Dragoons Out West

Carleton at Bitter Spring

by William Gorenfeld and John Gorenfeld

copyrighted June 19, 2001

James Henry Carleton is generally remembered as the fanatically loyal Union officer who saved New Mexico Territory from the Confederates. Hell-bent on keeping the territory safe against an invasion from Confederate Texas, Carleton called on the men in his California Column to crack down on suspected Southern sympathizers. Property was confiscated. Travelers were ordered to carry identification cards stating their destinations and were stopped at checkpoints. New Mexicans called Carleton a tyrant but, in the end, it was his iron grip that kept the Southwest in Union hands.

Carleton’s obsession with total victory turned brutal in his dealings with Native Americans. During his stay as departmental commander of New Mexico Territory, he was determined to crush the Navajo and Mescalero Apache, telling his officers: “There will be no council held with the Indians . . . The men will be slain whenever and wherever they can be found.”

Carleton’s men systematically destroyed the homes of the Navajo, burned their crops, and slaughtered their livestock. And in the infamous Long Walk, Navajo captives were forced to march over three-hundred miles of desert to the Bosque Redondo Reservation, a diseased and barren piece of land near the Pecos River. More than two thousand died from the effects of malnutrition and sickness.

His mismanagement of the reservation cost him the command of New Mexico Territory in 1866. But a few years earlier, there was a campaign that, when considered in conjunction with Carleton’s odd behavior, should have made his superiors uncomfortable placing him in command of New Mexico Territory: the Bitter Spring Expedition of 1860. It heralded Carleton’s ever-growing malevolence toward Native Americans. Certainly, a man with this attitude should not have been allowed to govern a vast region that was inhabited by a large population of Navajo, Apache, and other native peoples.

To punish killers who had struck on the road between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City, Carleton sent his men on a long chase through the desert after a group of native people who were unlikely culprits. Obsessively pursuing the enemy like a landlocked Captain Ahab, he posted the severed heads of slain Paiutes on stakes.

What kind of man was this? One not easily understood. On the one hand, James Carleton was a rigid martinet who, when it suited him, did not always obey the rules of military conduct. Carleton was court martialed in 1843 for aiding a fellow officer, who was facing murder charges to escape from custody. Carleton was later court-martialed for his mistreatment, and the resulting death of, a drunken enlisted man. Captain Thomas Swords, in 1845, wrote from Fort Scott, “We are to be cursed here with Carleton. I shall give him a pretty wide berth.”

But James Carleton was also a sentimental 19th century gentleman who loved to study nature and who wrote books about his travels. In fact, before Carleton became a soldier, what he really had wanted to be was a famous author in the mold of Charles Dickens.

Born December 27, 1814, in the state of Maine, Carleton was left fatherless at the age of 15. He briefly served in the Maine militia during a non-shooting border dispute with Great Britain know as the Aroostock disturbance. When the “war” ended, Carleton wrote a letter to Dickens in 1839 in which he didn’t stop short of asking Dickens for tips on becoming a writer and asked whether Dickens would be his friend, if Carleton were to move to London.

Dickens replied, writing that he was a little embarrassed by the letter. For him to call a complete stranger like Carleton his friend, he said, “would be to prostitute the term.” Besides, he said, it would be next to impossible for Carleton to achieve success as a British writer. Instead, Carleton would be far better off looking for stories out in the West.

“I cannot but think that good tales – especially such as you describe, connected with the customs and history of [America]’s original inhabitants who every day become more interesting as their numbers diminish –– would surely find some patrons and readers in her great cities,” Dickens wrote.

So, instead of going overseas, Carleton went West. He obtained an officer’s commission with the 1st Regiment of Dragoons. From army posts out on the Great Plains, he would write about animals, plants, geology, the stars, archaeology and the weather. In 1843, he befriended the naturalist John J. Audubon, another man fascinated with the uncharted landscapes of the West. Carleton mailed poet Henry Longfellow seeds that he had found on an expedition. Longfellow planted the seeds, and wrote a poem about the Western Compass Plant that sprouted: “This is the compass-flower, that the finger of God has planted/Here in the houseless wild, to direct the traveler’s journey.”

In 1844, Lieutenant Carleton published The Prairie Logbooks, telling the story of two Dragoon expeditions. One was of a trip to Nebraska, mapping out the Platte River and meeting the Pawnee residents. Carleton said the Pawnee were thieves, even more wily than the street urchins of his favorite author’s book, Oliver Twist. “A Pawnee,” he wrote, “would have stolen Fagin’s shirt off his back, and cheated such common fellows as the Artful Dodger…”

Installments of The Prairie Logbook were printed in the New York Spirit of the Times, allowing newspaper readers to picture the romantic West. Carleton calls for Easterners to imagine themselves at Fort Gibson, in present-day Oklahoma, lining up with the rest of the Dragoons under the oaks, and preparing for a grand adventure.

Time: 10 o’clock. You are on the parade under those grand old trees. On three sides of the great square that surrounds you, are the quarters of officers and men … Men in military garb moving hither and thither – some packing effects – some arming themselves – some shaking hands with, and apparently bidding good-bye to comrades who are to remain behind!

…Did you hear that bugle! — it blew what is called a signal, ‘boots and saddles.’ Now look at the different quarters – see the men pouring from them like bees from so many hives. Don’t you hear the clang—clang—clang of heavy sabres as they descend the steps – they are all completely armed and equipped.

Carleton also reckoned himself a keen observer of human nature. When an “Indian dandy” tries to put on a calico shirt, and finally puts it on backwards, Carleton “cannot suppress a smile,” for “with all the airs of an empty-headed exquisite, he strutted off with his new garment, occasionally looking slyly to the right and left…Human nature is the same everywhere.”

The Indians fascinated Carleton, as much as the compass-flower. In his writings he admires the Pawnees as noble, if deceitful, adversaries: “splendid specimens of the Prairie Indian…with eyes like Eagles,” he writes. “They were not of that dingy brown color…but of that red, so peculiar to all the full-blooded savages of the West.

In 1860, Captain James Henry Carleton, hints of gray in his thick mutton chops, stood with fine posture, proudly watching his Dragoons assemble on the parade ground at Fort Tejon, California. His pale eyes now glimmered with a new wrath. A few years later, the editor of a Santa Fe paper would later sneer at this pose:

Behold him! His martial cloak thrown gracefully around him like a Roman toga, his military cap worn precisely six inches from the extreme tip of his nose, his chin drawn gracefully in, his teeth set firm, his Jove-like front, his eyes like Mars, that threaten and command with slow and measured tread, each step exactly twenty-eight inches, he rules the land.

The long years of campaigning out West had hardened his heart. In 1857, a hundred and twenty unarmed travelers had been slain by the Mormons and their Paiute allies at Mountain Meadows, Utah. Carleton, in May of 1859, had escorted the paymaster up the Salt Lake Road and, while encamped at Mountain Meadows, conducted an investigation of the slaughter, where he discovered the bleached bones of victims projecting from shallow graves.

