USA > California > The conquest of California and New Mexico, by the forces of the United States, in the years 1846 & 1847 > Part 6
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GOVERNMENT OF NEW MEXICO.
year). I have appointed a Mexican the captain, and an American the first lieutenant of it. I think much good will result from it."
About this time rumours reached Santa Fé that Armijo, with Col. Ugarte, was rallying the south, and advancing on the capital. To quiet the minds of the people, Gen. Kearny, on the 2d Sep- tember, marched out of Santa Fé with 700 men, principally of Col. Doniphan's regiment and Major Clark's artillery. Their route lay for some 100 miles down the Rio Grande, as far as the village of T'omé, but they were met by friendly rather than hostile demonstrations.
On his return, a fortnight from the last date, arrangements were made for the civil government, and on the 22d Gen. Kearny writes as follows:
HEAD-QUARTERS, ARMY OF THE WEST,
Santa Fé, New Mexico, Sept. 22, 1846.
SIR: I inclose herewith a copy of the laws prepared for the government of the territory of New Mexico, and a list of appoint- ments to civil offices in the territory-both of which I have this day signed and published.
I take great pleasure in stating that I am entirely indebted for these laws to Col. A. W. Doniphan, of the 1st regiment of Missouri mounted volunteers, who received much assistance from private Willard P. Hall, of his regiment.
These laws are taken, part from the laws of Mexico-retained as in the original-a part with such modifications as our laws and constitution made necessary : a part are from the laws of the Missouri Territory : a part from the laws of Texas, and also of Texas and Coahuila ; a part from the statutes of Missouri ; and the remainder from the Livingston code.
The organic law is taken from the organic law of Missouri Terri- tory. (See act of Congress, June 4th, 1842.)
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. W. KEARNY, Brigadier-general, U. S. A.
The ADJUTANT-GENERAL, U. S. A., Washington.
[Received at the War Department, November 23d.]
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CIVIL OFFICERS.
Appointment, by Gen. Kearny, of civil officers.
Being duly authorized by the President of the United States of America, I hereby make the following appointments for the go- vernment of New Mexico, a territory of the United States. The officers thus appointed will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
Charles Bent to be governor.
Donaisano Vigil, to be secretary of the territory.
Richard Dallam, to be marshal.
Francis P. Blair, to be United States district attorney.
Charles Blumner, to be treasurer.
Eugene Leitzendorfer, to be auditor of public accounts.
Joab Houghton, Antonio José Otero, Charles Beaubian, to be judges of the superior court.
Given at Santa Fé, the capital of the Territory of New Mexico, this 22d day of September, 1846, and in the 71st year of the Independence of the United States.
S. W. KEARNY, Brigadier-general, U. S. A.
On the 16th of September, Gen. Kearny had written to the department, through the Adjutant-general :
"As this territory is now perfectly quiet, I have determined (knowing the wishes of the Executive) to leave here for Upper California as soon as possible, and have fixed upon the 25th as the day of departure. As I am ignorant when to expect Capt. Allen and his command, I have determined upon taking with me Major Sumner and the efficient men (about 300) of the First Dra- goons. Orders will be left for Capt. Allen to follow on our trail. From the most reliable information yet received as to the best route, we have determined upon marching about 200 miles down the Del Norte ; then to the Gila; down that river near to its mouth ; leaving which we cross the Colorado; and then, keeping near the Pacific, up to Monterey. This route will carry us not far from and along the southern boundary of New Mexico and Upper California ; and we hope to reach the Pacific by the end of November. No exertions will be wanting on the part of any
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DISTRIBUTION OF GEN. KEARNY'S FORCE.
one attached to this expedition in insuring to it full and entire success.
"I have now respectfully to ask, that, in the event of our getting possession of Upper California-of establishing a civil government there-securing peace, quiet, and order among the inhabitants, and precluding the possibility of the Mexicans again having con- trol there, I may be permitted to leave there next summer with the First Dragoons, and march them back to Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri; and I would respectfully suggest that troops, to remain in California and Oregon, should be raised expressly for the purpose-say for three years-to be discharged at the expira- tion of that time ; each man, from the colonel to the private, receiv- ing a number of acres of land in proportion to his rank. Regi- ments could easily be raised on such terms ; and when discharged, military colonies would thus be established by them."
Information came of the approach of the Mormons and of the regiment from Missouri, under Col. Price, and, assuming their arrival as now certain, Gen. Kearny made the following distri- bution of the forces under his command, in preparation for his long and arduous march to California.
