From the category archives:

Mexican War

George Henneberg: Immigrant Bugler and Deserter

October 16, 2011

Kearny to Adj. Gen. Jones, January 27, 1839, Letter Book 410 Sir By the last mail received your instruction of the 8th Inst. to send George Henneburg one of the Principal Musicians of the 2d Dragoons, to Jefferson Barracks that he may be sent over there to join his Regiment in Florida, & for the [...]

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Old Four O’Clock: Sumner Takes Command of the Mounted Rifles

October 18, 2010

Armstrong to Love: Letter from Brazos Santiago, 1847. (A special guest contribution) This  breezy  communication was written by  2nd Lt. Bezaleel Armstrong, USMA 1845. He had recently returned from the occupation of New Mexico with a small party of 1st Dragoons, arriving at Fort Leavenworth on November 20, 1846.  Armstrong was one of several young [...]

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Where the Regiment Was Scattered During the Mexican War

July 25, 2010

A lack of Mexican War records has vexed historians as they’ve tried to pin down where the ten companies of the 1st Dragoons operated between 1845 and 1848. It wasn’t until 1851, three years after the treaty with Mexico, that the army comprehensively recorded where the units were during the war. Except for five companies [...]

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Santa Fe Captured

March 30, 2010

The steamer Little Missouri arrived last night from the Missouri.  An express had arrived at Fort Leavenworth, bringing the gratifying news of the entrance of General Kearney into Santa Fe, without the firing of a gun, or any opposition from the Mexicans whatever. It appears from our correspondent’s letter, that after leaving Fort Bent, most [...]

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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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Banner Article on Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales

June 8, 2008

Philip Ferguson, a newspaper reporter in civilian life, wrote in his journal that “a day or two after the battle [of Santa Cruz de Rosales] I found an old press and types, and issued one number of a paper called the Santa Cruz Banner, containing Colonel Rall’s [sic] and Colonel Lane’s reports and an [unofficial] [...]

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Captured Mexican Items at Santa Cruz de Rosales

December 10, 2007

Following the capture of the town of Santa Cruz de Rosales in 1848, the Army inventoried the captured Mexican ordnance. Below is a copy of this report. City of Chihuahua March 26, 1848 The Board met pursuant to the foregoing orders, and soon after the reception of the captured property, as was practicable, and up [...]

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A Letter from Ft. Leavenworth 1846

August 2, 2005

In 1846, Company B of the 1st United States Dragoons participated in the bloodless conquest of Santa Fe. The Brig. General Stephen W. Kearny broke up Company B and transferred its enlisted men and mounts to the other companies in his command. Lt. John Love was placed in field command of Company B and was [...]

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LOVE’S DEFEAT (Coon Creeks 1847)

June 2, 2005

LOVE’S DEFEAT: The Battle of the Coon Creeks By Will Gorenfeld and George Stammerjohan ed December 8, 2003 First Lieutenant John Love, commanding Company B, 1st United States Dragoons, felt he was in a rut that winter of 1846-47. The year before, as a 2d Lieutenant, he was on recruiting duty in Dayton, Ohio. Hearing [...]

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Saltillo, Mexico 20 May 1848: Lt. Couts to Lt. Love

March 7, 2005

Dear Love, I have come this far with the Capts. Whiltsey and Adams–the orphans of Chihuahua. Through they leave for that forsaken community, I do not give them up until sufficient time shall have elapsed for them to pass Parral; for our Genl. is famous for countermanding orders. The old man Grier, however, will give [...]

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