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Show o 7 ofe™sie* ot 2.6 e+ ns . ee pl * lh tal al id Pte oo - erp? Pre ee ed a *«ee ee en *« tee ee TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO by talion of Mexican troops which was occupied in protecting the caravans on the Santa Fé Trail. Colonel Viscarra filled the position of jefe politico the first time until the month of June, 1823, and again served as acting jefe politico during a portion of the year 1828. In the last named year he was inspector-general of the Mexican forces in the territory. In the year 1829, under an arrangement made between the gOvernment of the United States and the republic of Mexico, it was agreed that detachments of United States troops would guard the great caravans moving from western Missouri to Santa Fé, as far as the Arkansas river, the boundary between the possessions of the United States and those of Mexico under the treaty of 1819. Pursuant to this agreement four companies of the Sixth U. S. Infantry marched across the great plains to a point on the Arkansas near what was known as Chouteau island.1¢ One of the officers with this detachment was Lieutenant Philip St. George Cooke,?® afterward a general in the army of the United States and an officer under General Kearny in 1846. The battalion was under the com- mand of Major Bennett Riley.’* The republic of Mexico undertook 14 Chouteau Island was at the upper ford of the present town of Hartland, Kearny county, Kansas. Arkansas, just above the The name of the island dates from the disastrous expedition of 1815-181 Chouteau, a trader from St. Louis, Missouri, retreated to the island 7,and when resisted an attack from the Indians, finally making his escape. *6 General Philip St. George Cooke was born in Virginia in 1809, and graduated from the military academy at West Point in 1827. He was an officer in the United States army forty-six years. His first active service was in the Black Hawk War, wherein he served with the regulars at the battle of Bad Axe August 1, 1832; the next year he was appointed lieutenant in the dragoons, and captain Kearny two years later. During the war with Mexico, with General in New Mexico and California, returning in time heto was enter the City of Mexico with General Scott, in 1848. At beginning of the Civil War, decided for the Union, and commanded the the cavalry in the peninsular campaignhe . At the close of the war he was successively command er of the departments of the Platte, and of the Great Lakes, retiring in 1873. He died March 20, 1895. He wrote two books, Scenes and Adventures in the Army, and Conquest of New Mexico and California. “® Major Bennett Riley was born in Virginia in 1787 and entered the army a8 an ensign, from Maryland, in 1813. He was commissioned a captain in 1818 and was breveted major in 1828 for long and efficient service. He was a great Indian In fighter and was the Mexican War he distinguished for his bravery in the Seminole was a trusted lieutenant of General Scott, who War. gave Major Riley great credit for his prowess and Cerro Gordo. He was made a brigadier-general in 1848 and at in Monterey 1849 was sent to Californ ia in Command of the division of the west; torial governor and aided in forming i Buffalo, N. Y., in 1853. in California he acted as the last territhe constitution of the state. He died |