Sloat had learned of Frémont 's confrontation with the Californios on Gavilan Peak and of his support for the Bears in Sonoma . He was also aware of Lt. Gillespie 's tracking down of Frémont with letters and orders . Sloat finally concluded on July 6 that he needed to act , saying to U.S. Consul Larkin , " I shall be blamed for doing too little or too much – I prefer the latter . " Early July 7 , the frigate USS '' Savannah '' and the two sloops , USS '' Cyane '' and USS '' Levant '' of the United States Navy , captured Monterey , California , and raised the flag of the United States . Sloat had his proclamation read in and posted in English and Spanish : " ... henceforth California will be a portion of the United States . " Two days later , July 9 , the Bear Flag Revolt and whatever remained of the " California Republic " ended when Navy Lieutenant Joseph Revere was sent to Sonoma from the USS '' Portsmouth '' , which had been berthed at Sausalito , carrying two 27-star United States flags , one for Sonoma and the other for Sutter 's Fort ( the squadron had run out of new 28-star flags that reflected Texas ' admittance to the Union ) . The Bear Flag that was taken down that day was given to the Clerk of the '' Portsmouth '' , John Elliott Montgomery , the son of Commander John B. Montgomery . John E. wrote to his mother later in July that " Cuffy came down growling " . The following November , John and his older brother disappeared while traveling to Sacramento and were presumed deceased . Commander Montgomery kept the Bear Flag , had a copy made , and eventually both were delivered to the Secretary of the Navy . In 1855 the Secretary sent both flags to the Senators from California who donated them to the Society of Pioneers in San Francisco . The original Bear Flag was destroyed in the fires following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . A replica , created in 1896 for the 50th Anniversary celebrations , is on display at the Sonoma Barracks
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
California Republic