followers, together with the Ameiican settlers, iamiediately co-operated with the naval forces, and, en the departure of Commodore Stockton, the captain of the scientific exploring party beyond the Rocky Mountains, became Governor of the American territory of Cali- fornia.
Such is the account the American Goi-ernment thought proper to give of the Californian rebellion, throwing the whole responsibihty of this atrocious affair on Fremont.
Fortunately for the character of that officer, transactions which the Secretary did not deem it expedient to report have since come to light. On his return to the United States, Colonel Fremont presented certain pecuniary claims growing out of the conquest of California. The subject was investigated by a committee of the Senate, and their report dissipates much of the mystery which had hitherto rested on Fremont's extraordinary conduct.* It seems that, on the 3rd Nov., 1845, after Taylor had been ordered to the Rio Grande, and while he was waiting with the army at Corpus Christi, five States having been required to furnish him with whatever troops he might need, a messenger was despatched by the Cabinet to Fremont. This messenger was Lieutenant Gillespie of * See Report, Senate Doc , No. 76. 30th Cong., 1st Sess.