History of California, Volume XXII, Part 54

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816

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The voyage of all the transports was a most un- eventful one. On the Perkins it is related that Cap- tain Arthur had laid in a store of poultry as a con- sideration of being permitted to join the officers' mess, but subsequently changed his mind with a view to sell his chickens. The officers refused to purchase, but the men were not averse to stealing, and the cap- tain's speculation was not a profitable one. Not many of the volunteers were able to resist sea-sick- ness, which kept the colonel for several days in his

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NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.

state-room, and left him "but the ghost of his former self," and so weak that for a long time he had to be supported by two soldiers; but the weakness was of the body and not of the spirit, if we are to judge by Stevenson's own account of his methods in enforcing discipline and quelling incipient mutiny.13 During the last week of November all the ships were together at Rio Janeiro, where certain complications between the United States minister and the Brazilian govern- ment afforded the warlike colonel and his men an op- portunity to show their patriotic enthusiasm. They even had the honor of adding something to the diplo- matic difficulties. To the quartermaster-sergeant's wife had been born on the Perkins a daughter, and at her christening as Alta California Harris, Minister Wise indulged in some comparisons between the event and the recent christening of a "royal bantling of the Brazilian nation." For this patriotic pleasantry the government was thought to be contemplating an order that every American vessel must quit the port. No such order, however, was issued, and consequently the New York volunteers did not appear with fixed bayonets in the streets of Rio. All sailed again at the end of November, and proceeded on their unevent- ful way round Cape Horn. Murray describes the

13 A sergeant in transmitting orders to his detachment said: 'I have given you the order, and I don't care a damn whether you obey it or not.' For this the colonel reduced him to the ranks, and set him to cleaning the ship. For refusing to perform this duty he was trieed up by the thumbs and wrists. This caused discontent. 'until at length, seeking to frighten Col S. into re- laxing his severity, Capt. Folsom, who had before presumed on his superior's friendship, entered his eabin, and in rather an insolent manner said to him: "Col S., do you know that there will be a mutiny on this vessel this after- noon?" "No, sir," replied Col S., "but I do know that there will not be a mutiny. And further, Capt. F., you know that I sleep over 900 tons of gun- powder, but you do not know, sir, that I have a train laid from that powder to my berth." "What?" stammered the captain. "Col S., you surely do not mean to say-" "Yes, sir, I do; and you can rest assured that before I will suffer the command of this vessel to pass from me there will not be a plank left for a soul on board to eling to; and now, sir, let the mutiny pro- ceed" ! Pale as a spectre, and with eyes fairly emerging from their sockets, the thoroughly alarmed officer hastily excused himself and hurried forward, where he no doubt imparted the fearful threat.' What slight traces of mu- tiny still remained disappeared after the colonel had promptly knocked down a soldier who spoke disrespectfully of his anthority. Lancey, 63-4.

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ARRIVAL AT SAN FRANCISCO.

voyage of the Loo Choo, but his narrative contains nothing calling for notice, unless it be the drowning of a sailor near the cape, the death of Lieutenant Trem- mels in a fit of apoplexy, caused by the excitement of the accident, and a narrow escape from grounding in entering Valparaiso, where this craft and the Drew arrived in January 1847, the other transport not en- tering any port between Rio and San Francisco.

The Perkins was first to reach San Francisco, where she landed the first detachment of volunteers the 6th of March, 1847. Next to arrive was the Drew, on the 19th; while the Loo Choo, which had been first at Rio and at Valparaiso, was delayed by a calm in the tropics, and did not anchor at Yerba Buena till March 26th. The Brutus, bringing the men who had been left behind, without having touched at any port after leaving New York, arrived on April 18th; and the next day the convoy Preble came into port, having touched at Callao.14 As offensive military operations were at an end, and General Kearny was at Monterey, it only remained to put the regiment at his disposal for garrison duty. Companies H and K were sta- tioned at the San Francisco presidio, under Major Hardie as commandant of the post, with Captain Fol- som and Dr Parker; and here these companies re- mained to the end of their service, except that Com- pany H exchanged posts with the Sonoma company for a short time in August 1848. Companies A, B, and F were assigned to Santa Bárbara, under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Burton, with Surgeon Perry ; and

14 The dates of arrival are given in the S. F. Cal. Star, March 13, 27, April 24, 1847. In Larkin's Doc., MS., iv. 33, I have a letter of Capt. Arther of the Perkins, dated March 6th, the date of arrival. Stevenson de- sired Arther to carry his troops to Monterey, but the captain refused, de- manding $5,000 for the trip, or later $3,000. He published a defence of his action in the Star, where some unfavorable criticism had appeared. Murray, Narr., 55-6, says the first comers told those who arrived later a dismal story of the country, the climate, and the prospective dog's-life before the volunteers. Alfred A. Green's Life and Adventures of a '47er, MS., may be noticed here as containing a brief narrative of the voyage, which is alluded to in few words by several members of the regiment who have given me their reminiscences. The Isabella and Sweden, with two hundred recruits, ar rived at Monterey in February of the next year.

