 On July 7, 1846, seven weeks after war had been declared, Sloat instructed the captains of the ships and sloops and of the Pacific Squadron in Monterey Bay to occupy Monterey, California—the Alta California capital.Fifty American marines and about 100 bluejacket sailors landed and captured the city without incident—the few Californio troops formerly there having already evacuated the city.They raised the flag of the United States without firing a shot.