No. 7. UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT, COMMODORE: Previous instructions have informed you of the intention of this government, pending the war with Mexico, to take and hold possesion of California. For this end a company of artillery, with cannon, mortars, and munitions of war, is sent to you in the Lexington, for the purpose of co-operating with you, according to the best of your judgment, and of occupying, under your direction, such post or posts as you may deem expedient in the bay of Monterey, or in the bay of San Francisco, or in both. In the absence of a military officer higher than captain, the selection of the first American post or posts on the waters of the Pacific, in California, is left to your discretion. The object of the United States is, under its rights as a belligerent nation, to possess itself entirely of Upper California. When San Francisco and Monterey are secured, you will, if possible, send a small vessel of war to take and hold possession of the port of San Diego; and it would be well to ascertain the views of the inhabitants of Pueblo de los Angeles, who, according to information received here, may be counted upon as desirous of coming under the jurisdiction of the United States. If you can take possession of it, you should do so. The object of the United States has reference to ultimate peace with Mexico; and if, at that peace, the basis of the uti possidetis shall be established, the government expects, through your forces, to be found in actual possession of Upper California. This will bring with it the necessity of a civil administration. Such a government should be established under your protection; and, in selecting persons to hold office, due respect should be had to the wishes of the people of California, as well as to the actual possessors of authority in that province. It may be proper to require an oath of allegiance to the United States from those who are entrusted with authority. You will also assure the people of California of the protection of the United States. In reference to commercial regulations in the ports of which you are in actual possession, ships and produce of the United States should come and go free of duty. For your further instruction I enclose to you a copy of confidential instructions from the War Department to Brigadier General S. W. Kearny, who is ordered, overland, to California. You will also communicate your instructions to him, and inform him that they have the sanction of the President. The government relies on the land and naval forces to co-operate with each other in the most friendly and effective manner. After you shall have secured Upper California, if your force is sufficient, you will take possession, and keep the harbors on the Gulf of California as far down, at least, as Guaymas. But this is not to interfere with the permanent occupation of Upper California. A regiment of volunteers from the State of New York, to serve during the war, have been called for by the government, and are expected to sail from the first to the tenth of August. This regiment will, in the first instance, report to the naval commander on your station, but will ultimately be under the command of General Kearny, who is appointed to conduct the expedition by land.. The term of three years having nearly expired since you have been in command of the Pacific squadron, Commodore Shubrick will soon be sent out in the Independence to relieve you. The department confidently hopes that all Upper California will be in our hands before the relief shall arrive. Very respectfully, Commodore JOHN D. SLOAT, GEORGE BANCROFT. Comd'g U. S. naval forces in the Pacific ocean. No. 8. UNITED STATES NAVY DEPARTMENT, SIR: The United States being in a state of war by the action of Mexico, it is desired, by the prosecution of hostilities, to hasten the return of peace, and to secure it on advantageous conditions. For this purpose orders have been given to the squadron in the Pacific to take and keep possession of Upper California, especially of the ports of San Francisco, of Monterey, and of San Diego; and also, if opportunity offer, and the people favor, to take possession, by an inland expedition, of San Pueblo de los Angeles, near San Diego. Your first duty will be to ascertain if these orders have been carried into effect. If not, you will take immediate possession of Upper California, especially of the three ports of San Francisco, Monterey, and San Diego, so that if the treaty of peace shall be made on the basis of the uti possidetis, it may leave California to the United States. The relations to be maintained with the people of Upper California are to be as friendly as possible. The flag of the United States must be raised; but under it the people are to be allowed as much liberty of self-government as is consistent with the general occupation of the country by the United States. You, as commander-in-chief of the squadron, may exercise the right to interdict the entrance of any vessel or articles, that would be unfavorable to our success in the war, into any of the enemy's ports which you may occupy. With this exception, all United States vessels and merchandise must be allowed, by the local authorities of the ports of which you take possession, to come and go free of duty; but on foreign vessels and goods reasonable duties may be imposed, collected, and disposed of by the local authorities, under your general superintendence. A military force has been directed by the Secretary of War to proceed to the western coast of California for the purpose of cooperation with the navy, in taking possession of and holding the ports and positions which have been specified, and for otherwise operating against Mexico. A detachment of these troops, consisting of a company of artillery, under command of Captain Tompkins, has sailed in the United States ship Lexington. A regiment of volunteers, under Colonel Stevenson, will soon sail from New York; and a body of troops under Brigadier General Kearny may reach the coast via Santa Fé. Copies of so much of the instructions to Captain Tompkins and General Kearny as relates to objects requiring co-operation are here with enclosed. By article 6 of the "General Regulations for the Army," edition of 1825, which is held by the War Department to be still in force, and of which I enclose you a copy, your commission [that is, the commission of Commodore Biddle] places you in point of precedence, on occasions of ceremony or upon meetings for consultation, in the class of major general, but no officer of the army or navy, whatever may be his rank, can assume any direct