Occupation of
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THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF CALIFORNIA

Totally unprepared for defense, California was at first a very easy prize. The mere landing of a handful of well organized and armed "gringos" as the Americans were called by the Mexicans, was sufficient to occupy the principal seaports where no effective resistance was even offered. In fact at first the inhabitants were rather sympathetic towards American sovereignty. It was not until nearly two months after one flag was unfurled over Monterey that the rigorous work of real conquest had to be undertaken.

Commodore John D. Sloat was very deliberate and cautious at the start. Anchoring the flagship Savannah at Monterey on July 2nd he found all quiet and peaceful, with the Cyane and Levant in port. From our Consul, Mr. Thomas O. Larkin, a secret and personal emissary of President Polk, the Commodore learned of recent happenings in the north. There two other personal agents of the President, Captain John C. Fremont, Topographical Engineers, U.S. Army and Lieutenant Archibald H. Gillespie, U. S. Marine Corps, had been promoting the organization of a revolutionary party among American settlers, who had seized Mexican cavalry mounts and occupied Sonoma on June 14th, declaring the independence of the so-called Bear Republic.

Larkin urged action and on July 7, 1846, a combined force of 165 bluejackets and 85 marines, from the Savannah, Cyane and Levant landed under the command of Captain William Mervine, USN. Ignoring the Mexican Commandant's refusal to surrender, Mervine hoisted the American flag over the Custom Home amid gun salutes from the ships, and took possession of the sleepy town. The jubilance of the foreign residents and the quiescence of the Californians bespoke freedom from danger of resistance. Nearly aIl of the sailors were therefore returned to the ships at once, leaving the marines under Captain Ward Marston, USMC as the permanent garrison.

Sloat's proclamation on this occasion declared California a part of the United States, guaranteed the people due protection of property rights, allowed the Californians to remain unmolested as neutrals, and outlined the form of a temporary government including provision for the collection of custom duties.

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