HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



29 



same day, and reported that the Presidio had been 

 abandoned, and that the fort, seven miles from the 

 town, was dilapidated and mounted only a few old 

 pieces of cannon. The flag of the United States had 

 been displayed from its ramparts. On the llth, 

 Montgomery informed Commodore Sloat that the flag 

 of the United States was then flying at Yerba Buena, 

 Sutter's Fort, on the Sacramento, Bodega, on the 

 coast, and Sonoma. The inhabitants of these places 

 appeared to be satisfied with the protection afforded 

 them by the Americans. 



On the 13th of July, Commodore Sloat sent a flag 

 to the foreigners of the pueblo of San Jose, about 

 seventy miles from Monterey, in the interior, and 

 appointed a justice of the peace in place of the alcaldes. 

 On the 15th, Commodore Stockton arrived at Mon 

 terey, in the frigate Congress ; and Commodore Sloat 

 being in bad health, the command devolved upon 

 Stockton, and Sloat returned home. The operations 

 of Commodore Stockton, from the 23d of July to the 

 28th of August, 1846, have been rapidly sketched by 

 himself in his despatches to the secretary of the navy. 

 From these we condense a short account. 



On the 23d of July, the commodore organized the 

 " California Battalion of Mounted Riflemen." Captain 

 Fremont was appointed major, and Lieutenant Gil- 

 lespie captain of the battalion. The next day, they 

 were embarked on board the sloop-of-war Cyane, 

 Commander Dupont, and sailed from Monterey for 

 San Diego, in order to land south of the Mexican 

 force, consisting of 500 men, under General Castro, 

 well fortified at a place three miles from the city. A 

 few days afterwards, Commodore Stockton sailed in 

 the Congress for San' Pedro, thirty miles from Monte- 



