388:
108:
90:
60:
642:
505:, landed and took possession of the town without firing a shot. Leaving about 40 men to garrison San Diego, Frémont continued on to Los Angeles where on 13 August, with the Navy band playing and colors flying, the combined forces of Stockton and Frémont entered Pueblo de Los Angeles, without a man killed nor shot fired. Marine Lieutenant Archibald Gillespie, Frémont's second in command, was appointed military commander of Los Angeles with from 30 to 50 troops stationed there to keep the peace.
78:
28:
520:, and exchanged shots with the Americans in their quarters at the Government House. Gillespie and his men withdrew from their headquarters in town to Fort Hill which, unfortunately, had no water. Gillespie was caught in a trap, badly outnumbered by the besiegers. John Brown, an American, called by the Californios
679:. Kearny ordered Frémont to order his men to either sign up in the regular army or disburse. Frémont said they would happily disburse as soon as they were paid—which was difficult since almost nobody had any cash money. Somehow money was secured and nearly all California Battalion members mustered out.
536:
After news of the Los
Angeles revolt reached northern California, Frémont was asked to enlarge his battalion and head for Los Angeles to join with Stockton's men to retake the city. Volunteers rapidly enlarged his force to about 450 men plus more stationed in various northern California towns to keep
636:
of the United States forces, which have so far been acceded to by me as to cause me to appoint a board of commissioners to confer with a similar board appointed by the
Californians, and it requiring a little time to close the negotiations; it is agreed upon and ordered by me that an entire cessation
453:
A compact was drawn in early July 1846 for all volunteers to sign, which in part read: "Not to violate the chastity of Women; conduct their revolution honorably; and pledge obedience to their officers." With the signatures or marks of the men, the
California Battalion was formed. On formation of the
417:
or repel boarders or engage in close in ship to ship fighting and were trained in infantry tactics. The marines and some sailors could be reassigned shore duties and while leaving the ships short handed but still functional. He looked to employ his reassigned 300-400 marines and blue-jacket sailors
723:. Polk quickly commuted Frémont's sentence of dishonorable discharge in light of his service in the war and offered him reinstatement of his army commission. Frémont however, considered his conviction an injustice and resigned his commission and moved back to California with his family settling on
658:
which ended the
Mexican–American War in California. However, U.S. Army Brigadier General Stephen Watts Kearny, who outranked Frémont (and was nominally of the same rank as Commodore Stockton) said he had orders from the President and Secretary of War to serve as governor and demanded that Frémont
383:
doing cartography work in
California. Traveling secretly across Mexico, Lt. Gillespie caught a ship from Mexico to Monterey, California where he delivered his messages to Thomas Larkin and Sloat. Finding that Frémont was on his way to Oregon he borrowed a horse and hurried north where he caught up
412:
Since there was no U.S. Army present in Alta
California except Frémont's few cartographers (and wouldn't be until December 1846), Stockton needed additional men to garrison and help keep the peace in the various California towns rapidly coming into U.S. control. Stockton had three frigates with a
532:
with his forces, weapons and flags plus two cannon (the others were spiked and left behind), accompanied by the exchanged
American prisoners and several American residents. It would take about four months of intermittent sparing before Gillespie could raise the same American flag again in Los
834:, captain, Californian (appointed by Stockton); Bell, captain (appointed by Stockton), old resident of California (Los Angeles); H. Rhenshaw, 1st lieutenant, (appointed by Stockton); Jas. Barton, captain (appointed by Stockton); L. Arguello, captain, Californian (appointed by Stockton).
794:; Edwin Bryant, 1st lieutenant (afterwards alcalde at San Francisco); Geo. M. Lippincott, 2nd lieutenant (of New York). About 34 Indians were in this company. The Indians typically were employed as scouts and guards in front and in back of the column while transiting.
512:, the largest city in California with about 3,000 residents, things might have remained peaceful, except that Major Gillespie placed the town under martial law, greatly angering some of the Californios. On 23 September 1846, about 200-300 Californios under Gen.
637:
of hostilities shall take place until to-morrow afternoon (13 January), and that the said
Californians be permitted to bring in their wounded to the mission of San Fernando, where, also, if they choose, they can move their camp to facilitate said negotiations.
