The Man Who Won The West Mexican War 1846 – 1848
The Man Who Won The West Mexican War By Page #
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A detailed hand drawn map of the encampment of the 1st Regiment of Illinois Volunteers Private Thomas arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Missouri on June 28, 1847 |
Encampment of the 1ST Regiment of Illinois Volunteers ~ Company “R”
LETTER NUMBER 35
by JAMES H. GLEASON on AUGUST 18, 1847
Monterey, California August 18, 1847
dear Sir
Enclosed you will please find the Second of a Set of Exchange drawn by me on Joseph Eustis, Boston at sixty (60) days sight and make payable to you for the amount of One hundred and Forty Eight– 23/100 dollars (148 – 23/100)
The above is a gift from Henry Paty to John Henry Paty son of Capt. John Paty and the latter while he was last at this port requested me to remit the am’t to you and ask of you the favor to have it placed in Some Safe Institution where it will remain on interest until it may be removed by his own order or his son John Henry Paty or his heirs. The receipt for the deposit of the same please place in the Possession of Mrs. Asenath Paty or Mrs. Carolina A. Cooper – Plymouth
The most important part of the letter are the lines below
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The “First” of the above Bill I remitted to you on June 8/ 47 by Comdr Stockton across land. |
Figure No. 35 To Allen Danforth, Esq. Plymouth, Massachusetts
Postmarked 14 Feb 1848 New York with Red datestamp and 5 cent rate
The second recorded letter carried overland by Commodore Stockton
Commodore Robert Field Stockton
Born August 20, 1795 at Princeton, New Jersey
Died October 7, 1866, Princeton, New Jersey
U.S. naval officer and public leader who helped conquer California in the Mexican-American War in 1846-1848. Late in 1845 he was chosen to command the Congress on its voyage from Norfolk, Virginia, to the Pacific coast, where he took charge of the Pacific Fleet.
War erupted with Mexico while he was traveling to California, there he immediately took command of U.S. land and sea forces and proceeded to capture Los Angeles, which was in the hands of the Mexican army on August 13, 1846.
Four days later he set up a civil government and formally annexed California to the United States, first naming himself, and later the soldier-explorer John C. Fremont governor. In September, however, the two men again had to fight to subdue rebellious native Mexicans; this time they were assisted by General Kearny’s army. The entire province was then ceded to the United States.
Commodore Stockton the commander of the Pacific Fleet began his overland journey east on June 28, 1847 from San Francisco traveling down the Sacramento Valley via Sonoma. There near Sutter’s Fort his group of 49 men prepared their supplies for the trip east. He traveled the same route that General Kearny took in May. The distance traveled was more the 2,300 miles by the time Stockton arrived at St. Joseph, Missouri on October 28, 1847. There he boarded a Missouri River steamboat for St. Louis, and then traveled on to New York. Arriving at New York he delivered the letter to the Post Office on February 14, 1848.
| May 31, 1847 | General Kearny departs Monterey with an escort accompanied by Captain Fremont and his party. Their route of march took them to San Juan Bautista and then to San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys arriving at Sutter’s Fort. | |
| June 13, 1847 | General Kearny, and his military contingent camped nearby Sutter’s Fort, accompanied by Captain Fremont who arrived a short time later camping near Sutter’s Fort. The two groups make preparations for their eastward overland journey. | |
| June 16,1847 | General Kearny with an escort of 40 men, along with Fremont’s party, departs for the east, traveling by way of Johnson’s ranch. | |
| June 18, 1847 | Arriving at Johnson’s Ranch the Kearny – Fremont company leave Johnson’s ranch, taking the emigrant route east through the mountains. | |
| June 22, 1847 | General Kearny’s men discover and buried the remains of members of the ill fated Donner Party, who perished in the high mountains the preceding winter. | |
| June 28, 1847 | Commodore Stockton departs San Francisco, with a party of 49 men proceeding down the Sacramento Valley, by way of Sonoma, and prepares for his overland journey. | |
| Aug. 22, 1847 | General Kearny and his company arrive at Fort Leavenworth. That same day Captain Fremont was formally arrested and ordered to report immediately to the Adjutant-General Jones in Washington, D. C. | |
| Oct. 26, 1847 | Commodore Robert F. Stockton party arrives at St. Joseph, Missouri. Then departs east by steamboat to St. Louis and on to New York City. | |
| Dec. 1, 1848 | Commodore Robert F. Stockton arrives at Washington, D. C. |
LETTER NUMBER 36
by PRIVATE HULING MAJOR on AUGUST 27, 1847
Cold Springs Texas Territory August 27, 1847
Dear Friends
I again take up my pen on account of an opportunity offering itself an hour or two ago which is believe I shall not have until the return of our own train to write to you both though briefly as I indeed have but little time yet brief as it may be it will nevertheless I hope serve to convince you that through the wild and lonesome prairie of hundreds of miles in extent separate us both of you are still fresh in my recollection as my most esteemed friends.
Figure No. 36 St. Louis ~ STEAM 10 “From the Army”
To J. F. Snyder or G. W. Wilson Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois
Letter carried by Missouri River steamboat from Fort Leavenworth to St. Louis
The post office applied the Red STEAM TEN entering the mails to the East
The opportunity I am embracing myself of is that of Four Companies of Missouri Volunteer Cavalry being the last of Col. Price’s Regiment. The Colonel himself accompanying it looking jovial and hearty in fact his whole appearance calculated well to influence strangers in his favor and bearing indications of a noble and generous spirit. He is one that would be kind considerate and indulgent to his men or those at all places under his command.
John, your brother William (Adjutant to Col. Price) has caught up with us since I commenced this letter so that you see it is a tough race and a hard pull between us who are all alone in our glory in charge of trains exclusively and those under the immediate command of the Colonel.
The Man Who Won The West Mexican War By Page #