Today’s episode is on ‘The Pathfinder’ John Charles Fre’mont and a conflict he found himself in, four months before the start of the Bear Flag Revolt. The differing takes, and spun storylines made today’s topic especially hard to ‘eliminate legend or call it out’, so it is a longer than usual episode.
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Today’s episode is on ‘The Pathfinder’ John Charles Fre’mont and a conflict he found himself in, four months before the start of the Bear Flag Revolt. The differing takes, and spun storylines made today’s topic especially hard to ‘eliminate legend or call it out’, so it is a longer than usual episode.
If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.
monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)
monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)
buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)
twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)
facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Intro
Welcome back, dear listeners. Let’s return to where we left off.
Time, and changing societal views, can shift our interpretation of historical events. And, information discovered after the event, via diaries, witnesses, personal letters, and official documents, allows researchers and historians to re-evaluate historical narratives.
Having said that, let’s return to the Bear Flag Revolt, filled with parallel subplots, crafted storylines from multiple angles and even differing takes from the same country.
In a previous episode, I quoted Dr. Planton Mariano Vallejo, General Mariano Vallejo’s son, who wrote “It is strange indeed how often lies are accepted without examination, and go thundering down the ages, while the truth is rejected and disappears.”
I’ve asked if the Bear Flag Revolt was a display of American bravery or, a blemish on Mexico’s California and United States history. As part of that question, I took a look at preceding events to the Bear Flag Revolt.
Today’s episode is on ‘The Pathfinder’ John Charles Fre’mont and a conflict he found himself in, four months before the start of the Bear Flag Revolt. The differing takes, and spun storylines made today’s topic especially hard to ‘eliminate legend or call it out’, so it is a longer than usual episode. There is a lot to swim through but I’ll do my best to untangle the story. Are you ready? Here we go.
The Pathfinder – John C. Freemont
History has legendized John Fremont, and the Bear Flag Revolt. No doubt. Interestingly, people of Fremont’s time questioned the hero narrative regarding Fremont and the Bear Flag Revolt. But, through the decades, the critical views were silenced, and in some deliberate cases, hidden, while the legend-making narrative went “thundering down the ages”.
In 1890, when Fremont died, American philosopher, Josiah Royce wrote, “An analysis of the very peculiar qualities that marked the late General Fremont would doubtless be a charming task for the psychology student.” Royce was ahead of his time by writing papers that questioned narratives that glorified ‘ how the west was won’ by taking a holistic look at the outliers of historical events. He looked at the people who didn’t win, and questioned narratives that only glorified the victors.
Additionally, and more importantly, Royce met Fremont, interviewed him, wrote about him, favorably, and then later realized Fremont had lied to him.
To Royce’s point, there is a branch of, somewhat controversial, history, Psychohistory, where psychohistorians interpret historical events with the aid of psychological theory and psychoanalysis. It’s a historian with a psychology background. A double major, maybe?
JSTOR Rolle, Andrew. “Exploring an Explorer: Psychohistory and John Charles Frémont.” Pacific Historical Review 51, no. 2 (1982): 135–63. https://doi.org/10.2307/3638527.
Tays, George. “Frémont Had No Secret Instructions.” Pacific Historical Review 9, no. 2 (1940): 157–71. https://doi.org/10.2307/3633082.
I don’t want to spend too much time on Fremont’s backstory, so I’ll cover what I believe is relevant in describing the person.
John Fremont’s story begins in 1813, when his mother, Anne Pryor, a Virginia woman from high society, is unhappily married to Major John Pryor, an older Revolutionary War veteran. She hires a French tutor, Charles Fre’mon, a French immigrant, (who spells his name without a ‘t’ at the end. The ‘t’ was added later).
Charles Fre’mon provides private in-house French classes and … French being the language of love... John Fremont is born an illegitimate child.
When Major Pryor discovers his much younger wife has given birth to the French tutor’s baby, he sends his wife, child, and French-speaking lover out of the house, threatening violence and revenge. Naturally, mother, baby, and lover, all flee the area.
In 1818, when John Fremont is five years old, his father dies. From that point on, Fremont develops a very close bond, and a sense of duty and loyalty, with his mother, despite her difficult nature. Freemont will follow in his father’s footsteps by living a life of impulse, risk-taking, and open defiance of authority.
Fremont spends his youth, and young adulthood, around prominent people, and is described as “spoiled and wanting in discipline, with a love of adventure and the outdoors”.
