Imperfect Union
Page 41
“Texas Torch-Light Procession”: “Texas Torch-Light Procession,” Daily Madisonian, March 3, 1845.
the headline LAND! LAND!: Ibid.
“fearful . . . certainly were sustained”: “The Inauguration,” National Intelligencer, March 5, 1845.
“a large assemblage of umbrellas”: Diary entry, March 4, 1845, Memoirs of John Quincy Adams, vol. 12, 179.
“in a firm tone . . . impressed by it himself”: “The Inauguration,” National Intelligencer, March 5, 1845.
“in other sections”: Polk inaugural, Daily Madisonian, March 4, 1845.
his famous son-in-law: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 418–19.
“I mentioned that I had, shortly before . . . three great rivers”: Ibid., 418.
settle there in such numbers that the result became inevitable: Benton expressed this view directly to President Polk. Polk, diary entry, October 25, 1845, Quaife, Diary of James K. Polk, vol. 1, 71–72.
fifty-nine stories during 1843 and fifty-three in 1844: Author search of New York Herald 1843–44, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers database, Library of Congress.
invited Captain Frémont to dinner: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 420.
“twenty times as valuable to us as all Texas”: Daniel Webster to Fletcher Webster, March 11, 1845, Webster, Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, 204.
called him Aunt Fancy: Baker, James Buchanan, 25.
Jessie wrote out translations: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 421. Polk’s diary corroborates this story to an extent; at a slightly later period, October 1845, it refers to Polk directing Buchanan to share confidential documents with Benton. Polk, diary entry, October 24, 1845, Quaife, Diary of James K. Polk, vol. 1, 68.
He was to work near Bent’s Fort: Abert to Frémont, February 12, 1845, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 1, 395–96.
hire a “Botanical Colourist”: Abert to Frémont, March 5, 1845, ibid., 399.
“the military peculiarity of the Country . . . you shall examine”: Abert to Frémont, April 10, 1845, ibid., 407.
“if any operations . . . may be at command”: Ibid.
“EXPLORING EXPEDITION . . . now have a chance”: “Exploring Expedition,” Niles’ National Register, vol. 68, May 3, 1845, 129.
“What we do not understand . . . right it is ordered”: “Frémont’s Expedition,” Boston Daily Atlas, June 4, 1845.
“Some conversation occurred . . . before his return”: Polk, diary entry, October 24, 1845, Quaife, Diary of James K. Polk, vol. 1, 71–72.
summer of 1846 returning: She referred to this in her letter to JCF, June 18, 1846. Herr and Spence, Letters, 24. John also referred in his letters to his hopes of returning at that time.
“he seems drooping . . . much attached”: Physician Caspar Wistar to T. Hartley Crawford, May 5, 1845, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 1, 417.
“been a Quaker all winter”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 424.
May 30, 1845: Theodore Talbot to Adelaide Talbot, May 30, 1845, Hine and Lottinville, Soldier in the West, 10.
“name no wages at present . . . make everything satisfactory”: Martin oral history, With Frémont 1845–49, 1.
establishing service . . . Galveston: “Texas Mail,” Niles’ National Register, vol. 68, June 21, 1845, 245.
ostensibly friendly visit . . . Veracruz: Ibid., May 31, 105.
plotted . . . to raise a private army: Stockton letter to Bancroft, reproduced in Merry, A Country of Vast Design, 154.
“The day cannot be distant . . . hastening year of the Lord 1945!”: John L. O’Sullivan, “Annexation,” United States Magazine and Democratic Review 17, July–August 1845.
“measurer of coal and salt”: Meltzer, Milton. Nathaniel Hawthorne, 54–55.
“two bloody scalps, dangling from the end of Godey’s gun”: JCF, Report of the Exploring Expedition to Oregon, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 1, 680.
“the former an American . . . the latter a Frenchman, born in St. Louis”: Ibid., 681.
“The more noble Indian . . . brought along the entire scalp”: Preuss, diary entry, April 27, 1844, Gudde and Gudde, Exploring with Frémont, 127–28.
“I believe . . . taken by his own hand”: Ibid.