The squadrons of First United States Dragoons, numbering about three hundred, with two howitzers, under Major Sumner, were ordered to prepare for the march on California, to be followed by Capt. Hudson's company and the Mormon battalion, enlisted under a promise of being discharged in California. Major Clark's battalion of artillery, embracing Captains Fischer and Weight- man's companies, from St. Louis, to remain at Santa Fé, with the battalion of infantry under Captains Angney and Murphy. The regiment of Col. Doniphan to be stationed about forty miles south of Albuquerque, with two of its companies at Tomé. Upon the arrival of Col. Price's regiment, the last-mentioned companies to be relieved by two companies from that regiment, and Col. Doniphan to march to Chihuahua and report to Gen. Wool. Col. Price to station the main body of his regiment at Taos, and two companies thereof on the frontier, to hold the Indians in constant dread.
67
PREPARATIONS FOR LEAVING SANTA FE.
The various tribes of savages of New Mexico had been met in council, and with the Navahoes and Pueblo Indians treaties were formed.
Lieutenants Peck and Abert, of the topographical corps, having suffered much from sickness, and still too weak to accompany the California expedition, were ordered to remain, and make surveys of the country, which they are understood to have done with great ability, and to published results of which the public may look with interest. On the 25th September, 1846, all arrangements com- pleted, Gen. Kearny departed on his difficult and dreary journey of over 1000 miles, a great portion of which was a desert.
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68
. COMBINATION OF FORCES.
CHAPTER V.
Combination of forces employed in the Conquest of California and New Mexico, Military and Naval-Reinforcement of a Regiment and of a Battalion of Mounted Volunteers, under Col. Price, to " Army of the West"-Mormon Battalion-Nauvoo difficulties and emigrants-New York Regiment under Col. J. D. Stevenson-Capt. C. Q. Tompkin's Company of Third Artillery- Orders and instructions-Co-operation with the Naval forces-Col. Mason- Departures and Arrivals-Unexpected Co-operation.
THE combination of forces employed in the conquest of Cali- fornia and New Mexico were of various organization, both military and naval, and were launched forth, by sea and by land, at different periods. The points of their distinct embodiment were almost as many thousand miles apart as were their destined points of con- centration on the soil of Mexico. It will therefore be impossible, in the circumscribed limits of this work, to follow each detachment in their separate marches, voyages and exploits. Nor do these magnificent distances, in connection with events so recent, admit of the receipt of that full information requisite to ample and accu- rate detail of much that was well and nobly done.
It will be seen Gen. Kearny had been advised by the Secretary of War, that 1000 additional volunteers from Missouri would be sent as a reinforcement, and to augment his disposable force for California ; and that he was authorized to muster into service a battalion of Mormon emigrants, but that they had not joined him when he departed from Santa Fé for that country.
This requisition on Missouri for volunteers was composed of fourteen companies, amounting in the aggregate to near 1300 men -ten companies formed a regiment, of which Sterling Price was colonel, D. D. Mitchell, lieutenant-colonel, and Edmonson, ma- jor-the four remaining companies constituted a battalion under command of Col. Willock, all mounted and armed, either with rifles, carbines or muskets. By the 23d August, 1846, this force had all taken up their line of march to Santa Fé from Fort Lea-
69
TROOPS AND EMIGRANTS.
venworth. An immense number of wagons with stores and baggage, with some nine or ten thousand mules and oxen, and teamsters, &c. in proportion, accompanied these troops on their long and arduous journey. On the 18th July preceding, an additional requisition for a regiment of infantry issued on the Governor of Missouri, but they were not mustered into service from the belief of the Execu- tive of the United States that they would not be needed, and from the difficulty of passing them over the route at so late a period in the season with the requisite quantity of supplies, &c. Capt. James Allen of First Dragoons had enrolled the 500 Mormons, and formed them into a battalion of infantry, of which he was elected lieutenant-colonel. They had arrived at a high state of discipline, when, on 23d August, 1846, in about a fortnight after their de- parture from Fort Leavenworth, the service lost a most efficient, estimable, and gallant officer, by his death.
Capt. Philip St. George Cooke, of First Dragoons, was subse- quently placed in command, and, under his orders, the Mormon battalion, in good condition, marched, after their arrival at Santa Fé, through the province of Sonora, to La Plagas and San Ber- nardino-arrived at the banks of the Rio San Pedro, and, following that river to the Gila and Gulf of California, proceeded thence to the capital of California, where the American flag had waved in triumph for some time previous.