His once-romantic vision of the West had now been stained by the sight of “Women’s hair in detached locks and in masses…[p]arts of children’s dresses…the skulls and bones of those who suffered . . . a sight which can never be forgotten.” Carleton had written that the Mormons were an “ulcer upon the body politic . . . an ulcer which needs more than cautery to cure. It must have excision; complete and thorough extirpation before we can ever hope for safety or tranquillity.” The impression upon Carleton that day at Mountain Meadows, and the rage it surely awakened within him, would not pass.

The Paiutes allegedly were attacking travelers and stealing stock along the road between Los Angeles and Salt Lake. In January of 1860, a cattleman had been killed at Bitter Spring, reportedly by Paiutes; a couple of months later, two teamsters had been felled near the same spot.

The Southern Paiutes of the Mojave were not one tribe, but rather several small scattered groups that spoke in the Shoshonean language. They called themselves the Nuwu, Shoshone for “The People”. For centuries, the Nuwu struggled to survive in the desert that lay between Utah and California. They sustained themselves on a diet of desert plants–pnon pine nuts, roots, and msquite seed–and fresh game (rabbits, mountain sheep, reptiles, and kangaroo rats.)

The Vanyumes, an impoversihed tribelet, lived in the vicinity of the Bittle Creek. Their population was small. Father Garaces, who visited the region in 1776, mentioned villages ranging in size from 25-40 souls.

For decades, tribesmen from as far away as southern Utah would cross Cajon Pass to plunder the vast herds grazing near the pueblo of Los Angeles. Major Lewis Armistead, writing from Fort Mojave, remarked:

My opinion as to the treatment of the Whalupi and Paiyte [sic] is to shoot them whenever you can, as I believe it impossible to keep them from stealing horses, mules, or anything else, when a good opportunity offers. These Indians, the Payutes [sic] especially, are generally in a half-starved state—they steal to eat—sometimes to live—They will always be troublesome and difficult to manage, not from their numbers, but from the character of the country they inhabit.

There were now wild rumors that the Mormons—-still smarting from the invasion and occupation of their homeland by federal troops in the Mormon War of 1857—-had encouraged Paiutes, their Indian allies, to attack settlers. The April 12, 1860 issue of the Los Angeles Star echoed the feeling of many Californians:

The murders [at Bitter Spring] were perpetrated by Indians we have no doubt. Yet there are Danites, who can paint, talk, and act Indian as well as any red-skin in the Territory–and the late murders, as at Mountain Meadows, if not actually perpetrated by such, were directed by them and executed for them.

A group of prominent citizens and businessmen from Los Angeles petitioned the government to chastise the Paiutes in order to make the Salt Lake road once again safe for the flow of commerce into their town.

There were voices of moderation in the army protesting that these people were more often blamed than blameworthy. In 1859, Captain John Davidson, assigned to hunt Paiutes accused of stealing cattle from ranches in the San Fernando and Santa Clara vallies, led a troop of Dragoons from Fort Tejon into the upper reaches of the Owens Valley. He found no evidence that the Paiutes had stolen livestock. After holding several meetings with them, Davidson concluded that “these Indians are not only not Horse thieves . . . their true character is that of an interesting, peaceful industrious people, deserving the protection and watchful care of the Government.”

Lt. Colonel Benjamin Beall was Carleton’s immediate commanding officer. “Old Ben”, a hard-drinking 24-year veteran of numerous campaigns, believed that those responsible for the recent attacks likely came from Utah and had left the area. He thought it unjust for the army to chastise those persons who, by pure chance, lived in the vicinity of Bitter Spring.

Brevet General Newman Clarke was not to be deterred by the opinions of Beall and Davidson. The general sent an order, dated April 5, 1860, to Carleton to “proceed to Bitter Springs [sic] and chastise the Indians you find in the vicinity.” Since the killers’ identity was unknown, any nearby people must pay the price for the crimes of their race. Clarke specifically instructed Carleton that “the punishment must fall on those dwelling nearest to the place of the murder or frequenting the water course in its vicinity.” Not pleasant orders. Nonetheless, Carleton, thinking of Mountain Meadows and of the chance for retribution against allies of the Mormons, might have felt a quickening in his blood. He now had orders to punish the Paiute, and intended to unleash punishment worthy of a god of war.

* * *

Ten minutes more––another bugle; that was the signal––-’to horse.’ Now they come out––what a crowd! Each man has his hand near the bit leading his charger. They form in two ranks on foot, each company on its own parade in front of its stables—at the same time, the officers mounted, come dashing along from their quarters to the several companies. The commands are given: the men are in the saddle at once, and the ranks are closed and dressed. Another bugle, still––that was the ‘assembly’––the fine brass band of the regiment, also mounted, commences a lively march. . . The adjutant now forms the parade, after which the commanding officer proceeds to make a final inspection of men, arms, horses, and equipage––all found to be in excellent order. The inspection over, the command is given, and in a moment the long line is broken into column and on its way …”

(The Prairie Logbooks)

And so the regimental band struck up the traditional Irish aire, “The Girl I Left Behind Me” (“The hope of final victory within my bosom burning/Is mingling with sweet thoughts of thee and of my fine returning…”) as three officers and eighty-one enlisted men, surgeon Jonathan Letterman, two civilian guides, an interpreter, and a rumbling train of four army wagons departed the post. The column took the salutes of Lt. Colonel Beall, splashed across the Grapevine Creek, and then turned south onto the dusty Los Angeles Road.

Carleton rightly took considerable pride in the men of K Troop of the First United States Dragoons. Since his return to the West in 1858, he had drilled, drilled, and again drilled this unwieldy group–many of them recent immigrants from Ireland and Germany–such that they were skilled at riding, shooting, care of their mounts, and skirmishing.

In early 1859, Inspector General Mansfield witnessed a firing exercise by Carleton’s company K at Fort Tejon. He reported that half of Company K’s shots hit a 6′ x 22″ target at 100 yards. For the antebellum army, this was excellent marksmanship.

Carleton had written adulatingly of Dragoons on the march with “their arms and equipments sparkling in the sun, their sabres clanging against their heavy spurs and stirrups, their horses neighing and prancing.” How smartly his troopers sat in their Grimsley saddles, their Sharps carbines slung over the right hip and Colt’s Navy revolvers tucked into the pommel holster––ready for whatever struggle or hardship that might lie ahead. Carleton rode at the head of the column, exulting in the flourishing of whips that cracked on the behinds of mules, in the bugle calls and shouts of the officers to halt or move forward, in the clatter of hundreds of hooves.

After a week’s casual march of 170 miles, Carleton’s troops reached a site just to the east of the junction of the Mojave Road and the Salt Lake Trail. It was here, just slightly northeast of the present-day town of Barstow, the cool waters of the fickle Mojave River bubbled to the surface. Carleton set his men to work building a base camp which he called Camp Cady, after his friend Major Albemarle Cady, the commander of Fort Yuma. From this encampment he sent out his patrols to locate the Paiutes. It did not take long to find one of them.

On the morning of the 19th of April, 2d Lieutenant B. F. “Grimes” Davis took a portion of K Troop out on a patrol. Davis, a graduate of the West Point Class of 1854, was a promising officer in the mounted arm. In June of 1863, this capable officer would lose his life while leading a federal brigade of cavalry at the Battle of Beverly Ford.