Swanok and Jim Sagundai: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 424. JCF does not give the first name Jim, but Anderson does in “The Delaware and Shawnee Indians,” 259.
“principal objects . . . beyond the Rocky Mountains”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 425.
Several quit the expedition: Martin, With Frémont 1845–49, 2.
the captain decreed that they must walk instead of ride: Ibid., 3.
“encountered a Cheyenne. . . . was imposing”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 425.
the explosion startled the camp: Martin, With Frémont 1845–49, 5.
“Throwing off . . . stirred the blood pleasantly for the moment”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 425–26.
“well-appointed compact party . . . willing to meet it”: Ibid., 428.
a world apart: A standard modern history of the state is Starr, California.
“Charge . . . necessary and, even, urgent”: Rosenus, General Vallejo and the Advent of the Americans, 80.
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE SPANIARDS WERE SOMEWHAT RUDE AND INHOSPITABLE
“a broken band several miles in length”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 448.
“an interior lake . . . the lofty cypress”: Frémont, Geographical Memoir, Senate Document 148, 30th Congress, 1st Session, 1848, 21.
Chrysopylae, or the Golden Gate: Ibid. Also JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 512.
“one of the best among the few . . . chill of the afternoons”: Ibid., 453.
“considerable Negro blood”: Savage, “The Influence of William Alexander Leidesdorff on the History of California.”
ship was sold out from under him: Ibid.
thirty-five thousand acres: Ibid.
the United States’s first-ever diplomat of color: The State Department itself may not have realized who was serving in its name. Today, the Office of the Historian lists “the first African-American diplomat” not as Leidesdorff but as Ebenezer Don Carlos Bassett, appointed consul general to Haiti in 1869, almost a quarter-century after Leidesdorff.
“so at variance. . . . it is fair to consider . . . I find the theory of our Great Basin . . . et le bon temps viendra”: JCF to JBF, January 24, 1846, reprinted in the Easton Star, May 26, 1846.
“the appearance of an extensive park”: Archibald H. Gillespie, quoted in Marti, Messenger of Destiny, 25.
nail down redwood shingles: Kirker, “The Larkin House Revisited,” California History, vol. 65, No. 1, March 1986, 28.
one of the two Americans who married into the family of General Vallejo: Rosenus, General Vallejo and the Advent of the Americans, 10.
sometimes lending money to California officials: One, Gov. Micheltorena, never repaid him. Ibid., 56.
refusing to reimburse $31.34: This story is contained in three letters. Larkin told Buchanan he was “destitute” of seal or flag April 11, 1844 (Hammond, Larkin Papers, vol. 2, 92). He paid Parrott and Co. $31.34 for a flag and staff January 21, 1845 (ibid., vol. 3, 19). He complained that “my bill for a flag” and other expenses were “cut off,” Larkin to Buchanan, March 9, 1846 (reprinted in JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 462).
“spent their leisure time ashore . . . fish every day in the year?”: “Upper California,” New York Herald, May 18, 1843.
“We have . . . not more happy than a Californian”: “Sketches of California,” New York Herald, June 12, 1845.
“I never make to the Government an unreasonable request . . . well disposed toward me”: Thomas Larkin to JCF, March 8, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 79.
“very friendly relations grew up with us”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 456.
“a
severe horsewhipping”: JCF to Dolores Pacheco, February 24, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 68.
war was “probable”: JCF to James Clyman, no date, approximately April 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 131.
“any intelligence you may have received from the States”: JCF to Thomas Larkin, March 5, 1846, ibid., 73.
In later years he would give several explanations: The writer Josiah Royce, who interviewed both Frémonts in 1884, reported that John made contradictory claims, including that he had been given permission by Castro to survey the coastal passes. The available record shows he neither requested nor received any such permission. Royce, California, 115.
“I had before my mind the home I wished to make . . . wanted for my mother”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 457.
After inspecting Santa Cruz he drifted southeastward: Frémont’s map of California traces this route, which is also described in his memoir and in Martin, With Frémont 1845–49, 6.
passing time until the snow melted: JCF to Thomas Larkin, March 5, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 73.
