Stephen w. kearny biography

Nevertheless, the so-called Kearny Code remained the basis of New Mexican law when the territory was incorporated into the United States. Kearny remained at Santa Fe long enough to build Fort Marcy, further strengthening the American position. Then, having appointed Charles Bent as governor and Frank Blair as district attorney for the territory, he continued on to California to complete his mission.

Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan and most of the volunteers were left behind to hold Santa Fe and Taos, with orders to join the American armies south of the Rio Grande when relieved by Colonel Sterling Price and a fresh contingent of Missourians. George Cooke and the Mormon Battalion followed, cutting a wagon road through the rugged desert country: Kearny intended to create the necessary support system to secure his conquest.

Now assured that his route lay open, and already encountering difficulty in finding sufficient food and water for men and animals, Kearny again split his command, sending all back to Santa Fe except for a guard of men and two mountain howitzers. Counting on the element of surprise to provide a quick victory and a much-needed boost of morale for his men, Kearny attacked.

In the Battle of San Pasqual on December 6—7,the Americans held the field, but more than one-third of the command was killed or wounded, and Kearny himself was seriously wounded by enemy lances. The two officers led a joint expedition in January and dispersed the Californians at the Battle of the Mesa on the San Gabriel River on January 9.

When they disagreed on further action, however, Kearny demanded Stockton recognize his authority; Stockton refused. For the next three months he acted as military governor of California, consolidating the American position and establishing a temporary government. He returned to the United States in the summer of Although the president, James K.

He and his powerful father-in-law launched a relentless vendetta to discredit Kearny. Meanwhile, Kearny was sent to Mexico to assist in concluding military operations. He arrived in April as military governor of the key port city of Veracruz. Almost immediately he became sick with malaria, and never fully regained his health. He managed to serve competently as military governor of Mexico City in May and June, supervising the final evacuation of US troops.

Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia. More From encyclopedia. About this article Kearny, Stephen W. Kearny, Lawrence.

Stephen w. kearny biography

Kearny's Mission to China. Kearny's March to California. Kearns-MacWhinney, Linda — Kearns, Josie Kearney, Susan ? Kearney, Richard Richard Marius Kearney. Kearney, Paul —. Kearney, Miriam —. Kearney, Milo Kearney, Meg —. However, President Polk commuted his sentence, and he was reinstated. While in Veracruz, he contracted yellow fever, forcing his return home to St.

Louis, Missouri. Stephen Watts Kearny died there on October 31, Mexican-American War. Soldiers and Officers in American History. Another fun video from our friends at Arizona Ghostriders. Kearny had entered the city after routing the militia of New Mexico under the command of Governor Armijo and entered a city then undefended but very hostile. He marched to the plaza in front of the Palacio Real, and took down the flag of the state of New Mexico, which he thought was the flag of Mexico.

In its place he hoisted the Stars and Stripes and gave the speech which is summarized on the monument. New Mexico was then a state with a democratically constituted government, which Kearny overthrew, installing in its place under the Kearny Code a military dictatorship. New Mexico's statehood and self-government were not restored until Kearny, per orders from President Polkset out to " conquer and take possession of California " [ 18 ] on September 25,with a force of men.

En route he encountered Kit Carsona scout of John C. Kearny learned that California was, at the time of Carson's last information, under American control of the marines and bluejacket sailors of Commodore Robert F. Stockton of the U. Kearny asked Carson to guide him back to California while he sent Carson's messages east with a different courier.

Kearny sent dragoons back to Santa Fe believing that California was secure. After traveling almost 2, miles 3, km his weary dragoons and most of his nearly worn-out mounts were replaced by untrained mules purchased from a mule herder's herd being driven to Santa Fe from California. Gillespie and about 30 men stephen w. kearny biography news of an ongoing Californio revolt in Los Angeles.

With most of his men mounted on weary untrained mules, his command executed an uncoordinated attack of Pico's force. They found most of their powder wet and pistols and carbines would not fire. They soon found their mules and cavalry sabers were poor defense against Californio Lancers mounted on well-trained horses. Kearny's column, along with the small force of Marines and volunteer militia, suffered defeat.

About 18 men of Kearny's force were killed; retreating to a hill top to dry their powder and treat their wounded, they were surrounded by Andre Pico's forces. Kearny was slightly wounded in this encounter, the Battle of San Pasqual. Kit Carson got through Pico's men and returned to San Diego. Commodore Stockton sent a combined force of U. Marine and U.

Navy bluejacket sailors under Capt. Archibald H. Beale USNto relieve Kearny's column. The U. The Californio forces in California capitulated on January 13 to Lt. John C. As the ranking Army officer, and per orders from President Polk, [ 21 ] Kearny claimed command of California at the end of hostilities despite the fact that California was initially brought under U.

This began an unfortunate rivalry with Stockton, whose rank was equivalent to a rear admiral lower half today. Stockton and Kearny had the same equivalent rank one star and unfortunately, the War Department had not worked out a protocol for who would be in charge. In JulyCol. Jonathan D. Stevenson of New York was asked to raise a volunteer regiment of 10 companies of 77 men each to go to California with the understanding that they would muster out and stay in California.

In August and September the regiment trained and prepared for the trip to California. On 26 September the four ships left New York for California. Fifty men who had been left behind for various reasons sailed on November 13,on the small storeship USS Brutus. The Perkins did not stop until San Francisco, reaching port on March 6, The Brutus finally arrived on April After desertions and deaths in transit the four ships brought men to California.

These troops finally allowed Kearny to assume command of California as ranking Army officer. The troops essentially took over all of the Pacific Squadron 's on-shore military and garrison duties and the California Battalion and Mormon Battalion 's garrison duties as well as some Baja California duties. Kearny remained military governor of California until May 31, when he set out overland across the California Trail to Washington, D.