Dragoon Buglers

August 24, 2008

Dragoon Buglers–a work in progress By George Stammerjohan and Will Gorenfeld See also infra: Langford Peel, Paddy Graydon and Aaron Stevens. 1. Michael I. Considine He was born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1834 and emigrated to the United States in 1854. The former clerk, by training, could not find work in New York City and [...]

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Overawing the Indians: Major Steen’s Futile Pursuit of the Apaches in 1850

June 26, 2008

The editor of Santa Fe Gazette of 5 March 1853, pondered, “How can a Dragoon who, with his arms and accoutrements weighing 250 pounds, mounted on a half starved browken down horse be expected to catch an Indian mounted upon his fleet little pony, sooner than an Infantryman loaded down with his musket, knapsack, his [...]

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A Death in the Family: The Letters of Maj. Lloyd Beall to Bvt. Maj. Benjamin Beall 1846

June 20, 2008

The following article has been taken from “Military Collector & Historian: Journal of the Company of Military Historians”, Summer 2008, Vol. 60, No. 2.

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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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RECRUITMENT ADVERTISEMENT

June 1, 2008

The Army maintained recruiting stations through out the Midwest, South and East. The New York Sun for March 13, 1855, featured the following advertisement seeking troops for mounted and infantry regiments:

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Antebellum Infantry in California

April 5, 2008

Will Gorenfeld and George Stammerjohancopyright April 5, 2008 Artill’ry at a distance play,And troopers often clear the way—”A skirmish sharp, a pistol shotThe quick retreat in rapid trot;The foe advances, light and free;Who meets them now? The Infantry!Though other corps are dear to meYet most I prize the Infantry.The Infantry by Captain Barnard Bee (United [...]

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The Banshee’s Lonely Croon: Irish Dragoons

April 3, 2008

Irish troopers, who formed the backbone of the 1st Dragoons, were generally recent arrivals from Erin’s green shores. In the old country, these men, mostly of peasant stock, had been steeped in the lore of the realm of the supernatural. There was the “Evil Eye”, a silent, fixed stare that was believed to be fatal [...]

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DESERTION FROM COMPANY G, Ft. BUCHANAN, 1859

January 6, 2008

The frontier army was repeatedly confronted with desertions. Often the deserters were recaptured and punished. Here is an account of the dismal fate of two men who deserted from Company G. New York Times November 16, 1859, reported: From the Arizonian, Oct. 27 On the 14th inst. Corporal GORMAN, and Private CAULFIELD, of G—™s Company, [...]

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Tom Castor: A Newly Minted 2d Lieutenant

December 10, 2007

PRO BONO PUBLICO:1st Lieut. Thomas Castor Benny Havens ran a tavern that was located about a mile and one-half from the cadet barracks at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. The saloon quickly became a favorite haunt for generations of cadets. Cadet Edgar Allan Poe wrote that Benny was —œthe sole [...]

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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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