It may be here appropriate to note, that, simultaneously with this array of armed bands, hosts of emigrants, each man " good at the rifle," mingled with the tide of war. "The Nauvoo difficul- ties" is a familiar, perhaps painful subject. The peculiar fanati- cism of these people rendered their residence within the States incompatible with the habits of their fellow citizens. They almost in a body-men, women and children-dared the "Deserts of the Dead," the savages, and the horrors of a winter in the Rocky Mountains, to seek a home in California. Others of them sought its distant western shore by water, and, after a long and tem- pestuous voyage, arrived at Yerba Buena, in the Bay of San Francisco. Most of these settled on the San Joaquin, and imme- diately busied themselves in putting in crops to sustain their emi-
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70
INSTRUCTIONS TO GEN. KEARNY.
grant brethren when they should arrive by the over-land route- the bones of many of whom were then whitening the Sierras and plains of that route.
Emigrants from Missouri, under ex-Gov. Boggs of that state, arrived in comparative safety, but the thrilling accounts of the sufferings of others are still reaching the east, as well as west. The want of proper organization and prudent preparation is said to be much the cause of this. The Mormon chief represents the country and climate as not having disappointed their expectations, though much exaggerated.
On the 12th September, 1846, the Secretary of War wrote to Gen. Kearny, that a volunteer regiment raised in the State of New York-to serve during the war -- to be discharged wherever they were at its termination, if in a territory of the United States, was about to embark from New York for California ; that it was to be a part of his command ; but, as it might reach its destination before Gen. Kearny was in a condition to subject it to his orders, the colonel, J. D. Stevenson, had been furnished with instructions for his conduct in the mean time. A copy of these, with the in- structions of the Navy Department to the commander of the naval squadron in the Pacific; a copy of a letter to Gen. Taylor, with a circular from the Treasury Department; a copy of a letter from Gen. Scott to Capt. Tompkins ; and a copy of general regulations rela- tive to the respective rank of naval and army officers, Gen. Kearny was informed were sent him, and he was directed to look upon these, "so far as applicable," "in the light of instructions" to himself .*
Gen. Kearny having left Santa Fé on the 25th, this communica- tion of the Secretary of War did not reach him.
The copy of Gen. Scott's letter, dated 20th June, 1846, to Capt. Tompkins, would have informed him of First Lieutenant (after- wards Captain) C. Q. Tompkin's destination with a company of Third Artillery for California, and of the probable nature of the . service to which he was assigned. A subsequent letter, dated 3d November, 1846, from Gen. Scott to Gen. Kearny, tells him that
* See Appendix, Nos. 2, 3, and 4, &c.
71
COL. STEVENSON'S REGIMENT.
he will find an engineer officer (Lieut. Halleck) at Monterey, or the bay of San Francisco, and that the company of artillery, aided by other troops under his command, "ought promptly to be em- ployed in erecting and garrisoning durable defences for holding the bays of Monterey and San Francisco, together with such other important points in the same province as he may deem necessary to occupy."
That intrenching tools, ordnance and ordnance stores, went out in the ship Lexington, with Capt. Tompkins, and that further ordnance supplies might soon be expected.
Col. Stevenson's regiment, (familiarly known as the " California regiment,") numbered 800 men, with the same number of percus- sion muskets, and flint muskets, with 200 rifles, and six pieces of artillery. They carried out machinery for saw and grist mills, mechanic's tools, &c. &c. A large number of them were mechanics, and two of their principal officers belonged to the Third Artillery ; one to the company commanded by Capt. Tomp- kins. The letter of the Secretary of War to Col. Stevenson, dated Sept. 11, 1846, informs him that his regiment was destined to the Pacific, to co-operate with the naval commander in carrying out his plans, (with a copy of whose instructions Col. Stevenson was furnished,) so far as the land forces might be needed for that purpose : he is told, " There are three points deemed to be worthy of particular attention." These were San Francisco, Monterey, and San Diego, and that it was " important to have possession of the bay of San Francisco, and the country in that vicinity." That "a fortification, such as the means at his command may enable him to construct, will be erected, and that the heavy guns hereto- fore sent out, and those taken by the transports, to the extent needed, will be used for its armament," &c. The Secretary of War adds, "The regiment under your command, as well as the company of Capt. Tompkins, which has preceded it, is a part of Gen. Kearny's command ; but it may be that he will not be in a situation to reach you by his orders, immediately on your debarka- tion. Until that is the case, yours will be an independent com- mand, except when engaged in joint operations with the naval
72
GEN. SCOTT'S LETTER.
force ;" and Col. Stevenson was directed to show his instructions to the commander of the squadron, and told, " Where a place is taken by the joint action of the naval and land force, the naval officer, if superior in rank to yourself, will be entitled to make arrangements for the civil government of it, while it is held by the co-operation of both branches of the military force ;" and that all his powers would, "of course," devolve on Gen. Kearny, when he arrived, &c .*
Gen. Scott's letter of 3d November, 1846, concluded as fol- lows :-
" As a guide to the civil governor of Upper California, in our hands, see the letter of June the 3d (last), addressed to you by the Secretary of War. You will not, however, formally declare the province to be annexed. Permanent incorporation of the territory must depend on the government of the United States.
