we continue in arms for the liberty of California. (Signed) WM. B. IDE, Commander. Witness to the above signature, (Signed), J. S. MISSROON, Lieutenant United States Navy, and Executive Officer of the United States Ship Portsmouth. SONOMA, June 17, 1846. The revolutionists were now master of the situation, having control of nine cannons and about two hundred muskets. While William B. Ide, then the leader of the Bear Flag party, may have been a man of some eccentricity of character, he seems to have been a man of considerable culture, and there is little room for doubt that he shaped and controlled, to a large degree, the conduct of those under him. It was no sinecure position, this of Commander Ide. It is true, the prisoners sent to Sacramento were taken charge of by General Fremont, under the saving clause that he had nothing to do with their arrest; and it is also true that Commander Montgomery of the Portsmouth in an unofficial way, and in obedience to the dictates of humanity, sent Lieutenant Missroon to Sonoma, to counsel moderation and kindness on the part of the revolutionists toward the vanquished; but in neither case was there aught said or done that could be construed into leaving the door ajar for a safe retreat of the Bear Flag party out of their difficulty should their rebellion prove abortive. To stand their ground and successfully maintain their position under such adverse circumstances required not only nerve but real heroism. That they knew that they were acting outside of the pale of any responsible authority is apparent from the fact that one of the very first matters to claim their consideration was the adoption of a flag. There is little question that the bear flag was made on the day of the taking of Sonoma, although it is quite possible it was not completed so as to be hoisted until the morning of the 15th of June. As there has been much controversy as to how and by whom that flag was made, we give place to the following, which we believe to be authentic: Wm. L. Todd, in a letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Express, under date of January 11, 1878, gives the following version of the construction of the bear flag: Your letter of the 9th inst. came duly to hand, and in answer I have to say in regard to the making of the original bear flag of California at Sonoma, in 1846, that when the Americans, who had taken up arms against the Spanish regime, had determined what kind of a flag should be adopted, the following persons performed the work: Granville P. Swift, Peter Storm, Henry L. Ford and myself; we procured in the house where we made our headquarters, a piece of new unbleached cotton domestic, not quite a yard wide, with stripes of red flannel about four inches wide, furnished by Mrs. John Sears, on the lower side of the canvas. On the upper left-hand corner was a star, and in the center was the image made to represent a gizzly bear passant, so common in this country at the time. The bear and star were painted with paint made of linseed oil and Venetian red or Spanish brown Underneath the bear were the words "California Republic." The other person engaged with me got the materials together, while I acted as artist. The forms the bear and star and the letters were first lined out with pen and ink by myself, and the two forms were filled in with the red paint, but the letters with ink. The flag mentioned by Mr. Hittell with the bear rampant, was made, as I always understood, at Santa Barbara, and was painted black. Allow me to say, that at that time there was not a wheelwright shop in California. The flag I painted I saw in the rooms of the California Pioneers in San Francisco, in 1870, and the secretary will show it to any person who will call on him at any time. If it is the one that I painted, it will be known by a mistake in tinting out the words "California Republic." The letters were first lined out with a pen, and I left out the letter I, and lined out the letter C in its place. But afterward I lined out the letter I over the C so that the last syllable of "Republic" looks as if the two last letters were blended. Yours respectfully, WM. L. TODD. On the occasion of the Centennial exercises, held at Santa Rosa on the 4th of July, 1876, General M. G. Vallejo made the following statement in reference to the capture of Sonoma in 1846 by the Americans: I have now to say something of the epoch which inaugurated a new era for this country. A little before dawn on June 14, 1846, a party of hunters and trappers, with some foreign settlers, under command of Captain Merritt, Doctor Semple and William B. Ide, surrounded my residence at Sonoma,and without firing a shot, made a prisoner of myself, then commander of the northern frontier; of Lieutenant-Colonel Victor Prudon, Captain Salvador Vallejo, and Jacob P. Leese. I should here state that down to October, 1845, I had maintained at my own expense a respectable garrison at Sonoma, which often, in union with the settlers, did good service in campaign against the Indians; but at last, tired of spending money which the Mexican Government never refunded, I disbanded the force, and most of the soldiers who had constituted it left Sonoma. Thus in June, 1846, the Plaza was entirely unprotected, although there were ten war pieces of artillery, with other arms and munitions of war. The parties who unfurled the bear flag were well aware