Forts and Forays: A Dragoon in New Mexico, 1850-1856This is a rare account of frontier soldiering in the pre-Civil War Southwest by an enlisted man. James A. Bennett joined the regular army in 1849 and was stationed in New Mexico for six years before he deserted to Mexico. Assigned to the First Dragoons, he visited major New Mexico posts such as Forts Union, Craig and Fillmore. During his service, Bennett waged war on the Kicarilla, Mogollon, Mescalero, and Mimbres Apaches, the Navajos, and the Utes, suffering serious wounds at the Battle of Cienguilla. This is a unique glimpse into the routine duties and terrifying ordeals of soldiering in the antebellum Southwest. |
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Forts and Forays, James a Bennett: A Dragoon in New Mexico, 1850-1856 James Augustus Bennett No preview available - 2012 |
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1st Dragoons Albuquerque April Arizona army Arrived attack August Battle of Cienguilla Bender Bennett Calhoun camp Cañon Cantonment Burgwin Capt Captain Carson Colonel Colorado command Company Court of Inquiry dance Davidson Court Davis deserted diary encamped enlisted Ewell fandango Fillmore fire Fort Bliss Fort Craig Fort Defiance Fort Fillmore Fort Union Forts and Forays Frontier Defense Gila Grier Gringo horses Indians Infantry JAGO James Jicarilla Apache July June killed Kit Carson last night Lieutenant Los Lunas Lunas Major March Mescaleros Mesilla Mexican Mexico miles south military morning mules Navajo o'clock officer party Paso Pecos river Peñasco plain Pueblo Rayado Rio Pecos Rio Ruidoso Sacramento Mountains Santa Fe Trail Sept Sergeant settlement snow Socorro soldiers Southwest Stanton stream Sumner Taos Thorn took town travelling Union valley Vegas wagons White William wounded yesterday York