" After occupying with our forces all necessary points in Upper California, and establishing a temporary civil government therein, as well as assuring yourself of its internal tranquillity, and the absence of any danger of reconquest on the part of Mexico, you may charge Col. Mason, United States First Dragoons, the bearer of this open letter, or land officer next in rank to your own, with your several duties, and return yourself, with a sufficient escort of troops, to St. Louis, Missouri ; but the body of the United States Dragoons that accompanied you to California, will remain there until further orders.
"It is not known what portion of the Missouri Volunteers, if any, marched with you from Santa Fé to the Pacific. If any, it is necessary to provide for their return to their homes and honour- able discharge ; and, on the same supposition, they may serve you as a sufficient escort to Missouri.
"It is known that Lieut. Col. Fremont, of the United States rifle regiment, was, in July last, with a party of men in the ser- vice of the United States Topographical Engineers, in the neigh- bourhood of San Francisco or Monterey bay, engaged in joint
* See Appendix.
73
COLS. MASON AND PRICE.
operations against Mexico with the United States squadron on that coast. Should you find him there, it is desired that you do not . detain him, against his wishes, a moment longer than the necessi- ties of the service may require.
"I need scarcely enjoin deference, and the utmost cordiality, on the part of our land forces towards those of our navy, in the joint service on the distant coast of California. Reciprocity may be cordially expected ; and towards that end, frequent conferences between commanders of the two arms are recommended. Har- mony in co-operation, and success cannot but follow.
" Measures have been taken to supply the, disbursing officers, who have preceded, and who may accompany you, with all neces- sary funds. Of those measures you will be informed by Col. Mason."
Col. Mason left Washington city on the 7th of November, 1846, for New York, whence he embarked for Chagres, to cross the isthmus of Panama, and thus reached Monterey, on the Pacific.
Col. Price, with the Missouri Volunteers, and their heavy trains, reached Santa Fé, and relieved Col. Doniphan, who, we have seen, was awaiting his arrival to commence the "Chihuahua expedi- tion," which proved so glorious.
The company of the Third regiment Artillery embarked at New York for Monterey, California, July 14th, and the New York regi- ment of Volunteers, for the same destination, embarked the 25th of September, 1846, and arrived in due time as designated :- " But, (says the Secretary of War,) before these forces had reached their destination, and even before their departure from the United States, the Mexican authority in the whole province of the Cali- fornias had been subverted."
Of the "series of events which led to the overthrow of the Mexican power in that extensive country, and its occupation as a conquest of the United States," *- of the distinguished actors- and, especially, of the unexpected co-operation which "a party of
* Secretary of War.
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74
COMMANDERS.
men in the service of the United States Topographical Engi- neers," under their young and gallant leader, brought, without " orders" or "instructions," in aid of these results,-of Fremont, Sloat, Stockton, Kearny, Doniphan, Price, &c., we have, in other chapters, much to tell-"reflecting the highest credit alike upon officers and soldiers, who participated in these memorable ac- tions."
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COL. DONIPHAN.
CHAPTER VI.
Colonel Doniphan-Missouri Volunteers-Command at Santa Fé-Orders- Campaign in the Navaho country-March on Chihuahua-Route-Battle of Brazito-El Paso-Major Clark's artillery-Capt. Weightman-Battle of Sacramento-Occupation of the City of Chihuahua-American Traders-A Lady-Orders from Gen. Wool-Capt. Reid's gallant action with Indians- Capital of Durango-Route to Saltillo-Gen. Wool-Gen. Taylor and Tro- phies-Arrival at New Orleans-Arrival at St. Louis-Enthusiastic Recep- tion-Senator Benton's Speech-Colonel Doniphan's reply and adieu to his companions in arms.
THE march of the Missouri volunteers under Col. A. W. Doni- phan-the citizen commander of citizen soldiers-down the valley of the Rio Grande, through New Mexico, and the states of Chi- huahua, Durango, New Leon and Tamaulipas-passing over many a dreary desert and through deep snows, penetrating a thickly settled country of the enemy where they were cut off from all supplies unless drawn from the theatre of action, and entirely from all reinforcements, yet still fearlessly marching on against every obstacle, until they met the enemy and overcame him in two pitched battles, and with flying colours entered Chihuahua, his largest town in the north, and there established their order and law-comprises achieve- ments worthy of no stinted applause. The more, when this bold and fearless band are found thus, full two thousand miles from their homes-without pay-almost naked, and destitute of nearly all the absolute necessaries of life, resuming their weary march, and pressing to the relief of their brethren in arms, who, they hear, are nine hundred miles off, surrounded by the enemy and in peril.
