THE WORKS OF
HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT
VOLUME XXII

HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
VOL. V.   1846-1848

SAN FRANCISCO
THE HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
1886

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AN INTRODUCTION

            Hubert Howe Bancroft was born in 1832 in Ohio and in 1852 he traveled to California.  He opened a stationary and book store in San Francisco, which within a few short years grew into a publishing firm as well.  He personally amassed a large collection of books for use in his plan to create a huge history with California as a primary object.  He collected original documentation and particularly in California obtained through his assistants interview statements from many pioneers of California.  His collection of books, journals, manuscripts, maps, and pictures transferred in 1905 to the University of California as the core of The Bancroft Library.

            Between 1886 and 1890, Bancroft published the seven volume, History of California.  To this day, Volume V. of the History[link] presents one of the most detailed accounts of the events, personalities, and details related to the Bear Flag Revolt in existence.  It is a critical source for all those interested in the Bear Flag Revolt and its flag.  While it is not correct in every detail and is opinionated in its view of the Bear Flag Revolt, it still is a very important resource document.  While Volume V. is available at many, if not most, California libraries, and has been republished, often it is not easy to locate an economical copy for home, personal use.  Over the years, the author of  this introduction found Volume V.’s relative “unavailability” frustrating.  It is with this in mind that the BFM takes pleasure in making Bancroft’s Bear Flag history readily available online in a copyright free version.

            The relevant portion of Volume V of the History of California covering the 1846 to 1848 time period is available here on the BFM.  Specifically, Chapters IV  through VIII about the Bear flag Revolt are available here.  A separate link to the Table of Contents and to each chapter of Bancroft’s History is provided to minimize the time for loading of the material which runs to a total of approximately 120 pages.

                                                                                                 
Factual information about Hubert H. Bancroft is taken from James D. Hart’s A COMPANION TO CALIFORNIA, © 1978 Oxford University Press, Second printing September 1978.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BANCROFT’S MAP OF THE BEAR FLAG REVOLT TERRITORY WITHIN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CHAPTER IV.
CAUSES OF THE SETTLERS’ REVOLT.
June, 1846.   Page 77.

CHAPTER V.
BEAR FLAG REVOLT–TAKING OF SONOMA.
June, 1846.   Page 101.

CHAPTER VI.
BEAR FLAG REVOLT, CONTINUED–AFFAIRS AT SUTTER’ FORT AND SOUTH OF THE BAY.
June-July, 1846.   Page 122.

CHAPTER VII.
BEAR FLAG REVOLT–AFFAIRS AT SONOMA.
June-July, 1846.   Page 145.

CHAPTER VIII.
BEAR FLAG REVOLT–FREMONT’S CAMPAIGN.
1846.   Page 169.