From a psychoanalytic view, Andrew Rolle feels John Fremont’s sense of identity was based on repression and transference to those around him, meaning Fremont likely repressed his childhood emotions and displaced the trauma, emotions, and struggles onto people and situations around him.
I’m skipping over a lot, here, and moving into the college years. Despite being acknowledged for his advanced mathematical skills, Fremont is expelled from college in 1833, for irregular attendance.
In his adult years, John Fremont provides a family background that either his father Charles may have made up, or by John, the son, to say the father, was, or wasn’t, actually a French-Canadian born man named Louis Rene’ Fre’mon. It’s possible Charles Fre’mon made up his name when he arrived in Virginia as possibly an escaped prisoner of war. John Fremont will go on to say his parents married, after his birth, but there is no proof of that marriage.
In his adult years, John Fremont provides a family background that either his father, Charles, did or didn’t make up, or by John, to say the father, was, or wasn’t, actually a French-Canadian born, or French born, man named Louis Rene’ Fre’mon. It’s possible Charles Fre’mon made up his name when he arrived in Virginia as possibly an escaped prisoner of war. John Fremont will go on to say his parents married, after his birth, but there is no proof of that marriage.
At the age of twenty, Freemont uses his natural talent to teach mathematics on a U.S. warship and becomes a second lieutenant with the U.S Army topographical engineers and surveys railroad sites and unexplored territory as the United States moves farther into the American west.
Through topographical work, Fremont develops an interest in westward expansion and becomes a mentee of the powerful Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton. And, through this mentorship, Fremont falls in love with, and secretly marries, Benton’s 16-year-old daughter, making Senator Benton his powerful mentor, now his father-in-law. There is a theme of romantic secrecy in the Fremont family, it seems. This relationship, unlike his father, will benefit, as well as protect, John Fremont for the rest of his life.
Around 1843, Fremont’s powerful father-in-law, apparently unphased by the secret marriage, sponsors several exploring map expeditions specifically for Freemont, raising Fremont’s status and visibility within the U.S. government, to become Lieutenant and Captain of Topographical Engineers.
Freemont’s surveys and explorations are assisted by Christopher Houston Carson , aka Kit Carson. Yes, the brave western pioneer, Kit Carson all 5’3’ of him. Together they begin two consecutive exploring expeditions to the Pacific Northwest, traveling to California, for the first time in 1844, and then again, in 1845. This second visit, in 1845, is where today’s story begins.
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In July 1845, Freemont, under the guise of exploring the Great Basin and Pacific Coast, as part of scientific research for the United States, is sent to map routes from Missouri to California, with Kit Carson, but this time, with an additional fifty armed men, with the intention of ending the exploration in the capital of Alta California, which is Monterey California.
“The Expeditions of John Charles Fre’mont Volume 2 The Bear Flag Revolt and the Court -Martial” University of Illinois Press, 1973, by Mary Lee Spence and Donald Jackson https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=1EDIQc-PbIEC&printsec=frontcover&hl=sw#v=onepage&q&f=true
Before arriving in Monterey, on December 5th, Fremont stops at Sutter’s Fort, and is given permission to Winter/stay in the New Helvetica/Sacramento area, due to the snow. Sutter’s Fort has become a common stopping point for Americans in the area.
Here, Fremont obtains passports for himself and eight of his men. But, he’s traveling with 50 men so, 42 men remain passport-less. Why is this important? As of 1841 Mexico requires all U.S. citizens to have a passport when entering Mexican territory. The passport topic will come up, again.
<swoosh>
January 20, 1846 Thomas Larkin, from Monterey, writes to John Sutter:
[Larkin to Sutter] Larkin's Official Correspondence I, No. 73, pp. 54-55. Bancroft Library
“Sir, Your letter containing information respecting the arrival of Captain Fremont, I have to thank you for; I should be happy to see him at my House for a few days if he could come to Monterey, or any Gentleman belonging to his party, the men I understand are to winter your way, give my best offers of assistance to him. I remain Sir, Yours respectfully THOMAS O. LARKIN”
Larkin is acknowledging Fremont is currently staying at Sutter’s Fort, as many traveling Americans do, and asks Fremont to visit him in Monterey.
<swoosh>
After leaving New Helvetica, on January 24th, Fremont and his men, arrive in Yerba Buena, and meet with the American Vice Consul, William Alexander Leidesdorff, before traveling to their final stop at Monterey.