To these displays of courage and of fortitude no commendation can be applied more appropriate than through the eloquent words addressed to these Missouri volunteers, at St. Louis, on their return to their homes, by Senator Benton-whose language is here quoted entire, as not only justly eulogizing their exploits, but as giving a
76
MISSOURI VOLUNTEERS.
historical summary of transactions, to which some few details are alone necessary to be first added for our purposes here.
It will have been seen in a preceding chapter, that Col. Doniphan's regiment had been mustered into service, at Fort Leavenworth, on the 6th June, 1846-that, as part of the "Army of the West," it had marched victoriously into Santa Fé, on the 18th of August, and that, on the departure of Gen. Kearny for California, 25th September, his orders were, for Col. Doniphan, on the arrival of Col. Price at Santa Fé, to march his regiment to Chihuahua and report to General Wool .* Previous, however, to General Kearny's departure from Santa Fé, he ordered Col. Doniphan to make a campaign against the Navaho Indians, which was accomplished in the dead of winter, without supplies, tents, &c. The district of country inhabited by this tribe lies in the Rocky Mountains, and partly on the Pacific slope, and was invaded by several detachments of troops, headed respectively by Major Gilpin, Capt. Reid, Lieut. Col. Jackson, and Col. Doni- phan in person. He succeeded in forming a treaty with these troublesome Indians, represented as more warlike than the New Mexicans, to whom they were a great source of dread and injury, on the 22d of November, 1846.
On the 17th of December, Col. Doniphan, with his regiment, and Lieut. Col. D. D. Mitchell's escort, composed of 100 picked men from the army at Santa Fé, commenced the march from Val- verde against the state of Chihuahua. Col. Price was left at Santa Fé, in command of his own regiment, Lieut. Col. Willock's battalion, Major Clark's artillery, and Capt. Angney's battalion of infantry, all Missourians. Col. Doniphan's whole force numbered 924 men.
Their march lay along the Rio Grande to Fra Christobal, and from thence they had proceeded down to within about twenty-five miles of the Paso de Norte, when, at Brazito, the first battle of the. "Army of the West" occurred. This, however, is all so well told by Lieut. C. H. Kribben, of the Missouri Light Artillery, universally represented as a gallant officer, and highly intelligent gentleman, that his letter is here cheerfully adopted, in the absence
* See Appendix, No. 5.
77
BATTLE OF BRAZITO.
of any official account, as giving a correct and accurate narrative of the Battle of Brazito, on 25th December, 1846.
DETACHMENT OF MO. LIGHT ARTILLERY,
Camp below Brazito, Rio Grande, Dec. 26, 1846.
DEAR SIR : I can only write to you a few lines, being on the point . of breaking up camp. One detachment at Fra Cristobal overtook Col. Doniphan's command. Major Gilpin, with 250 men, had previously left for El Paso, and Col. Jackson was fol- lowing him with 200 men. Col. Doniphan had but 150 men with him, the remainder of his regiment being sick, attending on the sick, and scattered about the country. From Fra Cristobal one detachment marched with Col. Doniphan south, when, at the Laguna of the Jornada del Muerto, news reached us through an express'sent by Major Gilpin, that the Mexicans had determined to resist at the El Paso, and had collected a considerable number of troops, intending to give us battle. An express had been sent to Santa Fé for part of the artillery under Major Clark, but no news had, as yet, reached us from there, so that the detachment of thirty men from the three companies of our corps are all that are here from the battalion. At the southern end of the Jornada, ten miles north of Donaha, the traders had encamped. Contra- dictory rumors of the enemy's approach reached us daily. Yester- day, (Christmas day,) when we had just arrived in camp here, with about five hundred men, had unsaddled our animals, and most of the men were engaged in carrying. wood and water, the news was brought into camp of the enemy's being in sight and advancing. It was about 2 o'clock, P. M., and the day was very pleasant. Our horses grazing some distance from camp at the time, we formed a single line, and determined to meet the enemy as infantry. Their attack being evidently designed on the left flank, near which was our wagon train, one detachment was ordered from the extreme right to the left, where we. soon took up our position. One piece of artillery, 500 regular lancers and cavalry, and one hundred regular infantry, besides some five hundred militia troops from El Paso, composed the enemy's force, according to the best informa-
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