<^0 -iC ^;^x-.c^^:-:«: ' Lieutenant Colonel Duncan, i:>0 Major General Pillow, 131 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS, Burning of the Creole. The most brilliant exploit of the war was, doubtless, the burning of the Mexican Schooner "Creole," under the wails of the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, by Lieutenant Parker, since deceased. It was boldly and gallantly done, and evinced the ripeness of our navy for deeds of utmost daring. There was a touch of downright " devil may care " courage about the transaction which is as refreshing as the adven- tures of ancient knight errantry. The United States Brig Somers lay about four miles from the Castle ; having been left by the rest of the squad- ron, (which was absent on the Tampico expedition,) to keep up the l)lockade of Vera Cruz. The inactive and monot- onous life of those on board the Somers, led them to form enterprizes to relieve themselves from the excessive ennui of tlieir situation ; and the feasibility of burning the Creole at her moorings, as she lay within pistol shot of the Castle, had been frequently discussed, and it was finally executed in the most brilliant and successful manner, by three officers and five men, in a single boat. The officers engaged were Lieutenant J. L. Parker, and Passed Midshipmen J. R. Hynson and Robert C. Rog- ers. The affair was finally started on the impulse ot the moment, without the cognizance of either the Captain or the first Lieutenant. Several officers of the vessel, who were in the secret of the plot, were extremely anxious to participate in its execution, but the limited accommodations of the 10 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. boat, united with the probability of having prisoners to bring back, besides her own crew, precluded more than three officers going with prudence. When the little party left the Somers at Sacrificios, they counted upon the setting of the moon before the moment of attack ; but as the boat's crew approached a point where the proximity to the enemy made it as hazardous to pause as to proceed; the queen of the night was still beaming just above a cloudless horizon. When within three or four boat lengths of the Creole, however, she sank behind the distant high- lands, but her disappearance only served to disclose another in the large revolving beacon light of the castle, which, at the distance of less than one hundred yards, threw its intense glare directly upon the boat. One of the officers, in describing its appearance as he gazed upon the apparently innumerable dazzling panes, as they turned one after another, remarked that they looked to him like ten thousand illuminated wheelbar- rows going round and round. Thus they could hardly hope to escape detection, supposing it was feasible to board at any point. The little party ran upon the larboard beam of the Creole, and passed within about seventy-five yards of the British mail steamer Clyde, from which vessel they were repeatedly hailed. The Clyde was, fortunately, to windward, however, and was not at all incommoded or endangered by the opera- tions about to be undertaken. There were three men leaning on the railing of the Creole as they came alongside, to whom Lieutenant Parker, who spoke their language like a native, represented himself as sent upon business by a friendly merchant vessel lying at Sacrifi- cios. This quieted the Mexicans for a moment, but a clash- ing of the arms of the party, as they clambered up the ves- sel's sides, alarmed them again, and they at once hailed their brother sentinels on the castle walls. The alarm bell was rung, there was a rapid passing to and fro on the battlements. BURNING OF THE CREOLE. 11 and a display of lights in different parts of the town ; yet the little party persevered in their efforts, mounted the decks of the schooner, and secured every man on board, to the amount of seven, prisoners, and proceeded to lay the train for setting her on fire ; the first attempt failed ; the light was then acci- dentally extinguished — everything looked ominous of failure. The use of firearms would have provoked the fire of the castle. One of the Mexicans was forced to find fire with a pistol at his head. It was a bright coal, and it was on the point of going out. To save the last chance, Mr. Hynson then poured powder from his hand and succeeded, but he was considerably burned. After getting into the boat, it was feared that the fire would not burn, when the officers returned to make all sure by making a second fire ; and, it is said, that having no other material, they tore up their shirt tails, which burned remarkably well. The American shirts have been put to a good many uses during the present war ; at Tuspan a part of one was a flag of truce, at the Resaca they served to bind up wounds, and at Vera Cruz assisted in