At about twelve miles to the southwest of Camp Cady, at a place near the Fish Ponds on the Mojave River, Davis came across two Native Americans who were hunting for game. These men, being “in the vicinity of Bitter Spring” were to be chastised. Davis rose in his stirrups and ordered K troop to “draw pistols and forward into line as skirmishers.”

The Dragoons smartly wheeled into line, advancing at a fast trot, firing as they came. One of the hunters, though outnumbered, outgunned, and facing certain death, was not to be cowed. His arrows found their mark and two troopers were seriously wounded. During the attack, a trooper wounded a comrade with a .36 caliber ball from his pistol.

The soldiers, charged with adrenaline, were not about to be deprived of the chance to exact revenge. “The men all seemed to vie with each other who should kill the rascal and all were perfectly fearless,” later wrote Surgeon Letterman. When the dust had finally settled, the hunter was dead and his companion taken prisoner. Subsequently –– military reports do not record exactly when—-the captive was killed when he reportedly attempted to escape. The body of the dead men were taken back to Camp Cady.

As Davis’ detachment marched slowly back to Camp Cady with its three wounded men, they heard a distant echo of gunfire. The command of Lt. Milton Carr had come upon another band of hunters. In the second clash of the day, two tribesmen were killed and one Dragoon was wounded.

On April 22nd, the bodies of the two men slain by Lt. Davis’ detachment were taken by the Dragoons to the crossing of the Salt Lake Road at Bitter Spring––the site of the attacks upon travelers. It was at this spot that the bodies were hung from an improvised scaffold.

Although having twice chastised the local inhabitants, Carleton was hardly finished with his duty. On April 30th, he sent out three patrols. Taking command of a patrol, Carleton soon discovered a recently abandoned native encampment located at about twenty miles to the south of Camp Cady. As the natives ineffectively shot at the troopers from rocky terrain afar, Carleton’s men destroyed the camp.

Meanwhile, 16 troopers under Lt. Carr scouted the Mojave Road. On May 2nd, Carr encountered a band of seven natives who were busily gathering lizards, roots, and worms at the base of Old Dad Mountain. He sent a detachment consisting of a sergeant and four men to cut off any possible retreat and then ordered his remaining men to “unsling carbines, dismount, forward as skirmishers.” Taking advantage of the fact that their powerful, breach-loading, .52 calibre Sharps carbines outranged any of the weapons carried by the Native Americans, the Dragoons opened fire.

It was a one-sided affair. Carr would report, “. . . owing to a high wind, their arrows did no damage.” Within the space of a half-hour, three of the natives were slain, one wounded, and an elderly woman taken prisoner. The Dragoons suffered no casualties.

After taking the evening’s supper, Lt. Carr, likely acting upon orders from Carleton, had the heads cut off of the three dead natives and placed them into a sack. A few days later, these grisly items were mounted for display upon the gibbet at Bitter Creek.

Carleton released the captive woman and instructed her to tell her people that they would be hunted down unless they agreed to cease hostilities. By this time, as one might imagine, most of the terrified native inhabitants had fled the area.

Still itching to fight the Paiutes, Carleton believed that he might be able to lure them into attacking if he were to send out a decoy of three supply wagons. Dragoons were hidden inside of these wagons. Carleton followed within supporting distance with a troop of twenty-five men. Owing to the broken terrain, two of the wagons soon broke down. Neither command discovered any fresh signs of Native Americans.

Carleton was now convinced that “the Pah-Utes driven from the south had gone northward to the impenetrable fastness about Mountain Spring, and there joining numerous Indians in that region.” Intent upon finding these elusive warriors and bringing them to a battle, he continued his trek ever and deeper into the vastness of the Mojave.

Carleton continued to pursue his prey without regard to the obstacles nature had lain before him. Marching at the rate of thirty miles a day across hot desert wasteland, his weary command, many of its troopers on foot, arrived at a remote desert oasis located in present-day Nevada that was known to travelers as the Vegas. While his men would occasionally see a few fleeing natives in the distance and come across several recently abandoned rancherias, the natives refused to meet with Carleton. On May 28th, the troops, having covered over three-hundred miles of desert landscape, returned to Camp Cady.

During the ensuing weeks, several more patrols were sent out in all directions. Carleton came to believe that his prey had fled into the distant Panamint Mountains. On June 9th, he sent a detachment of thirty-five Dragoons under the capable command of Lt. Davis to pursue these natives.

The company was guided by an incompetent scout named Joel Brooks, who at the time was being sought by the authorities in Los Angeles on charges of murder. During the 1850’s, Brooks had participated in a number of massacres inf Indian villages in the western foothills of the Sierras. It was said that this Arkansan ruffian had been run out of every town in the Tulare Valley.

With Brooks leading the way, the detachment blundered into the blistering wastelands of Death Valley. Over the next few days, the command nearly perished in its futile search for water and Indians. In his report for the 12th of June, Davis wrote, “[t]he day was intensely hot and the men began to suffer for water. Brooks returned at 2 O’clock but without success.” Having used up most of the rations, with horses spent, and being virtually out of water, on June 14th, Davis wisely decided to return to Camp Cady.

A perturbed General Clarke, at headquarters in San Francisco, had read Carleton’s dispatch which proudly touted the display of severed heads at Bitter Spring. The San Francisco newspapers also reported this incident. In an order dated May 28th, Clarke firmly instructed Carleton to cease mutilation of the dead and to “remove all evidences of such mutilation from public gaze.”

By the latter part of June, Carleton was convinced that his campaign had made Salt Lake Trail again safe for travelers. This view was confirmed when, just prior to his departure for Fort Tejon, a delegation of Native Americans arrived in camp. After being repeatedly threatened by Carleton, they promised never again to take up arms against the settlers.

On July 3, 1860, the Dragoons––their dusty clothes in rags and their mounts jaded from the months of harsh campaigning in the unforgiving Mojave Desert––abandoned their base at Camp Cady and began the long return march to Fort Tejon. “I have lost no man, nor a horse on the whole campaign” proudly wrote Carleton in his report to General Clarke.

During their three-month absence from Fort Tejon, the Pony Express had initiated the carrying of mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento. Meanwhile, back in the East, the infant Republican party had nominated as its candidate for President, Abraham Lincoln, a relatively unknown attorney from Springfield, Illinois. That November, Lincoln would be elected as the sixteenth President and, by April of 1861, the nation would be engaged in civil war.

In the fall of 1861, Confederate troops boldly invaded New Mexico Territory. To counter this threat, volunteer troops were raised in California and placed under the command of Carleton. In the spring of 1862, Colonel Carleton and his California Column would boldly march eastward from Los Angeles, across the Mojave Desert, and into the annals of history.

* * *

For an extremely well-researched account of the Pah-Ute War of 1860, the authors recommend Dennis Casebier’s monograph: Carleton’s Pah-Ute Campaign (King’s Press 1972); although her book suffers from an overly ideal view of Carleton’s life, Aurora Hunt’s Major General James Henry Carleton, Frontier Dragoon (Arthur Clarke Co. 1958) albeit flawed is worth reading.

