“leave the country . . . on pain of death”: William B. Ide narrative, reproduced in Ide, Conquest of California, 78.
“naturally humane and generous”: Ibid.
“their common safety” . . . “the place of meeting”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 509.
“a large body of Spaniards on horseback” . . . “come to his camp”: Ide, in his narrative, quoted the document, which he said he had in hand while writing, though it has since been lost. William B. Ide narrative, reproduced in Ide, Conquest of California, 81.
“required” . . . “to promote the object of the President” . . . “take California”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 488–89.
a barracks in which 250 rifles . . . were stored: Rosenus, General Vallejo and the Advent of the Americans, 112.
looked like “banditti”: Ibid., 110.
a hundred pounds of gunpowder: Ide to Commodore Stockton, June 15, 1846, reprinted in JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 523–4.
“This day we proclaim California a Republic” . . . “be protected”: Ibid.
“We have determined to make this country independent . . . long road back”: Ide, June 18, 1846, reprinted in Bancroft, History of California, vol. 5, 1846–48, fn 159.
his “earnest desire”: Ibid., 161.
gunmen arrived in Sonoma: Ibid., 164.
“the Spaniards are not only satisfied, but pleased”: Ide to Stockton, reprinted in JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 523.
“you are the prisoner of these people”: Rosenus, General Vallejo and the Advent of the Americans, 135.
Castro was organizing troops: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 522.
“we went to the rescue”: Talbot to his mother, July 24, 1846, Hine and Lottinville, Soldier in the West, 42.
their captors had killed them: Ibid., 160–61.
“Shall I take these men” . . . “no room for prisoners”: Bancroft, History of California, vol. 5, 1846–48, 171.
“Three of Castro’s party . . . no loss on either side”: JCF to Thomas Hart Benton, July 25, 1846, Spence and Jackson, Expeditions, vol. 2, 183–84.
“My scouts, mainly Delawares . . . messages”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 525.
“Pulling across the strait . . . at full speed”: Ibid., 526.
six brass cannons: JCF to Thomas Hart Benton, July 25, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 183.
inflated the number to fourteen: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 526.
“It had now become necessary . . . desired me to take charge of it”: Ibid.
“Its existence was due to my presence . . . to the settlers”: Ibid.
“I called the people together . . . placed under my direction”: JCF to Thomas Hart Benton, July 25, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 184.
about 250 sailors and Marines rowed ashore: The operation was described in a letter “from an officer on board the United States frigate Savannah,” reprinted in the (Washington) Daily Union, October 26, 1846.
a twenty-one-gun salute: Ibid.
“There may be a necessity of one hundred men, well mounted”: John Sloat to JCF, July 9, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 169.
waiting without explanation: Mariano Vallejo to JCF, July 12, 1846, ibid., 170–71.
General Castro was retreating . . . toward Los Angeles: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 531.
a single cannon: JCF to Thomas Hart Benton, July 25, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 184.
“Before us, to the right . . . shade of the pine trees grateful”: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 534.
“I pleased myself . . . this Savannah of the seas”: Ibid., 535.
he resolved he would not seize California’s ports: John Sloat to George Bancroft, June 6, 1846, reprinted in JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 536.
“I have determined to hoist the Flag . . . doing too much than too little”: John Sloat to John B. Montgomery, July 6, 1846, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 164.
“perhaps fearing some other foreign Officer might do it”: Thomas Larkin to James Buchanan, July 10, 1846, “Documentary: The Frémont Episode,” 84.
“Commodore Sloat was glad to see me” . . . “terminated abruptly”: Ibid.
“which juts into the sea . . . an ideal rest”: Ibid.
CHAPTER TEN: DO NOT SUPPOSE I LIGHTLY INTERFERE IN A MATTER BELONGING TO MEN
“information, on which we place implicit reliance”: “California,” Daily Union (Washington), September 2, 1846.
“a detachment . . . post called Sonoma”: Ibid.
John allowed Jacob Dodson to enroll: Senate Bill 79, 34th Congress, 1st Session, American State Papers.
San Diego, which they seized without opposition: “From the Pacific,” Washington Union, October 26, 1846.
“flying at every commanding . . . the United States”: “Report of the Secretary of the Navy,” Washington Union, December 12, 1846.
