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How William Grier became Colonel Grier

May 16, 2006

Willaim Grier: Grant Makes Him a ColonelBy Thomas P. Farner, 2003This is the final part in a series printed in the SandPaper on the life of General William N. Grier before he arrived in Manahawkin, New Jersey, as President of the Stafford Land Company in the early 1870′s. Grier and his 1st U. S. Cavalry [...]

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Capt. John Davidson and Company B to the Rescue

May 10, 2006

In August of 1855 it was reported that Capt. John Pope’s comand (Company I, 7th Infantry) out on the Staked Plains near the Texas/New Mexico border, had been attacked by Comanche Indians and had lost 7 men. John Davidson’s B Company, stationed at Fort Stanton, was dispatched to rescue Pope. A patrol, under Sgt. James [...]

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Slavery in the Dragoons: Captain John Burgwin and Captain Robert H. Chilton

March 14, 2006

It was not unusual for some officers serving in the Antebellum Army to own slaves. Indeed, the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision of 1857 arose when a deceased officer’s slave sought to obtain his freedom. These letters were written by Captain Henry Smith Turner, USMA 1834, of the 1st Dragoons who accompanied Brig. Gen. Stephen [...]

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Capt. William Grier’s Pursuit of the Jicarillas 1855

February 27, 2006

This report furnished courtesy of Gary Cozzens, Ft Stanton, Inc. Fort Stanton, N. M.June 21st 1855 Sir, For the information of the Commanding Officer, I have the honor to make the following report of detached service performed by my Company (—œI— 1st Dragoons) in connection with Captain Pino—™s Company of Mounted Mexican Volunteers of Blas [...]

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Captain Richard Ewell’s Report of Death of Captain Stanton

February 26, 2006

On January 18, 1855, Captain Henry W. Stanton was ambushed and killed by Apache warriors. Details of the life of Captain Stanton are found elsewhere in this blog. Here is the official report filed by Captain Richard Ewell, 1st Dragoons, of Stanton’s death and the engagement. Ewell’s report was graciously provided to this site by [...]

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Dragoons at Fort Tejon

October 11, 2005

THE DRAGOONS OF FORT TEJON c 2001 by George Stammerjohan and Will GorenfeldElements of the First Dragoons arrived in California in December of 1846. They were promptly mauled at the Battle of San Pasqual. This ragged affair, pitting weary Dragoons riding on jaded horses and restive mules against lance-wielding and well-mounted Californio vaqueros, was something [...]

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First Encounter

July 20, 2005

The first shots fired in battle by the 1st Dragoons took place on 12 November 1846 when a patrol from Company I. led by Captain William Grier, came into contact with Navajo tribesmen who had stolen some stock. Grier and Lt. Wilson were well-mounted and the enlisted men were riding mules. Consequently, they foolishly rode [...]

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Reports of Santa Cruz de Rosales

June 22, 2005

Headquarters, Army of the West,Chihuahua, March 31, 1848. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit a report of my operations from the period of adopting the intentions expressed in my communication to the war department, dated 6th February, 1848, to the present instant. After making such arrangements both military and civil, as I deemed essential [...]

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Major Beall to John Love; 6 March 1854

May 10, 2005

Dear Love You will much oblige me by attending to the this matter [sale of brood mares] for Dr. Mills. You may probably know Dr. Mills and may have served with him. He is at present at this Post as Surgeon. Now my dear fellow give this matter your particular attention as the Doc is [...]

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Dragoon Recruitment Advertisement 1847

March 21, 2005

On the front page of the Indianapolis Indiana Journal for February 8, 1847, there appeared the following notice: UNITED STATES ARMY Recruiting Service: Wanted for the United States Army, able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 35 years, being above 5 feet 3 inches, of good character, and of respectable standing among their fellow [...]

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