“Documentary: The Frémont Episode.” California Historical Society Quarterly 3, no. 3 (1924): 270–89. https://doi.org/10.2307/25613635.
Also on January 24th, 1846, Fremont writes a letter to his wife, addressed from Yerba Buena, describing the exploration so far. He writes, “I am now going on business to see some gentlemen on the coast, and will then join my people, and complete our survey in this part of the world as rapidly as possible.” So, he plans to get to Monterey for business with Larkin, and then, return to his wife in the United States.
On January 27th, 1846, Leidesdorff personally escorts Fremont, and his armed men, from Yerba Buena to Monterey, to meet with American Consul, Thomas Larkin. Upon arrival, Fremont and company settle on William Hartnell’s rancho, 25 miles south of Monterey.
Reminder, I did say these men were armed … for a peaceful exploration mapping expedition, but, let’s continue.
Fremont leaves his men at Hartnell’s Rancho and travels the 25 miles to visit Thomas Larkin at his house in Monterey.
Out of context, things seem fine But, something is wrong. The next part of this episode is directly based on actual letters that capture the events.
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Two days later, on January 29, 1846, Manuel Castro, Senior Prefecto of the 2nd District, writes a letter of inquiry to Thomas Larkin regarding Fremont’s unexpected appearance at the capital of Alta California, asking Larkin to provide “information of the object, or commission, which an officer, now residing in your house, has arrived at this District, with troops from the aforesaid Republic.”
A few things to point out in this letter. Fremont’s arrival in Monterey is a surprise to the Mexican government, and Fremont’s men are referred to as ‘troops’ likely because they are armed.
Larkin, a United States citizen, and successful merchant, is well respected among Californios and the Mexican government, and the United States. So much, that Larkin is made the U.S. Consul in Mexico. But, Larkin, sensing Manuel Castro’s suspicion of both himself and Fremont, immediately responds to Manuel Castro’s letter.
[Larkin to Manuel Castro]
“The undersigned Consul of the United States of America, has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of this morning, requesting information respecting the motives Captain J. C. Fremont of the United States Army, has in visiting this Country; the undersigned is informed by Captain Fremont, that he has been ordered to survey the most practicable route from the United States to the Pacific Ocean, that he has left his Company of fifty hired men (not of the United States Army) on the frontiers of this Department for the purpose of resting themselves and animals, he has come himself to Monterey to obtain clothing, and funds to purchase animals and provisions, and when his men are recruited intends to continue his journey to the Oregon Territory. The undersigned has the honour to offer to the Sor Prefect his highest esteem and consideration. - THOMAS O. LARKIN”
Larkin corrects Manuel Castro by saying Fremont is not traveling with troops, just citizens, and Fremont is only in California to make maps from the United States to the Pacific Ocean, on behalf of the U.S government. And, points out that Fremont traveled alone, to Monterey, to purchase food and clothing and for his men and animals so they can recoup before they make the trip back to Oregon.
Despite these comforting words from a well-trusted American, the Mexican government suspects a few things are wrong with this situation. The expected protocol of the time would have been for Fremont to formally write the Governor, Pio Pico, or General Jose Castro, of his request to enter California before visiting the country for exploration. Captain John Sutter, U.S. Consul Thomas Larkin, and U.S. Vice Consul William Alexander Leidesdorff don’t count as the Mexican government. But, in addition to not following protocol, Fremont is traveling with armed men, to the capital, unannounced…
Given the existing strained relations between Mexico and the United States, all of this is seen as … suspicious.
Historians retrospectively believe Fremont may have orally announced his intention to travel through Alta California, not that Fremont ever stated he had written to anyone about it. There is no documented evidence to support Fremont wrote to the Mexican government about his intended expedition path through California or an explanation for why he didn’t feel he needed to do so.
The Mexican government cautiously waits a month, after Fremont’s arrival, but Fremont hasn’t done anything to indicate he plans to leave the area. Are his men and his horses still resting?
General Jose Castro, having every legal right to do so, writes a letter to Fremont, ordering him, and his men, to immediately leave California for not having passports. Remember the passport acquisition while at Sutter’s Fort? This feels like the current-day charge of using tax evasion when you can’t pin someone for something worse.
Prefecto Manuel Castro also writes a letter to Fremont stating “Yeah, what he said. You need to leave”.
