What role did John C. Frémont play during the Mexican-American War and California Gold Rush?

Frémont joined Sacramento Valley insurgents in June 1846 and secretly directed operations that formed the Bear Flag Republic while claiming land later known as Las Mariposas. Sonora Mexicans informed him that gold had been discovered on his property transforming him instantly into a wealthy man during the early 1850s.

John C. Frémont: the story on HearLore

Q: How did John C. Frémont begin his career as an explorer and surveyor?

Joel R. Poinsett secured Frémont an appointment as a teacher of mathematics aboard the sloop USS Natchez sailing South American seas in 1833. This naval experience launched his transition into topographical surveying and exploration before he led five western expeditions beginning in 1842.

John Charles Frémont was born on the 21st of January 1813, in Savannah, Georgia. His parents were Anne Beverley Whiting and Charles Frémon, a French-Canadian immigrant schoolteacher who had been hired to tutor Anne by her husband, Major John Pryor. The affair between Anne and Frémon led them to flee Williamsburg on the 10th of July 1811, eventually settling in Norfolk before moving to Savannah. When Pryor discovered the relationship, he filed for divorce but failed to secure it from the Virginia House of Delegates. This legal blockage meant Anne and Frémon could never marry legally, leaving their son born out of wedlock. Frémont grew up knowing his origins were irregular and his family's means modest despite his mother's prominent background as the youngest daughter of Colonel Thomas Whiting. After his father died on the 8th of December 1818, Anne struggled to support John and several younger children on a limited inherited income. The family moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where young Frémont attended Charleston College starting in May 1829. He taught intervals in the countryside while studying mathematics and natural sciences. By 1831, however, authorities expelled him for irregular attendance. Despite this setback, Frémont attracted attention through his precocious nature and daring personality. A lawyer named John W. Mitchell provided early education guidance, but it was Joel R. Poinsett who became his true patron. Poinsett, an Andrew Jackson supporter and future Secretary of War, secured Frémont an appointment as a teacher of mathematics aboard the sloop USS Natchez sailing South American seas in 1833. This naval experience launched his transition into topographical surveying and exploration.

7 sections

Beginning in 1842, Frémont led five western expeditions that fundamentally reshaped American understanding of the continent between the Mississippi and Pacific oceans. His first expedition started the 15th of June 1842, when he departed from the Kansas River with twenty-five men including guide Kit Carson. They followed the Platte River to the South Pass before exploring the Wind River Range in Wyoming. On the 10th of July 1842, Frémont climbed what would become known as Fremont Peak and planted an American flag claiming the Rocky Mountains for the United States. The second expedition began summer 1843 with nearly forty well-equipped men leaving the Missouri River in May. This journey pushed westward toward the Pacific Ocean along the Columbia River in Oregon Country. Frémont's party reached the Great Salt Lake area by November 5, then traveled south along the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada mountains. By the 18th of January 1844, they had reached the Carson River, which Frémont named after his guide. The group descended the American River to Sutter's Fort in early March 1844, becoming one of the first Americans to see Lake Tahoe. Frémont's scientific documentation proved equally important as his mapping achievements. He produced seven maps published by the Senate in 1846 that served as guides for thousands of emigrants traveling the Oregon Trail. His reports co-authored with wife Jessie described the West not as dangerous wilderness but as inviting lands ready for settlement. These publications encouraged massive migration westward and helped establish Manifest Destiny as a political movement championed by Senator Thomas Hart Benton.

During his third expedition beginning the 1st of June 1845, Frémont's armed party engaged in systematic violence against Native American communities across California and Oregon Country. On the 9th of December 1845, he arrived at Sutter's Fort with forty-five men and immediately sought to stir patriotic enthusiasm among American settlers there. When Mexican commandant Jose Castro ordered him to leave the country, Frémont withdrew north to camp near what is now Fremont Peak before raising the United States flag in defiance of Mexican authority. The Sacramento River massacre occurred during this withdrawal phase with casualty estimates varying dramatically between sources. Expedition members Thomas E. Breckenridge claimed 120-150 Native Americans killed while Thomas S. Martin reported over 175 deaths. Eyewitness Tustin stated at least 600-700 people died on land with another 200 or more dying in water. No records exist showing any expedition member was killed or wounded during these killings. Kit Carson later described the event as "a perfect butchery". On the 12th of May 1846, Frémont's group completely destroyed the Klamath fishing village named Dokdokwas at the junction of the Williamson River and Klamath Lake. The attack killed at least fourteen people despite evidence suggesting villagers might not have been involved in earlier conflicts. This pattern continued throughout his campaigns as Frémont believed British forces were arming Native Americans against his party. His actions contributed significantly to what historians now recognize as part of the California genocide.

Frémont's role in the Mexican-American War began when he joined Sacramento Valley insurgents in a silent partnership rather than returning east as originally planned. On the 14th of June 1846, thirty-four armed rebels independently captured Sonoma forcing surrender of Colonel Mariano Vallejo. The following day rebelling Americans called Osos hoisted a roughly sewn flag forming the Bear Flag Republic under leader William Ide. Frémont publicly denied responsibility for the raid while secretly directing operations from his camp on the American River. Commodore John D. Sloat arrived the 7th of July 1846 with orders to seize San Francisco Bay after learning war had been declared. Stockton replaced Sloat as commander-in-chief of all land forces in California on July 15. Frémont entered Monterey July 19 where he met Sloat aboard the Savannah. When Sloat learned Frémont acted without official authorization raising doubt about whether war had actually been declared, he retired to his cabin. The conflict escalated into mutiny charges when Brigadier General Stephen W. Kearny arrived the 24th of December 1846 with orders from President Polk establishing civil government over conquered territory. Frémont refused to obey Kearny's command structure believing himself subordinate only to Stockton. On the 22nd of August 1847, Frémont was arrested at Fort Leavenworth and charged with mutiny disobedience of orders assumption of powers and several other military offenses. He was found innocent of mutiny but convicted the 31st of January 1848 of disobedience toward a superior officer and military misconduct before President James K. Polk commuted his sentence.