command, inde-, pendent of consent, over an officer of the other service, excepting only when land forces are specially embarked in vessels of war to do the duty of marines. The President expects and requires, however, the most cordial and effectual co-operation between the officers of the two services, in taking possession of and holding the ports and positions of the enemy, which are designated in the instructions to either or both. branches of the service, and will hold any commander of either branch to a strict responsibility for any failure to preserve harmony and secure the objects proposed. The land forces which have been or will be sent to the Pacific may be dependent upon the vessels of your squadron for transportation from one point to another, and for shelter and protection in case of being compelled to abandon positions on the coast. It may be necessary also to furnish transportation for their supplies, or to furnish the supplies themselves, by the vessels under your direction. In all such cases you will furnish all the assistance in your power which will not interfere with objects that, in your opinion, are of greater importance. You will, taking care, however, to advise with any land officer of high rank-say of the rank of brigadier general-who may be at hand, make the necessary regulations for the ports that may be occupied. Having provided for the full possession of Upper California, the next point of importance is the Gulf of California. From the best judgment I can form, you should take possession of the port of Guaymas. The progress of our arms will probably be such that, in conjunction with land forces, you will be able to hold possession of Guaymas, and so to reduce all the country north of it on the gulf. As to the ports south, of it, especially Mazatlan and Acapulco, it is not possible to give you special instructions. Generally, you will take possession of, or blockade, according to your best judgment, all Mexican ports as far as your means allow; but south of Guaymas, if the provinces rise up against the central government, and manifest friendship towards the United States, you may, according to your discretion, enter into a temporary agreement of neutrality. But this must be done only on condition that our ships have free access to their ports, and equal commercial rights with those of other nations; that you are allowed to take in water and fuel, to purchase supplies, to go to and from shore without obstruction, as in time of peace; and that the provinces which are thus neutral shall absolutely abstain from contributing towards the continuance of the war by the central government of Mexico against the United States. Generally, you will exercise the rights of a belligerent; and bear in mind that the greater advantages you obtain, the more speedy and the more advantageous will be the peace. The Savannah, the Warren, and the Levant ought soon to return. If you hear of peace between the United States and Mexico, you will at once send them home. If war continues, you will send them home singly, or in company, at the earliest day they can be spared. The Savannah will go to New York, and the Warren and Levant to Norfolk. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. To Com. JAMES BIDDLE, or Com. R. F. STOCKTON, OF GEORGE BANCROFT. The SENIOR OFFICER in command of the United States naval forces in the Pacific ocean. SIR: In arranging with his excellency the governor of Missouri the force to march against the province of New Mexico, under the instructions to you from the Adjutant General's office, (two letters, dated respectively the 13th and 14th instant,) it is desirable that you should add as many of the valuable men at and about Bent's fort to that force as practicable, and as may be needed. The governor's attention, when here, was invited to that object by both the Secretary of War and myself. With a view to these men, and a further accession to the strength of the expedition under your orders from among American citizens. residing or trading in New Mexico, who may volunteer into the service of the United States, it is desirable that you take with you. additional supplies, including arms, accoutrements, and ammuni tion. To hold Santa Fé, and other points you may deem it necessary to capture and to occupy, it is suggested, if you think the routes practicable, that you take with you some guns beyond and heavier than a field battery. I am desired to intimate to you, (confidentially,) from the highest in authority, that you will probably soon be followed by an additional volunteer force, (say of a thousand men,) to be raised in Missouri, and to come under your orders. When so reinforced, or before, if you deem your means adequate, after garrisoning Santa Fé, and other points you may have captured and desire to occupy, you will march (say via the most southern practicable route-the caravan route) to North California; take and occupy some of the principal points (say Monterey and San Francisco bay) in that province also; communicating and co-operating with the commander of the United States naval forces whom you may find at hand. You will probably receive en route further instructions on those subjects. It is deemed highly important that the expedition with which you are to commence operations should be fitted out and pressed forward with as little delay as practicable. This communication is despatched in triplicate-one copy addressed to St. Louis, Jefferson city, and Fort Leavenworth, each; and a fourth will be put under cover to his excellency the governor of Missouri, for his information. The chief of topographical engineers will despatch for service with you, very soon, two officers of his corps. I remain, with great respect your obedient servant, WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 3, 1846. SIR: I herewith send you a copy of my letter to the governor of Missouri for an additional force of one thousand mounted men. The object of thus adding to the force under your command is not, as you will perceive, fully set forth in that letter, for the reason that it is deemed prudent that it should not at this time become a matter of public notoriety; but to you it is proper and necessary that it should be stated. It has been decided by the President to be of the greatest importance, in the pending war with Mexico, to take the earliest possession of Upper California. An expedition, with that view, is hereby ordered, and you are designated to command it. To enable you to be in sufficient force to conduct it successfully, this additional force of a thousand mounted men has been provided to follow you in |