HIST. CAL., VOL. V. 33

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NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.

they sailed on March 31st in the Moscow, landing the 8th of April. Company F remained at Santa Bar- bara during the whole term of its service; but A and B sailed for La Paz the 4th of July, leaving Captain Lippitt in command of the post. Companies D, E, G, and I left San Francisco in the Lexington April 3d for Monterey. Company D engaged in some ex- peditions in pursuit of Indian horse-thieves, and the 5th of March, 1848, sailed for La Paz in the Isabella, with the recruits that had come on that vessel. Com- panies E and G left Monterey in the Lexington May 5th, and served as a garrison at Los Angeles from the 9th to the time of their discharge, Colonel Stevenson being commandant of the post and of the southern district. Company I remained at the capital till December 28th, then going to garrison San Diego in place of the Mormons, the post being from that time under the command of Captain Shannon. Finally Company C left San Francisco in April, and was sta- tioned at Sonoma under Captain Brackett. A de- tachment of twenty-five men were sent to garrison Sutter's Fort from June to September, under Lieuten- ant Anderson. In May 1848 the company was or- dered to Lower California, but was sent back to Sonoma from Monterey; and on August 5th it went to San Francisco, being replaced on the northern frontier by Frisbie's men of Company H.15

After the arrival of the volunteers and their distri- bution to the different garrisons, there is but little to be added to regimental annals but the record of dis- bandment. The men performed their military duties well enough, though at several points there were com- plaints of disorderly conduct on the part of the rougher element; but their real achievements, as wisely in-

15 The distribution is given in Clark's First Regiment; in Brackett's Sketch, MS .; in the S. F. Californian of April 10, 1847: and scattered items are found in many different accounts, which there is no need to specify, since Clark's work is entirely satisfactory. The services of Naglee's company, as mounted men, against the Indians, are mentioned iu Mason's reports of June 18th and Oct. 7th. Cal. and N. Mex., Mess. and Doc., 1850, p. 312, 355.

515

MUSTERED OUT.

tended by the government from the first, were not as soldiers, but as settlers and citizens of a new country, under circumstances in some respects more wonder- fully favorable than had been dreamed by the youth- ful adventurers in New York. Petty happenings of garrison life-though fully related by Murray for Santa Bárbara, and less completely elsewhere by other writers-do not belong to the history of the regiment, but to local annals of the garrison towns, not very exciting even when eked out with oeeur- rences not military in their nature. An accidental explosion at Los Angeles on the 9th of December, 1847, by which several men were killed and others in- jured, was perhaps the most notable event in this con- nection. The companies that were sent south saw some actual service in the peninsula, losing two men in battle, but their experience belongs to another part of my work.16

The volunteers had enlisted 'for the war,' and accordingly, on receipt of news that the war had been ended by the treaty of May 30th, orders were issued by Governor Mason for the mustering-out of the regiment. This was on August 7, 1848. On the 15th Lieutenant Hardie of the 3d artillery-major of the regiment, who now resumed his position in the regular army, but retaining command of the post- mustered out companies C and K at San Francisco, and Company H on the 25th as soon as it arrived from Sonoma. Captain A. J. Smith of the 1st dragoons mustered out Company F at Santa Barbara the 8th of September, the staff companies E and G at Los Angeles on the 18th, and Company I at San Diego on the 25th. The remaining companies, A, B, and D, on their arrival from Lower California, were mustered out by Captain Burton of the 3d artillery, late lieuten- ant-colonel of the volunteers, at Monterey on October 23d and 24th. The field-officers were mustered out

16 See Hist. North Mex. States, ii., this series. These companies returned in the Ohio, arriving at Monterey Oct. 14, 1848.

