Unit 4: Manifest Destiny and Mexican-American War A Professional Army

Bellwork Review with a partner the limitations and challenges experienced by the use of militia Write down your limitations in your notes

Training of Soldiers U.S. Military Academy 1st branch schools in US Train motivated officers New officer corps Made up of 1812 veterans (increased sense of identification as professionals)

Organizing an Army William H. Crawford, Secretary of War, 1815-16

Changes Under Crawford General Staff- a group of officers who assist a commander of a division or larger by disseminating his policies, transmitting orders, and overseeing their execution Pushed for retention of General Staff Add Quartermaster General to management staff in Washington Increase Corps of Engineers Special Staff- all staff officers who have duties not included in the general or personal staff group. Ex. Anti-aircraft officer, transportation, technical specialists Changes Under Crawford

Changes Under Congress Formation of efficient peacetime army by Congress 10,000 men + Engineer Corp vs. 3,220 under Jefferson Organization Two divisions Southern (5 territorial departments) commanded by Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson Northern (4 territorial departments) commanded by Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown

Changes Under Congress ~$800k for coastal protection $115k for buildings at West Point $22k for books, maps, and instruments Expanded curriculum at West Point

Changes Under Congress Some changes never occurred No attempt to revise regulations on militia training Most department branches kept (though with more staff) 1820s- Some changes redacted Army size decreased to 8,000 New Secretary of War John C. Calhoun

1st Seminole War British convince Creeks (“Red Sticks”) that the Treaty of Ghent returned their land to them NAs attack settlement in Georgia and supply ship in Apalachicola Bay December 1817- Jackson sent to Fort Hawkins ahead of his troops Contractor meant to supply men failed to procure supplies Jackson orders further stores from New Orleans

1st Seminole War Main objective: Indian settlement on the Suwannee River Jackson builds Ft. Gadsden and takes Spanish Ft. St. Marks for the sake of resupply Supply lines delay Jackson’s main force until April 11 Natives able to escape settlement before Jackson arrived Jackson instead seizes Penascola

1st Seminole War Breakdown of supply system most significant aspect Jackson devoted all efforts to supplying troops Failure of civilian contractors Army develops a Subsistence Department Also, deal with Spain gives the US Florida in Feb. 1819

Arbuthnot and Ambrister incident, 1818

Changes Under Calhoun The Expansible Army Reduction Act (1821)- army size cut in half (5,500); officer corp cut by 1/5 General Brown only remaining Maj. Gen. Allows Army to expand further while approaching war North/South Divisions replaced with East/West General Brown chosen to become the Commanding General of the Army (lacking during War of 1812) John C. Calhoun

Changes Under Calhoun Other changes General Recruiting Service formed; enlisted 67% more men than regiment did New manual of infantry tactics (authored by Gen. Winfield Scott) 1st commissioned Surgeon General Daily weather reports required Emphasis on coastal fortifications and heavy artillery John C. Calhoun

First complete artillery system Three categories Field Siege and Garrison Seacoast Stock-trail carriage created and used for cannons

US Military Academy Vital in maintaining professional officers Bvt Maj. Sylvanus Taylor sent to Europe to study foreign military schools Military education enhanced Improved curriculum (1824)- Artillery School at Ft. Monroe; first specialist schools (1826)- Infantry School of Practice Bvt Maj. Sylvanus Taylor, Father of the Military Academy

Exit Ticket What changes to the military could be said to have improved logistics before and after the 1st Seminole War? How was logistics improved?

2nd Seminole War, 1835-1842 Dade Massacre (1835) Differences between two conflicts Failure of transportation, not supplies Troublesome commanders (General Scott and General Gaines) Alienation of locals Scott vs. Jesup Battle of Okeechobee New tactics