The U.S. Conquest

Hispanics' hold on alta California was already tenuous after the Mexican Revolution of 1822 and several Indian uprisings 1833-1841. An altercation between Anglos and Hispanics over a herd of horses intended for a Mexican militia unit took place near San Rafael in June 1846. Historians differ as to the reasons behind the mis-understanding, but about this same time a U.S. government sponsored scientific mapping expedition (which was provisioned with some 62 cavalry marksmen and a field Howitzer) just happened to be wandering around northern California, a bit far afield of Oregon Territory. The survey's leader, John Charles Fremont (officially a pathfinder for the Army Corps of Topographical Engineers) sent a detachment from his Oregon Territory survey team to support the rebels and their "Bear Flag" revolt (their banner). Fremont then took his main phalanx from New Helvetia (near Sacramento) and advanced down the peninsula toward the Monterey to rendezvous with U.S. Naval Units under Commodore John Sloat. Marines under Sloat's command raised the Union Jack in Monterey on July 7, 1846. Concurrently, a ship commanded by Navy Captain John Montgomery had been sent to attack San Francisco and his forces had little difficulty subduing the Presidio de San Francisco de Asis (which reportedly had not even test-fired its cannons in forty years), and proudly raised his flag on Yerba Buena Island in the middle San Francisco Bay just a few days later (July 9. 1846). With northern California secured by the end of 1846, Fremont turned his attention toward southern California, capturing San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Cahuenga. Meanwhile, Steven Watts Kerney advanced his forces from the south, taking Warner's Ranch, San Gabriel, and Los Angeles. The U.S.Navy took San Diego. By 1847, California was quite secure in the hands of Union forces.

The California gold rush of 1848-50 assured an influx of U.S. capitalists and the further Unionization of California. Although English-speaking opportunists declared California an independent Republic for a short while with its capitol in Red Bluff, the new Californians soon opted for U.S. statehood, and officially joined the Union in 1850 forming the 31st state. The capitol was moved several times from Monterey, to San Jose, to Vallejo, to Sacramento, to Benicia, and back to Sacramento (where it has been since 1853). Union soldiers stationed at the San Francisco Presidio were fond of raiding local rancheros to "requisition" food and supplies. In a countermove against such abuse, the Sanchez family captured an alcalde of Union scouts on the peninsula and held them hostage. A united front of about 100 armed Californios (including Don Segundino Robles) traded off detaining the hostages, and on occasion had to exchange fire with a U.S. Army squad sent to rescue the scouts. Partially because the Army got stuck in the mud outside Mission Santa Clara, and due to apprehension on both sides about a serious shooting battle, wiser wits prevailed and the combatants worked out a settlement.

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