stephen watts kearny Kearny News

Watts Kearny and Susanna remained in the Army after Watts and was the youngest the war, serving mostly in the of three. He left college in West. During the same year he Stephen Watts Kearny was 1812 to serve in the New was wounded and captured as an American Soldier who is York Militia soon after a prisoner during the Battle remembered for his significant outbreak of the War of 1812. of Queenston Heights and was contributions in the Mexican- He took a commission as later released in a prisoner American War, especially the First Lieutenant in the 13th exchange. He served through conquest of California. Kearny Infantry the next year. the end of the war, and was was made a Brigadier-General He was promoted to transferred to the 2nd Infantry and given the task of leading captain in April in 1813 and in 1815. the newly organized Army of the West to New Mexico and California in 1846. Before he was appointed to General he had to start from the beginning just like everyone else. He easily went from position to position. He took a commission as First Lieutenant in the 13th Infantry. He was promoted to captain in April in 1813 and remained in the Army after the war, serving mostly in the West. He took part in expeditions such as the Colonel Henry Atkinson’s Yellowstone expedition and Oregon Trail from Fort Leavenworth to Wyoming expedition. He led the Americans to victory during the Mexican-American war and led to the battle of San Pascual, which he won, with the help from Stockton. Kearny played an important part in the Mexican-American War thus making a very important figure. He was born August 30, 1794 in Newark, New Jersey. He was the Son of Philip Kearny’s He later led an expedition of five comapnies of dragoons over the Oregon Trail from Fort Leavamworth to journey Wyoming, where he had a council meeting with the first commander of the new Sioux near Fort Laramie to In 1819, he took part in Jefferson Barracks in Missouri persuade them not to attack Colonel Henry Atkinson’s in 1826. Kearny was appointed the emigrant wagon trains in Yellowstone expedition, as the first commander of the 1845 which built the first United new Jefferson Barracks in States military post west Missouri in 1826. Kearny was of the Mississippi River, made Lieutenant Colonel of Camp Missouri (which the 1st Dragoons in Iowa in later on was renamed Fort 1833. Atkinson), near what is now Omaha, Nebraska. In the next year he accompanied Captain Matthew J. Magee on an overland expedition to authorize Fort Snelling, near MEXICAN AMerican what is now called St. Paul, Minnesota. War

Kearny was made a Brigadier General and given The Dragoons were a proud the task of leading the newly fleet of cavalry that fought in organized Army of the West many battles. During this time to New Mexico and California Kearny earned himself the in 1846. The Army of the nickname “father of the United After his career was West involved two batteries States Cavalry “ when the U.S. entrenched around the late of artillery, three squadrons Cavalry eventually grew out 1820s he met, courted and of dragoon, one regiment of of this regiment. The regiment married Mary Radford, the cavalry, and two companies was afterwards appointed at stepdaughter of William of infantry, which all together Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Clark. Together they had 11 are about 1750 men. Kearny had been promoted children, but unfortunately six The Army marched in late to full Colonel and appointed of them died before reaching June over the Santa Fe Trail commander of the Third adulthood. to the Arkansas River near Military Department, which By 1825, he became a Major Bent’s Fort, from where he was entrusted with keeping in the 1st Infantry. In that sent Captain Philip St. George peace with Native Americans same year he accompanied Cooke ahead to New Mexico and guiding travelers and Atkinson up the Missouri with a flag of truce, hoping to expeditions by 1842. River using a keelboat to consult a peaceful surrender get across. During his trip of New Mexico. He was hoping he visited several Ponca and to take New Mexico without Mandan villages soon after shedding blood. he traveled another 120 miles Governor Manuel Armijo up the Yellowstone River. refused to surrender Armijo Kearny was appointed as the declined to surrender, stating for New Mexico under United enforcements from Stockton. that he would oppose the States sovereignty. These laws Their combined forces they invasion; he later sent an were known as “The Kearny went on to not only taking emissary to Kearny delivering Code”. Los Angles but San Diego as the same message. Armijo It became the substructure well thus ending the Mexican later called an untrained for law in New Mexico and American in California. crowd of New Mexicans to was in use until 1885. Three Santa Fe to volunteer for the days later on September 25 defense of the territory. after establishing the new set Meanwhile Captain George of for New Mexico Kearny Cooke continued to try and and 300 of his troops set out convince the Governor to for California. hand over his land willingly On his way to California he to prevent any violence to encountered a scout named take place. Governor Armijo Kit Carson who was carrying had his volunteers ready for a messages back to Washington war and sent them to Apache on the condition of warfare Canyon east of Santa Fe to in California. Carson had told defend against Kearny’s men Kearny that California was on August 14. Two days later presumably under American on the 16th when Armijo control, so Kearny sent 200 and his volunteers finally dragoons back to Santa Fe. arrived, he decided not to Kearny has asked Carson to defy Kearny’s orders and sent guide him to California. On the volunteers back home. As his way there he encountered Long Lasting Lieutenant Emory described Major Archibald H. Gillespie, Armijo’s response: “He has who told him about an on- seen what they [his people] going California riot in Los Legacy are blind to; the hopelessness Angeles. of resistance.” He is remembered for his significant contributions in the Mexican-American War, especially the conquest of California. Kearny is the namesake of Kearny, Arizona and Kearney, Nebraska. Many schools are named after 2 months later in early Kearny, including Kearny December Kearny reached his Elementary in Santa Fe, destination. Once he arrived New Mexico and Kearny Kearny obtained what he at California he encountered High School in the San Diego desired, he and his troops Andrés Pico and a force of neighborhood of Kearny Mesa. took ownership of Santa Fe about 150 Californio Lancers Kearny Street, in downtown without starting a war on which soon led to the the San Francisco, is also named August 18. On September 22, battle of San Pascual. Kearny for him, as is a street in Fort 1846 Kearny was appointed and his troops belittled Pico Leavenworth. as the military governor of and his men. They were Camp Kearny in San Diego, California. Kearny also vanquished and had to retreat published the first set of laws to nearby ridge to wait re- a U.S. military base which operated from 1917 to 1946 on the site of today’s Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, was named in his honor. Fort Kearny in Nebraska is also named for him. Kearny Mesa, an area of San Diego, was later named after him.

His nephew was Major General Philip Kearny of American Civil War fame. Kearny Mesa, an area of San Diego, was later named after him. Two U.S. postage stamps relate to Kearny. Scott catalog number 970, printed in 1948, commemorates Fort Kearny, and number 944, issued in 1946, the capture of Santa Fe. This is Kearny’s legacy. He is also immortalized in many statues and memorials along with multiple novels that have been written in the years since his untimely death.