roperty, but the
Mexican was so skilful in retreating that he could not be brought to bay
and Fremont returned to Sonoma.

The little force under Fremont now became the rallying point for the
American settlers, and before long the Captain had several hundred under
his command. Leaving a garrison at Sonoma, he marched to Sutter's Fort,
which was placed under military rule, and then made his way toward
Monterey with the purpose of capturing that town. On his arrival,
however, he found the place had already been taken by Commodore
Sloat and the American squadron. The Commodore leaving shortly after,
Commodore Stockton succeeded him.

While at Sonoma, Fremont and his comrades had declared the independence
of California and adopted the Bear Flag, which was proffered to
Commodore Sloat and the Star Spangled Banner hoisted over the camp.

As the Mexican General, Castro, was known to be at Los Angeles, Fremont
asked for and obtained a ship on which his force was taken to San
Diego. Then with a much inferior force, he set out to give battle to the
Mexican leader; but the latter no sooner learned of his coming, than
he fled with all his men. Finding it impossible to force him to give
battle, Fremont encamped near the town, where he waited until joined by
Commodore Stockton and a company of marines.

The junction effected, they marched upon Los Angeles which immediately
fell into their hands. Long before this, Fremont had become impressed
with the necessity of having some communication with Washington. In
one sense it may be said he was all at sea, for he was without positive
instructions, at a critical period, when it was most important that his
line of policy should be clearly defined by his government.

But the matter of communicating with headquarters, thousands of miles
away, was infinitely more difficult and serious than it is today. A
vast, wild, perilous and almost unknown tract stretched between the
Pacific and Atlantic, across which it required weeks and sometimes
months for an express rider to make his way. To send despatches around
Cape Horn took a much longer time; but the necessity was so urgent
that Fremont sent Carson with fifteen picked men across the plains,
instructing him to complete the journey if possible in sixty days.

Carson started in the middle of September, 1846, and by the exercise of
his consummate skill he passed rapidly through a most dangerous section
without running into any special danger u