Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-29
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

To welcome our return! w. q. >.
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.
ACCOMPANYING THE LATE MESSAGE OF THE
PRESIDENT.
Letter of the Secretary Of Var to Gen. Kearny.
lConfden,iall WAR DEPARTMENT
Washington, June 3, 1916.
Sir: | herewith send you copy of my letter
10 The Governor of Missouri for an addional force
OF one thousand mounted men.
The object Of thus adding 10 the force under
your command is not, as you will perceive, FULLY
Sc, ior,h in that letter, for the reason that II is
deemed prudent that ii should moi, al This time, be-
come matter OF public notoriety; but 10 you il is
proper and necessary that il should be stated.
Ii has been decided By the President 10 be OF the
greatest importance in the pending war with Mex
ico 10 take the earliest possession Of Upper Cali
tornia. An expedition with that view is hereby
ordered, and YOU are designated 10 command II.
To enable you to he in sufficient force 10 conduct
j, successfully, this additional force OF thousand
mounted men has been provided, TO follow you
IN the direction Of Santa Fee TO be under your or
iers or he officer you may leave in command al
Santa Fee.
II cannot be determined how lar this additional
force will be behind that designed for The Santa
Ce expedition, but il will mol probably be more
than few weeks When you arrive al Santa
Fe with The force already called, and shall have
taken possession OF il, you may find yourself in
condition to garrison il with small part OF YOUR
command Gas the additional force will soon b. al
that place) and with the remainder press forward
10 California. In that case, you will make such
arrangements as to being followed by the rein
torcemens before mentioned, as in your judg-
ment may be deemed safe and prudent. need
not say 10 YOU that, in case you conquer Santa Fee,
land with i, will be included the Department OF
State OF New Mexico,li il will be important 10
provide for retaining sale possession Off, Should
YOU deem il prudent 10 have still more troops for
The accomplishment oi the objects herein dcsig
mated, you will lose no lime in communicating
your opinion on tha, point and all others connect
ed with the enterprise, TO this Department. In
deed, you are hereby authorized 10 make direct
Iequsiton for it upon The Governor OF Missouri.
II IS known that large body OF Mormon emf
gfans are en- route 10 California, for The purpose
OF settling in that country. You are desired 10
use all proper means 10 have a good understand
ing with them, to the end that the United States
may nave iheic cooperation in taking possession
OF, and holding, that country. Il has been sus-
eesled here that many OF these MormoHs would
willingly enter into the service 81 the United
States, and aid US in our expedition against Cali
iornia. You are hereby authorized TO muster into
service such as can be induced 10 volunleer-nol,
however, 10 number exceeding one-,hird otyonr
entire force. Should they enter the service, they
will be paid as other volunteers; and you can al
low them 10 designate, so far as II can be proper
" done, Inc persons 10 &C, as officers thereof. Ii
10 understood that considerable number OF Anne
rican citizens are now settled on the Sacramento
Sss are ae disposed ,oxards he
United States. Should you, on your arrival in
the country, find this 10 be the true state OF things
there, you are authorized to organize and receive
into the service OF the United States such portion
Of these citizens as you may think useful 10 aid
you to hold the possession Of the country. You
WILL in that case, allow them, so far as you shall
Judge proper, 10 select their own officers
large Discretionary power is invested in you in re-
gard 10 these matters, as we'll as 10 all others IN
relation 10 the expeditions conhded 10 your COM
mand.
The choice Of routes by which you will enter
California, will be left 10 your better knowledge
and amper means OF getting accurate intorma-
ton. We are assured that a Southern route (call-
ed the Caravan route BY which the wild horses
are brought from hat country into New Mexico)
is practicable; and il is suggested as not improba-
Die that il can be passed over in the Winter
months or, al least, late in Autumn. Ii is hoped
,hatthis information may prove 10 be correct.
In regard 10 the routes the praclicabii,y Of pro-
curing neediul supplies tor men and animals,
and Transporting baggage, is point to be we'll
considered. Should the President be disappoin,
ed in his cherished hope that you will be able 10
reach The interior OF Upper California before
winter, you are then desired 10 make the best ar
rangement You can for sustaining your forces
during the winter, and Tor an early movement in
the spring. Though il is very desirable that The
expedition should reach California this season,
land the President does not doubt you will make
every possible efor; TO accomplish this Object
vet if in your judgment il cannot be undertaken
with reasonable prospect OF success, you will
defer il, as above suggested, until spring. You
are left uncmharrassed by any specific directions
10 this matter.
Ii is expected that The naval forces of the Uni
ted States, which are now or will soon he in the
Pacific, will be in possession of all The towns on
the seacoasi, and will cooperate with you in the
conquest OF California. Arms, ordnance, NUM-
tons OF war, and provisions, 10 be used IN that
country, will be sent by sea 10 our squadron in
the Pacific for The use of the land forces.
Should you conquer and take possession OF
New Mexico and Upper California, or consider
able places in either, you will establish tempo
rary civil governments fredericksburg all
arbitrary restrictions that may exist, so lar as ii
may be done with safety. In performing this
duty, it would be wise and prudent 10 continue
in their employment all such OF The existing Off
GERS as are known to be friendly TO the United
,hem The duties al the custom houses ought al
once To be reduced to such rate as may be bare
~ sufficient TO maintain the necessary officers
without Welding any revenue 10 the government.
You may assure The people of those provinces
ihat il is the wish and design OF The United
States TO provide for Them free government
with the least possible delay, similar 10 that
which exists in our territories. They will then
bs called on TO exercise The rights of freemen in
ntaf,t ~ tbn
rial legislature. Ii is toreseen that, what relates
to the civil government, will be difficult and
unpleasant part OF your duly, and much must ne
cessarily be lett TO your own discretion.
In your whole conduct you will act in such
manner as best TO conciliate The inhabitants, and
render them friendly TO the United States.
i, is desirable that the usual trade between the
citizens of the United States and the Mexican pro-
vinces should be continued as far as practicable,
nnder The changed condition of things between
the TWO countries. In consequence OF extending
your expedition INTO California, it may be proper
that YOU should increase your supply for goods to
be distributed as presents 10 the Indians. The U.
States superintendent OF Indian affairs al ST. Lou
is will aid you in procuring these goods. You
will b. furnished with a proclamation. IN the
Spanish language, 10 be issued by You, and cir
culated among the Mexican people, on your en-
tering into or approaching their country. You
and promises therein contained carried out TO The
utmost extent.
am directed BY the President TO say that the
rank of brevet brsadier general will be conferred
on yon as soon asyou commence your movement
towards California, and sent round 10 you Ivy
sea, or over the country to The of the CON-
mandant of our squadron in The Pacific. Ia that
way, cannon, arms, ammunition aud supplies for
the land forces, will be SEM 10 you.
,oc,ft,ll,, nhe,sia
w. L. MARCY,
Secretary Of War.
Col. S. w. KEARNY, Fort Leavenworth, Mo.
Nors mo proclamation for circulation was ever
Furnished 10 Gen. Kearny few copies Of that pre-
pared Tor and Gen. Taylor were forwarded To
Gen. Kearny, but he was requested not 10 use them
hsa. COPIES were the only procamatons sent by the
War Department TO him, and am not aware mat he
ever used any Of them See letter of the secretary
War To Gen. Kesrny OF the 9Th Of June 1876 copy
eauff IN the pfAsid1nt