A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) (713 pages)

36 HISTORY OF NORTHERN OALIFORNIA. wholly of his uwn men—Kit Carson and Merritt being sent in advance—to be locked up at Sutter’s Fort. THE BEAR FLAG-——-8STARS AND STRIPES. General Vallejo certainly had a right to be surprised at the foregoing treatment by Fremont. That he 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 Juhn Adams who, after attixing 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 Sunoma—Montgomery's reply— Lieutenant Missroon’s account of the revolutiontsts— Highly credituble conduct of the Bears—Ide’s pledge to Missroon. Unitep Stares Suip Portsmouth, . San Francisco, August 17, 1846. My Dear GENERAL:—I am now about to sail for Monterey, and avai) myself of this mode of expressing to you my 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 servan's of the public are left to the disposition of our own time. I reached the Portsmouth from Sonoma very comfortably on Friday last about 6 o’clock in the afternoon, greatly pleased with my visit, and gratified by the very kind and hospitable attentions of my esteemed triends there, the remembrance of which id 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 torwarded to you by De la Rosa in the commencement of the late revolution, and those having reference to Lieutenant Missroon’s visit to Sopoma by my orders, with overtures to the insurgeut 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 kiud hospitality and attention to me and my little son during our recent visit; and believe me, my dear General, [ am and shall ever be, with highest esteem and friendship, sincerely your obedient servant, Jonn B. MonTGOMERY. Gen. Guadalupe Vallejo, Sonoma. Statement of the interview between Senor Don José de la Ltosa and Commander John B. Montgomery, commanding United States ship Portsmouth, Lieutenant W. A. Bartlett, United States Nacy, tnterpreter. 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 commandante of Sonoma, which he desired to give tie moment Captain Montgomery could receive hiin. On being received by Captain Montgomery I was directed to act as interpreter, when Sejfior 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 abont 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 prisouvers 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 authorily or determination (ahkajo 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 foreizners out of the country, they had taken up arms in self-defense. They then made a prisoner of the Alcalde, and told him

36 HISTORY OF NORTHERN OALIFORNIA. wholly of his uwn men—Kit Carson and Merritt being sent in advance—to be locked up at Sutter’s Fort. THE BEAR FLAG-——-8STARS AND STRIPES. General Vallejo certainly had a right to be surprised at the foregoing treatment by Fremont. That he 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 Juhn Adams who, after attixing 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 Sunoma—Montgomery's reply— Lieutenant Missroon’s account of the revolutiontsts— Highly credituble conduct of the Bears—Ide’s pledge to Missroon. Unitep Stares Suip Portsmouth, . San Francisco, August 17, 1846. My Dear GENERAL:—I am now about to sail for Monterey, and avai) myself of this mode of expressing to you my 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 servan's of the public are left to the disposition of our own time. I reached the Portsmouth from Sonoma very comfortably on Friday last about 6 o’clock in the afternoon, greatly pleased with my visit, and gratified by the very kind and hospitable attentions of my esteemed triends there, the remembrance of which id 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 torwarded to you by De la Rosa in the commencement of the late revolution, and those having reference to Lieutenant Missroon’s visit to Sopoma by my orders, with overtures to the insurgeut 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 kiud hospitality and attention to me and my little son during our recent visit; and believe me, my dear General, [ am and shall ever be, with highest esteem and friendship, sincerely your obedient servant, Jonn B. MonTGOMERY. Gen. Guadalupe Vallejo, Sonoma. Statement of the interview between Senor Don José de la Ltosa and Commander John B. Montgomery, commanding United States ship Portsmouth, Lieutenant W. A. Bartlett, United States Nacy, tnterpreter. 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 commandante of Sonoma, which he desired to give tie moment Captain Montgomery could receive hiin. On being received by Captain Montgomery I was directed to act as interpreter, when Sejfior 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 abont 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 prisouvers 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 authorily or determination (ahkajo 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 foreizners out of the country, they had taken up arms in self-defense. They then made a prisoner of the Alcalde, and told him