S2 Ep13 Letters From California - The Farthest West June 1846

Letters from California

Three letters, were anonymously mailed from the Pueblo de Yerba Buena, dated between June 10th and June 29th 1846. The letters were, and probably still are, quite the mystery, not only because no one definitively knows who wrote them, but for the depth of military knowledge the writer had about the happenings in Alta California.
 

Another point of personal interest, the letters were written from our own backyard, Yerba Buena.

Hubert Howe Bancroft considers these mystery letters to be the best ‘in the moment’ account of the Bear Flag Revolt, and they are the earliest known publication regarding the Bear Flag Revolt just before and just after the Revolt.

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Transcript

Letters from California

Three letters, were anonymously mailed from the Pueblo de Yerba Buena, dated between June 10th and June 29th 1846. The letters were, and probably still are, quite the mystery, not only because no one definitively knows who wrote them, but for the depth of military knowledge the writer had about the happenings in Alta California 

Another point of personal interest, the letters were written from our own backyard, Yerba Buena. 

Hubert Howe Bancroft considers these mystery letters to be the best ‘in the moment’ account of the Bear Flag Revolt, and they are the earliest known publication regarding the Bear Flag Revolt just before and just after the Revolt. 

The intended audience for these letters seemed to be an eager United States public curious about the soon-to-be-captured territory farthest west of the Mississippi River. 

The three letters were titled “Letters from California” and all signed, “Truly Yours, The Farthest West”. 

Today’s episode is a Who Dunnit-detective-dive into the letters and is largely based on … speculation, but also:

Hussey, John Adam. “Identification of the Author of ‘The Farthest West’ Letters from California, 1846.” California Historical Society Quarterly 16, no. 3 (1937): 209–15. https://doi.org/10.2307/25160723.

 Lewis, Oscar, “California in 1846 Described in letters from Thomas O. Larkin, The Farthest West E.M. Kern, and “Justice” The Grabhorn Press, 1934.

Are you ready? Here we go.

Letter 1 Part 1 June 10th, 1846, (Printed in “The Friend” Oct 15, 1846)

The first letter includes an editorial note stating the letters were intended for publication in a leading New York newspaper. Hang onto that.

“Dear Sir: There are strange things in this world, happening every day, but none, to me, more so, than that I should find myself in California, and writing a letter, to be taken to you, by the first overland express; and certainly the longest ever attempted in America. A friend has kindly volunteered to put this into the hands of the gallant Capt. Freemont, who is now encamped on the Sacramento, and about to proceed directly to the U.S. … “ the letter continues for several pages.

‘The Farthest West’ had given the letter to a friend, I have to assume that’s Lieutenant Archibald H. Gillespie, who would give the letter to Captain Fremont, and Fremont, intending to travel from California to New York, the longest overland route in North America, will directly deliver the letter to the New York publication. 

The first letter, comprised of Part 1 and Part 2, was addressed from Yerba Buena, San Francisco Bay, and provided an update on 1846 California, from January through early June, with details and language … written from a military perspective, pro-United States, but more curiously, describes California through the actions of Captain John Fremont, starting with Fremont’s first visit to Monterey and his run-in with General Jose Castro, at Gavilan Peak. (I have an episode on it.) 

The first letter, written on June 10th, is just four days before the Sonoma Insurrection, aka The Bear Flag Revolt. Amazing timing…for a few reasons. 

Quick backstory, Lieutenant Gillespie made a mad dash by horse, to meet and deliver mail to Fremont, as Fremont traveled back to the United States. One piece of delivered mail, or a secret message, is purported to have encouraged Fremont to return to Alta California to possibly instigate the Bear Flag revolt … four days after ‘The Farthest West’ writes this first anonymous letter. Spoiler alert, Fremont doesn’t make it back to the United States and neither does ‘The Farthest West’s’ letter. 

The letter takes a controversial tone when ‘The Farthest West’ expressed his belief that California was presented to the United States in a more flattering light than reality. 