Sidenote, San Francisco’s Castro Street and the Castro District are named after General Jose Castro.
For reference, by 1846, the United States manifest destiny initiative has been in full swing, and an increasing number of U.S. citizens are illegally settling in California, openly declaring they have no intention of assimilating into their new country or becoming Mexican citizens. This is what prompted the 1841 Mexican law, requiring U.S. citizens to have passports when entering Mexican territory. It definitely wasn’t because things were going so well.
Fremont, for reasons no one will ever know, does not to respond to either the General’s or the Precto’s official orders to leave California. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, and say maybe he didn’t receive either of the letters…?
<swoosh>
March 5th, 1846
Larkin is put in an awkward position when General Castro arrives at his house, regarding Fremont’s lack of acknowledgment regarding the two orders to leave. The General supervises Larkin as he writes to Fremont on the General’s behalf. He wants to watch Larkin write a letter to Fremont acknowledging the letters both he and Manuel Castro wrote, and brings copies of the letters. He wants these delivered, again, to Fremont, but with Larkin as the witness.
[Larkin to Fremont}
On March 5, 1846, Larkin to Fremont.
“Sir. I have just received two letters from the Commandant General of California, and Prefecto of this District, who inform me, they have sent you official letters, enclosing me the copies, the following is a translation, which with my answer I will send to you in English. I remain, Dear Sir. Yours sincerely THOMAS O. LARKIN.”
Acting as the translator, Larkin is in the middle of an uncomfortable situation, acknowledging Fremont has most likely ignored two previous orders to leave, and is now receiving another notice from his friend and fellow countryman.
Larkin additionally translates a message from General Jose Castro to Fremont.
[Jose Castro to Fremont]
March 5, 1846
“With this date, I say to Captain J. C. Fremont the following. "At seven o'clock this morning the commandant General was given to understand that you and the party under your command have entered the Towns of this Department, and such being prohibited by our laws, I find myself obligated to advertise you, that on the receipt of this, you will immediately retire beyond the limits of this same Department; such being the orders of the Supreme Government, and the subscriber is obligated to see them complied with. And the undersigned has the honor of transcribing the same to the Consul of the United States of America, for this knowledge of the same. God, and Liberty, Monterey, March 5th. 1846. JOSE CASTRO”
Larkin’s letter with the copies of the two letters ordering him to leave, is delivered to Fremont on that same day, March 5th, 1846.
Fremont has now received three separate notifications, consisting of five letters, to leave California. Why didn’t Fremont respond to the first letters from General Jose Castro and the Prefecto Manuel Castro?
Later that same day, March 5th, Fremont finally responds. He writes back to Larkin, discussing pleasantries about how lovely the spring is going to be. The closest Fremont gets to mentioning the copies of Jose and Manuel Castros’ letters, contained in the same envelope, which he is responding to, is to write to Larkin, “It would have afforded me pleasure to thank you personally for the kindness of your late letters, but I am unwilling to leave my party, and the presence of my little force might be disagreeable to the authorities in Monterey.”
Fremont was ordered to leave California, and he’s wishing he could personally visit Larkin to thank him for his kind letters, and how lovely the spring is going to be. Fremont closes his response by writing, “Please offer my regards to Mrs. Larkin; I must certainly endeavor to see you again before leaving the country.” Not one thing about the order to leave. Totally disregarded.
Okay, Fremont is obviously thumbing his nose at Jose and Manuel Castro’s authority by clearly ignoring the request to leave, and Larkin is in a strange position.
Larkin, in a matter of days, is about to be made a secret agent for the United States government. If there was something to know about Fremont’s mission, Larkin would know about it. But, Larkin doesn’t have any idea what Fremont’s orders could possibly be.
The story is about to take an interesting turn.
After sending Larkin his glib response, Fremont, in open defiance of General Castro’s repeated orders to leave, instead of leaving, takes his men to the top of Gavilan Peak, and builds a fort where he can oversee Monterey Bay, the Salinas, and Santa Clara Valley, taking high ground and strategic positioning. And, in an additional act of defiance, Fremont, having now built a fort, hoists the United States flag in Mexican territory. If this is really a peaceful scientific exploration, I’m confused. But, so is everyone else. Raising a foreign flag is seen as proverbial shots being fired!
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Two days, later, on March 8th, 1846 Larkin writes to Fremont.
