In 1846 Sutter's Fort was overrun by United States Army.
Although Sutter desired French sovereignty over his colony, he was forced to submit to the United States, which was fighting an ongoing Mexican-American war in the area.
From Nicaraguan tribesmen he learned of the "rich kingdoms" of the - Mayan and possibly Inca civilizations and of the "great sea" (Pacific Ocean) farther west.
However, he was unable to find a water passage to this body of water. After losing two of his four s ...