New York Volunteers

History

Seventh Regiment

In 1846, President Polk offered Colonel Jonathan D. Stevenson the command of a regiment of volunteers to be raised as part of the American occupation army during the Mexican-American War in California. On the August 1, 1846, the regiment was called into Federal service as the "Seventh" New York Volunteers with the understanding that they would muster and stay in California.

Stevenson raised a volunteer regiment of ten companies of 77 men each including 537 Mormons who volunteer to serve as soldiers on August 9, 1846. Around the same time the Mormon church petitions President Polk not to appoint Lilburn W. Boggs governor of California.

Stevenson with his Regiment of New York Volunteers sailed around Cape Horn for California on September 26, 1846, and arrived at San Francisco March 7, 1847.

First Regiment

During the Summer of 1848, Colonel R.B. Mason re-designated Colonel Stevenson's "Seventh" regiment as the "First Regiment of New York Volunteers".

Company C in Sonoma

In April 1847, General Stephen W. Kearny discharges the members of the California Battalion at San Gabriel Mission. Subsequently Company C of the Seventh Regiment of New York Volunteers is assigned to occupy Sonoma under Captain John E. Brackett.

On August 25, 1848, the New York Volunteers are moved back to San Francisco from Sonoma after many desert. It is unclear if there is any relation to the renaming of the regiment with the recall though they occur in proximity to one another in time.