The Man Who Won The West Mexican War 1846 – 1848

The Man Who Won The West Mexican War By Page #

LETTER NUMBER 19

by LIEUT. JOHN. A. BOARMAN on SEPTEMBER 17, 1846

Cimmeron Creek upper Spring, 250 miles from Santa Fee  September 17, 1846

   Dear Father    You see by the date of my letter we are still jogging on, we keep remarkable healthy so far some few men have the fever & Ague which is all the sickness we have.  When we got to what is called Walnut Creek we saw great herds of Buffello the first day the men killed 40 or 50 of them.  We have been eating the meat since we left Walnut Creek till our arrival at this place.  We see no more sign of Buffallo here.  The area is a great sight to see running in single file across the prairies numbering some 4 or 5 thousand in one herd.  The way the men manage to shoot them.  Two or three of the men go around the herd chase towards the companies when all men scatter out and shoot them as they pass in single file.

Figure No. 18   October 19, 1846   Independence, Missouri

To Mr. Ignatius Boarman, Lieut. St. Genevieve, Missouri  with 10 cent rate

Some who have pistols side close up to them and shot them just behind the fore leg which is the only place the ball will enter.  They are the ugliest beast you ever saw they have a very large head with very long shaggy hair about their neck and shoulders.  No hair being on their hind parts at this season of the years, they are very clumsy running a good deal like a fat beef and about as fast.

The meat of the cows and calves is excellent, but that of the bulls is rather tough but their tongues are excellent.  Thomas shot at one the other day he was about to remount the Pony when she became frightened and threw him on his back after which she ran three miles with the saddle under her belly before he recovered her, she injured herself very much about the legs. Tom received no injury he got some of them to lead her several days before she was fit to ride he in the mean time, he road in the Provision wagons.  In seven or eight days ago an express arrived in our Camp from Gen. Kearny to Col. Price requesting him to hurry on by the nearest route which is called the Cimmeron Road, at the time the express came we had six days rations.

Expecting that would last us to Bents Fort where we expect to receive a fresh supply of Provisions, but as soon as the Colonel received the order from Gen. Kearny (which was about 25 miles where we had to turn out to the road to Bents Fort onto the Cimmeron road.  Here he told the Captains of the different companies to take vote of their men, and those Companies that were stopping for some provision wagons which were some 6 or 7 days march behind and receiving a fresh supply from them.  Might stop and get them, and those that voted to keep on marching to Santa Fee (some 250 miles) with only six days Provision might start in the morning. The vote was taken accordingly half of the Companies voted to go and the balance to stop for the wagons, among the latter was ours.  The next morning the Colonel ordered the whole of us to proceed with only six days provisions over a distance of 250 miles.  The men were put on 1/3 rations, not with standing they were allowed to say if they were willing to proceed or not with so few provisions.  The men were very angry but obeyed orders.

After a few days march, the Colonel upon reflection found we would not have sufficient quantity of Provision to last us through.  Sent an express of 5 men to Gen. Kearny to forward provisions to us.  I understand from traders who passed us today that our express will arrive in Santa Fee by tomorrow, when we will expect some provisions in 6 or 7 days the men.  The men I met today told me Genl. Kearny took Santa Fee without opposition some six or seven thousand Mexican and Indians came out a few miles to meet and give him a fight, but at the sight of our men they fled.  We have not seen a Mexican since.  When Kearny arrived in Santa Fee he planted the stars and stripes in the center of the Public Square. And the Population gave our flag three cheers.

The Governor evacuated the place, and Genl. Kearny took up the quarters of the Governor Palace.  They have commenced a Fort at Santa Fee to me named (Fort Marcy) 80 men are employed on it and  Mexicans are employed making bricks.  Genl. Kearny has gone some 300 miles south to take possession of some towns, but will return to Santa Fee by the time we reach there.  It is expected we will winter there this winter, and proceed on to California in the spring.  The traders we met today were in the employ of Weatherford Co. of Baltimore returning with the proceeds of several wagon loads of good taken out in the spring.  They represent the Mexicans as very clever people that the goods can be bought there nearly as low as in the states. When I arrive there I will give you a full description of the place and people.

When we left Fort Leavenworth we expected to go by Bents Fort where we would have been paid two months wages, but as we received order to proceed by another route will not be able to forward you and money until after my arrival at Santa Fee.

Jos Hartiek keeps in excellent health, he is Commissary to our company he wishes to be remembered to his family and friends.  Thomas (John’s Brother) keeps very well with the exception of a swelling on his great toe which is very painful to him he sends his love to you Fanny, Betty, Charley, Ignatius and all inquiring friends. Capt. Howie wishes to be remembered to his family and friends he enjoys good health he is one of the finest looking officers in the Regiment likes him very much and say with such a leader they would walk right through the Mexicans line, but it is my opinion we will have no fighting to do, unless ordered down to Gen. Taylor of which there is some rumor.

I forgot entirely to give you a description of the route since I last wrote to you from Council Grove, we have seen but little timber since we left there, and since we left Arkansas river (a distance of 140 miles) we have not seen a single tree or bush 4 feet high.  I expect you wonder how we managed to cook without wood. I will tell you, we hunt over prairie for dried Buffallo manure, which burns like coal.  I just learned Colonel Price is a very sick with the fever a few days march behind us we will stop in a few days until he overtakes us., my letter is at an end give love to all.

J. A. Boarman

P. S. (End of the letter on back flap) You must over look the bad writing & mistakes as I am writing on the ground. I forgot to tell you about our saddles and bridles we sent to St. Genevieve from St. Louis by the Steamer Omega to be left at the Landing.

Mounted Volunteers on the March

LETTER NUMBER 20

by PRIVATE KING on OCTOBER 6, 1846

Santa Fe Oct. 6, 1846

Dear Sister

You will see by the date of this that I am at Santa Fe in the center of New Mexico and one of the Lords of the soil here.  We have disarmed the Mexican in every direction have fortified our resolve and hold the country securely enough.  The country here is mountainous and in interspersed with valleys which are very productive particular by the valley the Rio Grande.  The climate here is delightful and said to be the most healthy in the world.  I am enjoying better health than I have in dozen years before.  I have hunted the buffaloe on the Plains and the deer and bear and the antelope in the mountains area.

Figure No. 20   November 4, 1846   Fort Leavenworth, Missouri

To Mrs. Sarah G. King  Care of David King, M. D.   Newport Rhode Island

We have after the last two months as dweller in tents and subject to the form and rigid rules of military duty. (Hendon arrived at Fort Leavenworth August 1846)

I have rode on forced marches by day and stood for hours at night at the lonely post of the sentinel subject to the tomahawk or arrow of the Indian or the midnight attack of the Mexican and yet my dear Sister I have lived more happy and independent life than I have done for years before.  I am learning the Spanish language very fast, but the Mexicans are much a miss easily degraded and ignorant race that I have little respect for them in any things that belongs to them.  They can have balls and dances, and indulge in excitement and pleasure while a foreign army is holding this country with a strong hand.

Many of the women are beautiful but they are so destitute of every thing which renders a woman worthy of our esteem.  I despair for them all.  The only thing I regret on this trip is that I am not an officer but console myself with the reflect that the member of Congress from my district is like me in the ranks.

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