COLONEL FREMONT. 63 



as Civil Governor, ordered the North Americans to evacuate 

 the country during the next forty days under penalty of death. 



In reply, a certain number of North Americans took 

 possession of Sononia, and hoisted a flag with the following 

 inscription : Republic of California. This revolution, known 

 afterwards as the Bear s Revolution, coincided with the 

 arrival of the celebrated Colonel Fremont, who took the 

 command of his countrymen. Castro, at the head of a 

 numerous force, came to oppose him, but dared not attack 

 him. Joined by Pio-Pico they retreated to Los Angeles, 

 where they contented themselves by issuing martial pro 

 clamations. 



At the same time Commodore Sloat arrived at Monterey 

 on the frigate, Savannah, hoisted the American flag, and 

 informed the inhabitants that their territory was going to be 

 annexed to the United States. Commodore Stockton, who 

 succeeded to Commodore Sloat, landed his sailors, and with 

 Colonel Fremont, marched against Castro and his troops. 

 Without even trying to defend Los Angeles, Castro and his 

 followers fled to Soriora. By mistake, General Guadalupe 

 Vallejo, the partisan of the annexation, was made prisoner by 

 the North Americans, but w r as soon released. 



After this, a Mexican named Flores, at the head of 600 

 men and four cannons, attacked the Americans near los 

 Angeles ; but he was completely defeated, leaving a large 

 number of killed and wounded on the field of battle. 



After several other encounters of little consequence the 

 Mexicans capitulated, the campaign ended, and soon after they 

 assisted with the Americans at a popular assembly convoked 

 in Monterey for the making of a Constitution for California. 

 The first Governor of California was Colonel Fremont, 

 nominated by Commodore Stockton. No one could fill better 

 this exalted position than the Colonel, to whom the conquest 

 of that magnificent country was chiefly due. But for all that, 

 although all the life of Colonel Fremont had been devoted to 

 public utility and to his country, after a series of altercations 

 with Colonel Kearny, he was arrested and sentenced by a 

 council of war. The new state of California shortly after 

 avenged him by sending him as Senator to the Federal 

 Congress. 



John Charles Fremont, was born January, 1813, in 

 South Carolina. He was the son of a Frenchman and a 

 Virginian mother. Although his parents were poor, he 

 received an excellent education in the college of Charleston. 



5 



