Gilpin’s Santa Fe Trail Expedition

After the return of Colonel Doniphan’s Expedition to Missouri the Indians became troublesome along the Santa Fe Trail. The force raised by the Government to protect travel and trade on the Plains was organized by Major William Gilpin. It was also commanded by him in its remarkable campaign along the Santa Fe Trail. Here is the account of its organization and services:

Gilpin’s Santa Fe Battalion, Missouri Mounted Volunteers, Mexican War.

This battalion was also known as “Gilpin’s Battalion Mounted Volunteers,” “Indian Battalion Missouri Volunteers,” and “Battalion Missouri Volunteers for the Plains.”

The battalion consisted of Companies, A, B, C, D, E. Company C was Captain William Pelzer’s Artillery Company.

Mounted Companies A and B
Artillery C
Not Mounted D and E

Roster of Company C shows 20 officers and 84 privates.
Roster of Company D shows 17 officers and 63 privates.
Roster of Company E shows 17 officers and 69 privates.
Rosters of Companies A and B not found in the office of the Adjutant-General, State of Missouri.

Field and Staff, Santa Fe Trace Battalion, Missouri Mounted Volunteers, Mexican War.

Muster Roll for September 18, 1847, to April 30, 1848, shows station at Fort Mann, Middle Arkansas River [in what is now the State of Kansas]. This Roll bears date, June 25, for April 30,—”nunc pro tune.” Reason, “absence of myself and three Companies in the Comanche Country.” W. Gilpin, Lt. Col. Commanding.

Roll signed: W. Gilpin, Lt. Col.

Muster Roll, April 30, to October 3, 1848, shows Company at Independence, Missouri. Roll signed: W. Gilpin, Lt. Col.

Field and Staff mustered for discharge at Independence, Missouri, October 3, 1848, and honorably discharged by E. A. Hitchcock, B. Col., U. S. A., Mustering Officer.

Roster of Field and Staff, Colonel W. Gilpin’s Battalion of Missouri Volunteers, Mexican War.

William Gilpin, Lt. Col.
Henry L. Routt, Adjutant.
Ephraim P. January, Asst. Surgeon.
Ashley G. Gulley, 2nd Lieut.
Edward Colston, 2nd Lieut.
Jacob T. Tindall, Sgt. Major.
Adam Krafft, Chief Bugler.
Benjamin S. Long, Asst. Surgeon.
William Kuhlan, Q. M. Sgt.

Company A

Captain John D. Griffith’s Company A, Mounted Santa Fe Trace Battalion, Missouri Mounted Volunteers, Mexican War.

Muster-in Roll dated September 3, 1847, shows station of company at Fort Leavenworth.

Company arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Missouri, place of general rendezvous, September 1, 1847.

Company accepted into the service of the United States for term of “During the War with Mexico” from September 3, 1847, by C. Wharton, Lieut.-Colonel First Dragoons, Mustering Officer.

Muster Roll, September 3, 1847, to April 30, 1848, shows station of company at Fort Mann, Middle Arkansas.

The company had been encamped and on the march in the Indian country since the middle of September, 1847, and during March, April, and May, in the center of the Comanche country. This Muster Roll is therefore made at this date—”nunc pro tunc.” Roll dated June 24, 1848.

Roll signed: John C. Griffith, Captain.

Muster Roll, April 30 to September 28, 1848, shows station of company, Independence, Missouri.

Roll signed: John C. Griffith, Captain.

Company mustered for discharge at Independence, Missouri, September 28, 1848, and honorably discharged by E. A. Hitchcock, B. Col., U. S. A., Mustering Officer.

Captain Thomas Jones’s Company B, Mounted Santa Fe Trace Battalion, Missouri Volunteers, War with Mexico.

Muster-in Roll, dated September 11, 1847, shows station of company at Fort Leavenworth.

Company arrived at Fort Leavenworth, September 8, 1847.

[Other entries, similar to those made on the Rolls of Company A.]

Company C

Captain William Pelzer’s Company C, Artillery, Santa Fe Trace Battalion, Missouri Volunteers, Mexican War.

Muster-in Roll, dated September 10, 1847.

Company arrived at Fort Leavenworth, September 8, 1847.

Term of service same as Companies A and B.

Report from Fort Mann, Middle Arkansas, “nunc pro tunc” owing to continued separation; difficulty of communication between detached portions of battalion; and absence of Paymaster.

Company discharged at Independence, Missouri, October 2, 1848.

Company D

Captain Paul Holzcheiter’s Company D, Santa Fe Trace Battalion, Missouri Volunteers, Mexican War.

Muster-in Roll, dated September 18, 1847.

Company at Fort Mann, Middle Arkansas, same dates and same reasons for “nunc pro tunc” reports as given by Companies A and B.

Company discharged at Independence, Missouri, October 1, 1848.

Company E

Captain Napoleon Koscialowski’s Company E, Santa Fe Trace Battalion, Missouri Volunteers, Mexican War.

Muster Roll, September 18, 1847, to April 30, 1848, shows company at Fort Mann, Middle Arkansas. The above company being on the march through the center of the Comanche country during March, April, and May, this Roll bears date in June—”nunc pro tunc.” W. Gilpin, Col. Comdg.

Roll signed: Napoleon Koscialowski, Captain.

Company Muster Roll, April 30, to September 30, 1848, shows company at Independence, Mo.

The company left Fort Leavenworth on the 4th day of October, 1847, and ascended the Arkansas to the foot of the Rocky Mountains at Bent’s Fort. From thence with the cavalry companies under the Lieutenant-Colonel, crossed the Raton Mountains on the 10th of March, 1848, and descended the Canadian through the country of the Apache and Comanche Indians during March, April, and May, to the Antelope Buttes, being engaged in skirmishing warfare with the Comanche and Pawnee Indians on the Middle Arkansas and Kansas until the expiration of the term of service by the peace with Mexico.

The marches have exceeded 3,000 miles in the aggregate, mostly being in the depth of winter.

Roll signed: Caleb S. Tuttle, Captain.

Company mustered for discharge at Independence, Mo., September 30, 1848, and honorably discharged (except Lieut. Colston) by E. A. Hitchcock, B. Col., U. S. A., Mustering Officer.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pin It on Pinterest

Scroll to Top