The Making of the Great West, 1512-1883Drake, Samuel Adams
History
The Making of the Great West, 1512-1883
Drake, Samuel Adams
America -- Discovery and exploration; West (U.S.) -- History
Commodore Stockton, an energetic officer who succeeded Sloat, now took
active steps for putting down all armed resistance to the United States.
Fremont's battalion,[5] now mustered into the service of the United
States, but until then acting independently, was sent to San Diego on
board the Cyane. No resistance was met with at San Diego. Fremont then
marched on Los Angeles, the actual capital, which he entered in company
with a force led by Commodore Stockton from San Pedro, on the coast.
The Californians nowhere made a stand, but fled to the mountains rising
behind Monterey.
California having thus fallen so easily into our hands, steps were at
once taken to quiet it. Civil officers were appointed to administer the
government. The inhabitants were promised protection so long as they
kept peace, while, as if to clinch what had been done already, numbers
of emigrants were coming down into the Sacramento Valley from the north,
and coming to stay.
[Illustration: EL CAPITAN, YOSEMITE.]
An insurrection in the south put an end to this state of things. In
a little time the interior country was again overrun. While it was
in progress, General Kearney was heard from. After making one of the
longest marches on record, he had arrived near San Pasqual, where the
insurgents were found in some strength. A fight took place in which
Kearney's overmatched force was roughly handled, and for a time hemmed
in by foes. The Californians were themselves in turn defeated at San
Gabriel and the Mesa, and meeting Fremont coming to attack them from
Santa Barbara, gave themselves up to him.
The war on the Pacific coast was thus ended, while that on the Atlantic
was still in progress. General Taylor had taken Monterey, and later
fought the battle of Buena Vista, which was obstinately contested. A
second army under General Scott landed at Vera Cruz, and, with the aid
of the fleet, took the castle of San Juan de Ulloa. This army then began
its victorious march for the City of Mexico, winning battles at Cerro
Gordo, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec. Having overcome all
opposition, the capital was entered, and the war ended Sept. 14, 1847.
By the treaty of peace, which followed (Feb. 2, 1848), the United States
acquired New Mexico and California, for which fifteen millions were
paid. Mexico also gave up her claim to the territory east of the Rio
Grande. That river on the east, and the Gila on the west, now formed
the southern boundary of the United States, from the Gulf of Mexico to
the junction of the Gila with the Colorado. From thence a straight line
extended it to the Pacific, so as to include the port of San Diego.
FOOTNOTES
[1] CARSON'S HOME was at Taos, and he knew the country
thoroughly. He had promised Fremont to go to Washington in
sixty days, and had already killed or worn out thirty mules
when he met Kearney.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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