This is a list of United States military units that participated in the Mexican–American War. The list includes regular U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Revenue Marine Service units and ships as well as the units of the militia that various states recruited for the war. The commanding officer of each unit or ship is identified when there are references with content that aids identification. Dates are included when they are available in the references.
Regular U.S. Army regiments serving in Mexico from 1846 to 1848
Regiments of dragoons 1st Regiment of Dragoons, Colonel Richard B. MasonRobarts, pp 10–12 2nd Regiment of Dragoons, Colonel William S. Harney 3rd Regiment of Dragoons, Colonel Edward G. W. Butler, (appointed from Louisiana)
Mounted riflemen Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, Colonel Persifor F. SmithRobarts, pp 12–13
Regiments of artillery 1st Regiment of Artillery, Lt. Colonel Benjamin K. PierceRobarts, pp 13–17 2nd Regiment of Artillery, Colonel James Monroe Bankhead 3rd Regiment of Artillery, Colonel William Gates 4th Regiment of Artillery, Lt. Colonel Matthew M. Payne
Regiments of infantry
1st Regiment of Infantry, Colonel William DavenportRobarts, pp 17–24 2nd Regiment of Infantry, Lt. Colonel Bennet Riley 3rd Regiment of Infantry, Lt. Colonel Ethan A. Hitchcock 4th Regiment of Infantry, Lt. Colonel John Garland 5th Regiment of Infantry, Lt. Colonel James S. Mcintosh 6th Regiment of Infantry, Colonels: Zachary Taylor; Newman S. Clarke 7th Regiment of Infantry, Lt. Colonel Joseph Plympton 8th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel William J. Worth
Regiments of infantry, 1847 These units were raised according to an act of Congress, 11 February 1847 for an enlistment period of one year. 9th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel Truman B. Ransom, (appointed from Vermont)Robarts, pp 24–34 10th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel Robert E. Temple, (appointed from New York) 11th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel Albert C. Ramsey, (appointed from Pennsylvania) 12th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel Milledge L. Bonham, (appointed from South Carolina) 13th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel Robert M. Echols, (appointed from Georgia) 14th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel William Trousdale, (appointed from Tennessee) 15th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel George W. Morgan, (appointed from Ohio) 16th Regiment of Infantry, Colonel John W. Tibbatts, (appointed from Kentucky) Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen, Colonel Timothy P. Andrews, (appointed from District of Columbia)
Volunteer units serving in Mexico from 1846 to 1848
Alabama Battalion of Alabama Volunteers, for 3 months (4 companies); May–August 1846. Lt. Colonel Phillip H. RaifordRobarts, pp 39–40 Battalion of Alabama Volunteers, for the duration of the war with Mexico (5 companies); November and December 1847 – June 1848. Major John I. Seibels 3 Independent Companies of Alabama Volunteers, for 6 months; received for 3 months, May–August 1846: 1st Independent Company of Alabama Volunteers, for 6 months; Captain Robert Desha 2nd Independent Company of Alabama Volunteers, for 6 months; Captain William H. Platt 3rd Independent Company of Alabama Volunteers, for 6 months; Captain Rush Elmore Independent Company of Alabama Mounted Volunteers, for the duration; June 1847 – July 1848. Captain James McGee
Arkansas
Regiment of Arkansas Mounted Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – June 1847. Colonels: Archibald Yell (killed at Buena Vista); John S. Roane (Lt. Colonel to 28 February 1847)Robarts, pp 40–41 Independent Companies of Arkansas Mounted Volunteers in the Mexican War: 1st Independent Company, Arkansas Mounted Volunteers; 27 May 1847 – 24 June 1848. Captain Gaston Meares (late Lt. Colonel Arkansas Volunteer Regiment) 2nd Independent Company, Arkansas Mounted Volunteers; 15 June 1847 – June 1848. Captain Stephen B. Enyart; Served in New Mexico, and on the Rio Grande