On the 10th of February 1847, Frémont purchased seventy square miles of Sierra foothill land through speculator Thomas Larkin for three thousand dollars known as Las Mariposas or The Butterflies after Monarch butterflies found there. The property previously belonged to former California governor Juan Bautista Alvarado and his wife Martina Caston de Alvarado. After his court martial in 1848, Frémont moved to Las Mariposas becoming a rancher while borrowing money from father-in-law Benton and Senator John Dix to construct housing facilities. Sonora Mexicans informed Frémont that gold had been discovered on his property transforming him instantly into a wealthy man. A five-mile quartz vein produced hundreds of pounds of placer gold each month during the early 1850s. Hiland Hall appointed chairman of federal commission created to settle Mexican land titles traveled San Francisco beginning work in 1851 with son-in-law Trenor W. Park managing daily estate operations. Frémont hired Park as managing partner overseeing activities while employing Mexican laborers washing out gold in exchange for profit percentages. Legal disputes erupted quickly as squatters moved onto Frémont's Las Mariposas land mining for gold. Questions arose whether three mining districts constituted public domain since Alvarado never actually settled property as required by Mexican law. All matters lingered argued through many years until Supreme Court finally ruled Frémont favorably in 1856 allowing him to keep wealth despite creating lingering animosity among neighbors.

President Abraham Lincoln appointed Frémont Union Army Major General the 15th of May 1861 arriving Boston England June 27 before taking command Department West the 1st of July 1861. The Western department stretched from Appalachian Mountains westward to Mississippi River including Missouri where secession crisis appeared uncontrollable. Frémont received only twenty-three thousand men whose volunteer three-month enlistments were about to expire without weapons uniforms or military equipment available. Frémont ran headquarters St Louis like European autocrat renting lavish mansion six thousand dollars yearly paid government surrounded himself Hungarian Italian guards brassy uniforms plus bodyguard three hundred Kentucky men chosen uniform physical attributes. Political feud developed with Frank Blair member powerful Blair family brother Lincoln cabinet member complaining Frémont extravagant commanding horde pirates defrauding army causing national scandal confirmed Congressional subcommittee investigation headed Elihu B. Washburne later Commission War Claims investigation entire Western Department. On the 30th of August 1861 at dawn Frémont issued proclamation putting Missouri under martial law without notifying President Lincoln declaring civilians taken arms against subject court martial execution property aiding secessionists confiscated slaves rebels immediately emancipated. Kentucky still neutral Unionists feared action would sway opinion toward secession prompting Joshua Speed implore Lincoln disavow emancipation Kentucky gone mill dam. Lincoln publicly revoked clause September 11 after Frémont refused revise order creating bad feeling between abolitionist allies and administration.

In 1856 Frémont became first presidential candidate newly formed Republican Party age forty-three joining organization established 1854 united opposition Pierce Administration spread slavery West. Republicans nominated Frémont president over other candidates conservative William L. Dayton New Jersey vice president June convention Philadelphia campaign slogan Free Soil Free Men Frémont crusading free farms homesteads against Slave Power. Democratic Party nominated James Buchanan receiving one million eight hundred thirty-six thousand seven hundred twenty-two votes compared to Frémont's one million three hundred forty-two thousand three hundred forty-five November four 1856 election results. Frémont received one hundred fourteen electoral votes to one hundred seventy-four votes Buchanan won nineteen states carrying eleven including California home state Millard Fillmore third party representing American Know Nothing Party popular vote went Buchanan who better organized while Republicans operated limited funding. After campaign returned California devoted mining business Mariposa gold estate estimated ten million dollars title confirmed Supreme Court 1856. Later Frémont nominated president 1864 Radical Democratic Party breakaway faction abolitionist Republicans withdrew before election after Civil War losing much wealth unsuccessful Pacific Railroad 1866 lost more Panic 1873 served Governor Arizona Territory 1878-1881 retired politics died destitute New York City the 13th of July 1890.

John C. Frémont.

Mapping The Western Frontier

Massacres And Native American Violence

War And Court Martial In California

Gold Wealth And Legal Battles

Civil War Command And Emancipation Crisis

Presidential Campaigns And Political Legacy

Mapping The Western Frontier

Massacres And Native American Violence

War And Court Martial In California

Gold Wealth And Legal Battles

Civil War Command And Emancipation Crisis

Presidential Campaigns And Political Legacy

Continue Browsing

Common questions

John C. Frémont.

1. Mapping The Western Frontier

2. Massacres And Native American Violence

3. War And Court Martial In California

4. Gold Wealth And Legal Battles

5. Civil War Command And Emancipation Crisis

6. Presidential Campaigns And Political Legacy

1. Mapping The Western Frontier

2. Massacres And Native American Violence

3. War And Court Martial In California

4. Gold Wealth And Legal Battles

5. Civil War Command And Emancipation Crisis

6. Presidential Campaigns And Political Legacy

Continue Browsing

Common questions

Mapping The Western Frontier

Massacres And Native American Violence

War And Court Martial In California

Gold Wealth And Legal Battles

Civil War Command And Emancipation Crisis

Presidential Campaigns And Political Legacy

Mapping The Western Frontier

Massacres And Native American Violence

War And Court Martial In California

Gold Wealth And Legal Battles

Civil War Command And Emancipation Crisis

Presidential Campaigns And Political Legacy