Gold Seekers of 49 | Page 3

of California by the United
States.
1835--President Andrew Jackson authorizes Colonel Anthony Butler,
American official in Mexico, to purchase, if possible, for the United
States, "the whole bay of San Francisco." The plan fails.
1839--July 3, 1839, arrives at Monterey Captain John August Sutter, a
Swiss-American. In August he takes up a tract of land on the south
bank of the American River, east from present Sacramento, and there
establishes a trading post which he names New Helvetia, but which
became better known as Sutter's Fort. The post grows to be a rallying
place for American trappers and settlers.
1841--In November, 1841, arrive the first company of American
immigrants, led by J. Bartleson and John Bidwell, from the Missouri
River, along the Oregon Trail to the Salt Lake cut-off, thence down the
Humboldt River and across the Sierra Nevada mountains and down the
Stanislaus River. Numbering thirty-nine, they reach the ranch of Dr.
John Marsh, early American settler, back of the present city of Oakland,
opposite San Francisco.
1841--In October and November, 1841, the Bay of San Francisco, and
the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers are surveyed by the
Government exploring expedition under command of Captain Charles
W. Wilkes, United States Navy.

1842--The Honorable Waddy Thompson, United States minister to
Mexico, informs President John Tyler, April 29, 1842, that Mexico is
willing to sell Texas and Upper California. He emphasizes the
importance of California.
1842--October 20, 1842, Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones of the
United States Navy raises the American flag over Monterey, thinking
that war with Mexico had been declared. The next day he apologizes;
but the sale of California is interrupted.
1842-43-44--The American immigration overland gradually increases
in 1842, 1843, 1844, and alarms the Mexican authorities, who fear the
spread of American influence. The majority of the settlers locate in
Northern California.
1844--In February, 1844, Captain John C. Frémont and party, on
exploring expedition for the War Department at Washington, cross the
Sierra Nevada, to Sutter's Fort, and traverse California from north to
south.
1845--Negotiations for the purchase of California are resumed in 1845
by President James K. Polk. The American consul at Monterey,
Thomas O. Larkin, is appointed "confidential agent" for the United
States, and is instructed to keep watch against any scheming by France
or Great Britain, and to influence the California people to unite
themselves with the Republic.
1845--In the winter of 1845-1846 Frémont again leads a party to
Sutter's Fort, and on toward the coast. He is ordered out; proceeds up
for Oregon, and is recalled, May 8, 1846, into California by a naval
officer with dispatches for him.
1846--June, 1846, American settlers and adventurers, in the
neighborhood of Sutter's Fort, revolt against the Mexican government
of California; June 14 they capture Sonoma, north of San Francisco,
where they raise the Bear Flag and proclaim California to be an
independent republic. Frémont aids the revolution.

1846--Following news of war between the United States and Mexico,
on July 7, 1846, Commodore John D. Sloat raises the American flag
over Monterey; on July 9 it is raised over San Francisco and Sonoma;
on July 11, over Sutter's Fort; on August 13, Los Angeles is invested,
and the flag raised there.
1847--After several engagements between the American forces and the
Californians, on January 13, 1847, by the treaty of Cahuenga the
Californians agree to lay down their arms.
1848--By the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo between the United States
and Mexico, at the close of the Mexican War, and ratified at
Washington, March 16, 1848, California is ceded to the United States.
1848--James Marshall, in the employ of Captain Sutter, while washing
out a mill-race at Coloma, on the American River, about thirty miles
west of Sutter's Fort, on January 24, 1848, discovers flakes of gold. The
news spreads; it reaches Monterey, the capital, May 29, and creates
intense excitement. In December the news officially reaches
Washington, by communication from General Richard B. Mason and
former consul James O. Larkin, and is included in President Polk's
message to Congress. During 1848 $10,000,000 in gold is gathered by
miners in California.
1849--In the spring of 1849 20,000 people are collected at the Missouri
River, prepared to start overland 2000 miles to the California gold
fields. More than 30,000 people make the land pilgrimage this year.
Others sail around Cape Horn. Many others choose to cross the Isthmus
of Panama, and reach the Pacific that way. The first shipload of gold
seekers arrive in San Francisco February 28, 1849. San Francisco,
formerly the hamlet of Yerba Buena (Good Herb), leaps from a
population of 500 to one of 15,000, and the harbor has 500 vessels at
anchor, flying all flags. In 1849 $40,000,000 of gold is taken from the
soil by the miners.
1849--September 1, 1849, a convention to frame a State