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NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS.

by Captain Burton at Monterey the 26th of October. In his report of December 27th to the war depart- ment, giving details of the disbandment, Governor Mason wrote in complimentary terms of Stevenson, Burton, and Hardie, and of the faithful and efficient service each had rendered in his district, extending the praise also to subaltern officers and soldiers. I append in a note some items of interest on the dis- bandment, gleaned from the official documents.17

17 Cal. und N. Mex., Mess, and Doc., 1850, containing all the correspond- ence. Sept. 18, 1847, bad conduct of Lippitt's men at Sta Bárbara, Mason's report. p. 335. Nov. 11th, 'Lieut Burton reports much insubordination, and that the company officers have little or no control over their men. A similar state of things exists among some of the companies in Upper Cal.' p. 422. June 17, 1848, Brackett's company at Sonoma reduced from 60 to 23 men by desertions for the gold-fields. p. 621-3. Aug. 7th, Lieut W. T. Sherman (a. a. a. general) to Maj. Hardie. Order to discharge the volunteers at S. F. Maj. Rich, the U. S. paymaster, is expected on the Olga to pay off the men, but they must be discharged and wait for pay if he does not arrive. p. 633. Aug. 7th, Id. to comandante at S. José, to proceed with detachment to S. F. for discharge. This is the only record I find of such a detachment. p. 633. Aug. 11th, Sherman to Capt. A. J. Smith, who is to go south on the Anita to discharge the southern companies. Unserviceable property was to be sold at auction. 'As many citizens may feel insecure in consequence of the withdrawal of all military force, you are authorized to leave with the alcalde or other trusty citizen a few arms and some ammunition, taking his receipt for the same. The arms will be delivered out of those which were taken from the citizens of Cal. during the past war, and may be distributed to persons who can be trusted, who stand in need of such protection.' p. 637-8. Aug. 16th, Sherman to Quartermaster Folsom at S. F. Volunteers to be paid ac- cording to laws of congress and instructions of the war dept. Gov. M. 'is not aware of any law that entitles officers of this regiment to mileage, or any other allowance, to the place of enrolment.' p. 638. Aug. 21st, Id. to Pay- master Rich at S. F. He is to go south on the Anita, after turning over to Maj. Hardie money to pay the S. F. volunteers lately mustered out. p. 639. Aug. 20th, Stevenson to Mason. An appeal that the volunteers in the south be permitted to retain their arms, and to have 15 days' rations. Otherwise they will be left in a bad condition, with scanty means to reach the mines. The Mormons were allowed to retain their arms, and were furnished transpor- tation to Salt Lake, for less service than that of the N. Y. volunteers; and Gen. Kearny had assured S. that like favors should be shown to Stevenson's men. p. 644-5. Aug. 26th, Sherman in reply for Mason declines to permit the retention of arms. The Mormons kept theirs by a special agreement at the time of enlistment; Gen. Kearny left no instructions on the subject, or record of his promise; and moreover, it would be unwise to leave U. S. guns of late patterns in the hands of private individuals, because in such case it would be impossible to distinguish these arms from those improperly acquired. But as to rations, if Maj. Rich decides against allowing any travelling ex- peuses, provisions will be given for the journey to Monterey or S. F .; and women, sick men, etc., will be transported on the Anita. p. 642. Aug. 21st, Sherman to Capt. Lippitt. The auction sale of provisions will give the Sta Bárbara men a chance to get supplies for their journey to the mines. S. to Hardie, permitting the issue of a certificate of honorable discharge. Id. to Id., about paying off the men, Rich not having arrived. p. 640. Aug. 25th,

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STATISTICS OF THE REGIMENT.

Official statistics of the regiment as published in the government documents are as follows: Mustered in at New York in August 1846, 38 officers and 729 men; joined later, 188 men; officers resigned, six; men discharged, 136; died, 33; killed in action, two; killed by accident, seven; wounded by accident, two; deserted, 323; mustered out in California 1848, 39 officers and 658 men. According to Clark's researches, nothing is known respecting the death or whereabouts if living of about four hundred and fifty of the men. Of the rest about one hundred and thirty were liv- ing in California as late as 1883, and about the same number had died in California before that date. On their discharge nearly all found their way as soon as possible to the gold mines, whence year by year such as did not die there scattered with and without gold over the Pacific territories. Their fate was far from being the disastrous one predicted by hostile news- papers at the start. The volunteers performed well enough the duties assigned them as soldiers and set- tlers; and the result fairly justified the views of the administration that promoted the organization. The colonel, the oldest man in the regiment at starting, was still a resident and federal office-holder of San Francisco in 1885; while not a few other members of

