194 JOHN C. FREMONT. 



counsel in the case, he concluded to recognise the 

 superior claims of Commodore Stockton, and obeyed 

 his orders accordingly. This course of conduct highly 

 incensed General Kearney, although the latter on 

 several occasions had recognised the title and 

 authority of Colonel Fremont. During the progress 

 of the dispute, General Kearney ordered Fremont 

 not to reorganize the California battalion, and 

 claimed for himself the command of the entire Cali- 

 fornia army. Commodore Stockton refused to yield 

 that command; but, after a protracted and angry 

 contest between the principals, fresh instructions 

 arrived from Washington, which settled the question 

 and gave the supreme military command of the ter- 

 ritory to General Kearney. On the return of the 

 latter to the United States in June, 1847, he ordered 

 Colonel Fremont to accompany him. "When the 

 party arrived at Fort Leavenworth, on the 22d of 

 August, Fremont was placed under arrest by Gene- 

 ral Kearney, and thus conducted to Washington for 

 the purpose of being tried by a court-martial on 

 three charges, mutiny, disobedience of the lawful 

 command of a superior officer, and conduct preju- 

 dicial to good order and military discipline. The 

 trial continued during November and December, 

 1847, and January, 1848. It resulted in a verdict 

 of guilty on each of the charges, and the de- 



