POSSESSION TAKEN SLOAT STOCKTON. 



345 



ful news that Commodore Sloat had raised the American flag on 

 the 7th of the month at Monterey, and that war actually existed 

 between Mexico and the United States. The Californian Ameri- 

 cans of course immediately abandoned their revolution for the 

 national war, and substituted the American ensign for the grisly 

 emblem under which they designed conquering the territory. 



On the 8th of July, Commander Montgomery took possession 

 of San Francisco, and soon after, Fremont joined Commodore 

 Sloat at Monterey. Sloat, who had in reality acted upon the faith 

 of Fremont's operations in the north, knowing that Gillespie had 

 been sent to him as a special messenger, and having heard, whilst 

 at Mazatlan, of the warlike movements on the Rio Grande, was 

 rather fearful that he had been precipitate in his conduct ; but he 

 resolved to maintain what he had done ; and accordingly, when 

 admiral Sir George Seymour, arrived in the Collingwood at Mon- 

 terey, on the 6th of July, the grants to the Irish clergyman were 

 not completed, and the American flag was already floating on every 

 important post in the north of California. Seymour took Macna- 

 mara on board his ship, and thus the hopes of the British partizans 

 were effectually blighted when the Admiral and his passenger sailed 

 from the coast. 



Commodore Stockton arrived at Monterey during this summer 

 and Sloat returned to the United States, leaving the Commodore 

 in command. Fremont and Gillespie, who were at the head of 

 forces on shore determined to act under the orders of the naval 

 commander, and Stockton immediately prepared for a military 

 movement against the city of Los Angeles, where, he learned, that 

 General Castro and the civil governor Pico had assembled six hun- 

 dred men. Fremont and the Commodore, embarking their forces 

 at Monterey, sailed for San Pedro and San Diego, where, landing 

 their troops, they united and took possession of Los Angeles on 

 the 13th of August. The public buildings, archives and property 

 fell into their possession without bloodshed, for Castro, the com- 

 manding general, fled at their approach. Stockton issued a pro- 

 clamation announcing these facts to the people on the 17th of 

 August, and having instituted a government, directed elections, 

 and required an oath of allegiance from the military. He appoint- 

 ed Fremont, military commandant and Gillespie, secretary. On 

 the 28th of August he reported these proceedings to the govern- 

 ment at Washington, by the messenger who was met by General 

 Kearney, as we have already related, on his way from Santa Fe to 

 the Pacific. Carson, the courier, apprised the General of the con- 



