Page 221 - Family History

Internet Information and Links

As to Todos Santos – the battle he fought in that he listed on his pension
application, there are numerous colorful histories and accounts on this. I

encourage anyone interested in reading further about it to Google: Todos
Santos Mexican-American War. The following excerpts are from one such
example:

Captain (“Black Jack”) Henry Naglee and 114 recruits detached from Companies C and D of the
First Regiment of the New York Volunteers arrived at La Paz on March 22 on the storeship
Isabella. Colonel Burton could now move against the enemy without leaving La Paz open. On
March 26, Burton and 217 men set out for Todos Santos, about fifty-five miles southwest on the
Pacific coast.

William R. Ryan described the appearance of the cavalry at the beginning of the march:

“We had all sorts of costumes, some military, some Californian, some wearing a hybrid between
the two, others habited after a fashion more decidely brigandish than anything else, but the
majority of us appearing much the worse for our rough journey through the thorns, whilst many
were literally in rags.”

On March 27, the first day out, an advance party of fifteen captured Pineda (a Mexican
commander) at San Antonio (Mexico – not Texas). On March 30, as the expedition neared Todos
Santos, Burton sent Captain Naglee and forty-five men to attach the enemy from the rear. Some
200 to 300 Mexicans and Vaqui Indians occupied a hill in the path of Burton’s advancing forces.
When they fired on Burton’s men, Naglee’s company charged them from behind. Burton
reported this engagement cost the Mexican’s ten men, the Americans none.

With Todos Santos secured, Burton sent Naglee and fifty men toward Magdalena Bay, about
150 miles northwest on the Pacific coast, to cut off the enemy's retreat while he led the
remaining soldiers back to La Paz, arriving April 7. With Burton were Pineda, six officers, and
103 noncommissioned officers and privates as prisoners.

The fight for Baja California lasted eighteen month. During this time, President Polk,
Commodores Stockton and Shubrick, and Commander Montgomery promised that Baja
California would become part of the United States. Ironically, the American successes at Todos
Santos and in mopping-up operations came after the signing in Mexico City, on Februrary 2,
1848 of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which did not allow United States possession of Baja
California.

Finally, while researching more on this at the library, I discovered another of

Corgan’s war documents – now easier to decipher with the background research:

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