California
Battalions of California Volunteers, for 3 and for 6 months; recruited in July and October 1846 – April 1847. Lt. Colonel Commanding John C. Fremont (Bvt. Captain Topographic Engineers and Major of Volunteers, 23 July and 26 October 1846 – 19 April 1847)Robarts, pp 40–41 Mounted Rifle Company A. Captain Richard Owens Mounted Rifle Company B. Captain Henry S. Ford Mounted Rifle Company C. Captain Granville P. Swift Mounted Rifle Company D. Captain John Sears Mounted Rifle Company E. Captain John Grigsby Mounted Rifle Company F. Captain Lansford W. Hastings Mounted Rifle Company G. Captain B. K. Thompson Mounted Rifle Company H. Captain Richard T. Jacobs (Spy Company chiefly of native Indians) Artillery Company A. Captain John K. Wilson (Midshipman U.S. Navy) Artillery Company. Captain William Findlay Mounted Rifle Company. Captain Samuel Gibson (wounded at San Pasqual) Company of Native Californians. Captain Santiago E. Arguello
Florida 1st Independent Company of Florida Volunteers, for 12 months; February 1847 – March 1848. Captain William W. J. Kelly; Served at Guadaloupe and Santa Fe, MexicoRobarts, p 42 2nd Independent Company of Florida Volunteers, for the duration; August 1847 – July 1848. Captains: K. G. Livingston, (died 9 February 1848 at Guadaloupe, Mexico); George Holmes (2nd Lieutenant to March 1848)
Georgia Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – May 1847. Colonel Henry R. JacksonRobarts, pp 42–43 Battalion of Georgia Volunteers, for the duration, (5 companies); July 1847 – July 1848. Lt. Colonel Isaac G. Seymour Battalion of Georgia Mounted Volunteers, for the duration, (6 companies); September 1847 – July 1848. Lt. Colonel James S. Calhoun (late Capt. in Jackson's Regt.) Independent Company of Georgia Mounted Men; May 1847 – August 1848. Captain John Loyall
Illinois 1st Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – June 1847. Colonels: John J. Hardin (Killed at BuenaVista); William Weatherford (Lt. Colonel to 26 February 1847)Robarts, pp 43–47 2nd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – June 1847. Colonel William H. Bissell 3rd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, for 12 months; July 1846 – May 1847. Colonel Ferris Foreman 4th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, for 12 months; July 1846 – May 1847. Colonel Edward D. Baker 1st Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, for the duration; June 1847 – October 1848. Colonel Edward W. B. Newby 2nd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, for the duration; August 1847 – July 1848. Colonel James Collins Independent Companies of Illinois Mounted Volunteers: 1st Company Illinois Mounted Volunteers; 21 May 1847 – 7 November 1848. Captain Adams Dunlap (served with Brigadier General Wool) 2nd Company Illinois Mounted Volunteers; August 1847 – 26 July 1848. Captain Wyatt B. Stapp 3rd Company Illinois Mounted Volunteers; 13 August 1847 – 26 October 1848. Captain Michael K. Lawler (served with Brigadier General Wool) 4th Company Illinois Mounted Volunteers; 13 September 1847 – 25 July 1848. Captain Josiah Littell
Indiana 1st Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – June 1847. Colonel James P. DrakeRobarts, pp 47–50 2nd Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – June 1847. Colonels: Joseph Lane (appointed Brigadier General U.S. Volunteers, 1 July 1846); William A. Bowles 3rd Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – June 1847. Colonel James H. Lane 4th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for the duration; June 1847 – July 1848. Colonel Willis A. Gorman (late Major of J. H. Lane's Regt.) 5th Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, for the duration; October 1847 – July 1848. Colonel James H. Lane (late Colonel 3rd Regiment Indiana 12 months Volunteers)
