The Original Order for the First Regular Army Artillery Unit to Secure, Defend and Hold American Possession of California, Signed by General Winfield Scott

This famous order, quoted in many books on the taking of California, is cited in the memoirs of a member of that expedition: William T. Sherman

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“I am now to inform you that with your company you are destined to act in conjunction with the United States naval forces in the Pacific against the republic of Mexico with which we are at war. The commander of that squadron may desire to capture and to hold certain important points...

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The Original Order for the First Regular Army Artillery Unit to Secure, Defend and Hold American Possession of California, Signed by General Winfield Scott

This famous order, quoted in many books on the taking of California, is cited in the memoirs of a member of that expedition: William T. Sherman

“I am now to inform you that with your company you are destined to act in conjunction with the United States naval forces in the Pacific against the republic of Mexico with which we are at war. The commander of that squadron may desire to capture and to hold certain important points as Monterey and towns or posts in San Francisco bay.”

Initially as the war with Mexico started there were five vessels in the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Squadron near California. In 1846 and 1847 this was increased to 13 Navy vessels—over half the U.S. Navy’s available ships. The only other U.S. military force then in California was the about 30 military topographers etc. and 30 mountain men, guides, hunters, etc. in Captain John C. Frémont’s United States Army Corps of Topographical Engineers exploratory force. They were exiting California on their way to what is now Oregon when they got word in early June 1846 that war was imminent and a revolt had already started in Sonoma, California.

There were U.S. fears that the British might try to annex California to satisfy British creditors. The British Pacific Station’s squadron of ships off California were stronger in ships, guns, and men than the American ships. In 1846, the U.S. Navy was under orders to take over all California ports in the event of war. There were about 400 to 500 U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy bluejacket sailors available for possible land action on the Pacific Squadron’s ships. On July 7, 1846, seven weeks after war had been declared, fifty American marines and about 100 bluejacket sailors landed and captured the city of Monterrey without incident—the few Californio troops formerly there having already evacuated the city. They raised the flag of the United States without firing a shot. The Navy went down the coast from San Francisco, occupying ports without resistance as they went. The small pueblo (town) of San Diego surrendered July 29, 1846 without a shot being fired. The small pueblo of Santa Barbara surrendered without a shot being fired in August 1846.

In September 1846 the Californios – Californians of Mexican descent – José María Flores, José Antonio Carrillo and Andrés Pico, organized and led a campaign of resistance against the American incursion into Los Angeles of the prior month. As a result, the outnumbered United States troops evacuated the city for the following few months. Over the following four months, U.S. forces fought minor skirmishes with the Californio Lancers in the Battle of San Pasqual (in San Diego), the Battle of Dominguez Rancho (near Los Angeles), and the Battle of Rio San Gabriel (also near Los Angeles).

In early January 1847, a 600-man joint force of U.S. Marine, U.S. Navy bluejacket sailors, General Stephen W. Kearny’s 80 U.S. Army dragoons (cavalrymen), who had arrived over the Gila river trail in December 1846, and about two companies of Fremont’s California Battalion re-occupied Los Angeles after some minor skirmishes – four months after the initial American retreat, the same U.S. flag again flew over Los Angeles. The minor armed resistance in California ceased when the Californios signed the Treaty of Cahuenga on January 13, 1847. After the Treaty was signed, the Pacific Squadron then went on to capture all Baja California cities and harbors and sink or capture all the Mexican Pacific Navy they could find. Baja California was returned to Mexico in subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo negotiations.

General Winfield Scott opposed President Polk’s policies toward Mexico, a move that initially cost him the primary field command in the ensuing U.S.-Mexican War. But when Gen. Zachary Taylor’s campaign bogged down at Monterrey, Scott proposed a bold plan to land an army at Vera Cruz and to march overland to capture Mexico City. Polk agreed, and Scott’s campaign succeeded brilliantly; he took Mexico City, and won the war.

Christopher Tompkins commanded an artillery regiment at the start of the war. It was to Tompkins that Scott turned to cement the American positions crucial to keeping California.

