| NAMES. | WHERE BORN. | RESIDENCE. | AGE. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Semple. | Kentucky. | Benicia. | Forty-two. |
| John A. Sutter. | Switzerland. | New Helvetia. | Forty-seven. |
| Thomas O. Larkin. | Massachusetts. | Monterey. | Forty-seven. |
| M. G. Vallejo. | California. | Sonoma. | Forty-two. |
| Wm. M. Gwin. | Tennessee. | San Francisco. | Forty-four. |
| H. W. Halleck. | New York. | Monterey. | Thirty-two. |
| Wm. M. Steuart. | Maryland. | San Francisco. | Forty-nine. |
| Joseph Hobson. | Do. | Do. | Thirty-nine. |
| Thos. L. Vermeule. | New Jersey. | Loetown. | Thirty-five. |
| O. M. Wozencraft. | Ohio. | San Joaquin. | Thirty-four. |
| B. F. Moore. | Florida. | Do. | Twenty-nine. |
| Wm. E. Shannon. | New York. | Sacramento. | Twenty-seven. |
| Winfield S. Sherwood. | Do. | Do. | Thirty-two. |
| Elam Brown. | Do. | San José. | Fifty-two. |
| Joseph Aram. | Do. | Do. | Thirty-nine. |
| J. D. Hoppe. | Maryland. | Do. | Thirty-five. |
| Jno. McDougal. | Ohio. | Sutter. | Thirty-two. |
| Elisha O. Crosby. | Tompkins Co., N. Y. | Vernon. | Thirty-four. |
| K. H. Dimmick. | New York. | Pueblo San José. | Thirty-four. |
| Julian Hanks. | Connecticut. | Do. | Thirty-seven. |
| M. M. McCarver. | Kentucky. | Sacramento City. | Forty-two. |
| Francis J. Lippitt. | Rhode Island. | San Francisco. | Thirty-seven. |
| Rodman M. Price. | New York. | Do. | Thirty. |
| Lewis Dent. | Missouri. | Monterey. | Twenty-six. |
| Henry Hill. | Virginia. | Do. | Thirty-three. |
| Ch. T. Botts. | Do. | Do. | Forty. |
| Myron Norton. | Vermont. | San Francisco. | Twenty-seven. |
| J. M. Jones. | Kentucky. | San Joaquin. | Twenty-five. |
| P. Sainsevain. | Bordeaux. | San José. | Trente ans. |
| José M. Covarrubias. | France. | Santa Barbara. | Forty-one. |
| Antonio Ma. Pico. | California. | San José. | Forty. |
| Jacinto Rodriguez. | Do. | Monterey. | Thirty-six. |
| Stephen C. Foster. | Maine. | Los Angeles. | Twenty-eight. |
| Henry A. Tefft. | New York. | San Luis Obispo. | Twenty-six. |
| J. M. H. Hollingsworth. | Maryland. | San Joaquin. | Twenty-five. |
| Abel Stearns. | Massachusetts. | Los Angeles. | Fifty-one. |
| Hugh Reid. | Scotland. | San Gabriel. | Thirty-eight. |
| Benj. S. Lippincott. | New York. | San Joaquin. | Thirty-four. |
| Joel P. Walker. | Virginia. | Sonoma. | Fifty-two. |
| Jacob R. Snyder. | Pennsylvania. | Sacramento City. | Thirty-four. |
| L. W. Hastings. | Mt. Vernon, Ohio. | Sacramento. | Thirty. |
| Pablo de la Guerra. | California. | Santa Barbara. | Thirty. |
| José Anto. Carrillo. | Do. | Angeles. | Fifty-three. |
| Manl. Dominguez. | Do. | Do. | Forty-six. |
| P. Ord. | Maryland. | Monterey. | Thirty-three. |
| Edw. Gilbert. | New York. | San Francisco. | Twenty-seven. |
| Miguel de Pedrorena. | Spain. | San Diego. | Forty-one. |
| A. J. Ellis. | New York. | San Francisco. | Thirty-three. |
THREE YEARS IN CALIFORNIA.