“our squadron in the Pacific, with the co-operation of a gallant officer of the army”: Polk’s annual message, excerpted in Proceedings of the Court Martial in the Trial of Lieutenant Colonel Frémont, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2 supplement, 287.
“Fremont is Governor, pro tem, of California”: “From Santa Fe,” Boon’s Lick Times, November 21, 1846.
“where a slave’s face was never seen”: Benton speech, May 16, 18, and 20, 1844, Appendix to Congressional Globe, 28th Congress, 1st Session, 485.
“a state of war exists”: Senate Journal, May 12, 1846, 287.
“I have no sympathy for the war . . . Fighting is not his aim”: JBF to John Torrey, March 21, 1847, Herr and Spence, Letters, 30.
“as if revenging a private insult”: Ibid.
“a wanton deliberate lie” . . . “the extension of slavery”: “Fourth Annual Meeting of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society,” North Star, January 7, 1848.
“Look there in the centre! . . . the Western side of this continent”: The letter is attributed to “the Washington correspondent of the Commercial Advertiser,” reprinted in the North-Carolina Standard, February 24, 1847.
“There is a very brave young man named Charles Taplin”: JBF to James Polk, February 16, 1847, Herr and Spence, Letters, 29.
“a herd of loafers who thus annoyed me”: Polk, diary entry, June 21, 1847, Quaife, Diary of James K. Polk, vol. 3, 69.
“There were many visitors . . . office for themselves”: Polk, diary entry, July 1, 1846, ibid., vol. 2, 1.
“lazy-looking loafers” . . . “I may believe them to be”: Polk, diary entry, September 18, 1848, ibid. vol. 4, 124–25.
Taplin received his lieutenant’s commission: Herr and Spence, Letters, 30.
escorted the bride: Polk, diary entry, March 19, 1847, Quaife, Diary of James K. Polk, vol. 2, 427–78.
stayed to chat far into the evening: Ibid.
“I am sorry for her disappointment . . . not necessary to happiness”: JBF to Elizabeth Blair Lee, April 15, 1847, Herr and Spence, Letters, 32.
“I have written you a raven’s letter . . . I am not cheerful”: Ibid.
“thin and sad” . . . “pining for her husband”: Lee quoted in Herr, Jessie Benton Frémont, 157.
“Our country . . . right or wrong, our country”: “The Illumination of Washington,” Washington Union, May 8, 1847.
Fireworks burst over the Washington Navy Yard: Ibid.
“brilliantly illuminated” . . . “not fire-proof”: Ibid.
“the first and only flag . . . August 15, 1842”: Ibid.
Word had filtered back east: For example, in the Pittsburgh Gazette in May 1847. Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 441.
he presumed that his white hosts would disapprove: JCF, Memoirs of My Life, 74.
“modest as he is brave” . . . “the advance of civilization”: “Kit Carson, of the West,” Washington
Union, June 15, 1847.
“I have my reasons for thinking that ’tis written by Jessie”: Herr, Jessie Benton Frémont, 156.
The small force was approaching San Diego: Henry S. Turner, an aide to Kearny, reported that they encountered Californian forces “about 50 miles” from San Diego. HST to his wife, December 21, 1846, “Glimpses of the Past.” Copy in LOC Frémont papers, “Miscellaneous.”
“I demand that you cease” . . . “by the President”: Stephen Kearny to Robert Stockton, January 16, 1847, Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 263.
“I cannot do anything . . . on your demand”: Ibid., 264.
“You are aware that I had contracted . . . ashamed to meet him”: JCF to Thomas Hart Benton, February 3, 1847, ibid., 283.
“I was named Governor . . . gratitude to myself”: Ibid.
a crowd of job seekers: Polk, diary entry, June 7, 1847, Quaife, Diary of James K. Polk, vol. 3, 52.
“Mrs. Fremont . . . were to be sent”: Ibid., 52–53.
“Mrs. Fremont seemed anxious . . . giving her an answer”: Ibid.
“the error being corrected” . . . “Court Martial”: Ibid.
“had a full conversation . . . that distant region”: Ibid.
Carson departed Washington June 15: “Kit Carson, of the West,” Washington Union, June 15, 1847.
Jessie accompanied him: Ibid.