The Other Pah-Ute War of 1860

At the time of Carleton’s Bitter Spring expedition, a much greater conflict with the Paiutes was taking place in western Utah Territory. This struggle resulted when two Northern Paiute women were kidnapped and raped by agents of the Pony Express. On May 7, 1860, Paiute warriors destroyed the Pony Express depot at Williams Station, killed five whites, and rescued the women.

A force of 105 boisterous volunteers boldly marched to attack the Paiute villages. On May 12th, the Paiutes, under the able leadership of Numaga (Young Winnemucca) ambushed the column at the Big Bend of the Truckee River, killing over 40 of the volunteers.

Suffice it to say, this military disaster produced intense agitation. Federal troops (144 men of the 3d Artillery and 6th Infantry) and 550 California volunteers (soon placed under the command of former Texas Ranger John Coffee Hays) were rushed over the Sierra Nevada mountains to the seat of war. On June 3d, these troops clashed with and defeated the Paiutes at the battle of Pinnacle Mountain. The next day, Hayes’ men occupied the site of the Paiute village on the shores of Pyramid Lake.

During the summer of 1860, Lt. Stephen Weed of the 4th Artillery met with Numaga and other members of his band. Weed reported that they all “expressed a strong desire for peace.” Weed reported that they all tribesmen “expressed a strong desire for peace.” He was right–peace had been restored to the region.

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From M1102 R1, captured and brought back alive by Tim Kimball

The following was an informal note accompanying an official letter of the same day by Taylor to Dickerson, who was serving as A.A.A.Genl to Bvt. Lt. Col. Washington, Commander of the 9^th Military Department in Santa Fe.  Taylor and Dickerson had been one class apart at West Point, and Taylor often included such notes as separate pages in his official correspondence. These personal notes between officers seemingly relieved some of the tedium attendant while stationed at a frontier post.

Jan. 3, 1849 [Albuquerque]

Dear Dick:

I received your of the 25^th Dec yesterday & hasten to inform you that I deem it very important that we should have a Genl Court Martial.  One or two of you at least will come down from Santa Fe & perhaps some of our Taos friends.  Have not time to write much as I am busy with my quarterly papers, compy, Qtr Mstrs & Compy &c.  got a letter from [2^nd Lt. William W.] Burns [USMA ‘47, assigned to 5^TH Infantry, Ft. Gibson] the other day, wishes me to change in the Infantry with [2^nd Lt. Richard H.] Long [USMA ’47, also Ft. Gibson] , but as the Mexicans say “Quando?” [sic, “Cuando?” (“When?”)]  I think a new lot of “niggers will be hung.”  I put the letter of transfer, directed to the Adjt Genl, in the fire & could not help applying the thumb of my dexter hand to my nose & causing the fingers to execute sundry gyrations at the ashes as I thought how easy that little business had been settled & almost felt like sending a challenge to Burns for his impudence in supposing that a Dragoon would transfer with a “Doughboy.”  Try & keep yourself alive & hearty.  Remember me to all hands—In haste, Yours Truly O. H. P. Taylor [Bvt. 1^st Lt, Commanding G Company, 1^st Dragoons]

P. S. I have also other Genl prisoners.  Do send a Genl Ct. martial.

Note: This banter between classmates, joking about their branches and hoping for some social contact—a General Court Martial required at least five officers, and everyone was spread thin in 1849 New Mexico.  Tragically, Long died at Fort Gibson, January 30, 1849, of apparent illness, probably before Burns got any reply from Taylor.  Taylor himself would be killed at To-kota-mine-me, Washington Tty, May 17, 1858, gallantly leading the rear guard against the united and outraged Spokane, Palouse, Coeur d’ Alene, and Yakama tribes for bungling “Doughboy” Steptoe’s Spokane Expedition:

One account of the battle states:“…On Monday, May 17, 1858, the  soldiers’ journey back immediately turned into a running flight for their lives. With the first sound of shots, Lieutenant William Gaston found an opening and led the entire expedition towards a small hill by Pine Creek. The running battle was brutal, as the tribes were skillfull at running their horses up to the troops to attack them. While the men had guns, they were mostly Yager rifles, not meant for firing from horseback, The soldiers’ revolvers were rapidly running out of ammunition. And the sabers, which would have helped the soldiers defend themselves, were left useless back at Fort Walla Walla.

As Steptoe’s expedition floundered toward the small hill, Lieutenant Gaston, along with Captain Oliver Hazard Taylor, guarded the flanks. Their skill was also their death sentence, for upon noticing the effectiveness of these two officers, the tribal leaders ordered their sharpshooters to focus on felling these two men, and soon Steptoe heard the news that these two officers had been killed, and Gaston’s body taken….”

Trooper Philip Welsh has run up a sizable bill with the post sutler and the merchant asked Welsh’s company commander Captain Burgwin to extract payment. Unfortunately, the commanding officer died in battle at Taos. The sutler has requested that Lt. John Love find out whether the soldier paid the bill. Philip Welsh stayed in the army after the Meican War and was found serving Company F at Cantonment Burgwin in 1855. While serving there he has lost his horse pistol and is being assessed $13.00 by the goverment for the weapon. “You’ll never get rich. You son of a bitch. You are in the Army now.”

Fort Scott MO

April 18, 1848

Lieut John Love

U S Army

Most Worthy old friend:

It is necessary for us to call on some friend to serve us, and as our acquaintance with you gives us claim on you, we respectfully ask this favor of you to learn from Philip Welch in some way if you can, if he ever paid a note to us for $66.28 dated about the 20^th March 1844.  Which note was given to Capt. Burgwin the same year some time to collect.  He was so kind as to receive it and said it should be paid, to enable him to collect it he regulated his trade with Mr. Rice to $3.00 Per Month.  We are of the opinion that the Captain collected the amount and hope you can learn from Welch if he has or has not paid the amount &c.  Soldiers like he may plead payment had you not first said you have the note and want him to pay it and in this way he will say what has been done or what amount he has paid.  You will please do the best your can and write us so we can send a copy of your letter to his Capt. Burgwin’s Father.  Private Charles Lynch, late of Company A 1^st Dragoons deserted from this post under the command of Capt Burbank and gave himself up at Fort Leavenworth and was not tried for desertion and afterwards sent to Santa Fee.  We certified it for Lieut Wallace on the Council of Administration.  This account was all created before and previous to his desertion which was the 7^th May 1847, owing us Ninety Six dollar and Thirty Seven cents, ($96.37) and forwarded to Col. Wharton, and the Col. cannot Say but that he has forwarded it to Santa Fe &c.  This is a tricky man, if you do not know him, please collect it for us.  William Bushnell of the same company left here owing us Fifteen dollars ($15.00) and has, we learn, also gone to Santa Fee.  He is a good man and believe he will pay if he has not already done so—you will certainly serve us much by giving us your kind ade [sic, aid] and assistance in these bothersome matters.  We shall enclose this letter to Col. C. Wharton and call his attention of the certificate.  Whether he has in his recollection or not forwarded to Santa Fee.  For this and all of your kindness we shall ever be thankful, and should you be able to give the wanted information as in the case of Welch please [indecipherable].