[Larkin to Fremont]
March 8th, 1846
I’ll summarize it. Larkin informs Fremont that General Castro is gathering citizens, soldiers, and rancheros to force him out. About 100 people are gathering and there could be 200 total by the next day.
This is a quote from that Larkin letter to Fremont:
“You are officially ordered to leave the country; I am sure you will use your own discretion on the subject.”
“Your encamping so near Town, has caused much excitement, the Natives are firm in the belief, that they will break you up, and that you can be entirely destroyed by their power; in all probability, they will attack you, the result, either way, may cause trouble hereafter to Resident Americans.”
Larkin isn’t telling Fremont what to do, but he is concerned Fremont’s actions may negatively impact the safety of Americans living in California and wants Fremont to understand as much.
<swoosh>
March 9, 1846
Fremont, the next day, responds to Larkin.
[Fremont to Larkin - excerpt]
“I am making myself as strong as possible in the intention that if we are unjustly attacked, we will fight to extremity and refuse quarter, trusting our country to avenge our death.” William Hartnell translated this letter and there is some small discussion if ‘refuse quarter’ or ‘take no quarter’ was what was intended.
“…we have in no wise done wrong to the people, or the authorities, of the country, and if we are hemmed in, and assaulted, here, we will die, every man of us, under the flag of our country.”
Uh, where do I start, with the issues, here? You were told three times, via five official letters, to leave, and you ignored the order to leave. Instead of leaving, you build a strategically placed fort and fly the American flag, stating you will die under the flag of your country.
I’m not a psychohistorian, but Fremont is not being intellectually honest, here, and I think I understand where psychohistorian Rolle was going with his assessment of Fremont.
Larkin, already astonished by the audacity of Fremont’s actions … is further astonished by this latest response. Fremont’s acts of defiance will likely jeopardize the safety of Americans living in California, down the hill from where Fremont’s men are safely located.
General Jose Castro is gathering men to fight for their land. I can’t support if this is true, but it’s written for history that Castro was also recruiting indigenous people and giving them alcohol to rally a fight in them. Is that true? I don’t know. But, I’m trying to be balanced, in relaying the story.
It’s becoming clear Fremont is not acting on any instruction he was given from the United States, based on what happens … next.
When President James Polk made Larkin a secret agent, the instructions, from the President were “By all means in your power, continue the goodwill and friendship of the Californios, to avoid friction … should the United States occupy California”.
The president himself has stated he wants this to be a friendly takeover, but, through Fremont’s actions, goodwill is being lost and friction is mounting. And speaking of President Polk … At best, President Polk may have told Fremont, in 1845 when the expedition started, that if war had broken out between Mexico and the United States, by the time Fremont reached California, he would need to look after his best interests. But, war hasn’t happened … yet, and some would question if Fremont really is looking out for his best interests? To me, it looks like Fremont is intentionally poking the bear.
Okay, so on March 9th, after Fremont sends his bombastic letter to Larkin, Larkin spends the same day, March 9th, frantically writing letters to Secretary of State James Buchannan, Consul John Parrott, and Commodore John Sloat. He’s asking them to immediately send warships to protect Americans living in California. The basic message, in each letter, and literally what Larkin writes is “American residents are under some apprehension for their safety.”
Until I read the actual letters, going back and forth, I didn’t understand how close to battle Mexico and the United States were, regarding Freemont’s acts of defiance at Gavilan Peak.
Here is an excerpt from Larkin’s letter to Buchannan.
March 9, 1846.
[Thomas Larkin to James Buchannan Secretary of State]
“Captain Fremont is eight or nine leagues from this, encamped, intending to move as soon as the state of his horses will permit. There will be two or three hundred people collected together by tomorrow, with the intention of attacking the camp. (Fremont’s camp.)
Captain Fremont has about fifty men, all men of confidence and remarkably well armed, neither himself, or men, have any fear respecting the result of the present state of affairs, yet, be the result for or against him, may prove of a disadvantage to the resident Americans in California.”
If Fremont was only in Monterey to stock up on food and supplies and let his horses and men rest, he could have said that to the General or the Precefto. Why did he ignore the five letters to leave California? Why did he move his men to a strategic location… and, why did raise the American flag if he wasn’t looking for trouble?
Here is an excerpt from Larkin’s letter to John Parrott.
March 9, 1846.
[Thomas Larkin to Consul John Parrott in Mazatlán Mexico.]
