Alexander William Doniphan Doniphan, Alexander William
(dŏnˈĭfən) [key], 1808–87, American lawyer and soldier, b. Mason
co., Ky. He began (1830) to practice law in Lexington, Mo., and
served three terms in the state legislature, becoming involved
in the Mormon issue. In 1838, Doniphan, as brigadier general of
the state militia, was ordered against the Mormons by the
governor but flatly refused to carry out orders to execute
Joseph Smith and other Mormon leaders. At the opening of the
Mexican War he organized a mounted regiment of Missouri
volunteers that formed part of Stephen W. Kearny's force in his
march on Santa Fe. When Kearny continued to California, Doniphan
was left in command in New Mexico, where he subdued and made
peace with the Navajo. In Dec., 1846, turning over the command
at Santa Fe to Sterling Price, Doniphan, on Kearny's orders, set
out with 856 men for Chihuahua to join John Wool's army. Not far
along the way his undisciplined but capable fighting outfit
routed (Dec. 25) the Mexicans in a f