And if you should be able to make the collection, pay yourself and send us the balance to us in some shape through Col. Wharton.  We have but little news in the States to give at this date.  The county is quiet save the difficulties with Mexico, and all are on the look out for the ratification of the treaty by the Mexican congress—the rupture or revolution is France may result [indecipherable] to the Old World, should it, it will be a very good thing for the United States.   The health of our county is generally good.  Col. Douglass your old friend is very well, and family, he has a fine daughter.  She commands much attention.  Your colt he aimed to race for you is Dead—The loss of our mutual friends by the Mexican War is very great.  So many valuable lives lost—our county is clad in Mourning—You must meet with many Privations in Mexico.  You must be loansum [sic] news very old before you get it out to you—Dr. W. Wammon is at this Post with his family.  He has two fine Daughters.  Mr. Bugg is absent to St. Louis with Lieut Wallace, our H. T. Wilson is married and flourishing at Scott.  He was married on the 28^th of last September to a plane [sic] country Girl and if you were in the States, you should marry, and pleasant life to live, a step every good man should take.  We do not know who you may have about you that we knew, but would be pleased to be kindly remembered to youself, Capt. Grear and all of our acquaintans [sic] with you.

We have the honor to be your very

Sincere and obt Servts

Respectfully

Wilson & Bugg

Santa Fe Republican, September 12, 1848, reported:

-Co. (H,) 1^st Dragoons, commanded by Lt. Buford, from Fort Gibson, reached this place on Saturday, the 9^th inst., all in fine health and spirits.  It seems that Lieut. Buford came direct from Fort Gibson almost a new and untravelled route, which he considers much the best and shortest to the United States.

________

Arrival of Co. H. 1^st U. S. Dragoons.

Co. H., 1^st U.S. Dragoons, under Lieut. R. Buford, accompanied by Lieut D. B. Sackett, arrived in this city on the 9^th inst. [September], from Ft. Gibson, having left that place on the 17^th of July last.

We are under many obligations to Lieutenant Buford for the following information relative to his trip and the new route taken by him across the plains.  The Lieutenant and his force on leaving Ft. Gibson, marched up the Arkansas River to the mouth of the big Red Fork, or [illegible] river, and then following up that [illegible] to the Salt Rock, a great salt plain which [illegible] is about three hundred miles from Fort Gibson.  On the 17^th of August, they left the Salt rock and proceeded south, and struck the waters of the Cimaron and main Canadian—then continuing their march in a westward direction between these two streams until august the 20^th, when they altered their course to the north and crossed the waters of the north fork of the Canadian, (which is not near as large a stream as represented on many of our maps) and on the 31^st [?] of August, struck the Santa Fe road, near the middle Cimaron spring, which point is about five hundred miles distant from Ft. Gibson by this route, the actual distance of which would not5 be over four hundred miles from the middle Cimaron spring to Fort Gibson; he also states that a route and good road could be laid out from Santa Fe New Mexico, via the Salt Rock, following partly the route taken by him, the distance of which from Santa Fe to Fort Gibson would not be over six, to six hundred and fifty miles by this route—good camping ground, with a large abundance of wood and water every night, and fine grazing beside, innumerable buffalo could always be found.

The Salt rock, as spoke of in this report as a particular point, we believe some day will become a valuable and important place.

The salt taken from this rock is a white and nice as any table salt, and it can be procured with but little or no labor.  Lieut. B. has in his possession some specimens of this salt, which in fact are worthy of public notice.  According to report, this rock must be one of the greatest curiosities in the world by its structure and location.  [Note that Salt Rock and Salt Fork were site of commercial salt works and had been for a couple of decades; routes to there were well traveled from the southeast.  Gregg mentions them.]

[H left Fort Gibson in July en route for New Mexico arrived at Santa Fe 8 Sept.  Left Santa Fe on the 18^th and arrived at Socorro Sept 29.  Stationed their [sic] the remainder of the year.]

Fort Tejon Muster Roll complied by George Stammerjohan

Muster Roll for Headquarters, Non-Commissioned Staff and Band,

Regimental Headquarters, 28 February, 1859

Colonel Thomas F. Fauntleroy           On leave for 6 Months

Lieut. Colonel Benjamin L. Beall     Comdg. Regt. & Post, Fort Tejon

Major George A. H. Blake                On Leave since January 17, 1859

Major Enoch Steen                           Absent sick since May 17, 1858

1st Lt. Charles H. Ogle                     Regt. Adjutant, Fort Tejon

1st Lt. Henry B. Davidson               Regt. Quartermaster, Fort Tejon

Headquarters Non-Commissioned Staff Enlisted                    At:

Sergt. Major Damuel R. I Sturgeon             May 25, 1855           Fort Reading, Ca. (re-enlistment)

Ordnance Sergt. Jone E. Kelly(a)                 May 31, 1856          Fort Orford (re-enlistment)

Regt. QM Sergt. William Duffy (a)              December 1, 1858   Fort Tejon (re-enlistment)

Chief Bugler Carl Caib                                   June 3, 1858            Nr. Los Angeles (re-enlisted)

Regimental Band

Bergman, Jacob                                              August 11, 1858       San Francisco

Burke, Patrick                                                 June 6, 1854            New York

Chatland, Edwin                                            February 2, 1855   Baltimore

Clarke, Charles                                              April 1856                Fort Union, N.M.

Ferrari, Giaciento                                         October 12, 1856     Philadelphia

Roesch, William                                            June 10, 1857          Fort Tejon

Stark, Dominick                                            September 1, 1858 Fort Tejon

Sugden, Reuben                                            October 1, 1858       Fort Tejon

Tierney, Edmund P.                                     December 7, 1858   San Francisco

No Buglers

Oliver, Francis, Farrier                                 Feb. 12 ‘55                Ft. Filmore, N.M.

a. On furlough, each for six months.

Muster Roll for Company B

John W. Davidson, Captain, Commanding Company

Orren Chapman, 1st Lieut., Died at St.Louis 7 Jan. 1859

Benjamin F. Davis, 2d Lieut., with company for duty

The Company                                Enlisted:                                    At:

1st Sgt. Nathanial J. Pishon            August 13, ‘56                                 Ft. Craig, N.M.

*Sgt. Minor C. Tuttle                       Aug. 26, ‘56                                      Ft. Craig, N.M.

*Sgt. Jmes W. Strawbridge           July 18, ‘58                                        Ft. Tejon

Sgt. Joseph E. Smith                      Feb. 1, ‘55                                           Cleveland, Oh.

Corp. Michael Wheatley              May 4, ‘55                                           New York City

*Corp. Frederick Fischer             Aug. 20, ‘57                                        Ft. Buchanan, NMT

Corp. James McGuire                  Apr. 12, ‘54                                         New York City

Corp.  John Yaiser                        Feb 15, ‘56                                          Ft. Fillmore, NMT

No buglers

Frances Oliver, Farrier                 Feb. 12, ‘55                                         Ft. Fillmore, NMT

Privates

Allen, Robert B.                                              Feb. 24, ‘56              Ft. Filmore, N.M.