“With regard to California, I am of the opinion from what I have seen of it, that it does not present such flattering prospects to emigrants from the U.S. as certain persons have led them to believe. Most are very much disappointed in the country, not in its climate or soil, although a large proportion of it is only suitable, I think, for grazing cattle and sheep, the same use to which the Roman Catholic Mission applied it.”

Could ‘The Farthest West’s’ oppositional beliefs be the reason for the anonymity? <ding> Speculation.

The first letter, it’s really long, and described the trading industry in great detail. Prices for specific goods in New York were listed against prices in California, which might be a clue as to where ‘The Farthest West’ was from. ‘The Farthest West’ was also familiar with the Boston ships arriving in California for hide trading/smuggling. Except for beef and horses, everything else was said to be four times the price in California.

‘The Farthest West’ provides accounting details for trading and military dealings specifically in Yerba Buena, and, curiously, that “California will soon be another ‘El Dorado’ in her mineral wealth. Mines of gold, silver, copper, lead, sulfur and quicksilver ore being found in all directions…” 

Dear Listener, this is June 1846, and the gold rush in Coloma, at Sutter’s Mill, won’t happen for another year and half, in January, 1848, yet, ‘The Farthest West’ says gold has been found in Los Angeles and is already being mined with ease. He writes that thousands of dollars in gold dust were already sent back to the United States … “There is a vast field for mining operations about to open here.”

Also interesting, ‘The Farthest West’ alludes to a large emigration moving to California in the fall and actually says California will not be under the Mexican flag for much longer. Interesting … The average Joe wouldn’t know that kind of information. 

<Ding> I believe ‘The Farthest West’ may be from New York and was in the military. But, that’s speculation on my part.

Second Letter June 24th, 1846 Printed in “The Friend” November 16, 1846

The second letter, dated June 24th, 1846 addressed, again, from Yerba Buena, San Francisco Bay, is much shorter than the first letter. But, a lot happened, in Alta California, between the first and the second letter.

“When I took my pen in hand to give you a line, a few days since, I neither expected to have the opportunity to repeat it so soon, nor anything of special interest to add, if I had; but the last ten days have been prolific of striving events in California, and as I cannot yet see ‘the beginning of the end’, I may well begin at the beginning, and you shall have the end when I do see it”. 

‘The Farthest West’ is referring to the Bear Flag Revolt that happened four days after writing his first letter. Like many in the U.S. military and government, ‘The Farthest West’ didn’t see the revolt coming. While the Revolt impacted the ongoing military objectives, ‘The Farthest West’ is at the right place, and at the right time, to receive an inside look into this pivotal moment in California history. 

‘The Farthest West’, still in Yerba Buena, writes that Gillespie, after delivering the mail to Fremont, returned to Yerba Buena to secure provisions for Fremont’s new camp, back in Alta California.

‘The Farthest West’ mentions that Fremont returned to Alta California for “still unknown reasons”, and, unfortunately, the letters, instead of making it to New York for publication, made it back to ‘The Farthest West’ in Yerba Buena. That is why the letters weren’t published in a major New York newspaper as intended.

Instead, the letters were published in a Honolulu missionary journal called “The Friend”, and edited by Reverend S.C. Damon, aka Father Damon. The Sandwich Islands, as Hawaii was then called, was a major stopping point for Americans and British along the China trade route, so in some manner, ‘The Farthest West’ likely had connections in Honolulu. <ding> That’s speculation on my part.

Gillespie provided ‘The Farthest West’ with the full description of his journey to find Captain Fremont to deliver the mail. But, despite Gillespie’s insider details, ‘The Farthest West’ mentions nothing of a secret message being delivered to Fremont. And, ‘The Farthest West’ was talking to the person who would have delivered the secret message to Fremont … if there was a secret message.

