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History Plays for the Grammar Grades

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<div class="pagenum">[Pg 24]</div> <h2>JOHN C. FREMONT</h2> <h3 class="h3left">INTRODUCTION:</h3> John C. Fremont was born in Savannah, in the year 1813, while his parents were on a journey through the South. His father died soon after, and his mother moved to Charleston, South Carolina. He was well educated, and after college spent some years in travel. He joined a company of engineers to explore the mountains between Tennessee and South Carolina to find a place for a railway. This region was a rough, beautiful, and wild country, and it gave Fremont a taste for exploring which never left him. His longing for wild life was gratified when he was made assistant to a famous Frenchman who went to explore the region between the Missouri and Canada. He married Jessie Benton, daughter of the famous Senator Benton. Benton was interested in the growth of the West. He knew that Fremont was interested in exploring, and used his influence with President Van Buren to have Fremont explore the Rocky Mountains. The first act will be Fremont talking to President Van Buren. <h3>ACT I.</h3> (Senator Benton talking to Van Buren:) Benton: The West is a great country, Mr. President. We should have it explored and investigated. Van Buren: I agree with you, Senator Benton. The West should be explored. If we had a good man to send on this expedition. Benton: I know a man, Mr. President; John C. Fremont. He is an experienced engineer, and loves the wild life of adventure. Van Buren: Bring Fremont to me. (Fremont enters and is introduced by Benton). Van Buren: You are an explorer of note, Mr. Fremont? Will you undertake a journey to the Rocky Mountains and bring back a report of that country? Fremont: Yes, I am very much interested in exploring the West, and with your permission and the permission of Congress, will try to find out all that we can about that great country. End of Act I. <h3>ACT II.</h3> <h3 class="h3left">INTRODUCTION:</h3> The next act will be Fremont telling about his first and second trip to the West. Secretary to President: Fremont and his famous guide, Kit Carson, have returned from their second exploring trip to the West and await outside. President: Show them in. (Enter Fremont and party). <div class="pagenum">[Pg 25]</div> Fremont: I have just returned from my explorations, and would like to tell you of the trips. On my first trip I left Kansas City and followed the Kansas River to the South Pass. On my second trip I followed the same route to the South Pass, where I took four men, and continued on, to the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains. One of the Men: While there and on the top, we unfurled the stars and stripes in all its glory. Fremont: Then I decided to cross the mountains. After many weary months we beheld a great lake. One of the Men: You can imagine what feelings stirred the breasts of men shut in for months by mountains, at seeing what appeared to us to be an ocean here in the midst of a continent. Fremont: As we strained our eyes along its silent shores, I could hardly repress the almost desire to continue our explorations. Man: After making preparations, we crossed over the mountains till we reached the Columbia River, and traveled down to Vancouver. Here we were the guests of the Governor of the British Hudson Bay Company. Fremont: On November tenth, we started across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and then on, till we came to Sutter's Fort. Man: Here we met the remarkable Captain Sutter. Captain Sutter is a native of Switzerland. He came here with the intention of building a colony. The Spanish Governor, Alvarado, gladly gave him a great tract of land. Captain Sutter has great herds of cattle and many acres of grain. Fremont: We then decided to cross the mountains farther to the south, where the San Joaquin River makes a gap. Here we beheld a great desert. Man: An Indian told us that there was neither water nor grass—nothing. Every animal that goes on this desert dies. Fremont: From here we traveled forward, reaching Salt Lake; having made a circuit of the Great Basin. Here we are, with the story of our trip. President: You have had some wonderful experiences. And now, Mr. Fremont, I would like you to go on a third expedition—to explore the Pacific Coast. Fremont: Very well, Mr. President. End of Act II. <h3>ACT III.</h3> <h3 class="h3left">INTRODUCTION:</h3> Fremont did not know about the war with Mexico. On his way to the north, he heard that Mexicans were planning to kill every American in California. Jose Castro was a Mexican general. The Mexicans had one hundred and fifty horses. The Americans captured these horses. That was the first victory in the conquest of California. The Bear Flag Rebellion. The Americans were indeed a rough looking lot. Mounted on horseback, wearing leggings, and carrying pistols and guns. If the Americans had known that war was going on, they would have raised the Stars and Stripes. But not knowing it they decided to make a flag of their own. <div class="pagenum">[Pg 26]</div> The next act will be the forming of the California Republic. (Men and soldiers around room). Man: We are now a Republic, and must have a Declaration of Independence. Other Man: Yes, and we must have a flag. Here is one. Mr. Todd made it. A bear is drawn on it, and a star. Underneath are the words, "California Republic." Other Man: We will raise this flag on the flagstaff of Sonoma. Now we are an independent Republic. End of Act III. <h3>ACT IV</h3> <h3 class="h3left">INTRODUCTION:</h3> The conquest of California came when a treaty was signed at the Rancho de Cahuenga. (Ca-wen-ga). The next act will be the Californians and Fremont at the Rancho de Cahuenga. Fremont: General Flores, General Vallejo, General Pico, and Californians: You know why you have been called to this meeting? General Flores: Yes, Captain Fremont, we know why we have been called. If we sign a treaty, and promise not to take up arms against the United States we will be pardoned for revolting. Fremont: Yes, you will be pardoned under those conditions. Do you promise? Californians: We promise. Fremont: Very well, sign here. (They sign.) Fremont: That will do, you are pardoned. Good afternoon, gentlemen. Californians: Good afternoon, Captain Fremont. <hr class="major" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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