“I therefore practice the selfdenial . . . society in your capital”: Ibid.
“you and the party . . . this same Department”: José Castro to JCF, March 5, 1846, ibid., 74–75.
“unfortunate” . . . “false reports, or false appearances”: Thomas Larkin to José Castro and Manuel de Jesús Castro, March 6, 1846, ibid., 76.
“must now either blindly obey. . . . by his crime”: Manuel de Jesús Castro to Thomas Larkin, March 8, 1846, ibid., 77.
“a band of robbers . . . lance the ulcer”: Castro proclamation, March 8, 1846, ibid., 81.
“Captain said that he wd leave the country, but wd not be driven out”: Theodore Talbot to Adelaide Talbot, July 24, 1846, Hine and Lottinville, Soldier in the West, 41.
John used his spyglass: JCF to Thomas Larkin, March 9, 1846, ibid., 81–82.
a note in pencil: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 463.
“I am making myself as strong as possible” . . . “J.C. Frémont”: Ibid.
“trouble hereafter to Resident Americans”: Thomas Larkin to JCF, March 8, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 78–79.
he was near 40 degrees latitude: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 460.
Two men asked permission to quit: Theodore Talbot identifies the two as Joseph Walker and Charles Taplin, and says of Taplin, “The Captain wrote home by him.” Talbot gave a slightly earlier date for this departure, but was likely mistaken; he was writing his account without reference to notes. Theodore Talbot to Adelaide Talbot, July 24, 1846, Hine and Lottinville, Soldier in the West, 41.
“The Spaniards . . . a solitary act of hostility”: JCF to JBF, April 1, 1846, reprinted in New York Herald, November 11, 1846.
he probably inflated the size of the Mexican force: The reliable Larkin thought it was not “three or four hundred” men but two hundred, as did an officer whose US Navy ship Cyane visited Monterey soon after the incident. “From California,” New York Tribune, June 13, 1846.
of “hardy warriors”: JCF to James Clyman, approximately April 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 131.
“An Indian let loose is of all animals . . . inflicting suffering”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 502.
“feathers on their heads, and faces painted black, their war color”: Ibid., 517.
killed 175 Indians: Martin, With Frémont 1845–49, 7.
“We found . . . survivors fled in all directions”: Quaife, Kit Carson’s Autobiography, 95.
“Our arrival took them . . . their habit of hostility”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 483.
“caught the faint sound of horses’ feet . . . fatigued by long traveling”: Ibid., 486–87.
his servant was Benjamin Harrison: Marti, Messenger of Destiny, 35.
fluency in Spanish: Ibid., 6–7.
“confidential agent” . . . paid six dollars per day: James Buchanan to Thomas Larkin, October 17, 1845, Moore, ed., Works of James Buchanan, vol. 6, 275–78.
“The future Destiny . . . People of the United States”: James Buchanan to Thomas Larkin, no date, Bancroft, History of California, vol. 5, 1846–48, 596.
“any other European power”: Ibid., 597.
Gillespie verbally repeated the instructions: Gillespie’s testimony to this effect in an 1848 inquiry is cited in Royce, California, 130.
“The information through Gillespie . . . object of the President”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 488–89.
asserted nearly the same: Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, fn xxxi.
“I received nothing”: JCF to Thomas Hart Benton, May 24, 1846, JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 499–500.
“I sat by the fire in fancied security . . . among the animals”: Ibid.
“What’s the matter over there?”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 490.
Carson shouted “Indians!”: Ibid.
never fired a gun: Martin, With Frémont 1845–49, 9.
remains of Basil Lajeunesse: Ibid.
“seized [the ax] and knocked his head . . . scalped him”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 492.
“With our knives we dug a shallow grave” . . . “creek where he died”: Ibid.
“Very sick here”: Ibid., 493.
At Sagundai’s suggestion: Ibid.
“In one of them . . . we found an old Indian woman who had been shot”: Martin, With Frémont 1845–49, 11.
“being dry . . . the fire was a beautiful sight”: Quaife, Kit Carson’s Autobiography, 100.
