At c. dawn [5 a.m.], Bear Flag Revolters arrive at Sonoma.

At c. 11a.m., some Bear Flaggers [Semple, Grigsby, Merritt, plus] took Vallejo, his brother Salvador, Jacob Leese and Victor Prudon from Sonoma, and headed toward Fremont.

Report of  Lt. Misroon to Commander Montgomery of mission to Sonoma:   

   “In pursuance of your order of the 16t. Inst. to proceed to Sonoma....
     I have the honor to report, in obedience to that order, that I left the Ship on the day of receiving your instructions, and reached the town about Sunset, where I found about 25 men under arms, ... the whole party is only thirty five....  Ide ... also handed me a copy of a proclamation which he had issued....  By this proclamation you will also observe, that California is declared to be an Independent Republic — the insurgent party has hoisted a Flag with a white field, with a border or Stripe of red on its lower part, & having a Star & Bear upon it.
                                                      ****
     Having completed the object for which I went to Sonoma I left the place today [the 17th] with the thanks of both parties, about Meridian [noon] & reached the Ship about Sunset;
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[This may be [probably is] the earliest written description of the original Bear Flag]

Leidesdorff letter to Larkin:
     I think the “Proclamation” will call many to their “Banner” which is a white “field” with a red border, a large “star” and a “Grisley Bear,” such is the flag of young California

Early morning [c. 4 a.m.], Lieut. Joseph W. Revere dispatched to Sonoma from the U.S.S. Portsmouth by boat.

     - John Elliot Montgomery,  the 16 year old son of Portsmouth commander John B. Montgomery, accompanied Revere.

At c. 8 a.m., the U.S. Flag raised in front of the Customshouse in Yerba Buena [soon to be called San Francisco] under order of Commander Montgomery by an unnamed quartermaster.

At c. 12:00 noon,  Revere’s party arrived at Sonoma.  A [“The”] Bear Flag was seen to be flying from the flag pole located in front of the Barracks located on the northeast corner of the Sonoma Plaza.  Revere lowered the Bear Flag from the pole and raised the U.S. Flag in its place.  Apparently, Revere gave the Bear Flag to one of the members of the Bear Flag party who was then present at Sonoma.  This member of the Bear Flag party or some other, original member of the Bear Flag party, then gave the lowered Bear Flag to J.E. Montgomery.  Young Montgomery then returned to the Portsmouth with the Bear Flag in his possession.

Larkin’s Report to Secretary of State James Buchanan after raising of the U.S. Flag at Monterey:  

    “By No. 48 the Department was informed the Foreigners on the Bay of San Francisco, had rose against the Government of California the last of June....
     Commodore John D. Sloat arrived here on the 1st of July, the Cyane & Levant he found at anchor, the Portsmouth at San Francisco, on the 7th instnat at seven o’clock in the morning, the Commodore sent to the house of Don Mariano Silva (the highest Military Commandant at the time in Town) Captain Melvine [William Mervine] of the Cyane with two or three Officers, demanding the surrender of the Town & Country by eight.   Sor Silva contested the latter, saying, he had no orders nor anything to give up, property, soldiers or flag (the Commandancia of this Port has had no flag these two months) at ten o’clock the forces were landed & they hoisted the American Flag;...
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      On his arrival here for some days he [Commodore Sloat] continually heard of distracting reports of the foreigners & Californians collecting people at Sn. Francisco & preparing to fight, the foreigners having hoisted a new flag with the ensignia of the Bear & one Star, white field & red border; in this state of affairs — and perhaps fearing some other foreign Officer might do it, he hoisted the U.S. flag in the Town, and I presume Captn. Montgomery, yesterday, done the same thing in San Francisco.

J.E. Montgomery wrote a letter to his mother with a drawing of the Bear Flag and a description of events in it.

Meeting in Sonoma establishing a committee to gather together all information related to "the bear-flag Party".    

      “A numerous meeting was held at the town of Sonoma ... by a portion of foreigners, who were engaged under the flag of the bear, in revolutionizing California, with an independent government.
      When the meeting was organized by calling J.B. Choles, Esq., to the chair, and appointing John H, Nesh, secretary.
      On motion of Dr. Robert Semple, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:--
      Resolved, That three persons be appointed to act as a committee to investigate and gather all the information in their reach, in relation to the action oi[sic] the bear-flag party, and report at a subsequent meeting.
      Resolved, That the committee have the power to call another meeting at such time and place as they may deem it necessary.
      Whereipon Dr. Robert Semple, Capt. John Grisby, and John H, Nesh, were unanimously appointed the committee to carry into full effect the said resolutions, on as early a day as practicable.
      Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Californian.
      When the meetting [sic], on motion, adjourned sine die
A true copy of the minutes.                                   JOHN H. NESH, Secretary.”

As published in The Californian, October 3, 1846, No. 8.  

J.E. Montgomery wrote another letter to his mother which also contained a drawing of the Bear Flag and a description of events.

U.S.S. Warren entered San Francisco Bay and anchored off Sausalito in the afternoon.

J.E. Montgomery, accompanying his brother and party in the U.S.S. Warren left the Portsmouth, headed toward Sacramento.  They were never heard from again and presumed deceased.

R. Semple, Chm. Executive Committee letter to Montgomery at U.S.S. Portsmouth:

It has been signified to the Committee, that you are desirous of keeping the original Flag, first hoisted in the name of the “Republic of California,” which is now in your possession for the purpose of depositing it in the National Institute of the United States.             Permit me, sir, on behalf of the Committee, to say that we are highly gratified with the kindness which you have manifested towards us, and your deportment as an officer and a gentleman has attracted our warm admiration, we take a pleasure in acceding to your wish, and here beg leave to say that we are glad to exchange it for the broad stripes and bright stars of our native land.

