JOHN C. FREMONT. 201 



of Colonel Fremont's position between the rival 

 commanders in California : 



"CiuDAD DE LOS ANGELES, January 27, 1847. 



"Sin: I have the honor to be in the receipt of 

 your favor of last night, in which I am directed to 

 suspend the execution of orders which, in my capa- 

 city of military commandant of this territory, I had 

 received from Commodore Stockton, governor and 

 commander-in-chief in California. I avail myself 

 of an early hour this morning to make such a reply 

 as the brief time allowed for reflection will en- 

 able ine. 



" I found Commodore Stockton in possession of 

 the country, exercising the functions of military 

 commandant and civil governor, as early as July of 

 last year; and shortly thereafter I received from 

 him the commission of military commandant, the 

 duties of which I immediately entered upon, and 

 have continued to exercise to the present moment. 



"I found also, on my arrival at this place some 

 three or four days since, Commodore Stockton still 

 exercising the functions of civil and military go- 

 vernor, with the same apparent deference to his 

 rank on the part of all officers (including yourself) 

 as he maintained and required when he assumed 

 them in July last. 



