Monterey was the sometime capital of California and the official port of entry for goods. In each case, the instructions were the same: be prepared to bring California under American control, especially if war with Mexico broke out.
He worked with various settlers, including the Bear Flag Republicans, to establish American control in the area near San Francisco. On June 16, he grandly declared himself military commander of U. Meanwhile, a ship of the Pacific squadron under the command of John D.
Sloat, hearing of fighting along the Rio Grande and the U. On July 7, a large landing party quickly took control of Monterey and raised the American flag. Mexican forces and their allies among the Californios resisted, but by the end of August, Stockton was able to send a message to the Secretary of State that California was entirely under American authority.
In , the State of California adopted the Bear Flag as its official state flag. Mariano Vallejo, the most powerful man north of the San Francisco Bay. Although Mariano Vallejo was an experienced military man, the army barracks at Sonoma had not been used in years, and the pueblo was peaceful. The diplomatic Vallejo welcomed the some of the raiders in and courteously and offered them drinks.
The general then assured them that he was not an enemy and was even open to an American takeover. After electing William B. The captain claimed that he was not involved, but nevertheless ordered Vallejo and the others imprisoned. The men would remain as captives at New Helvetia until August of that year.
On June 15, Ide, who had remained in Sonoma with other insurgents, issued a proclamation to the citizens of Sonoma. It claimed that that the Mexican government had been oppressive, tyrannical and despotic with the immigrants and called on all people to join them in establishing a new and just government. He promised that peaceful Californians would not be disturbed and had nothing to fear.
He sent soon sent an irate message to John B. The Portsmouth was a troop ship that had traveled up from Monterey to the San Francisco Bay to prepare for hostilities and Montgomery had received a similar message from Gen.
Vallejo himself. Castro proposed that they set aside their differences in order to fight the common enemy. On June 23, after several days of silence, Pico issued a proclamation. When rumors of an impending war between the United States and Mexico reached California, many Americans feared the Mexicans might make a preemptive attack to forestall rebellion.
In the spring of , the American army officer and explorer John C. Whether or not Fremont had been specifically ordered to encourage an American rebellion is unclear. Ostensibly, he and his men were in the area strictly for the purposes of making a scientific survey. However, the brash young officer began to persuade a motley mix of American settlers and adventurers to form militias and prepare for a rebellion against Mexico.
Fremont and his soldiers did not participate, though he had given his tacit approval of the attack. Merritt and his men surrounded the home of the retired Mexican general Mariano Vallejo and informed him that he was a prisoner of war. Vallejo, who was actually a supporter of American annexation, was more puzzled than alarmed by the rebels. He invited Merritt and a few of the other men into his home to discuss the situation over drinks.
After several hours passed, Ide went in and spoiled what had turned into pleasant chat by arresting Vallejo and his family. Having won a bloodless victory at Sonoma, Ide and Merritt then proceeded to declare California an independent republic. From then on, the independence movement was known as the Bear Flag Revolt. After the rebels won a few minor skirmishes with Mexican forces, Fremont officially took command of the so-called Bear Flaggers and occupied the unguarded presidio of San Francisco on July 1.
Rumors began to spread that Castro's edict would soon be enforced, and that Native Americans had been encouraged to burn the crops of the foreigners. Several leaders of the settlers discussed their concerns of Mexican aggression with U. Army Captain John C. Fremont at a meeting, in which Fremont failed to promise assistance, but encouraged the settlers to resist. Once the settlers heard those horses were to be used to uproot their claims, they began to mobilize an armed force to stop the transfer.
The small force came under the leadership of Ezekiel "Stuttering Zeke" Merritt, an old Rocky Mountain trapper, who seemed to have harbored an overpowering resentment against Vallejo, who allegedly struck Merritt previously. His whole appearance and manner was that of a man moved by some revengeful intoxicating passion.
On the morning of June 9th, a party of about ten men set out to capture the horses and prevent them from reaching Castro's forces in Santa Clara. Merritt's men accomplished their mission, and they brought their newly acquired horses to Fremont's camp. Soon after arriving at the camp, the small force now 20 men strong left to launch an assault on the town of Sonoma.
The town was not garrisoned, but it was home to the very influential General Vallejo.
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