           

Montgomery letter to Semple (“Chairman of Ex Committee of the late Revolutionary Party in Up. California”) in response to 11/26 letter of Semple:

            I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday, written in behalf of
 Executive Committee of the late Revolutionary party in California, & returning my thanks to the Committee & to yourself individually as their Chairman for the expression of their kind & friendly sentiments & feelings towards me; & beg leave to state that the revolutionary Flag first hoisted at Sonoma on the 14th June last has never been in my possession, but belongs to my Clerk to whom it was given by one of the original party soon after the substitution of the U.S. Flag at that Post in July last.

            I would respectfully remark Sir, that the Committee have been misinformed in relation to my views respecting the future disposition of the Flag, as I have never expressed the desire to present it to the National Institute of the U. States.  But I recollect on one occasion when informed that the executive committee intended applying for the restoration of the Flag, that I observed to the present possessor of it, that in such an event he would have to relinquish the Flag to those who alone had the right to dispose of it; and to the best of my recollection, I at the same time remarked, that if it had fallen into my hands, or belonged to me, I should send it to the Honb Secretary of the Navy, on my arrival in the U.S.

"THE BEAR FLAG." ---
            Our object in penning this article is to make permanent record of all the particulars of the hoisting of the "Bear Flag," under the impression, that, as that was the first move in revolutionizing this country, it will some time be interesting to know where, when, by whom, and what kind of Flag it was.

            On the 14th June, 1846, a party of Americans without a leader, gathered and took possession of the fortified town of Sonoma, on the North side of the Bay of San Francisco, and made prisoners of three Mexican Officers, a General, a Lieut. Colonel and Captain.  On the same day there was a partial organization under the name of the "Republic of California," and agreed to hoist a flag made of a piece of white cotton cloth with one red stripe on the bottom, and on the white a grisly Bear with a single star in front of him, it was painted or rather stained with lamp-black and poke-berries.  Along the top was the words "REPUBLIC OF CALIFORNIA."

“Report on the Bear Flag Revolt,” by John H. Nash, John Grigsby and William B. Ide.

Letter from F. H. Gregory, Comdt, Navy Yard, Boston to the Hon. J. C. Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy, Washington

            I have the Honor to forward to you the Original Bear Flagg, under which the Independence of California was first proclaimed – There are two of them, the one made of cotton cloth being the Original – These flaggs were brought to this Yard by the U.S. Ship Portsmouth, on her return from the Pacific, after the Mexican War – as I learn from an officer who was on that station at the time – and must have been mislaid and forgotten for a long time – They will be handed to you by Purser Bradford, who is about visiting Washington, on private business.

Dobbin’s letter acknowledging receipt from Purser Bradford of the California flags

U.S. Senators John B. Weller and William M. Gwin letter to James C. Dobbin, Secretary of the Navy:

            We understand that you have in your department two flags raised by the Americans in California early in 1846 which we have been requested by some of our citizens to obtain for the use of the “Pioneer association of California” – If consistent with your views of propriety you can deliver them to us   we will take charge of them for the purpose aforesaid

Secretary of the Navy James C. Dobbin response to U.S. Senators John B. Weller and William M. Gwin

            I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 17th instant,....

            The two flags allude[d] to were recently deposited at the Navy Department.  Not being strictly the property of this Department or connected particularly with U. S. Naval service, I see no objections to my parting with them under the circumstances to be deposited in the State of California, with whose early history they are so conspicuously associated.  They are therefore, at your service, Gentleman to be disposed of as suggested.

Letter from John B. Weller “To the ‘California Pioneers’”

            Previous to leaving Washington City in March last I obtained from the Navy Department two flags which were used in this state at an early date by the Americans.  One is the “grizzly bear flag” which was hoisted by our countrymen at Sonoma in July 1846 immediately after the defeat of De La Torre by Capt Ford and his gallant comrades.  These flags although they certainly do not exhibit much artistic skill they are so connected with the early history of American affairs in California that they must be of interest to your association....
            I know of no better disposition I can make of them than to commit them to your charge.  As relics of the past I doubt not they will be carefully preserved.

Date of donation record for donation to the Society of California Pioneers of “No. 169  Letter and Bear Flags” “Procured from the military department at Washington” “Donated Sept. 8, 1855, by Hon. J. B. Weller”

The Society of California Pioneers carried the Bear Flag (just delivered to them) in the 1855 California Admission Day parade held in San Francisco. 
Per Daily Alta California.

Society of California Pioneers displayed the “Sonoma Bear Flag” in a procession opening and inaugurating the Society’s new hall at the corner of Montgomery and Gold Streets.  A so-called “Los Angeles Bear Flag” and a “Fremont Battalion Flag” were also displayed.

The Native Sons of the Golden West were first organized at San Francisco.

Sacramento Union [p.2, col.6]:
BEAR FLAG WAVES OVER THE SENATE
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            The Bear flag, for which the natives of the state have a wholesome and tenderregard waved over the senate yesterday in its first session of real accomplishment.  The flag wasn’t there in silk and analines, but floated figuratively and far, with a unanimous vote that it be declared the official state flag.  Joseph L. Coughlin, the sergeant-at-arms of the senate, was about to undrape the Bear flag when the senate adjourned on him.
            The flag was adopted along with a bill by Senator Holohan naming that bunting as the official banner of the state.  The bill was backed up by the Native Sons and Native Daughters.

Updated January 27, 2008