“It's impossible to say whether Senor Castro, the Prefecto, and the General will attack Captain Fremont, we expect such will be the case. I am just informed by Senor Arce, the General's Secretary who has just come in from the General's Camp (Saint John's), that the whole country will be raised to force out Captain Fremont, if they require so many. Senr. Arce further says, the Camp of the Americans are near Mr. Hartnells, Rancho, on a high hill with his Flag flying, of the latter I am not sure.
As you are acquainted with this Country and its people, you will advise with our Naval Captains on the subject, of sailing immediately for this Port, if the Vessel is not actually obliged to go elsewhere; it is my earnest desire she sails for Monterey on the receipt of this; although every thing many end peaceably amongst us.”
Larkin is asking for immediate backup by asking for the U.S.S. Portsmouth to be sent to Monterey, because Fremont’s actions have caught everyone off guard.
Here is an excerpt from Larkin’s letter to Sloat.
March 9, 1846.
[Thomas Larkin to Commodore John Sloat Mazatlán Mexico.]
“Captain J. C. Freemont with a party of fifty men has been within the limits of California about two months, within a few days encamped about eight leagues from this Town, resting his men & animals, he has received two letters from the General & Prefecto, wherein he is ordered to leave this Country, or they will take immediate measures to compel him.
By to morrow there will be collected together nearly three hundred men, with the intention to drive out the strangers, and if required, there will be by the next week, a much larger body collected; should this force be used against Captain Freemont, much blood will be shed, his party though only fifty in number, have from three to six guns, rifles, and pistols each, and are very determined, both Commander and men having every confidence in each other.
If there is a fight between these people & Captain Freemont, be the result for or against him; the American residents are under some apprehensions of the safety hereafter: I would therefore request you, if in your power, to dispatch a Sloop of War, to this Port, from Mazatlan, on the receipt of this.”
Based on Larkin’s busy day of letter writing, I don’t believe the plan was for Fremont, and fifty armed men, to start a war, on behalf of the United States. He doesn’t even have the authority to do so. It seems Fremont wasn’t acting on anyone’s orders but his own.
Larkin is in the dark, like everyone else, and is trying to protect Americans while informing his government of what is transpiring.
The situation on the Mexican side escalates to General Mariano Vallejo asking the residents of California to take up arms and prepare for a fight.
Sidenote, Vallejo is openly in favor of the United States taking over California, but not like this.
Vallejo warns Leidesdorff that he is expected to defend Yerba Buena against Fremont should he arrive. How awkward for Leidesdorff. He is on friendly terms with Fremont. But, then again, so is Larkin. The three of them are all Americans.
As Californio armed men start gathering, in Monterey, Fremont, from his high position at the top of Gavilan peak, is able to observe the call to action happening below. Larkin warns Fremont of the coordination against him and informs Fremont that he does not support his defiant actions.
Fremont has stated he would die on this hill with all his men, knowing his country would avenge his death. Bold. That’s the best way I can describe Fremont’s actions up to this point.
Alright, Fremont. It’s time to show your hand. You said you would fight and die on this hill, and the fight is about to come to you. You can see what’s happening down the hill. What’s your next play?
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By 7 a.m. on March 11th, General Castro is positioned with his men and ready to fight. He sends John Gilroy to offer one last request for Freemont to leave. One version of this story is that General Jose Castro sent Gilroy, that morning, to ask Fremont to join his fight against Governor Pio Pico. I find that hard to believe, so let’s put that in the bucket of history that was written after the fact.
Gilroy travels up the hill to Fremont’s camp, to give him one last chance. He climbs the hill and arrives to the camp … that has been abandoned; campfire still burning, abandoned tent poles, clothing, saddles … and a broken, and empty, flagstaff where the U.S. flag defiantly flew for a few days.
Remember Fremont’s brave talk “I am making myself as strong as possible in the intention that if we are unjustly attacked, we will fight to extremity and refuse quarter, trusting our country to avenge our death”.
Sometime before 7 a.m., that morning, Fremont, and his men, including brave Kit Carson, abruptly fled their camp.
Thomas Larkin would openly admit he supported General Jose Castro’s attempt to rid Fremont from California. But, spoiler alert, this is not the last time Fremont acts in what appears to be a defiant manner where his military actions are without granted authority.