Anita at Mont., awaiting Rich. Aug. 28th, Rich had arrived, and had paid off S. F. volunteers. p. 603-4, 643-4. Oct. 9th, sec. of war to Col Mason. Vol- unteers insisting on returning to the U. S. might be retained in the service until an opportunity for return occurred. If discharged in Cal., they will be entitled to 3 months' extra pay. p. 258. I find no other record about this ex- tra pay. Dec. 27th, Mason's report to sec. of war. 'About the time of the disbanding of the three companies from L. Cal. at this place (Monterey), some of the individuals of these companies committed gross acts of pillage upon public and private property, took forcible possession of a public build- ing belonging to the town authorities, which they occupied for some days, and wantonly injured to a considerable extent.' p. 649-53. March 3d, Ma- son writes that many of the volunteers had brought with them to Cal. arms and ammunition, which they sold to Californians. All that could be found were seized, to be returned after the war was over. p. 488. In the S. J. Pio- neer of Nov. 21, 1877, is an account of the circumstances attending the mus- tering-out of the last companies at Monterey, and the men's departure for the mines. The facts and dates of the disbandment are also given in Clark's First Regiment. It appears that Lieut Sherwood, being absent on detached service at the mustering-out of his company, was not formally discharged until 1873.

518

COMPANY F, THIRD ARTILLERY.

the regiment held positions of honor in California and elsewhere.18

The first United States troops sent to California after the declaration of war against Mexico were companies C and K, first dragoons, marching from Santa Fe under General Kearny, and arriving in De- eember 1846. Next came the Mormon volunteer bat- talion, which, crossing the continent, forded the Colo- rado and entered California on January 10, 1847. The third detachment was an artillery company of the regular army, which eame by sea later in January. Fourth was the regiment of New York volunteers, arriving by sea in March of the same year; and finally, at the end of 1848, there came overland from Chihua- hua four additional companies of dragoons under Ma- jor Graham. Three of the five bodies of troops have been noticed in this and earlier chapters; the other two, the artillery company and dragoon battalion, re- quire attention here.

Company F third artillery was composed mainly of new recruits enlisted for a term of five years in Penn- sylvania and Maryland during the spring of 1846. About half the company were foreigners, chiefly Irish and German. It was organized and drilled at Fort McHenry, and thence transferred to Governor's Isl- and, its captain, Henry S. Burton, accepting a com- mand in the New York volunteers, and his place being taken by Captain Christopher Q. Tompkins. The first lieutenants were Edward O. C. Ord and William T. Sherman; the second lieutenants, Lucien Loeser and Colville J. Minor. Dr James L. Ord, not of the army, served by contract as assistant surgeon; and Lieutenant Henry W. Halleck of the engineers ac-

18 Statistics in U. S. Govt Doc., 31st cong. Ist sess., H. Ex. Doc. 24, p. 22ª. In addition to authorities on Stevenson's regiment already mentioned, I might cite a long list of newspaper articles, chiefly in the form of anniver- sary reunions, speeches, and lists of survivors; but these furnish nothing in addition to what has been presented, except biographical material utilized elsewhere.

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ARRIVAL AT MONTEREY.

companied the detachment. The rank and file num- bered 113 men.19 General Scott's instructions to Tompkins were dated June 20, 1846;20 and on the 14th of July the company embarked on the U. S. ship Lexington, commanded by Theodorus Bailey, the vessel carrying also a large supply of guns and mili- tary stores. The voyage was an uneventful one, with- out a single death or other casualty; and is well de- seribed, like the company's later experience, by General Sherman in his memoirs.21 Touching at Rio Janeiro, doubling Cape Horn in October, and calling at Val- paraiso in November, the Lexington anchored at Monterey on January 28, 1847, after being driven up to the latitude of San Francisco.22

The artillerymen of Company F on landing at Mon- terey relieved the naval garrison under Maddox and Baldwin, took possession of the block-house on the hill and of the custom-house, soon building an ad- ditional fort, and some of the officers being quartered at private houses in the town. Captain Tompkins resigned his place and went east on a sailing vessel in

19 See all the names in my Pioneer Register at the end of these volumes. A copy of the muster-roll has been furnished me from Washington by Adj .- gen. L. C. Duncan. The roll contains 131 names; but as other authori- ties give the number at starting as 112 or 113 men and 5 officers, it is proba- ble that the others were later recruits. The names are given also by Kooser and Lancey. The non-commissioned officers were as follows: sergeants, Charles Layton, John E. Noble, James H. Carson, Harvey Maxim, Lewis Curman, and Patrick Hand; corporals, Richard H. Bell, Patrick Reid, Henry A. Hoffman, and Owen Leavy.