Arnold, John                                                   Sept.9, ‘57                 Baltimore

Barnard, William                                           Nov. 16, ‘57               Boston

Brunning, Heinrich                                       May 23, ‘54               New York City

Butler, James                                                  May 19, ‘54               New York, City

Beecher, George D.                                        Sept. 3, ‘57               Harrisburg, Pa.

Betts, William                                                 June 1, ‘54                New York City

**Buck, James                                                Jan. 2, ‘56                Ft. Fillmore, NM

Bresler, John                                                  Oct. 15, ‘58               San Francisco

Cantrell, James                                              Oct. 28, ‘57               New York City

Carr, Joseph                                                   June 20, ‘54             New York City

Carpenter, Asa                                              Aug 29, ‘57                Boston, Mass.

Connolly, Patrick                                         June 21, ‘54               New York

Coakley, Charles R.                                     June 12 ‘54                Baltimore

Cowan, William                                           Dec. 20 ‘54                Nashville, Tenn.

Culligan, Michael                                        April 19, ‘55              Ft. Fillmore, NM

Chariasis, Michael                                      August 24, ‘57           New York

Dean, James                                                Oct. 26, ‘57                 New York

Dowd, John                                                 Aug. 26, ‘55                Ft. Union, N.M.

Eldar, Adam                                                Aug. 22, ‘55                Ft. Fillmore, N.M.

Faber, Henry                                               Apr. 17, ‘54                 New York

Forest, Joseph Y.                                       Aug. 18, ‘54                 Ft. Union, N.M.

Fogerty, John                                            March 23, ‘55              Louisville, Ky.

Galleger, John                                          Feb. 15, ‘56                   Ft. Fillmore, NM

*Hand, John                                             Sept. 9, ‘54                  Ft Union, NM

Hade, Patrick                                           Dec. 1 ‘57                      Ft. Buchanan, NM

Kriesalmayer, Henry                              Sept. 11 ‘57                   Philadelphia

*** Lohmeyer, Frederick                      Dec 5 ‘55                       Albuquerque, NM

* Maher, Edward                                    Feb. 1, ‘56                     Ft. Thorn, NM

Miller, Henry                                           May 20, ‘54                 New York City

Morrissey, John                                      June 8, ‘54                  New York

* McCoy, Thomas                                   July 15 ‘58                   Ft. Tejon

Moulton, Harrison                                 Sept. 8 ‘57                   Philadelphia

****O’Meara, Edward                           Jan. 8 ‘55                    Ft. Fillmore, NM

Ott, Heinrich                                          September 3, ‘57        New York

Pryor, Robert                                         March 9 ‘54                 New York

Phillip, George                                       Sept. 11 ‘58                  San Francisco

Reynolds, William R.                           June 26, ‘54                 New York City

Ross, James                                           Oct. 19, ‘57                   Boston

Swiss, Henry                                         Feb. 23, ‘53                   St. Louis

Scherrer, John E.                                 Sept. 27, ‘53                  New York

Scharf, Anton                                        Mar. 16, ‘53                  Ft. Fillmore, NM

Schafle, Francis P.                               Nov. 6, ‘58                     San Francisco

Thomson, Theodore                            Sept 11, ‘55                    Ft. Stanton, NM

Tower, John S.                                     Sept. 5, ‘57                     Boston

Trouton, William                                 Aug. 24, ‘57                   Philadelphia

Taylor, James                                       Jan. 25, ‘59                   Fort Tejon

West, John A.                                       June 10, ‘58                  Baltimore

Washington, George H.                     April 21 ‘58                   San Francisco

*$2.00 additional each month for former service.

** $3.00 a month for 2d reenlistment

***German born Frederick Lohmeyer, enlisted, at age 24 years, in Company B at St Louis on April 19, 1847, discharged at Santa Fe on August 19, 1848.

****Edward O’Meara, former farrier of Co. F, who was court martialed for his participation in the 1855 riot in the Taos Plaza, see infra, was transferred to Co. B. Pvt. O’Meara was confined in the post jail at the time of this muster along with privates Beecher, Forest, Morrisey, Pryor and Washington.

Pvt. Miller - absent, sick Ft. Fillmore, since Oct. 16, ‘55.

Pvts. Faber and Phillip, sick in post hospital.

Company K

James H. Carleton. Captain and Brevet Major, Comanding Company

David H. Hastings, 1st Lieut., Leave of Absence

Alfred B. Chapman, 2d Lieut.; Returned from detached duty of February 28, 1859, present for duty.

The Company:                                Enlisted:                                     At:

*William McCleave, 1st Sgt.         1 Oct ‘55                                     Albuquerque, NM

*Sgt. Emil Fritz                               1 Jan. ‘56                                   Albuquerque, NM

*Sgt. Gustav Brown                       1 Dec. ‘57                                    Ft. Buchanan, NM

Sgt.  Thomas Yearwood                1 Apr. ‘57                                    Calabaza, NM

Frederick Morris, Corp.                2 Sept. ‘57                                  Ft. Buchanan, NM

Andrew J. Landers, Corp.            5 Feb. ‘55                                    Knoxville, Tenn.

* Joseph Meyer, Bugler                12 Feb. ‘56                                   Ft. Buchanan, NM

John W. Harris, Bugler                11 Dec. ‘56                                   Albany, NY

*William Seyring, Farrier              1 Aug ‘55                                    Albuquerque, NM

Privates

Batty, James  @                             18 Sept. ‘55                                Albuquerque, NM

Buell, Sylvester                               5 Sept.   ‘57                               Boston

Brannan, Michael                          7 Feb.   ‘55                                Jefferson Battacks, Mo.

Cannon, Mchael                             7 Sept. ‘57                                 New York

Crowley, Timothy                         15 Feb. ‘55                                 Albuquerque, NM

Caskey, Samuel                             21 Oct. ‘55                                 Albuquerque, NM

Creevy, William                              8 Oct. ‘56                                Albuquerque, NM

Costellow, Thomas                       15 Mar. ‘55                               Albuquerque, NM

Corringham, Thomas                    2 Feb. ‘55                                Cleveland

Ennis, Thomas                               14 Jan. ‘55                              Cincinnati

**Fitzsimmons, Thomas                23 Nov. ‘55                            Albuquerque, NM

Fitzpatrick, John                             3 Sept. ‘55                            Albuquerque, NM

Friedberg, Francis                           3 Aug. ‘57                            Boston

**Gray, William                               1 July ‘57                             Ft. Buchanan, NM

Glendmeyer, Frederick                 10 October ‘57                     Baltimore

Henn, Andrew                                 20 March ‘57                       Calabasas, N.M.

Hurley, Morris                                  8 Sept. ‘57                          Boston

Herring, Robert B.                         20 Oct. ‘57                           New York

*Johnson, Adam                             27 Dec. ‘55                         Albuquerque, NM

Jones, Robert H.                              7 Feb. ‘55                          Knoxville, Tenn.