“His hand was still grasping . . . wore when he was killed”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 494.
John fired at the attacker and missed: Ibid., 495.
“I owe my life to them two”: So Carson was quoted in the Washington Union, June 15, 1847.
gave the reins to Jacob Dodson: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 495.
“By Heaven, this is rough work . . . time enough to forget about this”: Ibid., 495.
CHAPTER NINE: I AM NOT GOING TO LET YOU WRITE ANYTHING BUT YOUR NAME
“I shall be outnumbered ten to one and be compelled to make good my retreat”: JCF to James Clyman, approximately April 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2., 131.
“I have but a faint hope . . . late in September”: JCF to Thomas Hart Benton, May 24, 1846, ibid., 138.
apparently in the hands of Sagundai: Sagundai volunteered to carry a letter from California to Benton (Connelley, A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, 249–50). It is likely that this was the letter Sagundai carried. JCF was known to have sent only two letters to Benton during the period when Sagundai could have returned, and the other letter was sent by Commodore Sloat.
faced “perplexing complications”: JCF to James Clyman, approximately April 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2., 131.
“You are aware . . . times to come”: Thomas Larkin to JCF, May 31, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 141.
he worked his way through the crew: Larkin told a story of doing this in one of his pseudonymous letters to the same newspaper. Letter from “Paisano,” New York Herald, June 12, 1845.
“I have been keeping some . . . published Books of Travels”: Larkin to JCF, May 31, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 140–2.
“a native of South Carolina . . . person and features”: “Captain Frémont,” biographical sketch by “A.R.C.,” reprinted in Alexandria Gazette, December 31, 1845. Variously edited versions of the same sketch also appeared in the Augusta Chronicle, Washington Examiner, and Norfolk Democrat.
written in Washington: “Captain Frémont,” Alexandria Gazette, December 31, 1845.
“Mrs. Frémont and two sisters attended the court as witnesses”: Thomas Larkin to JCF, May 31, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 141.
“always endeavor to do them jus
tice” . . . “as lasting as it is enviable”: The papers that reprinted this account included the Washington Semi-weekly Union, November 6, 1845.
“the little one declined an introduction”: Thomas Larkin to JCF, May 31, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 140–42.
staged a public event: Herr, Jessie Benton Frémont, 130.
debate and approve the treaty: Ibid.
purchased their house from an early member of the global elite: JBF, Souvenirs of My Time, 57.
all the way to Philadelphia and New York: The not fully operational line is discussed in a letter from B. B. French, of the telegraph company, in the Washington Union, June 18, 1846.
“magnificent collection of valuable European oil paintings”: Ibid.
“a very handsome variety” . . . “book-cases and couches”: Ibid.
less than fully dressed: Meigs, Life of Thomas Hart Benton, 515.
“the disease seems to have expended itself, and she is quite well again”: JBF to JCF, June 18, 1846. Herr and Spence, eds., Letters of Jessie Benton Frémont, 25.
“discovered a good wagon road to Oregon . . . any heretofore travelled”: “Captain Frémont—Interesting,” Washington Union, April 16, 1846.
reprinted in at least a dozen papers: Author search of Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers database, LOC, October 15, 2017.
“Fremont at Monterey”: It was first in the New Orleans Daily Picayune, April 22, 1846.
She arranged for its publication: JBF to JCF, June 18, 1846, Herr and Spence, Letters, 26.
General Castro’s demand: “Later from Mexico,” Washington Union, May 26, 1846.
“not the least apprehension for Captain Frémont”: Ibid.
the very next day a letter arrived: JBF to JCF, June 18, 1846, Herr and Spence, Letters, 24.
Kentuckian who did business in New Mexico: Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 150fn.
“I hope that as I write”: JBF to JCF, June 18, 1846, Herr and Spence, Letters, 24–7.
“the imminent risk of invasion . . . Mr. N. [sic] Frémont”: Proceedings of council of war, April 11, 1846, reprinted in JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 500.
“a multitude of foreigners” . . . “find it convenient”: Proclamation, April 30, 1846, reprinted in ibid., 503.