Saxtafe, August 26, 1846. Hon. W. L. Marey, Secretary of War, Washington City. Sir: I arrived at Bent’s Fort on 26 July, where I found Genl. Kearney, presented the letter I received from your hands, and was well received. The Genl. on the 1st day of August dispatched Capt. Cook … Read more

To J. W. Magoffin, Esq. Dear Sir: If the following statement of such of your important services as came to my personal knowledge during the invasion of New Mexico can serve to elucidate your sacrifices and risks during the War, it gives me pleasure to make it. I shall not … Read more

To the President. Harrodsrurgh, Ky., June 22, 1847. My dear Sir: Permit me to call to your attention, and that of the President, the situation of Mr. Jas. Magoffin, whose widowed mother and numerous relatives of whom I am one, all reside in this place and vicinity, consisting of half … Read more

I do hereby certify that being in Santafe, N. Mexico in August, 1846, before the arrival of Genl. Kearney, and being intimately acquainted with Col. Diego Archulette and having an opportunity of conversing with him particularly on the subject of impeding the entrance of the U. S. forces into that … Read more

On an examination of the papers presented in this case, the following facts appear. That on the 18th of June, 1846, at the instance of the President, Mr. Magoffin was commended by the War Department to a favorable consideration of General Kearney, then in command of a military expedition to … Read more

War Department, Washington, June 18, 1846. Sir: At the request of the President I commend to your favorable consideration the bearer hereof, Colonel James W. Magoffin. Mr. M. is now and had been for some years a resident of Chihuahua and extensively engaged in trade in that and other settlements … Read more

On the 18th of April, 1846, J. Q. Thornton and his wife left Quincy, Illinois, to go to Oregon. They went first to Independence, Missouri, the outfitting point. They purchased wagons and teams, and on the 12th of May left Independence over the Oregon Trail. On the 15th they came … Read more

The following note and table will be found in Gregg’s Commerce of the Prairies, 1844, page 313: Having crossed the Prairies between Independence and Santa Fe six times, I can now present a table of the most notable camping sites, and their respective intermediate distances, with approximate accuracy, which may … Read more

Santa Fe Trail Route From Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe From Wetmore’s Gazetteer of the State of Missouri, 1837, page 269, the following table of distances is taken: Route From Independence, Mo., to Santa Fe LES Chns  Camp Grove 16  Big Blue river ford 20  Round Grove 14  Belmont 20 … Read more