Louish, James                                  17 Jan. ‘56                         New York

*Maroon, Harvey                            21 Sept. ‘57                        Ft. Buchanan, NM

* Mahan, Thomas                            28 Jan, ‘56                        Albuquerque, NM

McNeal, Erastus                               20 Jan. ‘55                       Columbus, Ohio

McDonald, John                              18 Aug. ‘57                        Boston

Moore, Michael                                16 Nov. ‘57                        Philadephia

Moody, Thomas                                20 Nov. ‘57                       New York

Murphy, Hugh                                    4 Nov. ‘57                        New York

Mullins, James                                   3 Nov. ‘57                        Boston

Miller, Ebenezar                                7 Sept. ‘57                        New York

*O’Carroll, John A.                          27 May ‘58                        Ft. Yuma (Calif.)

Ogilivie, Henry                                  9 Sept. ‘57                         New York

Papp, Frederick                                 9 Nov. ‘57                         Richmond, Va.

*Quatman, Herman                         15 Nov. ‘55                        Albuquerque, NM

Reinhart, Antony                             26 Aug, ‘57                        New York

Richey, Hamilton                            26 Oct. ‘57                         Philadelphia

Smythe, Henry                                17 Aug. ‘57                         New Yrok

Smith, Abraham B,                        26 Oct. ‘56                         San Francisco

Schaupp, Charles                            11 Nov. ‘57                        New York

Tynon, Michael                                8 Feb. ‘55                         St. Louis

Terrell, Rufus H.                             1 Sept. ‘57                        Philadelphia

Taylor, Daniel                                 8 Oct. ‘57                         New York

Thompson, James                        10 Oct. ‘57                         New York

Tooney, Peter                                15 Oct. ‘58                        San Francisco

Van Riper, Cornelius                   15 Feb. ‘59                       Ft. Tejon

Zabel, Gustavus                             1 Aug ‘55                         Albuquerque

* $2.00 a month as former service.

Deserted: Henry Tolman, enlisted 29 Oct. ‘59 in Boston.

Confined in post jail: Buell, Johnson, Smythe, and Taylor.

Company F, 1st Dragoons served as General Winfield Scott’s body guard on his invasion of the Valley of Mexico. (This is the same company, with different personnel, which would riot in Taos in 1855.) At Churubusco, on 20 Aug. 1847, the company was assigned by Gen. Scott to Col. David Harney. Following the defeat of Mexican infantry, the colonel ordered the troop to charge one of the fortified gates and the company, led by Capt. Philip Kearny boldly charged down the causeway towards on of the gates. Harney decided to call off the advance and had his bugler sound “recall.” Unfortunately. Kearny’s squadron of two companies did not hear the bugle call and continued in pursuit of fleeing Mexican soldiers. Reaching the gate, the company dismounted and attempted to carry a battery guarding the gate and, would have done so, had Col. Harney reinforced Kearny’s squadron.

At Puebla, Capt. Kearny wrote to General Scott and requested that thirty men be added to his depleted squadron.

Puebla July 2^nd 1847

Dear Sir:

I have the honour to request that on the arrival of any detachment of recruits that my company be filled to the full number allowed by the Law.  My troop is at present 80 men strong, of whom 74 are present.

I have the honour to make this request on the grounds of my Company having been filled 111 men, that they had been recruited by extra exertions on my part, and that I was reduced to the number of 81 by order of the Adjutant General, & that now there being authority to fill the dragoon companies to the full limit of the Law, in justice the same number of men should be restored to my that were formerly taken from my command.

My troop is an isolated one from the regiment.  The full company makes a complete squadron and I am most probably one of the squadron (or first five) captains in my own Regiment, although ranked by all but one of the 2^nd Drag. Captains present, although older in service than Capt Hardee, Merrill, of Sibley, three of the 2^nd Drag. Captains serving with the army.

If these men are granted to me, not a moment shall be lost in rendering them as efficient as possible.  My present troop is well drilled.  I will not feel the effects of this number [of recruits] being thrown in with them.

I am, Sir, Very Truly Yr. Obdt. Servt.

P. Kearny Jr., Capt. 1^st Drgs, F Compy

[To:] Capt. H. L. Scott, A. A. Adjt. Genl.

P.S. I would respectfully [illegible] to my previous request for Trumpeters for my troop.  I have none at present.  Respectfully, P. Kearny, Capt. 1^st Drgs, Compy F

Kearny lost the use of his left arm due to his wounds and bitterly wrote to his friend, Lt. John Love, of his anger at Harney.

In the ensuing months, I shall be posting material on this charge. The first item is a summary of the company’s muster roll written just over two months after the battle. Note that the company was primarily composed of recent enlistees.

August 24, 1847

Sir: As I was not wounded until the last of the action of the 20th, I have the honor to report of the movements of my squadron (Ftroop of the 1st, and K of the 3d regiments, dragoons.) Twenty-five men under Lieutenant Ewell, myself attending, accompanied . . . . .

