They attempted to cross without a guide, in the dead of winter. In forty days the men and the surviving horses--a woeful procession crawling along one by one, skeleton men leading skeleton horses--arrived at Sutter's Fort (Sacramento) in the beautiful valley of the Sacramento. Here genial warmth, trees in foliage, grassy ground, and flowers made a fairy contrast to the famine and freezing they had met on the mountains they had climbed. After enjoying the hospitality of Colonel Sutter, Fremont again crossed the mountains farther to the south, where the beautiful San Joaquin River makes a gap or pass. [Sidenote: =Sees the Mohave Desert=] When he reached the top of the pass Fremont beheld the plains of the Mohave Desert. An Indian said to him: "There is neither water nor grass--nothing; every animal that goes upon them dies." [Sidenote: =End of second expedition=] Pushing forward with great energy, he reached Utah Lake, thus having nearly made the circuit of the Great Basin. Fremont hastened to Washington with the story of his discoveries. General Scott now recommended that he be made captain. [Sidenote: =Third expedition=] Fremont's third expedition, with Carson as a helper, began in the spring of 1845, and aimed to explore the Great Basin and the coast of California and Oregon. [Illustration: THE UNFURLING OF THE AMERICAN FLAG IN CALIFORNIA _The Stars and Stripes were raised for the first time in California near Monterey in 1846_] [Sidenote: =War breaks out=] =147. In the Mexican War.= Little did Fremont--or any of his men--think what fortune had in store for them. On his way to the Oregon Country Fremont received news that the Mexicans were planning to kill all the Americans in the Sacramento Valley. War had already broken out between the United States and Mexico, but he did not know it. He returned, reaching the valley in May, 1846. The settlers rushed to join him, and in one month northern California was declared independent. [Sidenote: =Conquest of California=] Fremont then marched to Monterey and joined Commander Sloat, who had raised the American flag there, July 7, 1846. This practically finished the conquest of all California in sixty days. [Sidenote: =Fourth expedition=] [Sidenote: =Elected to United States Senate=] =148. Becomes a Private Citizen.= Soon after this event Fremont returned to Washington, gave up his place in the regular army, and went to live in California. His journey to California made up his fourth expedition. But the people would not let him long remain in private. The state elected him to the United States Senate. Fremont was not long in Congress, but was of great service in giving advice concerning the long-talked-of railroad to the Pacific.