404:
who were willing to fight for independence from Mexico. Frémont was the only army officer in
California after the outbreak of the Mexican–American War. He and his volunteer California battalion took over Sonoma, followed by the creation of the
718:
in August 1847, Kearny told Frémont to consider himself under arrest and to report to
Washington, D.C. for court martial. There after an almost three-month trial he was finally convicted of mutiny but recommended for remediation to President
760:
Co. A. Capt. Richard "Dick" Owens (Owens Valley; Owens River) Wm. N. Loker, 1st lieutenant, appointed adjutant, 10 Feb. 1847; B.M. Hudspeth, 2d lieutenant, appointed captain, Feb. 1847, Wm. Findlay, 2nd lieutenant, appointed captain, Feb.
609:, in a rainstorm on the night of 24 December 1846. In spite of losing many of his horses, mules, and cannon, which slid down the muddy slopes during the rainy night, his men regrouped in the foothills the next morning, and recaptured the
649:
Both Kearny and Stockton though out-ranking Frémont wanted to avoid further hostilities and accepted the treaty negotiated by Frémont. On 16 January 1847, Commodore Stockton appointed Frémont military governor of California following the
474:
who had started the rebellion in California. There were volunteers from several nationalities including several Californios and a company of Indians from Sutter's Fort who were more than happy to get rid of the dysfunctional Mexican and
395:
border. After delivering his messages, Gillespie and Frémont with his about 30 U.S. Army Cartographers, etc. and 30 scouts and hunters turned around and headed back to California where Frémont spurred on and took over the command of the
528:(a distance of almost 400 miles) in an amazing 52 hours where he delivered to Stockton a dispatch from Gillespie notifying him of the situation. Gillespie, on 30 September, finally accepted the terms of capitulation and departed for
1028:
567:. The Californios were attempting to capture some horses being herded by the Americans. A battle ensued in which the Californio force killed four Americans and wounded more. The American volunteers were buried on the
797:
Co. Artillery. Capt. Louis McLane U.S. Navy, (in charge of their two small cannons) (promoted to major); John. K. Wilson, 1st lieutenant, (appointed captain in January, 1847); Wm. Blackburn, 2nd lieutenant. (later
1048:
731:
had bought for him at his request. Reportedly there was $ 10,000,000 worth of gold found on this Mariposa ranch in later years although Frémont had to fight with the many squatters who mined much of the gold.
571:. The Californios reported no dead and 5 wounded. The Americans reported several Californios killed and wounded. As the Californios retreated the Americans did not give chase. The Walla Walla and Delaware
299:
since April 1846 resulting in a formal declaration of war on 13 May 1846, by the U.S. Congress. On 17 May 1846, unofficial word reached the U.S. Navy fleet of four vessels at anchor in the harbor of
458:
of 1845 and members of Frémont's own exploration party. Frémont's men were officially mustered into the armed forces on 23 July 1846 and authorized $ 25.00/month pay. The approximate 34
462:
eventually part of the battalion's roster were paid with trade goods as was customary then. The men in the battalion were all volunteers formed from the 60 men of Captain Frémont's
632:
To All Who These Presents Shall Come, Greeting: Know Ye, that in consequence of propositions of peace, or cessation of hostilities, being submitted to me, as Commandant of the
659:
give up the position of California governor. Frémont, with conflicting orders, stubbornly refused to do this. As Kearny's forces steadily built up with the arrival of Colonel
1043:
613:
without bloodshed. Stockton and Kearny by ship went to San Diego and from there marched on Los Angeles with a combined force of about 500 sailors, marines and Army
1033:
950:
Heizer, Robert Fleming. "Walla Walla Indian Expeditions to the Sacramento Valley." California Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Mar., 1942), pp. 1-7
501:, and sailed for San Diego. They landed 29 July 1846 and a detachment of Marines and blue-jackets, followed shortly by Frémont's California Battalion from
555:'s forces (about 500 men) converging on Los Angeles to put down a sputtering revolt there. An American scouting party was attacked by a force of mounted
413:
crew of 480 each, three to four sloops with a crew of 200 men each plus three store ships at his disposal. The marines on his ships were used mostly to
582:
met at San Diego in December 1846 after being rescued by Stockton's men. Kearny, wounded and with only about 60 unwounded men after the fiasco of the
409:. When it became clear that the U.S. Navy was taking action to secure California, the Bear Flag Revolt was converted into a U.S. military action.