Muster Roll of Company F of the First Dragoons, Mexico City, October 31, 1847
Capt. Philip Kearny, Jr.    Sick
1st Lt. A. Buford                 Absent. Never Joined. Place and duty not known.
1st Lt. Richard Ewell         Commanding Company.
2d Lt. Oren Chapman       Joined from duty 2d Drags. 5 Sept.
1st Sgt. David Reed            9 Jan. 46, Ft. Leavenworth
Sgt. Henry Hence         23 Nov. 46,  “            “                          Sick
Sgt. Fleming Megan       8 Aug. ’46, Terre Haute    Sick, Pueblo, Mexico, since 8 Aug.
Corp. James Clark          7 Sept. 46, St Louis
Corp. John Perkins        8 Aug. 46, Shelbyville
Corp. Wm Anderson    28 Aug. 46, St Louis
Bugler Joe Hodgson     25 Sept. 47, Joined City of Mexico
Farrier George Thompson 12 Jan. 44, Ft. Scott,  $2.00 stoppage garrison ct martial
Daniel Alaways              21 Aug 46, Chilicotte
John Alaways                   “     “      “        “                Sick, Pueblo, Mexico, since 8 Aug.
Joseph Aleut                  21 July 46. St Louis
John Askins                     8 Aug. 46, Shelbyville     Detached service, since 31 Oct.
Allen Bullard                  13 Aug. 46, Terre Harte
Michael Brophy     20 Apr. 46, Rayado, Joined company prisoner exch. Sept. 3
Thomas Bryant             5 Aug 46, St Louis, Sick, Pueblo, Mexico since 8 Aug.
Morris Kane                  18 Sept. 46,  “    “
Hugh Call                       16 Oct. 46, near St Louis
Peter Christman          6 Dec. 43,  St Louis, Sick; stoppage for wool infy coat, $2.28
Alonzo Clark              16 May 47, Jalapa, Mexico, joined during march.
James Curley              18 July, 46, St Louis
Eleazor Dort                10 Aug. 46, Terre Haute
William Donovan       29 Aug., St Louis                           Daily duty
David Dunton           9 Dec. 46, Saltillo, Mex.                       Daily Duty
Samuel Flint             14 July, 46, Chilicotte
Philip Frankenberg  6 Aug. 46, Ft. Leavenworth            Sick, Puebla, Mex., since 8 Aug.
Charles Graman       10 Aug. 46, Terre Haute            Sick
David Giesler               21 July 46, Chillicothe
Andrew Gillespie     26    “     “         “
James Grace                 16 June 46, Ft. Leavenworth
Jacob Grant                  5 July 46, Jefferson Barracks       Sick Puebla, Mex. Since 25 May
Augustus Gruber       6 July 46, Fort Leavenworth           Sick, Puebla, Mex., since 8 Aug.
Thomas Hall                5 July 46, Jefferson Barracks       Sgt. until 29 October.
John Harper               28 July 46, Chillicote                        Stoppage pistol $7.50.
Patrick Hart               4 August 46, St Louis; Joined Tabacayo 5 Sept. prisoner exch.
Michael Henry         12 Sept. 46, Philadelphia; Joined from desertion 16 Feb 47.
Thomas Hewitt       27 Aug. 46, Terre Haute                    Sick, Puebla, Mex., since 8 Aug.
Henry Hoffman       14 Jan. 46, Dayton                  Sick
Martin Howard       11 Aug. 46, Terre Haute                   Sick, Puebla, Mex., since 8 Aug.
John Howell                6 Feb. 46, Ft. Leavenworth; Stoppage flannel shirt and pistol
William Jeffers         19 Oct. 46, New Orleans
John Kaler                   4 June 46, St. Louis
John Keckler             17 Aug. 46, Chillicote
Levi Kimball               1 June 46, Sackett’s Harbor       Detached Service since 31st Oct.
Antone Lange              14 Aug. 46, StLouis                     Daily duty.
William Martin          8 Aug. 46, Terre Haute
Persaruis Maypelle 25  July 46, St. Louis
John Moore               10 Aug, 46, Terre Haute
Wm McAllister          17 Aug. 46, Covington, Ind.  Stoppage for 1 blanket $2.22.
Wm McCrea               19 Aug. 46, Roseau, Ind.         Daily duty.
John McDonald        19 Aug. 46, Chillicote   Stoppage for pistol $7.50.
Anthony Pulver           7 Dec. 46, Corpus Christi; Detached service since 31 October.
Charles Prother         10 Aug. 46, Terre Haute
Christian Ranner      10 Aug. 46, Terre Haute
John Roberts               1 April 47. Vera Cruz    Sick at Puebla since 8 August.
Frederick Rodewald 16 Aug 46, St Louis                   Sick at Puebla since 8 August.
William See                15 Aug. 46, Terre Haute    Detached service since 31 Oct.
John Smith                 10 Aug. 46,   “          “
John W Smith             “     “       “      “         “                   Stoppage flannel shirt $1.30.
Robert Stewart            8    “       “      “        “
James H Stevens         1 Apr.  46, Vera Cruz.
Daniel Suter                 6 Aug. 46, Ft. Leavenworth; Daily duty.
Clinton Thompson     14 Aug. 46, Terre Haute              Sick at Puebla since 8 August.
Harvey Thompson      4 Aug. 46, Shelbyville; Daily duty.
James Thompson       8 Aug. 46,     “   ; Sick at Puebla since 8 August.
John Walkes                 24 Aug. 46, St. Louis; Sick
Joseph Westgenes       17 Aug. 46,  “       “     ; Sick, Puebla since 8 August.
Robert Whitener         27 Jan. 41, Ft. Crawford; Sick Perote, since 25 May.
Andrew Whitley          31 July 46, Geldon, Ind.
William Wilson           25 Sept. 46, Jefferson Bks.
Robert Wright              8 Aug. 46, Terre Haute.

GENERAL ORDERS          )                  WAR DEPARTMENT
No. 12.                       )                                 ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE,
)                                        Washington, August 9, 1855

1..  The proceedings of the General Court Martial which convened at Don Fernandez de Taos, New Mexico, May25, pursuant to “Special Orders,”  No. 43, of May 14, 1855, from the Head-Quarters of the Department of New Mexico, whereof Colonel T.T. FAUNTLEROY, 1st Dragoons, is President, and which adjudged certain enlisted men to suffer death, having, in conformity with the 65th Article of War, been transmitted to the War Department for the decision of the PRESIDENT, the following are the orders thereon:

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, August 8, 1855

A General Court Martial held at Taos, New Mexico, on the 21st May, has passed sentence of death on Privates Aaron D. Stevens,  John Cooper,  Joseph Fox, and John Steel, of Company “F” 1st Dragoons, who were engaged in a drunken riot in that town, when the Company entered it on their march to join a military expedition against the Indians, and who mutinied against a Major of the regiment, which, being present in the town,  he interposed his authority to bring them into order.  The case is a clear one under the 7th and 9th Articles of War upon the law and the facts; and the President would feel it his duty to order the execution of the sentence of death, if he was not compelled to find something to mitigate the crime of these men in the general condition of their Company, and in the misconduct of their officers.  It is proved that the commander of the Company,  and many of the Company,  then under arms, on a march, were drunk when the riot and mutiny broke out.  It would seem, too, that proper exertions were not made by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers of the Company, to suppress the mutiny, although, thereby, under the 8th Article of War they were each and all committed an equal crime, and incurred equally the penalty of death, with those who joined in the mutiny.  It appears that no proper discipline had been previously maintained in the Company, and that the major of the regiment, under whose command they had been serving, was greatly responsible for that utter want of discipline which would have cost him his life in this mutiny, if he had not been rescued by civil authority;  and that part of the violence he suffered, in the riot,  was invited by his challenging the company to fight him man by man.  Under the circumstances, however imperative the President may feel his duty to enforce the laws, which will not endure that our people will suffer for the evils of an undisciplined soldiery, committing riot and outrage in their towns, he will not visit the whole consequence of this mutiny upon the four soldiers who have been convicted, nor execute in this case the sentence of death.  The sentences pronounced against Privates Aaron D. Stevens, John Cooper, Joseph Fox, and John Steel, are hereby mitigated to hard labor for three years, under guard, without pay.  They will be sent out of New Mexico in irons, by the first convenient opportunity, and will be put to labor with ball and chain at Fort Leavenworth.  The non-commissioned officers of Company “F”, 1st Dragoons, will no longer be trusted to serve together as a company.  They will be distributed as privates to other companies of their regiment serving in New Mexico.

The Commander of the Department of New Mexico, on this order of the War Department, will prefer charges against the officers and non-commissioned officers of the Company who did not use their utmost endeavour to suppress the mutiny, and against such privates of the Company, if any there be, whose failure to their duty, in this particular, may deserve special notice, and against the Major of the Regiment for such parts of his conduct, in the riot, and in command of the Company at Fort Massachusetts, as seen to call for such proceedings against him.  And a Court Martial will be convened to try them.

The record indicates other grave charges against the officers implicated in this affair, besides those directly relating to the riot and mutiny.

JEFFERSON DAVIS,
Secretary of War.

II… The transfer of the enlisted men of company F, above directed, will be made by the Colonel of the 1st Dragoons, under the orders of the Department Commander.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:

W. G. FREEMAN,
Assistant Adjutant General