Easy Beginnings to the War

Rarely has a sovereign nation enjoyed such a short history as the Bear Flag Republic.  On July 7, John D Sloat, along with the US Pacific flotilla, having sailed into Monterey harbor, started the Mexican-American War by occupying the capital of California without a struggle.  The United States flag replaced the Bear Flag in northern California, and Americans believed it would be just that simple in the southern ports and the entire providence.

Sloat, who was in ill health and wanting to retire, soon handed over his command to Commodore Robert Stockton.  One of Stockton's first acts was to dispatch John Charles Fremont, along with his 150 men (known as the California Battalion), south to San Diego, which fell without resistance on July 29. 

Stockton, with as much interest in glory as Fremont, issued a proclamation on that same day that charged the Mexican militia with "scenes of rape, blood, and murder."  Stockton was not happy with what he saw as a weak General Castro, and if the Mexicans refused to fight a war, he would manufacture one.

Stockton, along with 360 sailors and marines, sailed to San Paulo Bay on August 6th.  He declined to negotiate with Castro.  A week later, Los Angeles fell to the Americans , again without resistance.  Castro, meanwhile, fled California for Mexico proper.

The entire coast of California was now in US hands.  Stockton returned to Monterey Bay and left Archibald Gillespie in charge, along with a 50 man garrison to govern Los Angeles.  Stockton could not have made a worse choice. 




Next time...no more "without a struggle"


______________________________
Today in Pioneer History:  "On April 20, 1842, the first detective story is published, The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allen Poe.