Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/163

Rh by the officers of the army, and that the naval squadron would enforce the blockade. Instructions to this effect were issued from the Navy Department, but did not reach the commanding officer of the Pacific squadron until February, 1841 The company of artillery arrived in California in the same month, and the regiment under Colonel Stevenson in March following.

On the 30th day of June, 1846, General Kearny, who had been assigned to the command of "the Army of the West," left Fort Leavenworth with a force of about 1,000 men, on his march towards New Mexico. Before entering the enemy's territory, he was reinforced by a battalion of Mormon emigrants, on their way to Oregon or California, who were mustered into the service of the United States, and placed under the command of Major Cooke, of the 2nd dragoons. With this and other additions, his army was subsequently increased to near 1,900. The regular dragoons, commanded by Major Sumner, were but two hundred strong; the remainder of the force was composed of volunteers. A large part of the latter, however, were mounted men, and many of them, in addition to their ordinary arms, were provided with knives and revolving pistols. Their artillery consisted of eight long brass six-pounders, and two twelve-pounder howitzers.

Pursuing the military road, the Army of the West crossed the grassy prairies lying between the Missouri and Kansas rivers, and clothed at this season of the year in the richest verdure, and gemmed with countless flowers, of every shape and hue. On the 4th of July they struck the main road leading from Independence to Santa Fé, at Elm Grove, and were soon upon