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to surprise Sonoma, a Mexican military post, it was captured and our party took one General and two captains prisoners. They also got several canon and a number of small arms. Shortly after the fort was taken, Fremont heard positively that was declared, then marched forward to Sonoma and found it in the possession of the men he had sent in advance, during our stay here Gen. Castro ordered one of his Captain's and a large force from San Francisco to attack us and drive us from the country while the Captain and party were on their march towards us they caught two of our men that were carrying news to the settlers that Sonoma had fallen and that war declared, whom he brutally murdered. He found that we were anxious to meet him and so commenced to retreat, we followed him some six days and nights but could not catch him, he escape by leaving his animals behind and reached San Francisco, from there he went Pueblo of los Angeles where Gen Castro joined him. Their object being to reorganize their forces. Fremont left a strong force at Sonoma as all the American settlers had joined him by this time, he then departed for Sutters fort where he arrived safely, he placed the fort under military command & left Gen Vallejos, the two Captains, and an American named Leuce?, a brother-in-law of the General as prisoners there in charge of the gentleman whom he had made Commander, he then departed for Monterey. It had been taken before our arrival by the Navy under Commodore Sloat?. A few days after we came Commodore Sloat? left and Commodore Stockton assumed command.