Mexican War 1846-1848

14 GREY AND GREEN STREAMERS FOR THE REGIMENT

In July of 1845, General Taylor’s force began moving to Texas. Most of his force embarked from New Orleans bound for Corpus Christi, Texas. The Second Dragoons were the exception, choosing to proceed over land from Fort Jessup to Corpus Christi. They made the 501-mile march in 32 days, and reported to General Taylor in …

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DRAGOON WAR

From: SECOND UNITED STATES CAVALRY – A HISTORY Compiled, edited and published by Historical Section, Second Cavalry Association Maj. A. L. Lambert and Cpt. G. B. Layton, 2d Cavalry The Second Dragoons made their mark in this war as in no other, and the reader can judge the part they played in overcoming the handicap …

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WAR WITH MEXICO

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. For many years there had been acts of violence between citizens of Mexico and the United States, including many insults to the flag. Although a treaty of …

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FIRST ACTION

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. On April 12, 1846, General Arista notified Taylor to break camp and march to the east bank of the Nueces River. Since this demand was not complied …

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PALO ALTO

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. Leaving the port May 7, Taylor advanced in the direction the enemy was reported, which was on the road to Matamoras. Early the following morning the troops …

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RESACA DE LA PALMA

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. On the morning of May 9, Taylor advanced in the direction the enemy had retreated. Captain Ker’s squadron was sent forward to reconnoiter and discovered that they …

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MATAMORAS

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. On May 10, the Second Dragoons returned to Point Isabel as an escort to General Taylor, who left Colonel Twiggs in command at the fort on the …

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MONTEREY

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. Companies B, C, D, and E under Captain May finally were ordered to proceed to Monterey, Mexico, and left Matamoras August 16, 1846, accompanied by Ridgely’s Battery. …

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SANTA ROSA AMBUSH

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. During the months of November and December, the companies acted as escorts for the Commanding General or the engineers who were surveying the country, and went on …

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CAPTAIN MAY’S RECONNAISSANCE

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. General Taylor had concentrated his force of about 4,600 men at the hacienda of Agua Nueva, about twenty miles south of Saltillo. In order to determine the …

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BUENA VISTA

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. Having verified the information from other sources, General Taylor decided to withdraw at once to the pass at Buena Vista about twelve miles distant. Leaving General Wool …

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VERA CRUZ

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. Major General Winfield Scott had been placed in active command of all the American forces in the field. In January, 1847, he arrived at the mouth of …

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ADVANCE ON MEXICO CITY RESUMES

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. It had been impossible for General Scott to advance upon Mexico City with his depleted force early in the summer when the Mexican army was disorganized. Now …

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CHURUBUSCO

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. While General Pillow’s division was building a road to the right of the Mexican position at San Antonio, the latter attacked at Contreras August 19. Owing to …

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MOLINO DEL REY

From: ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas Capper Printing Company, Inc. General Scott ordered General Worth to attack a foundry known as El Molino del Rey on September 8. This place was protected on one side by the …

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