that Sonoma was without defense, and lost no time in taking advantage of this fact, and carrying out their plans. Years before I had urgently represented to the government of Mexico the necessity of stationing a sufficent force on the frontier, else Sonoma would he lost, which would be equivalent to eaving the rest of the country an easy prey to the invader. What think you, my friends, were the instructions sent me in reply to my repeated demands for means to fortify the country? These instructions were that I should at once force the immigrants to recross the Sierra Nevada, and depart from the territory of the Republic. To say nothing of the inhumanity of these orders, their execution was physically impossible—first, because the immigrants came in autumn when snow covered the Sierra so quickly as to make a return impracticable. Under the circumstances, not only I, but Commandante General Castro, resolved to provide the immigrants with letters of security, that they might remain temporarily in the country. We always made a show of authority, but well convinced all the time that we had had no power to resist the invasion which was coming upon us. With the frankness of a soldier I can assure you that the American immigrants never had cause to complain of the treatment they received at the hands of either authorities or citizens. They carried us as prisoners to Sacramento, and kept us in a calaboose for sixty days or more, until the United States made itself respected, and the honorable and humane Commodore Stockton returned us to our hearths. On the seizure of their prisoners the revolutionists at once took steps to appoint a captain who was found in the person of John Grigsby, for Ezekiel Merritt wished not to retain the permanent command; a meeting was then called at the barracks, situated at the northeast corner of the Plaza, under the presidency of William B. Ide, Dr. Robert Semple being secretary. At this conference Semple urged the independence of the country, stating that having once commenced they must proceed, for to turn back was certain death. Before the dissolution of the convention, however, rumors were rife that secret emissaries were being dispatched to the Mexican rancheros, to inform them of the recent occurrences, therefore to prevent any attempt at a rescue it was deemed best to transfer their prisoners to Sutter's Fort, where the danger of such would be less. In order that the conquest of California should be accomplished in a decent and orderly way and the record thereof be properly handed down to future generations, Captain William B. Ide formulated the following declaration of purposes which was duly published to the world on the 18th of June: A proclamation to all persons and citizens of the district of Sonoma requesting them to remain at peace and follow their rightful occupations without fear of molestation. The commander-in-chief of the troops assembled at the fortress of Sonoma gives his inviolable pledge to all persons in California, not found under arms, that they shall not be disturbed in their persons, their property, or social relation, one with another, by men under his command. He also solemnly declares his object to be: First, to defend himself and companions in arms, who were invited to this country by a promise of lands on which to settle themselves and families; who were also promised a Republican government; when, having arrived in California, they were denied the privilege of buying or renting lands of their friends, who instead of being allowed to participate in or being protected by a Republican government, were oppressed by military despotism; who were even threatened by proclamation by the chief officers of the aforesaid despotism with extermination if they should not depart out of the country, leaving all their property, arms and beasts of burden; and thus deprived of their means of flight or defense, were to be driven through deserts inhabited by hostile Indians, to certain destruction. To overthrow a government which has seized upon the prosperity of the mission for its individual aggrandizement; which has ruined and shamefully oppressed the laboring people of California by enormous exactions on goods imported into the country, is the determined purpose of the brave men who are associated under my command. I also solemnly declare my object, in the second place, to be to invite all peaceable and good citizens of California who are friendly to the maintenance of good order and equal rights, and I do hereby invite them to repair to my camp at Sonoma without delay to assist us in establishing and perpetuating a Republican government, which shall secure to all civil and religious liberty; which shall encourage virtue and literature; which shall leave unshackled by fetters agriculture, commerce and manufactures. I further declare that I rely upon the rectitude of our intentions, the favor of heaven and the bravery of those who are hound and associated with me by principles self-preservation, by the love of the truth and the hatred of tyranny, for my hopes of success. I furthermore declare that I believe that a government to be prosperous and happy must originate with the people who are friendly to its existence, that the citizens are its guardians, the officers its servants, its glory its reward. WILLIAM B. IDE. Thus far the revolution had been a bloodless one, but it was