Congress, which brought Commodore Robert F. Stockton to California in July 1846. Transferred to the U. S. S
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- Du Pont during the next several months took an active part in the conquest of California, transporting troops from port to port.
- Excerpts from "Navy Compass, Close-up" dated July 26,1996. "1846" The Navy drops anchor in San Diego.
- USS Cyane
- Lieutenant Stephen Rowan
- Stephen Rowan
| USS Cyane
Captain Samuel F. Du Pont U.S. Naval Officer During Conquest of California In command of the U.S.S. Congress, which brought Commodore Robert F. Stockton to California in July 1846. Transferred to the U.S.S. Cyane, Du Pont during the next several months took an active part in the conquest of California, transporting troops from port to port. 1848 The first American census in San Diego lists "248 white residents, 248 converted Indians, 1,550 wild Indians, three Negroes and three Sandwich Islanders (Hawaiians)". The first federal census records a Los Angeles population of 3,530, including 2 Chinese, 344 Indians, 15 blacks. Foreign born total 699. 1850 The total population of the new County of San Diego, including what is now Riverside and San Bernardino Counties is 798. The City claims 650 residents 1900 The city of Los Angeles’ population is 102,479 The population of Los Angeles is 310,198. San Diego City and County Population from U.S. Census Bureau
Excerpts from "Navy Compass, Close-up" dated July 26,1996. "1846" The Navy drops anchor in San Diego. A bid for statehood in Texas launches the Mexican War and brings the first US warship into San Diego harbor. July 26, 1846 - the first day Stars and Stripes officially flew over San Diego - and the day that marked the defining moment of San Diego's transition from Spanish and Mexican rule to that of the United States. As 1846 began, the Californians of the dusty San Diego settlement had been citizens of the Republic of Mexico for barely 24 years, following nearly three centuries of Spanish rule. But as the sun rose that July morning the USS Cyane - a 790-ton sloop-of-war carrying 20 guns - stood off the chiseled brown and green headland of Point Loma at the entrance to San Diego's harbor, ready to change the region's destiny once again. The USS Cyane was under the command of Samuel DuPont and was sailing under the orders of Commodore Robert Stockton commander of the US Pacific Squadron. Cyane and two other squadron warships had seized Monterey earlier that Month claiming possession of that city and all of Upper Calif. for the United States. Lieutenant Stephen Rowan, the executive officer aboard the USS Cyane, led a small party of sailors ashore; the sailors were augmented by the ships marine guard under Lieutenant William Maddox, USMC. Together, they set off toward shore in two boats with orders to reconnoiter the town and test for opposition. They marched unopposed to the town square and raised a naval ensign - the first official raising of US colors in San Diego. After the Mexican American War the USS Cyane returned to Norfolk VA and DuPont served in the Navy for nearly 20 more years, finishing with a total naval service of some 50 years. He commanded the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron as a Rear Admiral during the early years of the Civil War and directed the capture of Port Royal and Beaufort SC. Lt. Rowan, who'd landed the first party in San Diego, rose to prominence in the Navy, commanding a steam sloop during the early Civil War. He was instrumental in protecting Washington DC during operation on the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay and was ordered too late to sail to relieve beleaguered Ft. Sumter. Rowan was active with Union naval forces off Cape Hatteras and later in the blockade of Charleston, where he took command of the ironclad New Ironsides. In 1870 Stephen Rowan rose to the rank of vice admiral and held command of the Asiatic Squadron in the Far East. Vice Admiral Rowan died in Washington, DC in 1890 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown. In later years, the Navy would remember Stockton, DuPont and Rowan by naming seven destroyers after them. NAVAL ACTION AT URIAS (MAZATLAN), MEXICO NOVEMBER 20, 1847