“a cluster of frame and log buildings” . . . “weary days of suspense”: JBF and F. P. Frémont, Great Events in the Life of Major General John C. Frémont, 51.
“the rapid trampling of many horses” . . . “thought for others”: Ibid., 51–52.
“he could not put it into speech”: Ibid., 52.
“escaped from notice into the coming night”: Ibid.
“For a selfish reason I wish your stay” . . . “wishes you”: JBF to Edward F. Beale, September 20, 1847, Herr and Spence, Letters, 34–35.
“You will see” . . . “Jessie Benton Frémont”: JBF to James Polk, September 21, 1847, ibid., 35–36.
“Thanks to Morse! . . . steam pursued them”: Benton speech in Senate executive session, July 1848, reprinted in the (Washington) Daily Union, September 12, 1848.
chosen to show her optimism: Herr, Jessie Benton Frémont, 167.
“We thank the court . . . to the press thus far”: “The Court Martial of Lieut. Col. Frémont,” New York Herald, November 4, 1847.
“California desert rangers . . . of the Great Basin”: Ibid.
John, with Jacob Dodson and a Californian, rode four hundred miles in four days: “The Oregon Horses,” New York Herald, November 25, 1847.
“It is no part of my intention . . . technical point”: Court-martial proceedings, Spence and Jackson, Expeditions, vol. 2 supplement, 4.
“I name as the counsel . . . William Carey Jones, esquires”: Ibid.
“You will be justified, and exalted . . . it will have its Sweet”: Thomas Hart Benton to JCF, October 8, 1847, Spence and Jackson, Expeditions, vol. 2, 405.
“the subject of an outrage” . . . career: Ibid.
“we have carried the points which command the issues of the case”: JCF to Henry H. Sibley, November 5, 1847, Spence and Jackson, Expeditions, vol. 2, 456.
staring at General Kearny: Ibid., 326–27.
“to be dismissed from the service”: Ibid., 338.
“circumstances . . . greater experience than the accused”: Ibid., 340.
“beg[ged] leave to recommend him to the clemency of the President of the United States”: Ibid.
“in consideration of the peculiar circumstances” . . . “and report for duty”: Ibid., 341.
In the house at C Street: So Frémont datelined the letter. JCF to Roger Jones, February 19, 1848, Spence and Jackson, Expeditions, vol. 2, 478.
180–81 “I . . . hereby send in my resignation . . . J.C. Frémont”: Ibid.
presented to local authorities in 1849: It was announced in the Daily Sanduskian, October 23, 1849.
was “substantially unanimous”: Hayes described the petition in a letter to historian Henry Howe, July 22, 1889. Frémont papers, LOC.
Fremont Weekly Freeman: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers database, LOC.
thirteen days to deliver: Nevins, Fremont: Pathmarker of the West, 342.
“malice and envy”: “Another String of Resolutions Offered in Executive Session, by Col. Benton,” New York Herald, August 17, 1848.
eight dollars per day: “Col. Frémont,” New York Herald, July 24, 1848.
a “geographical memoir”: Frémont, Geographical Memoir, Senate Document 148, 30th Congress, 1st Session, 1848.
“For some months I have been unwell” . . . “not even to remember it”: JBF to John Torrey, May 29, 1848, Herr and Spence, Letters, 36–37.
“It is understood . . . proceed at once to San Francisco”: “Intelligence by the Mails,” New York Herald, April 12, 1848.
“go to California with a view. . . . desert explorer himself”: Ibid.
“lies against Col. Frémont” . . . “notorious”: Benton open letter to the people of California, reprinted in New York Herald, September 26, 1848.
“In speaking of this railroad . . . run off the track, sir”: “Thirtieth Congress,” New York Herald, August 8, 1848.
three St. Louis businessmen: They were Robert Campbell, a merchant; Thornton Grimsley, a saddler; and Oliver D. Filley, a Dutch oven manufacturer. Spence, Expeditions, vol. 3, xxii.
“comforting presence . . . the bitter cup”: The traveler, one T. C. Peters, described his encounter in a letter published in the Buffalo Daily Republic and reprinted in the New York Tribune, July 8, 1856.
“to entertain their friends in their own house”: Ibid.
“Lieut. Col. Fremont and 35 of his men . . . Westport”: Jefferson Inquirer, reprinted in Saturday Morning Visitor, October 14, 1848.
