Army Drunk: “Long May You Live To Ride a Horse.”

March 10, 2010

Lt. Berry, 4th Infy, USMA 1841 to Lt. Love. It appears possible that while writing these letters Berry may have been drunk, stringing together his words, which have been separated here for ease of reading: Jefferson Barracks Mo Jan 18th 1843 My Dear John What with parties and every other thing of that kind I have [...]

Read the full article →

Carleton at Bitter Spring

February 28, 2010

Originally from Wild West (with John Gorenfeld) 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. [...]

Read the full article →

Lt. Oliver Taylor’s Proposed Transfer to the Infantry

February 1, 2010

The following was an informal note accompanying an official letter sent by Dragoon Lt. Oliver H. Taylor to Dickerson, who was serving as A.A.A.Genl to Bvt. Lt. Col. Washington, Commander of the 9th Military Department in Santa Fe.  Taylor and Dickerson had been one class apart at West Point, and Taylor often included such notes as [...]

Read the full article →

Bill Collecting and Other Gossip 1848

December 24, 2009

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 [...]

Read the full article →

The 1848 March of Company H

November 15, 2009

Santa Fe Republican, September 12, 1848, reported: -Co. (H,) 1st Dragoons, commanded by Lt. Buford, from Fort Gibson, reached this place on Saturday, the 9th 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 [...]

Read the full article →

Kearny’s March to California

October 22, 2009

StL Weekly Republican August 10, 1846 LETTER FROM CAPTAIN MOORE July 10, 1846 Pawnee Fork We have received from a friend in Jefferson City, for which he has our thanks, a private letter received from Capt. Moore, commander of the advance guard of U. S. Dragoons now en route for Santa Fe, from which we [...]

Read the full article →

Inspection Report and Muster Roll, Ft. Tejon 28 February 1859

September 24, 2009

Joseph Mansfield’s Inspection Report of Fort Tejon Los Angeles, California 5 March 1859 Bvt. Major Irwin W. McDowell, Asst. Adjt. Genl. – Head Quarters Army Sir: On the 18th February ulto., I left San Francisco, in the Overland mail coach, for Fort Tejon,  and reached there at daybreak of the 21st ulto. , and have [...]

Read the full article →

Co. F, 1st Dragoons at Churubusco

July 29, 2009

Company F, 1st Dragoons served as General Winfield Scott’s body guard during 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 [...]

Read the full article →

Taos Mutinty: General orders, No. 12, War Department, August 9, 1856

May 23, 2009

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 —œSpecial Orders,—  No. 43, of May 14, 1855, from the Head-Quarters of the Department of New Mexico, whereof Colonel [...]

Read the full article →

The 1854 March of Dragoon Recruits

May 11, 2009

                     The 1854 Overland March of Dragoon Recruits On June 1, 1854, a column under the command of Lt. Colonel E. J. Steptoe, consisting of 77 supply wagons, 2 companies of 3d Artillery and 90 much needed recruits for the 1st Dragoons out in California, left Ft. Leavenworth by way of the Overland Trail.  Major [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →