Occupation of
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Mexican War
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THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION OF CALIFORNIA

Mindful of his instructions from Washington to take San Francisco, the Commodore promptly dispatched orders to that effect to Commander James B. Montgomery, commanding the Portsmouth then lying off Yerba Buena (now San Francisco). Here there was even less drama than at Monterey. Montgomery landed with only 70 sailors and marines on the morning of July 9th. The American flag soon floated over the Custom House to the music of 21 saluting guns from the ship. After publishing Sloat's proclamation the martial force re-embarked with the exception of a garrison of only 14 marines under Lieutenant Henry B. Watson, USMC. Such was the annexation to the United States of the present great metropolis with its magnificent bridges, which would have seemed merely a fantastic dream to the pioneer captors.

Within a few days all of the principal towns in the general vicinity of San Francisco and Monterey Bays had come into American possession without opposition, and the Commodore turned his thoughts southward. He was in poor health however, and on July 23rd gladly turned over the direction of operations on shore to Commodore Robert F. Stockton who had recently arrived in the Frigate Congress from the east coast. Six days later Sloat sailed for home via Panama in the Levant, believing there would be no further opposition to American sovereignty.

On the 26th the Cyane had left Monterey bound for San Diego, with Captain John C. Fremont, U. S. Army and about 150 of the volunteer Americans, whom Stockton had mastered into the U. S. naval service. Three days later the Cyane's Landing Party of seamen and marines under Lieutenant Stephen C. Rowan occupied San Diego without resistance and Fremont's force was then disembarked as a permanent guard.

Subsequently Rowen participated in Commodore Stockton's final campaign against Los Angeles, the capture of Mazatlan, and the relief of San Jose. His services during the Civil War were very distinguished. At the capture of Roanoke Island, Rowan commanded a flotilla of gunboats and maintained all advanced position under heavy fire from afloat and ashore for several hours. The next day be attacked and destroyed the Confederate squadron of gunboats and then took Elizabeth City and Edenton. He commanded the naval forces at the capture of New Bern and was promoted to Commodore for gallantry. In fourteen attacks against the defenses of Charleston Rowan commanded the 'New Ironsides', being struck 164 times with heavy shell on one occasion. He was afterwards promoted to Real Admiral and to Vice Admiral. RETURN TO TEXT

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