Army and Navy Review 1915 Panama-California Edition - Balboa Park

“The First Regiment of Light Dragoons at Fort Leavenworth, recently
inspected by the Commanding General, was found to be in a state of
police and discipline reflecting the highest credit on Colonel Kearny—the
exemplary commandant,— his captains and other officers, noncommissioned
officers and soldiers, whose high health and vigilance, with the excellent
condition of the horses, affords conclusive evidence of their talents, industry
and steady habits.”
In March 1837, a regimental order designated the color of the horses
of each company as follows:—A and K, black; B, F and H, sorrel; C. D. E
and I, bay; and G, iron gi-ay.
In October, 1837, and again in March, 1838, serious difficulties were
reported between the settlers and the Osage Indians, and companies of the
regiment were at once sent to the disturbed regions. On the second occasion
the rapidity of Colonel Kearny’s movements and the sudden appearance
of 200 dragoons in their midst appear to have had a very quieting
effect on the Indians, for after his return to Leavenworth, Colonel Kearny
reports no further danger of trouble with the Osages.
In April, 1839, the post of Fort Wayne, on the northwestern frontier
of Arkansas, was established for the purpose of keeping the Cherokees in
subjection, and by the end of October Companies E, F. G and K, were stationed
there. In this same month Colonel Kearny, with Companies A, B,
C, H and I, scouting, visited the post, but in November returned to Fort
Leavenworth, having marched about 550 miles.
Except that Companies A, C and D, under Major Wharton, were sent
to Fort Givson in December for temporary duty, nothing of any moment
occurred to the regiment during the remainder of the year.
Twice in March and once in September, 1840, the regiment was called
upon to overawe the Indians, and the end of that year found the Headquarters
with Companies E, F, H, I, and K, at Leavenworth; C, D, and G,
at Fort Gibson, A at Fort Wayne, and B at Fort Crawford.
During the period 1841-45 there is little of interest to record regarding
the movements of the regiment. There was the usual detached service for
companies, and changes between Leavenworth, Gibson, Wayne, Crawford
and Fort Towson— on the north-eastern boundary of Texas. The records
show no engagements or excessive marches, except that in April, 1842, on
account of some disturbance among the Cherokees, Colonel Kearny marched
his command of five companies to Fort Gibson from Leavenworth, and
then made a forced march of 57 miles to Fort Wayne in one day. The records
do not show that these Indian disturbances amounted to anything;
the Indians made no attacks on the troops and but few on the settlers; still
it is fair to presume that the activity of Colonel Kearny and his dragoons
held them in subjection, and by their timely arrival at points where trouble
was imminent, overawed the savages and prevented bloody wars.
On May 18, 1845 Colonel Kearny with Companies A, C, F, G, and K,
left Leavenworth for an expedition to South Pass in the Rocky Mountains.
The command reached Fort Laramie on the north fork of the Platte,
June 14; marched to South Pass and returned to Laramie by July 13;
thence via Bent’s Fort on the Arkansas to Fort Leavenworth, where it arrived
August 24, having made a march of 2000 miles in less than 100 days.
In the order issued to his command after his return from this expedition
Colonel Kearny says: “In the length of the march, the rapidity of the
movement and the unimportant sacrifices made, the expedition is supposed
to be wholly unprecedented; and it is with pride and pleasure that
the Colonel ascribes the result to the habitual good conduct, efficiency, and
attention to duty on the part of the officers and soldiers of the command.”