Mexican War (1846-1848)
and the Indian Wars

The Citadel was still in its infancy and had not graduated its first class when the United States declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846. Maj Richard W. Colcock, Superintendent of The Citadel, West Point class of 1826, volunteered the services of the new military college to prepare South Carolina's troops for war. Maj Colcock was a ten year veteran of the Indian Wars in the far west, and a former Instructor of Military Tactics at West Point. Known as the "Father of The Citadel as a School of Arms," Maj Colcock along with the faculty/staff developed a new curriculum for the 1846 Military Session in preparation for the Mexican War. The Citadel pioneered the use of Cadet Drill Instructors, also known as "Drillmasters," to teach militia units. The entire college to include the Corps of Cadets and faculty were used to train and prepare militia units for war during the annual Military Session. The 1846 Military Session (MS) began in early November and ended on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1846.

South Carolina raised a volunteer regiment of infantry, known as the Palmetto Regiment. The Palmetto Regiment was trained and prepared for the Mexican War by Citadel Cadets in 1846. This new "drillmaster" concept originated at The Citadel and was used again to train and prepare troops for the Civil War 15 years later. On Nov 20, 1846, members of the Corps of Cadets and the Palmetto Regiment observed the first Commencement Ceremony for the first class to graduate from The Citadel. Six men graduated with the class of 1846 and all of them assisted the officers of the Palmetto Regiment in preparation for the Mexican War.

Several Citadel Cadets were granted furlough to join the Palmetto Regiment. The Citadel-trained regiment arrived in Texas in December 1846 and then proceeded south to fight the Mexican Army. The Palmetto Regiment's flag, introduced at The Citadel, was the first U.S. flag to fly over Mexico City on Sept 13, 1847. Seventeen Citadel Cadets served in Texas and fought in the Mexican War in the Palmetto Regiment. Eleven cadets (65%) were casualties of war. Six cadets died, they were: Allen H. Little (severely wounded at Garita de Belen, later died of these wounds), Joseph H. Howell (killed at the Battle of Puebla), Judah Alexander (died at Perote, Mexico), McBelton O'Nealle (died of wounds at the Battle of Churubrusco), Pearcall N. Graham (died of wounds received in Mexico City), and Eugene A. Wilder (killed at the Battle of Churubrusco). Five cadets were wounded: Zachariah Cantey (wounded at Puebla), John Campbell (wounded at Mexico City), Thomas J. Mackey (wounded at Mexico City), James A. Parnell (wounded at Mexico City), and Robert Redford (wounded in Mexico City). Cadet Allen H. Little returned to Charleston and graduated from The Citadel as First Honor Graduate, class of 1852. His severe wounds eventually led to his death in 1854. Little was only 22 years old when he passed away and was a lawyer and principal of a large school. He was the first graduate to die as a result of war wounds.

The last major celebration of victory in Mexico occurred on Friday, March 9, 1849 during the visit of U. S. President James K. Polk to Charleston. Governor Whitemarsh B. Seabrook, Gen Jamison, Adjutant General of South Carolina, Maj Richard W. Colcock, Superintendent of The Citadel, and other distinguished state officials met the President at the Wharf upon his arrival. A grand parade was held at The Citadel for the President in which he remarked in his diary: "I had never before witnessed a military procession of more imposing appearance. South Carolina is remarkable for the attention paid to the discipline of her militia."

The first Citadel graduate to serve in Texas arrived in San Antonio and south Texas during the spring of 1847. He came to fight in the Mexican War (1846-1848). Second Lieutenant William J. Magill, class of 1846, served as a cavalry officer with the 3rd U.S. Dragoons. He was a member of The Citadel's first graduating class and the first graduate to serve in the U.S. Army. Lt Magill was handpicked by General Zachary Taylor to prepare volunteers in Texas for war in 1847. He served honorably and fought in many battles including the Battle of Monterrey in northern Mexico and served in the Army of Occupation in Mexico City (1847-1848). He later served as Commandant of Cadets, Kentucky Military Institute, and Georgia Military Institute until the Civil War began. During the Civil War, Col Magill commanded the Second Regiment of Georgia Infantry and was severely wounded in the Battle of Sharpsburg, losing his sword arm at the shoulder. After the war, he became a judge and citrus farmer. He died in 1890.

Two Citadel Alumni were killed by Indians on the Texas frontier. Lt William M. Davant, class of 1852, an Officer in the Texas Mounted Volunteers, was killed during the Callahan Expedition on Oct 1, 1855. His unit was ambushed by Lipan Apache Indians while crossing the Rio Grande near Fort Duncan, TX. A temporary Army Post, Camp Davant, located near Bandera, TX was named in his honor. After the Civil War, William P. Goodman, class of 1868, a Cadet Veteran of the Battle of Williamston, was killed and scalped by Indians in the Red River area of north Texas on May 4, 1873. Despite the dangers in the Texas frontier, many continued to settle in Texas.

Several other graduates served and settled in Texas and the San Antonio area during the early years of the college including: E. L. Heriot, class of 1847, J.T. Zealy and J.A. Walker, class of 1849, H. N. Wheaton, class of 1850, H.D. Garden, class of 1857, W.S. Simkins, class of 1861, SoriginCitadel.html.D. Steedman, class of 1862, C.H. Rice, class of 1864, and N.W. Steedman, class of 1864. All of these men served honorably in the Civil War and as distinguished citizens of the Lone Star State. As citizens, they served as lawyers, politicians, judges, engineers, and one of the founding fathers of the University of Texas Law School, William S. Simkins, class of 1861. Simkins Hall at the University of Texas at Austin is named in his honor. As a cadet, Simkins was a member of the Star of the West Battery and spotted the USS Star of the West as it approached Charleston harbor on January 9, 1861. The ship was sent by the U.S. Government to provide 200 combat ready soldiers to augment Ft Sumter in Charleston harbor. Cadet Simkins was on guard duty, and spotted the ship during the early morning hours. Citadel Cadets fired the first shots of the U.S. Civil War just a few minutes after Simkins sounded the alarm.

Birth of The Citadel      Civil War