As part of its strategy to gain control of Mexico's northern provinces, the War Department ordered Colonel Stephen Watts Kearny to seize New Mexico. He then received new orders from Washington, promoting him to the rank of brigadier general and instructing him to aid in the conquest of California. For more information, see Kearny's March.
Route Description: The route starts at Fort Leavenworth and proceeds west to Bent's Fort in what is currently Colorado. It then turns southwest to Las Vegas, New Mexico with a stop in Santa Fe before continuing to Albuquerque. It then turns south to Socorro and west to San Diego, California before ending in Los Angeles.