20 In Cutts' Conq. Cal., 251-2. Similar in purport to instructions to other officers already given. He was to cooperate with the naval officers, to take charge of ordnance and army stores, to erect and defend forts, etc. The artillerymen were to be merely passengers on the U. S. ship, except in case of action, when they were to render aid.

21 Memoirs of General William T. Sherman. By himself. New York, 1875, Svo, 2 vols. Chap. i. p. 1-60, is devoted to 'early recollections of California,' 1847-8. The narrative is interesting and valuable, though in minor details the author is not always an accurate witness.

22 Kooser makes the date of arrival Jan. 23d, and Sherman Jan 26th; but Lancey, Cruise of the Dale, 211 et seq., seems to be the best authority, being an entry from his original diary. Lancey gives a good account of the com- pany's history, including the substance of the accounts by Sherman and Kooser. Dr Ord, Remin., MS., makes the date of arrival Jan. 27th. In the Monterey Californian, Jan. 28, 1847, it is stated that the Lexington 'has just arrived.' See also S. F. Calif., Feb. 6, 1847; S. F. Cal. Star, Feb. 6, 1847. In Niles' Reg., Ixxi. 146, is a letter from a member of the company at Rio, Sept. 11th.

520

COMPANY F, THIRD ARTILLERY.

May. Lieutenant Sherman acted at first as quarter- master and commissary, and later as assistant adjutant- general under Colonel Mason, serving only for a very brief period as company officer. Lieutenant Minor died in August of a malignant disease brought from Manila on the Columbus, which also killed nine of the soldiers. Thus Ord and Loeser were chiefly in charge of the company, until the latter in the summer of 1848 was sent east with despatches, and a little later, on the disbandment of Stevenson's regiment, Captain Burton resumed his original place in command of the company. Garrison life at Monterey, though a feature in local annals of the town and in the personal remi- niscences of the company's members, had no salient points which can be brought out in the space at my command. Private Benjamin Kooser, who spent the rest of his life in California, being well known as edi- tor of several newspapers, wrote several interesting articles on the annals of the company.23 Sergeant Carson was another who gained some reputation as a writer in later years.24 Sherman, Ord, and Halleck acquired a great national reputation as military com- manders after having taken somewhat prominent parts in Californian affairs; and information about the more humble career of other officers and soldiers of Company F may be found in other parts of this work.

The discovery of gold furnished an attraction more ir- resistible to the regulars than to the volunteers, because they could not like the latter look forward to an early discharge. Accordingly they took advantage of every favorable opportunity to desert for the mines. By the end of August there had been thirty-three desertions,

23 Kooser's Pioneer Soldiers of California, published in the S. F. Alta, 1864, being then partly reproduced from the San Andreas Independent of an earlier date, and all reproduced in the S. José Pioneer, Jan. 19, 1878. Seealso Twenty Years Ago in Cal., in S. F. Bulletin, Jan. 31, 1867, from the Sta Cruz Sentinel. These articles contain names and reminiscences of the writer's comrades, 46 of whom were known to have died before 1864, and 16 were known to be living.

24 Carson's Early Recollections of the Mines, Stockton, 1852, being the first book printed at Stockton.

521

DESERTIONS-BURTON'S COMPANY.

and only about fifty men were on duty.25 The movement continued, though we have no further statistics, and in September Governor Mason began to grant fur- loughs for a few months to trustworthy soldiers who desired a few months of mining life. A few remained faithful to the end of their term in 1851, and some even reënlisted. After an absence in the Tulares and at San Diego, the company, renewed for the most part, served again at Monterey from 1852 to 1857, being then sent to Fort Yuma, where in 1864 one of the original members, William Rafter, still an- swered to the roll-call.26

A small company of volunteer cavalry was mus- tered into service at Monterey in April 1847, under the command of Lieutenant B. Burton, and rendered some service against the Indians with Naglee's men during the rest of the year, being mustered out in December.27 The Huntress brought a detachment of recruits from New York in September 1848, of whom nothing is known, except that, according to Mason's report of November 24th, "just so fast as they re- covered sufficiently from the scurvy to leave the hos- pital, they went off" for the mines; and in December only twelve of the number remained on duty.28 The dragoons of Company C, under Captain Smith and Lieutenant Stoneman, including the members of the original Company K, numbered eighty-three men in August 1848, having lost none by desertion as long as they were kept on garrison duty in the south; but on being transferred to San Franciso and other north- ern points about this time, desertions began, as had been predicted.29

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History of California, Volume XXII, Part 54

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 816

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 816