not destined to continue so to the end. There were two occurrences of thrilling character that came in quick succession— the killing of Cowie and Fowler and the battle of Olompali. As Robert A. Thompson, who has gathered much of the early history of Sonoma County, got his information about the battle referred to from one of the participants therein, we here incorporate his graphic account of those two events. About this time one of the most distressing events of the revolution occurred. It was discovered that the garrison had an insufficient supply of powder. It was known that Moses Carson, at the Fitch ranch, on Russian River, had some on hand. Two men named T. Cowie and _____ Fowler, who had joined the party in Napa, volunteered to go and get the powder. They imprudently took the main traveled road, or returned to it near Santa Rosa, and were captured by a scouting party, or, rather, a roving band of cut-throats and thieves under the lead of Juan Padillo. The two men were kept in the Carillo house all night. The next morning they were taken up the little valley, near the present county farm, were first inhumanly treated, and then shot. Not satisfied with this, their bodies were mutilated in a horrid manner and were then thrown into a ditch. An Indian named Chanate, who knew the men, told Moses Carson of their fate and condition, and he came and buried them under a pine tree, piling up a few rocks to mark the spot. Finding that Cowie and Fowler did not return, there was much uneasiness in Sonoma. A party was sent up the valley to make inquiry, who learned the circumstances of their cruel murder and mutilation. Two others of the party, who were out in search of horses, had been taken, and it was feared that they, too, would be killed. The Bear Flag men were not of the class to suffer any indignity, much less a horrid outrage like this. It demanded instant and exemplary punishment. Volunteers were called for to go in search of the murderers. The whole garrison volunteered. All could not go. Twenty-three were selected and put under command of Lieutenant W. L. Ford. Among the number was Frank Bidwell, to whom the writer is indebted for this account of the pursuit. Captain Ford and his command came first to Santa Rosa. Padillo had fled. From Santa Rosa he went to the Roblar de la Miseria, Padillo's ranch. He was there told by some Indians that the marauding band had gone, some three hours before, to the Laguna de San Antonio. Captain Ford pushed on to that point and bivouacked half a mile from the supposed headquarters. He charged upon the house next morning and found only four men there, whom he took prisoners. He left some of his men to guard the prisoners and horses which he had captured. With fourteen men he continued the pursuit. After a brief ride of a few miles he came to the Olompali ranch, now Dr. Burdell's place, in Marin County. He saw a number of horses in a corral near the house apparently in charge of a vaquero. He dashed up rapidly to prevent the man in charge from turning them loose, as he proposed to confiscate them. Getting nearer he was astonished to see the Californians pouring out of the house and hastily mounting their already saddled horses. He had run upon the combined forces of Captain Joachim de la Torre and the Santa Rosa murderers, numbering all told eighty-three men. Both parties had been surprised. Fortunately there was a willow thicket about sixty yards from the house. While the enemy were getting in motion Captain Ford ordered his men to fall back to the brush and to dismount, tie their horses, take position in the brush, and by no means to fire until "sure of a man." There was a mountaineer in the party who went by the name of "Old Red." He was a dead shot, and was stationed in the upper end of the wood. Frank Bidwell was some distance below him. The Californians, made bold by the supposed retreat, formed their lines and came up handsomely. Their advance was lead by a gallant young sergeant. All was still in the willows. The sharp crack of a rifle broke the silence, followed by a puff of smoke which burst through the brush. It was "Old Red," who could not hold his tire. This brought on the fight. Other shots came in quick succession. In a very few moments eight of the assaulting party lay dead upon the plain, two were wounded, and a horse with an ugly bullet-hole in his neck was struggling in the field. The young sergeant was the last to fall, whereupon the whole band broke for the cover of the hills, receiving as they left a volley at long range as a parting salute. Twenty-three shots had been fired; eleven took effect. "Old Red's" excuse for firing so soon was, that he was "sure of a man" anywhere in range. As soon as the fight began a woman in the house cut Todd's bonds, and he joined his comrades before it was over. Captain Ford rested on his arms for some time thinking that the enemy would rally and renew the fight, but they made no sign. It was enough. He thereupon set out on his return to Sonoma with his rescued prisoners and his captives. The captured horses he drove before him as the spoil of war. The murder of Cowie and Fowler was avenged on the field of Olompali. On the 20th of June, Castro made his first move in the direction of trying to recover lost ground north of the bay. On that date Captain Joaquin de la Torre crossed the bay with about seventy Californians and being