Army of the West (1846)

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For the Confederate Army during the American Civil War see: Army of the West

The Army of the West was the name of the United States force commanded by Stephen W. Kearny during the Mexican-American War, which played a prominent role in the conquest of New Mexico and California.

It was headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After the war, it was broken up into the Department of the Pacific and the Department of the West.

1 New Mexico
2 California
3 Chihuahua
4 Major Battles
5 See also

[edit] New Mexico

Colonel Stephen W. Kearny was placed in charge of 1,700 soldiers stationed at Leavenworth, Kansas. Kearny was promoted to brigadier general, and he designated the force the Army of the West. Kearny moved into present day New Mexico and seized Santa Fe, establishing a military government there. Kearny dispatched forces under Alexander Doniphan for further operations in New Mexico while Kearny with the remaining forces of the army proceeded overland towards California, guided by Kit Carson. Colonel Sterling Price was left in command of U.S. troops in New Mexico. The forces left behind in New Mexico were still regarded as part of Army of the West. Price was able to successfully put down the Taos Revolt in the early part of 1847.

[edit] California

With just under 200 troops Kearny moved into California and hastily attacked a Californio force at the Battle of San Pasqual. The battle was costly to the U.S., and Kearny moved on and occupied San Diego where he was joined by naval reinforcements serving as infantry under Commodore Robert F. Stockton. The combined force numbering 600 dragoons and sailors led by Kearny and Stockton attacked the Californios at Los Angeles. Winning the battles of Rio San Gabriel and La Mesa, the U.S. forces took control of the city on January 10, 1847. On January 13, the Californios surrendered to John C. Fremont, and the major fighting in California was over.

[edit] Chihuahua

In late 1846, General Stephen W. Kearney headed west to California. He left three companies of Dragoons to form, with volunteer troops, a strong garrison in New Mexico. Command of the garrison eventually was placed with Colonel Sterling Price. The last major action of the army came in 1848 when Price, recently promoted to the rank of general, invaded the state of Chihuahua and defeated a Mexican force at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales. This battle occurred after a cease fire and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had been signed.

In 1862, Sterling Price would command another force named Army of the West, this time fighting against United States during the American Civil War.

Order of Battle at Santa Cruz de Rosales

Commander - Brigadier General Sterling Price

Unit	Commander
3rd Missouri Mounted Regiment	Colonel Rolls
Santa Fe Mounted Regiment	Major R. Walker
1st U.S. Dragoons	Major Benjamin Beall
Love's Battery	Lieutenant John Love