CHAPTER I.
THE FLAG.—MEETING OF CITIZENS.—DISPOSITION OF FORCES.—COL. FREMONT’S BAND.—ALCALDE OF MONTEREY.—INDIAN MOTHER.—MILITARY LEADERS.—A CALIFORNIA FARM.
A few words will place within the clear comprehension of the reader, the posture of public affairs in California at the time my journal opens. The U. S. flag was raised at Monterey and San Francisco on the 10th of July, 1846. This event was wholly unexpected by the Californians, and struck the public heart with the deepest surprise; other causes of alarm and apprehension faded into shadow in the presence of this decisive measure; they were the admonitory vibrations, but here was the earthquake itself. The people were more astounded than indignant, and quite as intent over problems of preservation as measures of resistance.
At a public meeting held at Monterey, in which the patriotism, talents, and sagacity of the country were largely represented, the question of throwing the territory under the protection of England, through the naval forces commanded by Admiral Seymour, who was on the coast at the time, was excitingly discussed. But this proposition received its quietus under the successful railery of Don Raphael, of Monterey. “Our object,” said this witty counsellor, “is to preserve our country; but she is gone,—California is lost to us: and this proposal to invoke the protection of England, is only to seek another owner. The redress is worthy of the market-woman: a dog had robbed her hamper of a leg of mutton, and she sent another dog more powerful after him to get it away; when asked what good that would do her, she replied, it would be some satisfaction to see the first dog deprived of the stolen leg. And so it is with us; the mutton is gone, and a choice of the dog only remains: others may prefer the bull-dog, but I prefer the regular hound; he has outstripped the other in the chase, and so let him have the game.” The convention broke up without adopting any decisive measures; leaving each one to act as his impulses or convictions of duty suggested.
The military forces of the country were at this time under the command of Gen. José Castro, an officer of high pretensions, but utterly deficient in strength and steadiness of purpose, and that capacity which can work out important results with slender and inapposite means. His followers had gathered to him with as little discipline, sobriety, and order, as would characterize a bear-hunt. Their prime impulse lay in the excitement which the camp presented. It was the same thing to them whether their weapon was a rifle or a guitar,—whether they were going to a skirmish or a fandango. With six or eight hundred of these waltzing warriors Gen. Castro was now on his march into the southern department, with the evident purpose of taking up his position near the Pueblo de los Angeles.
Such was the posture of affairs when Com. Stockton resolved to rest in no half-way measures. The wave had been set in motion and must roll on, or its returning force might sweep him and his temporary garrisons into the Pacific. And yet aggressive measures in the present condition of the squadron seemed to border on rashness. The Portsmouth, under Commander Montgomery, must be left at San Francisco to garrison the posts occupied by the flag; the Savannah, commanded by Capt. Mervin, must remain here to hold Monterey; the Warren, under Commander Hull, was at Mazatlan; only the Congress, Lieut. Livingston commanding, and the Cyane, under Commander Du Pont, remained. With the crews of these, and a hundred and sixty men under Col. Fremont, California was to be conquered and held, and this too in the presence or defeat of a military force that had the entire resources of the country at their command. But a gallant purpose will often achieve what a questioning prudence would relinquish. The mountain torrent, with its impetuosity, sweeps away the barrier which effectually obstructs the level stream.
Monday, July 27. The bustle of preparation is active in the squadron. Commander Du Pont received orders last evening to have the Cyane ready for sea in twenty-four hours. She has tripped this afternoon, and is off for San Diego, though it has been given out on shore that she is bound elsewhere, but this is a war-stratagem. She has on board Col. Fremont and a hundred and fifty of his riflemen. The wind is fresh, and they are by this time cleverly sea-sick, and lying about the deck in a spirit of resignation that would satisfy the non-resistant principles of a Quaker. Two or three resolute old women might tumble the whole of them into the sea. But they will rally before they reach their port, and see that their rifles spring true to their trust.