•1 



22 CONQUEST OF CALIFORNA 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA BY THE UNITED STATES. 



The Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Squadron, Com- 

 modore Sloat, received reliable information, at Mazatlan, on 

 the 7th of June, 1846, that the Mexican troops, six or seven 

 thousand in number, had invaded the territory of the United 

 States, and attacked General Taylor. He was told, that the 

 American Squadron, under Commodore Conner, was blockad- 

 ing the eastern coast, and he immediately sailed for Monterey, 

 where he found the " Cyane' and "Levant." After an 

 examination of the defences of the town, and completing his 

 arrangements for capturing it, he sent Captain Mervine, on 

 the 7th of July, to the governor of the town to demand its 

 surrender, and on his declining to comply with the summons, 

 it was taken by a detachment of two hundred and fifty seamen 

 and marines from the vessels. Masters of the town, they 

 speedily raised the American flag from the Custom-house, 

 amid the cheers from the troops and bystanders, and a 

 national salute from the squadron. A proclamation from 

 the Commodore was then posted up, stating the existence of 

 hostilities between Mexico and the United States, and his in- 

 tention to take possession of all California. It also announced 

 that, although the Commander-in-Chief came in arms, he 

 came as a friend, and all the peaceable inhabitants of the 

 country would be confirmed in the rights they then enjoyed, and* 

 have in addition the superior advantages afforded to the people 



