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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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Co. F, 1st Dragoons at Churubusco

July 29, 2009

Company F, 1st Dragoons was commanded by Captain Phil Thompson, but recruited, trained and led in the field by Lieutenant Phil Kearny. Shortly before the war with Mexico, Phil Kearny wrote to his friend John Love from New York. June 7, 1846, to Lt. John Love of the 1st U.S. Dragoons. “I hope to heaven [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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Muster Roll Company F, 30 April 1855

May 10, 2009

1st Sgt. Thomas Fitzsimmons NY 20 Jan. 1851; Reduced to the ranks and transferred to Co. K Sgt. Hugh Cameron NY 4 Mar. 1851 DS Burgwin Sgt. James Arthur Ft. Mass. 20 Aug. 1853 Re-enlisted; reduced to the ranks; sent to G Compy. Sgt. Charles Hamish Ft. Mass. 21 Aug. 1853 Re-enlisted Corp. Robert Walsh [...]

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Taos Mutiny 1855

May 1, 2009

THE TAOS MUTINY: THE ANATOMY OF A RIOT May 24, 2009 On the 16th day of March in the year 1860, Aaron Stevens, a principled young man and abolitionist, finds himself awaiting execution on the gallows in Charleston, Virginia. A jury has declared guilty him of complicity in John Brown—™s abortive raid on Harpers Ferry. [...]

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