Unless ‘The Farthest West’ was the local saloon owner and knew all of the town’s secrets, ‘The Farthest West’ was likely a member of the United States military, which is why Lieutenant Gillespie felt comfortable sharing insider information with him. 

<Ding> Speculation, coming. The first and second letters read like Fremont propaganda, for how over the top, ‘pro-Fremont’ they were. It’s almost comical. 

The Bear Flag Revolt occurred June 14th, and in this second letter, ‘The Farthest West’, very curiously, notes that General Mariano Vallejo had many friends among the American settlers in Alta California, and that Vallejo, on the night of the Bear Flag Revolt takeover, sent a message from Sonoma to Sausalito in the San Francisco Bay, to his friend Captain Montgomery, on the USS Portsmouth. 

‘The Farthest West’ correctly states that Vallejo sent for his friend, Captain Montgomery, because Vallejo could not tell who was the head of the attacking party, and then, curiously, ‘The Farthest West’ described more of what happened on the USS Portsmouth for the next few days after that incident. 

That might have been another clue. Military person. Closely aligned with Fremont, Gillespie, and Montgomery. ‘The Farthest West’ was either staying in Yerba Buena, or at least frequently visited, and had intimate knowledge of the day-to-day happenings in California. 

‘The Farthest West’ describes the Bear Flag this way, “What was it you may ask? A white field with a red border, a large star, and a grizzly bear.” Hold on to that. It comes up again.

The second letter has a P.S. ‘The Farthest West’ wrote, “I presume we shall soon hear of a fight” as if having intimate United States military information. By coincidence, the day this letter was written, is the day Fremont decides to officially take the lead on the Bear Flag Revolt and leave Sutter’s Fort, to Sonoma. Huh… 

There was already reason to believe Fremont and ‘The Farthest West’ knew each other before this statement, but I really have to believe that was the case after reading the second letter.

Third Letter June 26th 1846 Printed in “The Friend” December 1st, 1846

The third, and last, letter starts with a similar hook of the other letters. Well, this one is more dramatic.

“The first bloodshed in battle in California flowed yesterday, on the plains of Sonoma. Heretofore all the revolutions have been bloodless, so far as I can learn, except perhaps an occasional assignation ‘a la Espanole”. 

‘The Farthest West’ was discussing the Battle of Olómpali fought a few days prior, on June 24, 1846, in present-day Novato, Marin County. A group of Californios took two Bear Flaggers hostage, and then killed them. Fremont’s party, in retaliation, incorrectly murdered the de Haro twins, who had nothing to do with the Bear kidnapping and murders. There is an entire episode captured in that sentence that I don’t have enough time to tell, so I invite you to look into the murder of the de Haro twins. This is another less-than-heroic Fremont story that history doesn’t tell. 

Rogers, Fred B. “Bear Flag Lieutenant: The Life Story of Henry L. Ford (1822-1860), with Some Related and Contemporary Art of Alexander Edouart (Continued).” California Historical Society Quarterly 29, no. 3 (1950): 261–278. https://doi.org/10.2307/25156252.

‘The Farthest West’ acknowledges the important of this bloodshed to the overall battle for California, noting the American’s long rifles are sure to beat the Californios musket rifles in any battle. 

‘The Farthest West’ describes, in detail, the night the Bear Flaggers took General Mariano Vallejo as a prisoner. He writes, “Vallejo asked Ide, ‘You say you are Americans – show me your authority from the Government of the U.S.” Ide responded they had no authority. “Our authority is our own will, and our arms shall execute it.” Well, the details of the account are correct. 

‘The Farthest West’, understands Alta California’s historical background, and discusses the Mission system and the indigenous labor. “The priests lived in luxury, with fine meats, fruits and wines; the Indians served them. In 1830, the Mexican Government took the power from the Priests and gave the missions into the hands of ‘Administrators’. These (Administrators) now robbed the Government, the Priests and the Indians, until the missions are in ruins, scarce a Priest in the country; and the Indians have returned to their native plains and hills, vastly worse for all they learned, since they have wants they cannot now satisfy, and are partially unfitted for savage life. They bear no comparisons with the tall manly figures on our western frontier. They look a broken down, naked, starved and miserable race, and have no resources but to prey upon the white man’s property or serve him as his slave.” Hmm. 

