Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 11: Mexican War - Oregon Expedition, 1881

THE INTEREST TAKEN BY BUCHANAN COUNTY IN THE MEXICAN WAR - COMPANIES ORGANIZED - GENERAL JAMES W. DENVER - CAPTAIN JESSE B. MORAN - DONIPHAN'S EXPEDITION - OREGON BATTALION - OFFICERS-SERVICE AND RETURN.

Having reached a period in the history of Buchanan County, - 1846, the date of the breaking out of the Mexican war, we cannot refrain from making a brief reference to the part the county took in that eventful and memorable struggle.

The county being then almost upon the very borders of civilization, the news concerning events happening at a remote distance from it, was carried by stage routes, post-riders, and steamboats, and of course the people of the county did not hear of the war with Mexico until after the occurrence of two or three sanguinary battles, between that nation and the United States, and even after hearing of the declaration of war, upon the part of Mexico, they were not inclined to give it full credence, as will be seen by the following from the St. Joseph Gazette of May, 1 846 :

"We learn from a gentleman from Independence, that news was received in that place of a declaration of war, against the United States by Mexico. The news appears a little improbable, but from the conduct of Mexico lately, we would not be surprised if such were the case."

" In our paper, this week, will be found all the war news that we have received, which we publish to the exclusion of other matter, deeming that at this particular crisis, nothing so much interests our readers as the situation of our army on the Rio Grande, and the feeling with which the announcement of actual hostilities has been received in various parts of the Union. We are now looking with painful anxiety for later intelligence from the seat of war ; we say painful, for notwithstanding the greai confidence we have in the bravery and patriotism of our army, both officer and soldier, the fact cannot be disguised by the most earnest desire for the contrary, that Point Isabel, and General Taylor's camp were, at latest advices, in a precarious situation. We do hope, however, that long ere this time, the battle has been fought and won hy our army - it must, it cannot but be so.

"That Mexicans can come into our country, upon our soil, and either hold in duress, or vanquish our army, we cannot, we will not believe. We hope our next intelligence will be that General Taylor has driven back the invading foe, and that ere long we shall hear of our army on the other side of the Rio Grande, bearing itself as is becoming in the present emergency. Doubtless a military expedition will soon be ordered against New Mexico and California, and our Government will not fail to take possession of these countries immediately.

"The request has been made, and the order will soon be issued, for the formation of volunteer companies in Missouri for the service. We think that Buchanan is entitled to two or three companies, and we hope to see our citizens move in this matter. The companies will be one hundred strong and select their own officers.''

During the month of May, Governor Edwards of Missouri called for volunteers to join the "Army of the West," in an expedition to Santa Fe, under command of General Stephen W. Kearney.

Soon the war-spirit had infused itself into every nook and corner of the Union, and the people of Buchanan County became so thoroughly embued with this spirit, that a company was at once organized for service.

On the 29th of May, 1846, there was a battalion muster in St. Joseph. After the exercises were over, the commanding officer. Brig. General Jesse B. Thompson, made a call for volunteers for the contemplated Santa Fe expedition under General Kearney. Between fifty and sixty brave men stepped forward and 'enrolled themselves, to fight the battles of their country. These men immediately elected officers, and dispatched a messenger to the Governor, requesting to be received for this expedition.

We regret, owing to the meagre information we have that we are unable to furnish the names of the officers and the names of the men forming this company.

During the month of June following. General James W. Denver came to St. Joseph, (having notified the people, through the Gazette, of the time when he would arrive,) for the purpose also of raising a company for the Santa" Fe expedition.

This he did on the day of his. coming, and soon afterward, took up the line of march from Fort Leavenworth, the place of rendezvous, for Mexico by the way of New Orleans. His regiment was taken from the counties composing the "Platte Purchase." The first company organized in the county, repaired also to Fort Leavenworth, and was placed under the command of Capt. Jesse B. Moran, whose company accompanied that gallant officer, Gen. A. W. Doniphan, to New Mexico, participating in all the engagements of the campaign, beginning with the fight at Brazito and closing with the battle at the pass of Sacramento. At the battle of Sacramento, Colonel Doniphan, with his volunteers numbering 924 men and six pieces of artillery, met and fought 4,000 Mexicans under General Heredia, who was posted with ten pieces of artillery. The Mexicans were defeated with a loss of 300 killed and 40 prisoners, and all their artillery and baggage taken. The American loss was one killed and eight wounded.

" The Greeks were lead from near Babylon, through Armina to the Black Sea, thence to Crysopolis, three thousand four hundred and sixtyfive English miles. It was accomplished in fifteen months, and a large part of it through a mountainous and an unknown hostile country, the Greeks losing everything except their lives and arms.

Doniphan and the Missourians traveled over six thousand miles in twelve months, neither receiving supplies nor money, but living exclusively on the country through which they passed, and supplying themselves with powder and balls, by capturing them from the enemy, and victorious in all the engagements against greatly superior forces, numerically. These are the two most remarkable expeditions that have ever occurred."

In the spring of 1847, a requisition was made upon Governor Edwards by the Secretary of War for a second battalion to be raised in Missouri, the troops to operate against the Indians on the frontier in affording safety and protection to traders and emigrants on the routes to Santa Fe and Oregon. . The requisition was as follows :

"I am instructed by the President to request that you will cause to be organized in the State of Missouri, with the least practical delay, for service on the Indian frontier, and the routes to Santa Fe and Oregon, one battalion of volunteers, to consist of one company of artillery, two companies of mounted men, and two companies of infantry, in all five companies ; to have the same organization, according to arms, as the companies heretofore requested. The field and staff of the battalion will consist of -

I Lieutenant Colonel ; i Adjutant, a subaltern in addition to the subalterns of the companies ; i Sergeant Major ; i Quartermaster Sergeant ; i Principal Musician.

The battalion will be mustered into service at Fort Leavenworth, and will be required to serve during the war with Mexico, unless sooner discharged. ' Very respectfully your ob't serv't,

"The Buchanan County company paraded on Monday last, and went into an election of officers which resulted in the choice of Robert M. Stuart, Captain ; Henry Smith, First Lieutenant ; Howell Thomas, Second Lieutenant ; and John Searcy, Third Lieutenant. The company is composed of a fine looking set of men and officers, and we learn will be mustered into service in a few days. They will go upon the Oregoni expedition. Success to the Buchanan County boys."

This company, soon after the requisition made by Governor Edwards,, was mustered into service at Fort Leavenworth, and immediately departed for the west. Captain Stuart, while at the Fort, received an, attack of paralysis, which incapacitated him from any further active duty. The companies forming the battalion were principally made up from the counties composing the " Platte Purchase."

When leaving Fort Leavenworth, it was intended to follow along in the Santa Fe route westward, but the battalion was ordered to pursue the Sioux Indians, who had just attacked the Ottoes and carried off captive many of their women and children. They prosecuted their fruitless pursuit, four hundred miles above the site of the present city of Omaha, and returned to where Nebraska City now stands ; built their log huts, and went into winter quarters. Upon their return from the mountains, and the Dakotah Territory, previously to going into winter quarters, they lost a number of their horses, in consequence of the scarcity of provender, and the extreme cold weather, and snow storms which prevailed in that latitude. One of the command was waylaid and killed by an Indian near Omaha. After faithfully performing the mission upon which they were sent, doing service over a vast region of country between the Missouri- River and the Rocky Mountains, and after erecting Fort Raney, the battalion returned home, and the men were mustered out late in the fall of 1848.