joined by Padea and Correo, took a position near San Rafael. Of these movements Fremont was speedily apprised, and now for the first time gave open recognition of the claims of the revolutionists upon him for active aid. On the 23d of June, Harrison Pierce, a pioneer settler of Napa Valley, made a forced ride of eighty miles to Fremont's camp announcing the presence of Castro's troops on the north side of the bay and the consequent peril of those who had captured Sonoma. He received a promise from Fremont to come to their aid just as soon as he could put ninety men into the saddle. Pierce, with this cheering news, retraced the eighty miles formerly passed over, with but one change of horse, and soon carried the news to the little garrison at Sonoma, that Fremont was coming. On the evening of the day he had received the tidings Fremont and his men were on their way toward Sonoma. Of the make-up of Fremont's force, one of the party wrote as follows: "There were Americans, French, English, Swiss, Poles, Russians, Prussians, Chilians, Germans, Greeks, Austrians, Pawnees, native Indians, etc., all riding side by side and talking a polyglot lingual hash never exceeded in diversibility since the confusion of tongues at the tower of Babel. Some wore the relics of their home-spun garments, some relied upon the antelope and the bear for their wardrobe, some lightly habited in buckskin leggings and a coat of war-paint, and their weapons were equally various. There was the grim old hunter with his long heavy rifle, the farmer with his double-barreled shot-gun, the Indian with his bows and arrows; and others with horse-pistols, revolvers, sabres, ships' cutlasses, bowie-knives, and pepper-boxes (Allen's revolvers)." Fremont, with his incongruous band, made forced marches and reached Sonoma on the morning of June 25th. After a rest Fremont started for San Rafael in quest of Castro and Torre's forces. Castro had not crossed over as supposed, and Torre was invisible. A decoy letter of Torre fell into Fremont's hands, the purport of which was that Torre's force, with some other imaginary ally was to proceed against Sonoma. Fremont at once called to saddle and his command went toward Sonoma as fast as muscle and tendon of mustang horses would carry them. Arrived there, Fremont became satisfied that he had been deceived, and made swift haste back toward San Rafael; but it was of no avail: the wily Torre had succeeded in getting his troops across the bay and was out of reach of the clutches of the "Path Finder." It was on this occasion of the return of Fremont to San Rafael that occurred what has the resemblance of wanton sacrifice of human life. We allude to the shooting of Ramon and Francisco de Haro. They were of a respectable family living at Yerba Buena. They reached the San Rafael Embarcadero in a boat managed by Jose R. Berryessa. The Haros are said to have been quite young—only sixteen or eighteen years of age. One version is that they were taken prisoners, as spies, and were regularly sentenced and shot. But the statement that Bancoft seems to give credence to is, that when they were seen to land, Kit Carson asked Fremont, on starting with a squad of men to meet them, whether he should take them prisoners, and that Fremont's reply was, "We have no use for prisoners." It is then claimed that Carson and his men as soon as in shooting distance opened tire, killing them on the spot. The late Jasper O'Farrell is given as the authority for this version, and claimed to have witnessed the whole transaction. Unless there is more light cast on this transaction than we have had as yet, the killing of those young men will always seem wanton and cruel. Captain William D. Phelps of Lexington, Massachusetts, who was lying at Sansalito with his bark, the "Moscow," remarks, says Mr. Lancey:— When Fremont passed San Rafael in pursuit of Captain de la Torre's party, I had just left them, and he sent me word that he would drive them to Sausalito that night, when they could not escape unless they got my boats. I hastened back to the ship and made all safe. There was a large launch lying near the beach; this was anchored further off, and I put provisions on board to be ready for Fremont should he need her. At night there was not a boat on shore. Torre's party must shortly arrive and show fight or surrender. Toward morning we heard them arrive, and to our surprise they were seen passing with a small boat from the shore to the launch. A small boat had arrived from Yerba Buena during the night which had proved their salvation. I dispatched a note to the commander of the Portsmouth, sloop-of-war, then lying at Yerba Buena, a cove (now San Francisco) informing him of their movements, and intimating that a couple of his boats could easily intercept and capture them. Captain Montgomery replied that not having received any official notice of war existing he could not act in the matter. It was thus the poor scamps escaped. They pulled clear of the ship and thus escaped supping on grape and canister which we had prepared for them. Fremont arrived and camped opposite my vessel, the bark Moscow, the following night. They were early astir the next morning when I landed to visit Captain Fremont, and were all variously employed in taking care of their horses, mending saddles, cleaning their arms, etc. I had not up to this time seen Fremont, but from reports