1038:
597:
to retake the California cities as he marched overland to Los Angeles, led the California Battalion, now expanded to about 400 men, to capture
907:
572:
463:
541:
by this time was starting to deliver a new collection of American colonists and potential recruits—an estimated 1,500 would arrive in 1846.
598:
664:
934:
863:
575:
detachment fighting with the Americans fought aggressively and bravely, displaying two scalps they had taken during the conflict.
1058:
1053:
547:
was the marshaling area for Frémont's forces of about 450 men of the California Battalion en route to joining up with Commodore
387:
1023:
207:
806:
And outriders, hunters, couriers, and scouts, including Delaware, Cosumnes River, 10 Walla Walla and Chinook Indians, scouts
454:
battalion, Frémont requested the Battalion's volunteers to elect their officers from the ranks. Most were emigrants over the
544:
686:. They were accompanied East by about 19 of Frémont's original scouting party who wanted to return home and a group of
1063:
641:
587:
373:
308:
277:
213:
590:
and Brigadier General were roughly equivalent (both one star titles) so it was not clear who had superior rank.
257:
715:
430:(U.S. Navy), the senior military officer in California who replaced Sloat in July 1846. Frémont was given the (
27:
513:
447:
366:
272:
and composed of his cartographers, scouts and hunters and the California Volunteer Militia formed after the
180:
962:
610:
529:
498:
358:
823:
660:
583:
509:
487:
195:
819:
174:
168:
831:
791:
724:
711:
602:
517:
443:
339:
190:
113:
426:
The California Battalion was officially authorized a few days later on 23 July 1846 under Commodore
749:
568:
560:
435:
322:
256:(also called the first California Volunteer Militia and U.S. Mounted Rifles) was formed during the
201:
95:
65:
768:
651:
625:
617:. A few days later Fremont led his men southeast towards Los Angeles, accepting the surrender of
594:
467:
427:
406:
280:
141:
742:
675:
was appointed military governor of California by Kearny as he prepared to go back east over the
490:. On 26 July 1846 Lt. Col. J. C. Frémont's California Battalion of about 160 boarded the sloop
380:
269:
241:
903:
859:
781:
579:
552:
525:
431:
414:
265:
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827:
787:
Co. G. Capt. Bluford K. "Hell Roaring" Thompson; Davis 1st lieutenant; Rock, 2nd lieutenant.
728:
703:
687:
683:
676:
672:
538:
491:
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455:
439:
401:
397:
369:
315:
296:
284:
273:
163:
123:
978:
966:
938:
838:
The complete roster of the California Battalion is given by the following two references.
764:
Co. B. Capt. Henry L. Ford (nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln); Andrew Copeland, 1st lieutenant.
668:
606:
548:
459:
343:
524:, meaning "Lean John", succeeded in breaking through the Californio lines and riding to
691:
655:
618:
564:
237:
466:(roughly half were soldiers the rest Indians and mountain men) and initially from the
1017:
720:
376:
362:
311:
83:
482:
The first job given to the California Battalion and was to assist in the capture of
338:
to Monterey harbor where they arrived on 2 July 1846. The Pacific Squadron captured
811:
707:
329:
784:(Hastings Cut-Off fame); Wornbough, 1st lieutenant; J.M. Hudspeth, 2nd lieutenant.
346:. The Bear Flag Revolt was converted into a U.S. occupation of California and the
476:
438:, second in command, promoted to major. Commodore Stockton was in charge of the
354:
300:
1005:
Rosters of California Volunteers in the Service of the United States, 1846–1847
624:
Frémont specifically quoted his title as California Battalion commander in the
886:
807:
556:
521:
332:
261:
483:
347:
1007:; Society of California Pioneers publication, Vol.?, No.?, 1950, pp.17-25.
874:
699:
614:
706:
in reverse direction that most immigrants took. They buried some of the
682:
Kearny ordered Frémont to accompany him back east over the route of the
400:
of California. Frémont signed up American immigrants into California at
799:
319:
307:, and that hostilities had begun between Mexico and the United States.