The third letter, while written in Yerba Buena on June 26th , ends with a P.S., this time … from Sutter’s Fort, June 29, 1846. “Today leaves not a doubt of the entire success of the revolutionists,” meaning the Bear Flag Revolt, and describes the very recent American emigration from Oregon into Sonoma, ending with, “But, if I mistake not, my next (letter) will give you some interesting details of passing events”. 

This is the last letter from ‘The Farthest West’. 

What Do We Know About the Writer

The letters capture the rumors, the news and events, as understood through the United States, including knowledge of the U.S. military. The writer, based in Yerba Buena, or very close by, was educated, and presumably a man, and quickly aware of events as they were happening. But, ‘The Farthest West’ avoids revealing their occupation or their friendships. Why the mystery? Why did they write anonymously? 

Until 1923, no one dug into who wrote these letters, despite HH Bancroft calling them “the most complete authority on the Conquest of California”. Up until a month ago, I had never heard of these letters, yet they seem to be extremely important.

Let’s Review the Clues –Let’s put them together. 

In Letter #1, the hook-grabbing intro, “There are strange things in this world, happening every day, but none to me more so than that I should find myself in California writing a letter …”  It seems ‘The Farthest West’ was a newcomer to California and landed in Yerba Buena. There weren’t that many people living in Yerba Buena in June 1846. Perhaps 200. 

‘The Farthest West’ was close enough with Lieutenant Gillespie; that upon Gillespie’s return to Yerba Buena to secure supplies for Captain Fremont’s camp, he met up with ‘The Farthest West’. And, Gillespie’s visit to Yerba Buena was quick. 

John Adam Hussey, in his journal article, highlights another good point. ‘The Farthest West’ was close enough to Gillespie to recount the military details of his experience with Fremont, which Gillespie would probably only relay to someone in the U.S. government. 

The timing of the letter and the Bear Flag Revolt four days later may be a coincidence. Or, maybe more?

In Letter #2, ‘The Farthest West’ describes the Bear Flag Revolt, that has now occurred, and discusses what happened on the U.S.S. Portsmouth, at that time, docked in Sausalito, just across the bay from Yerba Buena. ‘The Farthest West’ while staying in Yerba Buena, either visited the USS Portsmouth for this, or stayed on the USS Portsmouth, to be able to recount what was discussed on the ship for the next few days. 

Another clue. ‘The Farthest West’, after mentioning the actual bear flag, wrote, “What was it you may ask? A white field with a red border, a large star, and a grizzly bear.” 

There is a curiously similar sentence written word for word, in a letter from Alexander Leidesdorff … the Vice Consul for the United States, located in … Yerba Buena, to Thomas Larkin, the Consul for the United States, in Monterey. 

In the letter, Leidesdorff described the Bear Flag proclamation and the flag, “I think the spirited proclamation will call many to their banner. What is that you may ask? As a white field with a red border, a large star, and a grizzly bear!”

But was Leidesdorff ‘The Farthest West’? He lived in Yerba Buena, had insider knowledge as the Vice Consul for the United States, and would know what was occurring on the USS Portsmouth and the Bear Flag Revolt.

But, before we jump to conclusions, this letter, from Leidesdorff to Larkin, was signed by Leidesdorff, but the actual letter was not written by the same person who signed it. Someone else wrote the letter, that Leidesdorff signed. Interesting. 

So, ‘The Farthest West’ was close to Leidesdorff, enough to write a letter on his behalf, whether or not Leidesdorff knew his letter writer was ‘The Farthest West’. 