“that is not an irreparable loss”: JBF to Elizabeth Blair Lee, April 15, 1847, Herr and Spence, Letters, 32.
“Grief was new to me . . . give him up”: JBF to Christopher Carson, May 1863, Herr and Spence, Letters, 352.
On October 8, 1848, the steamboat crew tied up: Spence, Expeditions, vol. 3, xxv.
John had intended to start out: Jessie wrote in May 1848 that John intended to leave in June. JBF to John Torrey, May 29, 1848. Herr and Spence, Letters, 37.
wanted to prove that the railroad route would be passable: Herr and Spence, Letters, fn 37.
the ashes of his campfire: JBF, Year of American Travel, 17.
a federal Indian agent: Jessie remembered him as “Major Cummings”; he is identified as Robert W. Cummins in Spence, Expeditions, vol. 3, xxiv.
“pleasant change of ideas”: JBF, Year of American Travel, 17–18.
“the creak of his wife’s rocking-chair . . . break the silence”: Ibid.
“a sound full of pain and grief . . . she-wolf hunting her cubs”: Ibid., 19.
“nerves already overstrained”: Ibid.
“a big dark object . . . a speaking wolf too”: Ibid., 20.
CHAPTER ELEVEN: WE PRESSED ONWARD WITH FATAL RESOLUTION
Appalachians to Buffalo, Detroit, and Louisville: The Liberator, January 7, 1848, refers to the “New York, Albany and Buffalo Telegraph Co.” Congregational Journal, February 17, 1848, notes a plan to extend the Detroit line to “Ann Harbor” and Ypsilanti, Michigan. The Christian Watchman, February 18, 1848, refers to a telegraph line to Cincinnati and Louisville, soon to be extended to Florence, Alabama, and New Orleans.
“By Electric Telegraph”: One of many such headlines was in the Boston Evening Transcript, February 18, 1848.
“rumors of peace”: “Highly Important from Mexico,” Boston Daily Atlas, February 7, 1848.
a messenger had reached New Orleans: “By Magnetic Telegraph,” Boston Evening
Transcript, February 18, 1848.
bragged about it himself: One of his biographers writes, “All the evidence points to Sutter as the first to reveal the gold discovery, but he blamed others.” Hurtado, John Sutter, 220.
he told was Mariano G. Vallejo: Ibid., 219.
both of whom had met John during the war: Governor Richard Mason was an officer who had quarreled with John. William T. Sherman recounted being so interested in the famous explorer that in 1847 he rode out of Monterey to introduce himself; they had tea, but Sherman left “without being much impressed.” Sherman and Fellman, Memoirs, 25.
bit the gold and pounded it flat with an ax: Ibid., 40.
four thousand men: President James K. Polk, Annual Message, December 5, 1848.
digging holes and using water to sift the earth: Sherman and Fellman, Memoirs, 54.
“For a time it seemed as though somebody would reach solid gold”: Ibid., 46.
an oyster can filled with gold: Ibid., 58.
Larkin, the US consul, added a letter: Thompson, “Edward Fitzgerald Beale and the California Gold Rush,” 202.
Two messengers, by two different routes: The other was Lieutenant Lucien Loeser of the US Army. Sherman and Fellman, Memoirs, 68.
in his midtwenties, with eager, observant eyes and a fringe of beard: Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2, 387; illustration after 388.
linger long enough to testify: Beale testified beginning December 23, 1847. Jackson and Spence, Expeditions, vol. 2 supplement, 270.
“nothing of importance occurred”: Polk, diary entry, September 18, 1848, Quaife, Diary of James K. Polk, vol. 4, 125. The date of Beale’s visit, September 18, is reported in Thompson, “Edward Fitzgerald Beale and the California Gold Rush,” 202.
William Carey Jones . . . wrote it up: Ibid. Thompson, “Edward Fitzgerald Beale and the California Gold Rush,” 202.
“Are there any flowers or plants peculiar to a gold region?”: JBF to John Torrey, December 8, 1848. Herr and Spence, Letters, 37.
“I have had neither the quiet nor the strength”: Ibid.
“I shall go by the isthmus . . . commence running”: JBF to John Torrey, May 29, 1848, ibid., 37.
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