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Monterey after U.S. occupation around 1848
| First New York Legion and the 3rd US Battery F in California
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A regiment of volunteers were raised in New York in 1846 under
the command of a Colonel Stevenson. The First New York Volunteers
were made up of civilians from every walk of life, from blacksmiths
to painters. All had different reasons for wanting to go to California,
but few knew what to really expect. A total of 8 companies of
infantry was formed with about 60-70 men per company. In addition
the 3rd US company F was attached to give expertise with artillery.
Going with the regiment were 4 six pounders field guns, 2 twelve
pound howitzers, 4 ten inch mortars and 20 32 pounders for fortifications.
A military analysis shows that they were bringing one battery
of 6 guns (4- 6 pounders and 2- 12 pounders) for field artillery
and heavy guns for fortifications around key harbors. This included
the presidio in San Francisco, Monterey and San Diego. In addition
thousands of round shot, shells and canister were transported
as well as 300 sets of tack, numerous wagons, limbers and just
about anything else a regiment meant need in California.
Colonel Stevenson was given 2 officers from the 3rd U.S. to be
his junior officers. Lt. Henry S Burton, 28 years who was the
captain in company F of the 3rd and Major James A. Hardie, twenty-four,
from a lieutenancy in another company of the 3rd US. Both were
viewed as "effective" and "able" officers
who worked well with the colonel and his men.
The orders for Colonel Stevenson was for a military occupation
of California, in which Col. Stevenson was to cooperate with
Commodore Sloat, the current Naval commander for the US pacific
fleet, and serve under General Kearny who was marching from the
Midwest to southern California. 3 major points were of concern:
San Francisco, Monterey and San Diego. Of the three crucial areas
the bay of San Francisco was seen as the most important area
to hold.
On September 26th 1846 the men embarked for California. They
left in 3 Transport ships and a small sloop called the Preble
for escort. The journey was largely uneventful except for some
talk of mutiny. They arrived more or less unscathed in San Francisco
bay , California on March 6th 1847 after a few stops for provisions
in South America. San Francisco at the time was a village of
about 500 people with a few dozen adobes and shanties.
By the time Stevenson Regiment had arrived California had been
in the hands of the United States for 8 months. General Kearny
split the regiment up to be a garrison in key areas: 4 companies
were to take post in Monterey(D,E,G,I , a "few" dragoons
and Company F of the 3rd US). Lt. Burton and 3 companies (A,B
and F) were to go to Santa Barbara while Major Hardie and three
companies (C,H and K) were to stay in San Francisco. In addition
a Captain Tompkins at a small fort in Monterey was to keep his
1 battery of light artillery ready in Monterey to move at a moments
notice.
The Mexican American war was still going on , but in northern
California the citizens as a whole were very uninterested in
the war. Soon Col. Stevenson learned of problems settlers were
having with local Indians. He dispatched company C to Sonoma
with about 35 newly raised militia. They were given mounts for
the task of patrolling the area and putting a stop to the attacks
and raids. In July due to the Mormon battalion leaving southern
California companies A and B were dispatched to southern California
to take their place. At about the same time General Kearny was
replaced by General Mason as military governor of California.
His assistant was a little known but capable Lt. Sherman who
would become famous as a commander in the civil war. As a side
note Sherman knew the 3rd U.S. very well and had several friends
that were in the 3rd U.S. . In Fact Sherman served in battery
G of the 3rd U.S. years before.
The U.S. forces were also involved in removing squatters from
land own by Mexican landowners which had become a very large
problem. Also companies A and B in southern California were attacked
several times and saw "considerable" action. Southern
California still had very strong support for the Mexican side
of the war and had been a source of uprisings and riots for the
entire duration of the war.
Finally in 1848 Colonel Mason reports that companies A and B
"routed" the enemy and completely dispersed them and
restored peace to the region. Also colonel Stevenson had a fort
built overlooking Los Angeles that was finished on July 4th 1848.
Slowly as the native population understood that the Americans
were here to stay tensions between the two groups started to
ease. Colonel Stevenson and others did their best to have social
occasions to build trust and friendships.
In May 1848 two important pieces of news came to California.
1. That the war with Mexico was over. 2. That gold was discovered
in California. By the end of May desertion had become a very
big problem in the garrisons as troops deserted to try their
chance at getting rich. By the time the end of summer arrived
"gold fever" had hit hard in the northern California
garrison ranks. In August the commanders started mustering out
the soldiers and disbanding units. With mustering out the military
aspect of the New York legion was at a end. For more than 18
months they had provided the largest body of men available to
Governors Kearny and Mason to preserve order. They had fought
with distinction in lower California , supplied a measure of
control over hostile Indians, and presented a visible reminder
to California that the territory was occupied. In addition they
performed a number of routine duties like building military installations,
public buildings, roads, carrying mail and policing various towns.
The New York Legion and the 3rd US company F had done a lot to
propel California on its path to statehood.
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