304:
959:
690:
men who had re-enlisted to get back to their families and homes in
640:
695:
771:; Wm. Baldridge, 1st lieutenant; Wm. Hartgrove, 2nd lieutenant.
922:. Tecolote Books, Santa Barbara, California, 1975, pp. 33-35.
645:
John C. Fremont Officially ending the Conquest of California
671:
left Frémont with almost no supporters. On 31 May 1847 Col.
994:, Military Collector and Historian, 18 (Spring 1966), p. 14
777:
Co. E. Capt. John Grigsby; Archibald Jesse, 1st lieutenant.
822:, captain; S. Gibson, captain (lanced through the body at
818:
Officers on detached Service and doing Duty at the South.–
434:) rank of Lieutenant Colonel with U. S. Marine Lieutenant
1049:
United States Marine Corps in the 18th and 19th centuries
1029:
Military units and formations of the Mexican–American War
593:
In late 1846 Frémont, acting under orders from Commodore
276:. The battalion's formation was officially authorized by
774:
Co. D. Capt. John Sears; Wm. Bradshaw, 1st lieutenant.
379:
commanding the Pacific Squadron and U.S. Army Captain
384:with Frémont's party near what is now the Oregon
295:
Hostilities between U.S. and Mexican forces had been
667:
in March 1847 along with the departure of Commodore
231:
226:
155:
147:
137:
129:
119:
101:
71:
53:
45:
37:
20:
756:The battalion was organized into eight companies:
578:Commodore Stockton and (brevet) Brigadier General
342:on 7 July 1846 and began taking over the ports in
856:Bear Flag Rising: The Conquest of California 1846
391:Sutter's fort, the American flag raised July 1846
902:; pp 382-385; University of Nevada Press; 1985;
992:California Battalion of Mounted Riflemen, 1846
714:mountains. When Kearny and Frémont arrived at
450:(to be renamed San Francisco) on 9 July 1846.
830:, captain, Spaniard (appointed by Stockton);
8:
586:was ambiguous as to his status. The rank of
621:on the Cahuenga Plain on 13 January 1847.
372:in Alta California's Capital in Monterey,
1044:History of Los Angeles County, California
264:, United States. It was led by U.S. Army
990:Manders, Eric I., and Wayne A. Colwell.
386:
365:with secret verbal messages to the U.S.
900:Fremont: Explorer for a Restless Nation
898:Egan, Ferol and Dillon, Richard ;
847:
350:was replaced by the Stars and Stripes.
32:Grigsby Company Bear Guidon (E company)
1034:1846 establishments in Alta California
283:, commanding officer of the U.S. Navy
17:
810:(enrolled as a Lieutenant) and Scout
7:
814:, captain (appointed by Stockton);.
665:1st Regiment of New York Volunteers
887:Los Angeles in the War with Mexico
14:
960:California Battalion Organization
422:Battalion in Mexican American War
858:, Tom Doherty Associates; 1999;
741:Commanding officer: Lt.-Colonel
601:. Frémont led his unit over the
464:Corps of Topographical Engineers
106:
88:
76:
58:
26:
920:Santa Barbara, Past and Present
702:. They went back East over the
497:, under the command of Captain
442:of the U.S. Navy that occupied
318:, dispatched his flagship, the
314:, commander of the U.S. Navy's
1039:Military history of California
1:
663:and his about 600 men in the
710:who had died in 1846 in the
260:(1846–1848) in present-day
1080:
875:Juan Flanco's amazing ride
208:"Battle" of Fremont's Pass
748:Second in command: Major
599:Santa Barbara, California
214:Battle of Rio San Gabriel
25:
979:What I saw in California
932:Fremont's Mariposa ranch
716:Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
1059:1848 in Alta California
1054:1847 in Alta California
937:8 February 2009 at the
1024:Conquest of California
981:Accessed 15 March 2009
969:Accessed 15 March 2009
941:Accessed 17 March 2009
889:Accessed 15 March 2009
877:Accessed 17 March 2009
736:Battalion Organization
654:signed by Frémont and
646:
639:
499:Samuel Francis Du Pont
392:
361:was sent by President
359:Archibald H. Gillespie
181:Skirmish at San Rafael
918:Tompkins, Walker A.
