Identifier: frmont49storyo00dell (find matches)
Title: Frémont and '49 : the story of a remarkable career and its relation to the exploration and development of our western territory, especially of California
Year: 1914 (1910s)
Authors: Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935
Subjects: Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890 Frémont, John Charles, 1813-1890 Discoveries in geography Explorers
Publisher: New York London : G.P. Putnam's Sons
Contributing Library: Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection
Digitizing Sponsor: The Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant

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the nick oftime. And there it was; with conditions not exactly,perhaps, such as had been anticipated. Was the Captainon that account now to march away again with his sixtysharpshooters, or should he use the discretionary powergiven him in Washington and take advantage of this BearFlag revolt to immediately establish the claim of the UnitedStates in advance of am^ other possible claimant? He knewthat actual hostilities of the Mexican War were merely amatter of weeks, after the coming of spring, 1846; that theAmerican troops on the Rio Grande and the Mexican troopscould not long remain merely looking at one another. He,therefore, concluded to aid the Bear Flag revolt and thereby,as an American officer, secure possession in this region ofSan Francisco Bay which was the chief interest of Bancroft,Webster, Benton, President Polk, and all the other leadingmen of the Administration. If his action was premature, it could be repudiated, asthat of Commodore Jones had been, but if the government
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> ^ mim^w American Possession 343 desired to utilise the incident it would be able to do so.Fremont, an American officer, being in possession of thecountry, the advent of a cruiser of another nation at thecritical moment would have less importance. As beforepointed out, while England undoubtedly wanted California,and undoubtedly had certain plans under way to acquireit, she had no intention, or desire, to go to war about it, as,indeed, she has always been conciliatory with the UnitedStates. But, if a British vessel unopposed, could sail intothe Bay at the opportune moment, and raise her flag, itwould be the United States which would have to be ag-gressive if they wanted the country. The Washingtongovernment had planned to have an American cruiser therefirst, but the tardy movement of Commodore Sloat camevery near spoiling the broth. In that case Fremontspresence and occupation would have been a positive card inopposing British claims—the Bear Flag business practicallyput the Amer

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