Special Collections & Archives

The USS Cyane, Samuel Francis Du Pont, and the War with Mexico, Part I

On the morning of July 29, 1846, 175 years ago today, sloop-of war USS Cyane, Commander Samuel Francis Du Pont, anchored in the harbor of San Diego, California.  On board were Captain John C. Frémont of the U.S. Topographical Engineers and his California Battalion.  The United States and Mexico were at war, and Du Pont had arrived to take possession of the town on the orders of Commodore Robert F. Stockton.  As part of Stockton’s plan to crush resistance to American occupation of California, Frémont’s battalion was to march inland and block the retreat southward from Los Angeles of General José M. Castro, commander of the Mexican forces.

Samuel Francis Du Pont (1803-1865).  Du Pont entered the US Navy as a midshipman in 1815 and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. From Frank Moore, The Portrait Gallery of the War (New York, 1865)

At 3 p.m., the Cyane’s First Lieutenant Stephen Clegg Rowan and Marine Corps Lieutenant William A. T. Maddox left the ship with a landing party of sailors and marines to seize the town.  Meeting with no resistance, Lieutenant Rowan raised the American flag and the marines under Lieutenant Maddox went into garrison.  Soon thereafter, Frémont came ashore with a detachment of his troops.  Lieutenant Rowan returned to the Cyane shortly before 11 p.m. when Du Pont wrote to Stockton that Rowan “… reports the authorities as with us in feeling, but, fearing to compromise themselves in case of the flag coming down, declined active co-operation.  Great joy prevailed among women and children at the appearance of our people, they having been kept in constant terror by Castro.  The Alcadés are to decide if they would continue their functions; the Custom House officer has agreed to serve.”  

Entry from the Journal of a Cruise of the U.S. Ship Cyane documenting Lieutenant Rowan and Lieutenant Maddox leaving with a landing party to take possession of San Diego for the United Sates.  The Journal of the USS Cyane forms part of the Samuel Francis Du Pont Naval Papers, 1817-1859, MS 2.

Early in the morning of July 30, the remainder of Frémont’s men landed.  Du Pont proceeded to the town where he learned from the civil authorities that they, “while expressing every friendly feeling towards the present movement, and promising all their influence as citizens to preserve the peace of the place,” preferred to resign rather than continue in office under the Americans.  The only exception was Don Pedro Carillo, “the son-in-law of Señor Bardini, a member of the Mexican Congress,” who agreed to continue as administrator of the customs.    

"Lieut Harrison and Mids Philip employed surveying the Harbor."  

The Cyane remained at San Diego for almost two weeks.   Having found the charts aboard the sloop-of-war deficient, Du Pont ordered Lieutenant George W. Harrison and Midshipman John Van Ness Philip to survey the harbor.   Du Pont wrote to Stockton that he hoped “at some future day…to lay before you the advantages offered by this port and the surrounding country.”  On August 8, Du Pont received Stockton’s orders to sail to San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles.  Before getting underway, Lieutenant Rowan boarded and captured the Mexican brig Juanita, and left Midshipman Philip aboard as prize master with ten men.  With the Juanita in company, the Cyane headed out to sea on August 10.

What did the Cyane do at San Pedro?  Where did Frémont and the California Battalion go?  Did Commodore Stockton's plan succeed?  Stay tuned for Part II.