824:Battle of San Pasqual
661:Jonathan D. Stevenson
644:
630:
584:Battle of San Pasqual
516:staged a revolt, the
510:Pueblo de Los Angeles
488:Pueblo de Los Angeles
390:
196:Battle of San Pasqual
965:15 June 2010 at the
782:Lansford W. Hastings
725:Rancho Las Mariposas
712:Sierra Nevada (U.S.)
634:California Battalion
603:Santa Ynez Mountains
518:Siege of Los Angeles
444:Monterey, California
340:Monterey, California
258:Mexican–American War
254:California Battalion
191:Mexican-American War
41:June 1846 – May 1847
21:California Battalion
750:Archibald Gillespie
569:Rancho Los Vergeles
561:Rancho La Natividad
446:on 7 July 1846 and
436:Archibald Gillespie
418:only where needed.
268:Lieutenant Colonel
202:Battle of Natividad
151:Fremont's Battalion
96:California Republic
66:California Republic
1064:1848 in California
769:Granville P. Swift
652:Treaty of Cahuenga
647:
626:Treaty of Cahuenga
595:Robert F. Stockton
468:Bear Flag Republic
428:Robert F. Stockton
407:Bear Flag Republic
393:
281:Robert F. Stockton
175:Battle of OlĂłmpali
142:Sonoma, California
1003:Rogers, Fred B.;
908:978-0-87417-096-2
854:Walker, Dale L.;
832:Santiago ArgĂĽello
820:Samuel J. Hensley
580:Stephen W. Kearny
553:Stephen W. Kearny
545:San Juan Bautista
526:San Francisco Bay
514:JosĂ© MarĂa Flores
297:underway in Texas
247:
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169:Capture of Sonoma
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828:Miguel Pedrorena
792:Richard T. Jacob
729:Thomas O. Larkin
704:California Trail
688:Mormon Battalion
684:California Trail
677:California Trail
673:Richard B. Mason
539:California Trail
456:California Trail
440:Pacific Squadron
398:Bear Flag Revolt
370:Thomas O. Larkin
316:Pacific Squadron
285:Pacific Squadron
274:Bear Flag Revolt
164:Bear Flag Revolt
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124:Mounted Infantry
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802:of Santa Cruz).
743:John C. Frémont
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669:Robert Stockton
607:San Marcos Pass
551:'s and General
549:Robert Stockton
537:the peace. The
460:Mission Indians
424:
381:John C. Frémont
344:Alta California
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270:John C. Frémont
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377:John D. Sloat
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84:United States
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974:
955:
946:
927:
919:
914:
899:
894:
882:
870:
855:
850:
837:
812:Alexis Godey
805:
755:
708:Donner party
681:
648:
633:
631:
623:
592:
577:
543:
535:
507:
502:
493:
481:
479:government.
452:
425:
411:
394:
352:
334:
324:
294:
253:
251:
49:May 31, 1847
15:
656:Andrés Pico
619:Andrés Pico
557:Californios
477:Californios
448:Yerba Buena
357:Lieutenant
355:U.S. Marine
156:Engagements
148:Nickname(s)
138:Garrison/HQ
1018:Categories
842:References
808:Kit Carson
522:Juan Flaco
328:, and the
262:California
227:Commanders
72:Allegiance
588:Commodore
533:Angeles.
530:San Pedro
492:USS
484:San Diego
374:Commodore
353:In 1846,
348:Bear Flag
333:USS
323:USS
309:Commodore
291:Formation
278:Commodore
234:commander
133:Battalion
46:Disbanded
963:Archived
935:Archived
700:Nebraska
615:Dragoons
611:Presidio
325:Savannah
301:Mazatlán
800:alcalde
745:US Army
563:in the
559:on the
320:frigate
232:Current
54:Country
906:
862:
573:Indian
432:brevet
367:Consul
335:Levant
305:Mexico
266:Brevet
216:(1847)
210:(1846)
204:(1846)
198:(1846)
183:(1846)
177:(1846)
171:(1846)
111:
102:Branch
93:
81:
63:
38:Active
761:1847.
727:that
503:Cyane
494:Cyane
415:board
330:sloop
904:ISBN
860:ISBN
752:USMC
698:and
696:Iowa
486:and
252:The
130:Size
120:Type
826:);
605:at
508:In
1020::
694:,
628::
303:,
287:.
86:,
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