VERA CRUZ
David.Gettman December 26th, 2008
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 the Rio Grande and proceeded to organize the Vera Cruz expedition largely from troops of Taylor’s forces. Companies A, B, C, F, I, and K, under Colonel Harney, left Agua Nueva, twenty miles south of Saltillo, on January 9, and marched via Monterey and Matamoras to Camp Page on the left bank of the Rio Grande near its mouth. They arrived January 27 after a march of 356 miles, and reported to General Scott. At this time Companies D and E marched south to Victoria, Tamaulipas, as a part of the army of occupation. They returned to Monterey and continued on to Saltillo, arriving there February 2. These two companies remained with Taylor during the rest of the war. Company H left Camargo where it had been doing guard duty, and joined the troops at Camp Page January 22. Later it was again ordered to join Taylor at Monterey, where it arrived March 18, and stayed with his army for the duration of the war along with Companies D and E. Company G was on recruiting duty at Baltimore and took no further part in the hostilities.
General Scott ordered Colonel Harney to turn over his regiment to Major Sumner and report back to General Taylor to command the two companies with his force. The colonel promptly refused to comply with the order, saying he was entitled to command the bulk of his regiment. He was placed under arrest and tried by court martial for disobedience of orders, and convicted. When the papers reached the President, the findings were disapproved, General Scott was reprimanded for his arbitrary act, and Colonel Harney restored to his proper command. Continue Reading »