Iowa Battalion of Iowa "Mormon" Volunteers, for 12 months, (5 companies); recruited and mustered at Council Bluffs, Indian Territory on 16 July 1846 and discharged 16 July 1847 at Los Angeles; Lt. Colonels: James Allen (Captain 1st U.S. Dragoons, died at Fort Leavenworth 23 August 1846); acting commander Jefferson Hunt (senior Captain, Co A, Mormon Battalion, from 23 to 29 August 1846); Andrew Jackson Smith (1st Lieutenant 1st Dragoons, acting 30 August 1846 to 12 October 1846); Philip St. George Cooke (Captain 1st Dragoons, 13 October 1846 – 13 May 1847 when he relinquished command of the battalion to accompany Gen. Stephen W. Kearny back to Ft. Leavenworth); acting commander Jefferson Hunt (senior Captain, Co A, Mormon Battalion, from 13 May to 16 July 1847).Fleek p 287
The Mormon Battalion was recruited as a federal volunteer unit, not through the state of Iowa which was not created until December 1846. The Mormon Battalion was raised at the express invitation of President James K. Polk, not as part of any state or territorial requisition for troops.Polk, p 109
The contemporary official Army documents refer to the unit in the following ways; Prior to Allen recruiting the unit as, "Capt. Allen's Battalion of Volunteers".Von Sachsen-Altenburg & Gabiger, p 153 As the new unit was being recruited and mustered into service, its first commander, James Allen, signed official documents with the name he gave the unit, "Mormon Battalion",James Allen Letter General Stephen Watts Kearny, in letters of reply to the unit used Allen's naming convention, calling it the "Battalion of Mormons" and "Mormon Battalion"Von Sachsen-Altenburg & Gabiger, p 173 P. St. George Cooke, commanding the battalion under orders from Gen Kearny used the name, "Mormon Battalion" when reporting troop strengths in California.Post Returns, Los Angeles, March and April 1847
Kentucky Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – July 1847. Colonel Humphrey Marshall (former 2nd Lt 1. U.S. Dragoons.)Robarts, pp 51–53 1st Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers, for 12 months, "Louisville Legion"; May 1846 – May 1847. Colonel Stephen Ormsby 2nd Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers, for 12 months; June 1846 – June 1847. Colonels: William R. McKee (former 1st Lt. 3rd. U.S. Artillery, killed.); Lt. Colonel Henry Clay, Jr. (former 2nd Lt. 2nd. U.S. Artillery, killed); Major Gary H. Fry (former 2nd Lt, 3rd. U.S. Infantry) 3rd Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers, for the duration; October 1847 – July 1848. Colonel Manlius V. Thomson 4th Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, for the duration; October 1847 – July 1848. Colonel John S. Williams (late Capt. of Independent Company) Independent Company of Kentucky Volunteers; May 1846 – May 1847. Captain John S. Williams (served with the 6th U.S. Infantry)
Louisiana Louisiana Battalion of Volunteer Artillery, for 3 months; (2 companies); 21 August – November 1845. Major Louis GailyRobarts, pp 53–56 2nd Battalion of Louisiana Volunteer Artillery, for 6 months, (3 companies), received for 3 months, May–July 1846. Major Louis Gaily (commander 1st Battery) Brigade of Louisiana Volunteers, for 6 months, (6 regiments); received, for 3 months. May and June–August 1846. Brigadier General Persifor F. Smith 1st Regiment, P. F. Smith's brigade of Louisiana Volunteers. Colonel James B. Walton 2d Regiment, P. F. Smith's brigade of Louisiana Volunteers. Colonel James H. Dakin 3rd Regiment, P. F. Smith's brigade of Louisiana Volunteers. Colonel Samuel F. Marks 4th Regiment, P. F. Smith's brigade of Louisiana Volunteers. Colonel Horatio Davis 5th Regiment, P. F. Smith's brigade of Louisiana Volunteers. Colonel Baillie Peyton Independent Company of Louisiana Volunteers, for 12 months; July 1846 – May 1847. Captain Albert G. Blanchard (former 1st Lieutenant in 3rd U.S. Infantry, and Captain 3rd Louisiana Volunteers) Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, for the duration; December 1846 – July 1848. Colonel Louis G. De Russy (formerly Capt. U.S. Artillery and Paymaster) Battalion of Louisiana Volunteers, for the duration, (5 companies); May 1847 – July 1848. Lt. Colonel Charles Fiesca (late Major 4th Regiment Louisiana Volunteers)