I was not exactly, shall we say, enthused about reading a 50 page article about the last days of Spanish/Mexican rule in the southwest this evening. Then I came across the name of Edward Burleson, and thought about my friend Wade Burleson, a direct descendant. Then as I continued to read, the article turned to the actions of one General Stephen Watts Kearny, who is an ancestor of my family (even though the last name is spelled a little differently). I was aware of many of General Kearnys exploits in the southwest, but not aware that he led the battle which led to the capture of a little village called Los Angeles, California. In true family fashion, when another general was appointed governor of California, General Kearny fumed and ranted. Eventually, the president of the United States ordered that Kearny would be governor. Then, Governor Kearny ordered that his rival be arrested and tried before a military tribunal. He was convicted and given a stiff sentence. That sounds about right.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 23:27:37 +0000