to his character and exploits my imagination had painted him as a large-sized, martial-looking man or personage, towering above his companions, whiskered and ferocious looking. I took a survey of the party, but could not discover any one who looked, as I thought, the captain to look. Seeing a tall, lank, Kentucky-looking chap (Dr. R. Semple), dressed in a greasy deer-skin hunting shirt, with trousers to match, and which terminated just below the knees, his head surmounted by a coon-skin cap, tail in front, who, I supposed, was an officer as he was giving orders to the men, I approached and asked if the captain was in camp. He looked and pointed out a slender-made, well-proportioned man sitting in front of a tent. His dress a blue woolen shirt of somewhat novel style, open at the neck trimmed with while, and with a star on each point of the collar (a man-of-war's shirt), over this a deer-skin hunting shirt, trimmed and fringed, which had evidently seen hard times or service, his head unincumbered by hat or cap, but had a light cotton handkerchief bound around it, and deer-skin moccassins completed the suit, which, if not fashionable for Broadway, or for a presentation dress at court, struck me as being an excellent rig to scud under or fight in. A few minutes' conversation convinced me that I stood in the presence of the King of the Rocky Mountains. Fremont remained in the neighborhood of San Rafael until July 2, when he returned to Sonoma On the 4th of July, our national holiday was celebrated with due pomp and ceremony, and on the 5th the California Battalion of mounted riflemen, 250 strong, was organized. Brevet Captain John C. Fremont, Second Lieutenant of Topographical Engineers, was chosen commandante; First Lieutenant of Marines, Archibald H. Gillespie, Adjutant and Inspector, with the rank of captain. Both of these gentlemen named were officers of the United States Government, yet this organization was consummated under the fold of the Bear flag that yet kissed the breezes of the "Valley of the Moon." The next day, the 6th of July, Fremont at the head of his mounted riflemen, started to make the circuit of the head of the bay, to go south in pursuit of Castro. As there were now no California soldiers north of the bay it did not require a large garrison of the Bear party to hold Sonoma. But the end was hastening. On the 7th of July Commodore John Drake Sloat, having received tidings that war existed between the United States and Mexico, demanded and received the surrender of Monterey. The news was immediately sent to San Francisco, where was anchored the American war vessel, Portsmouth. At two o'clock on the morning of July 9th, Lieutenant Warren Revere left that vessel in one of her boats, and reaching the Sonoma garrison at noon of that day lowered the bear flag and hoisted in its place the stars and stripes. And thus ended the Bear Flag revolution at Sonoma. Lieutenant Revere also sent American flags to be hoisted at Slitter's Fort and at the establishment of Captain Stephen Smith at Bodega. Lieutenant Revere was sent to Sonoma by Montgomery of the Portsmouth, to command the garrison, consisting of Company B of the battalion, under Captain Grigsby. Lieutenant Grigsby tells us that "a few disaffected Californians were still prowling about the district, in pursuit of whom on one occasion he made an expedition with sixteen men to the region of Point Reyes. He did not find the party sought, but he was able to join in a very enjoyable elk-hunt." In August the Vallejos, Prudon, Leese and Carrillo were released from durance vile, and restored to their families and friends. That very amicable relations existed between the victors and vanquished is evidenced by the fact that in September, while Lieutenant Revere was absent on an expedition, the Vallejos were commissioned to protect the Sonoma frontier with a force of Christian Indians. Some date previous to September 11th, Lieutenant John S. Missroon, of the Portsmouth, assumed command of the Sonoma garrison. On the 25th of September, a meeting of the "Old Bears" was held at Sonoma, at which J. B. Chiles presided and John H. Nash acted as secretary, and a committee of three was appointed to investigate and gather all the information possible in relation to the action of the Bear Flag party, and report at a subsequent meeting. Semple, Grigsby and Nash were appointed the committee. Manuel E. McIntosh was now alcalde of Sonoma. From the Bear Flag conquest of Sonoma, down to the discovery of gold in California in 1848, there is little to note in connection with Sonoma. Grigsby. Revere, Missroon and Brackett were successive military commandants, and the Indians were easily held in subjection by Vallejo as sub-agent of Indian affairs. In 1848 Sonoma had a total population of about 260 souls. Jose de los Santos Berryessa under Mexican rule had been at the head of municipal affairs. There was then an interregnum of military rule, after which John H. Nash became alcalde, and was superseded in 1847 by Lilburn W. Boggs, who, aided by a council of six, administered the municipal government of Sonoma until 1848. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern 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; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/statewide/history/1891/memorial/bearflag98ms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 47.1 Kb