General Jose Castro relishes in this moment and takes a cheap shot at Fremont by claiming victory in bravely defending his country against the robbers and highwaymen Fremont was traveling with. Look, Fremont is a lot of things, but that’s not true. This is an exaggeration regarding native horses that gathered up with Fremont’s horses. They didn’t steal them. And, Fremont left those horses behind. This also involves a short story I didn’t get into, about one of Fremont’s men acting inappropriately with a ranchero’s daughter. But, the matter was solved.
There was posturing on both sides regarding how this situation ended.
Once the dust settled, we came to understand a few things.
General Castro admits he never intended to attack Fremont, knowing Fremont would see the gathering troops, below, he correctly called Fremont’s bluff.
Fremont realized this was not the literal hill he wanted to die on, and that he had incorrectly assumed his people (Americans residing in California) would run to his defense by virtue of raising the American flag.
From Larkin’s frantic letter writing on March 9th, 1846, one month later, on April 2nd, 1846 the United States officially takes a defensive position in California. Two war ships are sent. One ship to Santa Barbara and one to Monterey.
Some history states the two emergency ships (it was a month later), were sent to cooperate with Freemont, but rather, it was to protect Americans because of Fremont.
Out of the Gavilan Peak event, also known as the Fremont Affair, Fremont leaves looking like a fool. He played a game of chicken and lost. From this, Fremont now has a personal agenda to settle with General Jose Castro.
This event becomes the match that lights the fire for the Bear Flag Revolt, in just four months. Not for the Mexican American war, but for the Bear Flag Revolt. Please note my distinction. It will become obvious in a future episode that the war, and the revolt, were not connected.
Also from this event, history will begin legendizing John C. Fremont, adding a spin to this event to make Fremont a hero, when in reality, the hero realized he was in over his head. He wrote a proverbial check he couldn’t cash.
As for those letters from General and Precto, Fremont, for many years, would claim he never received the letters ordering him to leave. It’s not until much later, when witnesses came forward, and his own letters surfaced, where Fremont confesses that he did, in fact, receive all the letters. But for reasons he only knows, chose to ignore them.
As mentioned in the beginning, Fremont lied to Josiah Royce who wrote about Fremont, based on personal interviews. After this discovered lie, Royce, after Fremont’s death, openly wrote disparaging articles about Fremont. Disparaging, but not untrue.
To date, no documentation supports Fremont was acting on any official orders, during his Gavilan Peak event, supporting the concept that he overstepped his authority.
For Californios, it’s clear the day is coming that another country will take over California, and because of this event, a Junta happens in Monterey, where General Mariano Vallejo makes his impassioned speech declaring his preference for California to join the United States, versus England or France.
To end with a kicker, Fremont would say he and his men abruptly left Gavilan Peak because, hold for it … the gusty winds. It was a sign.
In “Memoirs of My Life” Volume 1, by John Fremont, he writes, “Late in the afternoon, of the third day, the pole bearing our flag fell to the ground. Thinking I had remained as long as the occasion required, I took advantage of the accident to say to the men that this was an indication to us to move camp, and accordingly I gave the order to prepare to move.” He’s traveling with the brave Kit Carson, and fifty heavily armed men, willing to die on this hill, yet gusty winds became a sign which changed his mind, to move him away from this peak. Must have been very windy.
Epilogue
You can celebrate the legend-making of John Fremont, by visiting Gavilan Peak, now named Fremont Peak, in Fremont Peak State Park, where a plaque incorrectly states “On this spot, the American flag was raised for the first time on California soil”.
The first time the U.S. flag was raised in California was 1842, during the accidental annexation of California. Thomas Ap Catesby Jones mistakenly raised the flag, believing the U.S was at war with Mexico. I have an entire episode on this event.
“It is strange indeed how often lies are accepted without examination, and go thundering down the ages, while the truth is rejected and disappears.”
You can read today’s transcript and locate the cited sources at monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com.
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Dillon, Richard H. “The Gabilan Peak Campaign of 1846.” The Historical Society of Southern California Quarterly 35, no. 1 (1953): 11–18. https://doi.org/10.2307/41168384.
“Documentary: The Frémont Episode (Continued).” California Historical Society Quarterly 4, no. 4 (1925): 374–91. https://doi.org/10.2307/25177784.
“Documentary: The Frémont Episode (Continued).” California Historical Society Quarterly 5, no. 2 (1926): 184–95. https://doi.org/10.2307/25177818.