Letter signed, marked “Confidential”, Head quarters of the Army, Washington, June 20, 1846, to “1st Lieutenant C.Q. Tompkins, now Captain 3d Artillery”, being his orders to head for California in the early weeks of the Mexican War. “Sir, As the commander of a company of the 3d artillery you have been ordered to embark with the same on board of the United States ship the Lexington now lying in the harbor of New York and bound to the northwest coast of America. I am now to inform you that with your company you are destined to act in conjunction with the United States naval forces in the Pacific against the republic of Mexico with which we are at war. The commander of that squadron may desire to capture and to hold certain important points as Monterey and towns or posts in San Francisco bay. The company under your command may be needed for both purposes and you will on consultation give your cooperation. It is not intended to place you under the orders strictly speaking of any naval officer no matter how high in rank. That would be illegal or at least without the authority of any law. But you will be held responsible when associated in service whether on land or water with any naval officer without regard to relative rank to cooperate in perfect harmony and with zeal and efficiency. Great confidence is reposed in you in those respects as also in your intelligence judgment temper and prowess. See in this connection paragraphs 24, 25, and 26 in the old General Regulations or the Army edition of 1825, a copy of which book I handed to you in my office. Your condition and that of your company on board the Lexington commanded by Lieutenant of the navy or other United States vessel to which you may be transferred will be that of passengers not marines, but in the event of the ship finding herself in action you and the company under your command will not fail to show yourselves at least as efficient as any equal number of marines whatsoever. In such case again the utmost harmony upon consultation would be indispensable and in no case will you fail so far as it may depend upon your best exertions to conciliate such harmony.

“On the landing of the ordnance and ordnance stores belonging to the army placed on board of the Lexington, you will take charge of the same unless you should be joined for that purpose by an ordnance officer in which case you will give him aid and assistance in that duty. On effecting a successful landing in the enemy’s country, it may be necessary after consultation with the naval commander as above and with his assistance to erect and defend one or more forts in order to hold the conquered place or places. In such service you will be on your proper element. It is proper that I should add you may find on the northwest coast an army officer with higher rank than your own when of course you will report to him by letter and if ashore come under his command. It is known that you have made requisitions for all the proper supplies which may be needed by your company for a considerable time after landing. Further supplies which may not be sent after you from this side of the continent you will when ashore in the absence of a naval force and in the absence of a higher officer of the army have to purchase on the other side but always in strict conformity with regulations. On board it is understood that your company will be subsisted from the stores of the ship or navy. Should you not come under the orders of an army officer or should you not be landed by the naval commander as above you will remain on board of the squadron and be sent home on some ship of the same. I need scarcely add that afloat or ashore you will always maintain the most exact discipline in your company for the honor of the army and country and never neglect to make in the absence of an army superior to the Adjutant General the stated reports required by regulations besides special reports on all subjects of interest. Yours truly, Winfield Scott.”

One of Tompkins’ lieutenants was the young officer William T. Sherman, who would win renown in the Civil War less than two decades later. Sherman left an account of the trip in his memoirs. “The old Lexington dropped her anchor on January 26, 1847, in Monterey Bay, after a voyage of one hundred and ninety-eight days from New York… I had brought out from New York twenty thousand dollars commissary funds, and eight thousand dollars quartermaster funds, and as the ship contained about six months’ supply of provisions, also a saw-mill, grist-mill, and almost every thing needed, we were soon established comfortably. We found the people of Monterey a mixed set of Americans, native Mexicans, and Indians, about one thousand all told… As the boat came nearer, we saw that it was General Kearny with an old dragoon coat on, and an army-cap, to which the general had added the broad visor, cut from a full-dress hat, to shade his face and eyes against the glaring sun of the Gila region. Chapman exclaimed: “Fellows, the problem is solved; there is the grand-vizier (visor) by G–d! He is Governor of California.” All hands received the general with great heartiness, and he soon passed out of our sight into the commodore’s cabin… General Kearny had dispatched from San Diego his quartermaster, Colonel Swords, to the Sandwich Islands, to purchase clothing and stores for his men, and had come up to Monterey, bringing with him Turner and Warner, leaving Emory and the company of dragoons below. He was delighted to find a full strong company of artillery, subject to his orders, well supplied with clothing and money in all respects, and, much to the disgust of our Captain Tompkins, he took half of his company clothing and part of the money held by me for the relief of his worn-out and almost naked dragoons left behind at Los Angeles…”

Tompkins was stationed in Monterey, assigned to occupy and hold that place. This was done. A California newspaper reported, “Captain Tompkins, which with his company and field artillery, is now stationed at Fort Mervine [in Monterey]. Lieut. Halleck [later General Henry Halleck of Civil War fame], of the United States engineers, was to make permanent fortifications at the most prominent points along the coast. He was well provided with all necessary implements for the purpose, and had besides a saw and rust mill. The Lexington was loaded with batteries, 24 pounders, mortars, for military purposes. Three other transports with Col. Stevenson’s regiment were shortly expected; “sufficient, with General Kearny’s column, to secure California as a territory of the United States. A fortification will be erected at San Francisco. There is an abundance of timber, and waterpower almost inexhaustible, up the Sacramento River.”

This is perhaps the most important letter relating to the Mexican War that we have ever seen, both because of its content and the fact that it is the only orders from a top commander in that war we have found reaching the market.

It is also remarkable, and sheds light on Scott’s abilities as a commander, that Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas J. [Stonewall] Jackson all learned their craft under him in Mexico.

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