Stockton Story — California Campaign 1846

This is the story of what happened after the Bear Flag revolt in California in 1846. I started the story about Commodore Robert Stockton more than fifteen years ago. On the second draft, a secondary character shanghaied the story. I put Robert’s project in an overcrowded file drawer. The clutter scared me every time I opened the drawer. I kept the drawer closed.

A year or so ago, I purged my entire office. Yup. The drawer, too.

After that, the story wouldn’t leave me alone. I soon realized that the only way I was going to get any peace was to tell the story. I messed around with who should tell the story.

Finally, I’ve settled on twelve-year-old Sven i Johansson, 1/2 Mexican and ½ Swedish. He does not remember his father; he died at sea before Sven was born. Sven’s Mexican mother takes Sven to live on her family’s land next to Rio Nueces. Though his mother tries to help him fit in, Sven, with his mother’s brown eyes and father’s fair skin and blonde hair, suffers beatings from the neighborhood kids in the small village.

Then the USS Congress sails into the Galveston Bay.

When the USS Congress leaves for California, Sven is onboard as the Commodore’s personal scribe. The Commodore wants the voyage documented. Sven is to record everything the Commodore says. Thanks to his mother, Sven can write English much better than he speaks the language. His penmanship is perfect. Plus, he is quick and knows how to fend for himself.

At first Sven loves life at sea. The air is always fresh. The crew is friendly. He has a box of beautiful quill pens and five bottles of ink. However, after they round Cape Horn, Sven becomes determined to escape the ship and find a way back home. The treacherous water and wind and storms and ghosts terrified all the joy of the sea right out of him.

Chronology of Events in California 1846-1847

What the territory of California looked like in 1846

Commodore Robert Field Stockton played a major role in the transfer of the territory of Alta California (California) from the Mexican government to the United States and thus, makes a perfect study of early California history.

COMMODORE ROBERT FIELD STOCKTON

1845 – 1846

CALIFORNIA CAMPAIGN

By:

Martha Alderson, M.A.

1845

• Robert Stockton, by now a commodore, sails to Texas with secret orders from newly elected President Polk — convince President of the Republic of Texas to provoke a war with Mexico over boundary issues. Polk, unwilling to risk the good favor of his European allies, refuses to get involved. He wants the deed done without the order coming directly from him
• President Jones of the Republic of Texas refuses Robert
• Still under secret orders from Polk, Robert proceeds to the Pacific to relieve Commodore Sloat as supreme commander of the U.S. Naval forces in the Pacific. Once war with Mexico is declared, Robert is to take possession of California and establish a government un the American flag
• Robert is 50 years old (average age in those days was 42 years old)
• Nine children
• Famously wealthy
• Incredibly powerful
• Robert wanted to redeem himself over the explosion of the cannon he built on the Princeton. He personally knew the men of power who died

U.S. History

President Polk elected

Polk is an unabashed expansionist—wants entire Northern Hemisphere under American rule

Polk tries to buy California from Mexico—Mexico won’t sell

A declaration of war by President Polk would not be viewed favorably in Europe

Texas is a nation and wants to be annexed into the Untied Sates.

Many opposed annexation because Texas will be added as slave state and throw off the delicate balance between free sates and slave states—tension in the country is building

Polk wants Robert to help Texas place itself in an attitude of active hostilities towards Mexico over the Rio Grande boarder.

Polk wants Texas to bring war with Mexico upon annexation into the Union

Polk sends Robert to California by sea, John C. Fremont overland the northern route, and Kearny overland the southern route, all with the same secret orders—take California for the U.S.

1846

• After five months at sea, Robert arrives in Monterey, California on July 15, 1846
• Assumes command of the fleet from Commodore Sloat
• Receives word of war with Mexico
• Robert declares CA a territory of the US and proceeds to organize a civil government
• Robert enrolls the Bear Flag battalion of John C. Fremont as volunteers in the American Army
• Robert sails south to take LA.
• All is calm. Raises the American flag and the deed is done
• Robert sends the famous Kit Carson to WA to inform President Polk mission accomplished
• Robert sails to Yerba Buena (SF) and travels inland to SJ where he buys land hat today is the San Jose Airport

U.S. History

September, Mexican forces surround Los Angeles, Former Governor Pico, General Flores and 500 men retake Los Angles, Santa Barbara, San Diego and issue their won proclamation to “drive insolent invaders from CA soil”

Polk has also sent Kearny to California with orders appointing him as Governor of the American territory of California

Kearny is attacked by Mexican forces at San Pacaul and critically wounded

1847

• Robert coverts his sailors and marines into land forces and reoccupies Los Angeles
• Robert ignores Kearny and appoints himself 1^st US Governor of California and is later hailed by biographer as “conqueror of the whole of California”
• Robert makes Fremont governor and commander-in-chief if CA and returns east overland across the Rockies