1. Seaman Peter Johnson, U.S.S. Independence. Wounded: 1. Lt. Geo. S. Selden, U.S.S. Cyane; slightly, inner side of left thigh. 2. Lt. H. A. Wise, U.S.S. Independence; slightly, edge of left scapula. 3. Passed Midshipman W. D. Austin, U.S.S. Independence; slightly, ball grazing left hand. 4. Seaman Peter Joseph, U.S.S. Congress; compound fracture of left arm. 5. Seaman Henry Dunham, U.S.S. Cyane; flesh wound of right hip, severe. 6. Seaman Wm. Bohine, U.S.S. Cyane; flesh wound of left hip. 7. Seaman Geo. W. Martin, U.S.S. Cyane; flesh wound of right leg. 8. Seaman Peter Nelson, U.S.S. Cyane; slight wound of foot. 9. Seaman Geo. Clark, U.S.S. Cyane; slight wound of foot. 10. Ordinary Seaman Jos. Bryson, U.S.S. Cyane; flesh wound, right side head and ear, and left shoulder. 11. Ordinary Seaman John Euben, U.S.S. Cyane; wound of scalp. 12. Ordinary Seaman John Ambush, U.S.S. Cyane; flesh wound of neck. 13. Ordinary Seaman Charles Jister, U.S.S. Cyane; slight wound of knee. 14. Ordinary Seaman John Hanson, U.S.S. Congress; flesh wound of thigh, on cheek bone, and graze of scalp. 15. Ordinary Seaman John McClure, U.S.S. Congress; wound of elbow. 16. Ordinary Seaman John Tash, U.S.S. Congres; wound of right foot and left leg. 17. Ordinary Seaman Lewis Willard, U.S.S. Congress; wound through septum nasi. 18. Ordinary Seaman George Watson, U.S.S. Congress; wound of scalp. 19. Landsman Kensey Hall, U.S.S. Cyane; penetrating wound of right leg and ankle joint. 20. Landsman Edward Large, U.S.S. Congress; flesh wound of neck and ear.
JANUARY 8, 1847. Killed: 1. Seaman Frederick Strauss, U.S.S. Portsmouth, Artillery Corps. Cannon shot in neck. Wounded: 1. *Jacob Hait, Calif. Vols., artillery driver. Wound in left breast; died evening of January 9, 1847. 2. *Ord. Seaman Thomas Smith, U.S.S. Cyane, Co D, Musketeers. Shot by accident through the right thigh; died the night of January 8, 1847. 3. Seaman William Coxe, U.S.S. Savannah, Co. B, Musketeers. Wound in right thigh and right arm - severe. 4. Ord. Seaman George Bantam, U.S.S. Cyane, pikeman. Punctured wound of hand, accidental - slight. 5. Seaman Patrick Campbell, U.S.S. Cyane, Co. D, Musketeers. Wound in thigh by spent ball - slight. 6. Pvt. William Scott, U.S.M.C., U.S.S. Portsmouth. Wound in chest, spent ball - slight. 7. Seaman James Hendy, U.S.S. Congress, Co. A, Musketeers. Wound over stomach, spent ball - slight. 8. Seaman Joseph Wilson, U.S.S. Congress, Co. A, Musketeers. Wound in right thigh, spent ball - slight. 9. Seaman Ivory Coffin, U.S.S. Savannah, Co. B, Muskeeters. Contusion of right knee, spent ball - slight. Source: James M. Cutts. The Conquest of California and New Mexico (Phila.: Carey & Hart, 1847), p. 205. BATTLE OF LA MESA, UPPER CALIFORNIA, JANUARY 9, 1847.
1. Lt. Stephen C. Rowan, U.S. Navy, U.S.S. Cyane. Slightly contused by spent ball. 2. Capt. Archibald H. Gillespie, U.S.M.C. and Calif. Vols. Slightly contused by spent ball. 3. Pvt. Mark A. Child, Co. C, 1st Dragoons. Gun shot wound in right heel, penetrating upwards into the ankle joint. 4. Ord. Seaman James Campbell, U.S.S. Congress, Co. D, Carbineers. Wound in right foot, second toe amputated, accidental discharge of own carbine - severe. 5. Boatswains Mate George Crawford, U.S.S. Cyane, Co. D, Musketeers. Wound in left thigh - severe. Source: James M. Cutts. The Conquest of California and New Mexico (Phila.: Carey & Hart, 1847), pp.205-206. Download 36.11 Kb. Share with your friends:
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