The melancholy intelligence of my poor brother’s death has only been conferred
to me since my arrival at this place. My brother, to whom I was so much
attached, how deeply do I feel his loss. I have tried in looking over the various
accounts of that unfortunate expedition, to find some balm to my feelings, and I
am gratified to say I found it in the official report of General Kearney. (sic) He
says that Brother, with twelve dragoons, made a furious charge upon the line of
the Enemy and in that met his untimely death. There was no dodging danger,
everything was high-toned, chivalrous and becoming a Soldier. All this was like
himself and precisely what he told me he would do were he to ever engage in
battle with men in ranks. That he went off like a gallant soldier should certain
be a source of melancholy satisfaction to his relatives who mourn his fate.
Stephen Johnston to John Johnston May 31st 1847
Norfolk VA
U. S. Naval Hospital
Quoting from Goodnight Robinson by Marla Fair -
It had happened in the early hours of the morning. Stephen Watts Kearny,
the general in charge, had been itching for a battle and glory. So had his
men, if the truth be known – Robinson most likely among them. They had
just completed one of the longest marches the American Army had ever
made – it was still a record to this day – of 1000 miles over the desert. The
night before the battle they stopped at a hacienda owned by an English-
born naturalized Mexican named Edward Stokes. There they were wined
and dined. It was still a matter of speculation as to whether or not that
had any influence on Kearny’s erroneous decision to send his men into
battle in the early hours of December 6th, when the fog was heavy and
they were still half asleep. Phoebe had no time for Kearny. From all she
had read about him, he seemed an arrogant S.O.B. at best with only his
own interests at heart. Some weeks earlier the famous scout Kit Carson
had joined the dragoons, telling them – mistakenly – that California had
surrendered and was under American control. Kearny was displeased. He
had wanted a chance to show his ‘stuff’. On Carson’s word he sent two-
thirds of his 300 men back the way they had come, and then insisted the
scout escort the remaining 100 men the rest of the way since he knew the
lay of the land. Carson balked but was over-ruled.
After their night at the hacienda the Dragoons again set out, pushing for
Stokes’ Santa Maria Ranch at Ramona. The rain finally lifted, as did
Kearny’s men’s spirits, when they met a group of men under Marine
Lieutenant Archibald Gillespie. From Gillespie the Dragoons learned of
the Californios encamped some six miles away.
That was the moment of decision.
Phoebe had often wondered who Robinson sided with in the heated
discussion that ensued some hours later as to whether or not to confront
the Californios. As General Kearny’s aide, he probably had little choice.
And so it was that a group of 100 rain-drenched, half-starved men, badly
in need of rest, carrying carbine rifles that wouldn’t fire – and were
useless as clubs – went up against a contingent of Mexican patriots under
Andres Pico, riding fine horses and carrying long lances, determined to
protect their homeland from what they saw as American ‘aggressors’.
Captain Abraham Robinson Johnson, as Kearny’s aide, had been chosen
to lead the charge.
He fell within seconds of the battle’s inception, a bullet through his brain.
The above fictional account gives most of the facts of San Pasqual. The
question remains which the novel's heroine raises - was Kearny
grandstanding? Or as Hampton Sides, the author of Blood and Thunder (a
biography of Kit Carson) states, was he simply pushed into a corner with
no other choice but to charge? After all, the only hope Kearny's men had
was the element of surprise. I have read as many eyewitness accounts of
the battle as I can, plus many, many books on it. I tend to think it was a bit
of both. From his subsequent actions in California, following the fiasco at
San Pasqual, General Kearny obviously had an ego and thought he knew
best. I doubt he brooked anyone questioning his choices. He had marched
his men all those miles and they had not fought a single battle. There was
little time to do so before reaching their destination. San Pasqual was an
opportunity to shine. Don't get me wrong, I believe his men were probably
just as ready to fight as he was. They were young, well-trained but
unseasoned, and more than ready to 'show their stuff'. Unfortunately,
Pico's men were better trained at desert fighting, and were defending their
homes. And probably rightly angry.
The Mexican War is one of those moments in American History that is
most often overlooked. With our growing connection with Mexico, it may
be no more. Who were the villains? Who the heroes? For my part I think,
like now in Iraq, that the soldiers on the field were fighting for what they
believed in - protecting the United State's interests and its people, and
defending the native population from what they saw as tyrants and bullies.
The problem with the war lay with the old men back in Washington. What
was their agenda? For President Polk, it was a personal desire to see
America stretch from 'sea to shining sea', and he didn't much care who - or
how many - died to make his vision a reality.
That's the take on San Pasqual from me and Phoebe.
For anyone interested in comparing the eyewitness accounts of the battle, I
am making available the document I compiled as reference for my book.
You can find it HERE.
And please visit these sites concerning the Battle of San Pasqual
San Pasqual Battlefield SHP
San Pasqual Battlefield Site Location Project
Part Six: The Empty Grave