In Letter #3, John Hussey, the author of “Identification of the Author of ‘The Farthest West’” did his detective work. There were breadcrumb trails to investigate in this letter. On June 26th, ‘The Farthest West’ traveled from Yerba Buena to New Helvetia/Sutter’s Fort. 

The P.S. was written from Sutter’s Fort on June 29th. 

This might be the best clue. The last sentence of the last letter. Saving the best for last. Well played, West. 

Checking my sources

I took a step back, to double-check my storyline, to make sure I wasn’t going down the wrong path based on one source. So, I contacted the archivist at the San Francisco Main Library and asked if he knew about the “Letters from California 1846” written by “The Farthest West”. 

After looking into it, he said he had a book that named the author of the letters, written from … Monterey by William Robert Garner. Huh? The letters I’m discussing were written from Yerba Buena by “The Farthest West”.

I went to the library to see this book, called, “Letters from California from our special correspondent William Robert Garner”.

I was confused. The archivist was confused. Both of these letters are called “Letters from California” and they were, but were different letters, and authors, about different topics, and perspectives.

‘The Farthest West’ letters are dated from June 10th – June 26th, 1846, while the Garner letters were started four months later, from October 1846 – October 1847. The Bear Flag Revolt and the actual possession of California had already happened by the time Garner wrote his letters...in a very different style.

Garner was successful at getting his letters published in a United States newspaper called “The North American and United States Gazette”. 

Garner was a lumberman, which, in California, was rare at that time. He focused on farming in Monterey, and detailed the average life of a Californio and American foreigner living in Monterey. 

Garner spend a good amount of time judging the Californios, and their lifestyle, with several unflattering comparisons to the United States. 

Also like ‘The Farthest West’, Garner also mentions the gold and silver found in California in his November 1846 letter. 

Sidenote/tangent, whatever. It seems California’s gold and silver was discovered, prior to James Marshall’s discovery at Sutter’s Mill. But, I digress.

Epilogue

Who was ‘The Farthest West’?

The Farthest West’s third letter, in the P.S., in a roundabout way, writes he was there to discuss the success of the Bear Flag Revolt. He was very pro-Fremont.

The last letter is written just a week before the United States officially takes possession of Monterey on July 7th and Yerba Buena on July 9th 1846. 

‘The Farthest West’ was likely in the U.S. military, in Yerba Buena, when the letters were written, and then in New Helvetia on a specific date. Hmmm.

John Sutter’s New Helvetia Diary captured an entry on June 28th. Two people from the San Francisco Bay arrived at Sutter’s Fort, Dr. John Townsend and Captain Washington Allon Bartlett. The P.S. was written from Sutter’s Fort on June 29th. 

Sidenote- Dr. Townsend was the first graduate physician surgeon in Yerba Buena and would eventually serve as alcalde of Yerba Buena in 1848. 

But, Dr. Townsend was not a newcomer, as he had already arrived and started practicing medicine, first in Monterey in 1845 and then in Yerba Buena in 1846, so he didn’t fit the profile. 

So who was ‘The Farthest West’? The last, and most important clue, was … the handwriting on the Leidesdorff letter to Larkin, which was not written by Leidesdorff, it was only signed by Leidesdorff. The writing is an exact match for Bartlett’s handwriting, and he’s the other person to arrive at Suter’s Fort on June 28th. 

John Hussey, after his investigation, felt Washington Allon Bartlett fit all the criteria for being at all the same places with access to the knowledge captured in the letters, as well as a handwriting match.

It seems Washington Allon Bartlett wrote his last anonymous letter as ‘The Farthest West’ a week before dethroning William S. Hinckley, the existing alcalde to become Yerba Buena’s first U.S Citizen to be appointment alcalde of our beloved Pueblo de Yerba. 

And, considering everything happening at that time, I’ll assume Bartlett was too busy holding down the fort to continue writing his letters. <Ding> But, that’s speculation on my part. 

Closing

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Thank you for listening. This is MonkeyBlock, retelling forgotten stories from San Francisco’s golden past.