burning the Creole. As they cast off from the burning vessel, and when still within pistol-shot of the castle, and with the muzzles of the huge guns plainly visible, the party gave three hearty cheers. These failing to provoke a single gun, the impatience of the gallant tars vented itself in curses. It would appear that the Mexicans from the incessant ringing of bells, must have ap- prehended a general attack, and were too intently engaged in mustering and flying about to discover the little boat's crew. The whole affair appears afterwards to have annoyed them immeasureably, while, at the same time, it would go far to shevv that the guns of vSan Juan de Uloa offered little protection unless the garrison have vigilance to discover an enemy, and presence of mind enough to fire upon him after he is seen. The suspicions of the Mexicans, as might be expected, 12 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. under the first impulse of exasperation, and reckless of rea- son or truth, they are said to have gratuitously charged the English with aiding the Americans by hoisting a light — a light — a falsehood hcirdly deserving of contradiction. A light was hoisted by the Somers, which the alarm of the enemy must have magnified into two. The Mexicans have, how- ever, become very vigilant since the occurrence, and a few nights afterwards fired upon what must have been some prom- inent rocks of the reef close by, mistaking them for boats ! Givins^ the Countersiorn, Onje of that fiiie regiment, popularly spoken of as Colonel Stevenson's California boys, was put on guard by way of ini- tiating him into the mysteries of a sentinel's duties. With the pass-word — "Newport" — were given to him strict injunc- tions to shoot the first man approaching or departing from the island, who did not pronounce the shibboleth of the hour. The raw youth shouldered his musket, and soon all sounds were hushed save the echo of his own solitary walk, as mo- notonously he trod the beaten path. But anon and the sound o( footsteps, and then a heavy plunge into the water caught his ear, and running to the spot, he hailed in the direction of the sound, " HoUoo — who goes there?" "A friend," was the prompt reply. " Then if you be a friend say Newport, or I'll shoot." Great was the laughter^ and not small the vexation of the sergeant of the guard, who was in a tent near the speaker. Of course he had to call in the whole of the guard, and change the countersign. MAKING A PRIEST DRUNK. 13 MiiJcing a Priest Druiilc, Mendicanl Priests are constantly going about the streets ot' all the cities of Mexico, begging alms for the "Holy Virgin," carrying a little tin box to receive the gifts of the benevolent. One of these entered a restaurant jnst after a score or more of American officers had dined ; all in that peculiar mellow- ness of humor which a good dinner seldom fails to excite in a set of fellows who are not epicures, but, still admirers of "wot is good ;" and this, added to the gurgling of the wine that was hissing around, besides numerous other strong drink?, embracing the whole vocabulary of punch and toddy, had placed the drinkers in what might be termed the quintessence of a jolly state ; not drunk. Oh, no ! Gentlemen never get drunk ! Gentlemen only get merry ! Very merry, sometime?, however ! The tin box was protruded. The reverend father raised his pious visage toward heaven, muttering several words that nobody understood ; though, quite likely, invocations to scores of saints (whose pronunciation would be more difficult than the pronunciation of Webster's unpronouncable Dictionary,) to hear his pious prayers, and open the hearts of these sinning rascals who came to rob the church, and cause their purses to pour like a golden shower into the reception box of the lord ! Praiseworthy occupation, truly ! And the priest seemed desirous of testing the belief or benevolence of his company, for he immediately petitions in a mixture of English and Spanish to "give a mite for the souls of the wretched." Captain who generally undertook to be spokes- man of the party, in trying circumstances, being peculiarly gifted with the properties of blarney. In proof of which prop- erties of blarney, it is related, that said Captain stopped the entire fire of a Mexican battery of six 8 pounders, at Cerro Gordo, by running up to the gunners as they were applying the match to the touch-hole, and telling them in Spanish that *'they were d d fools, frightening themselves so, firing 14 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. off cannon, wasting so much powder, just to blow to flinders the heads of those good fellows coming up the hill, yonder, who would give each one of them a flask of good liquor, a knapsack of pork and crackers, and safe quarters to boot ! He'd pledge his word to that ! that he would ! and he would cut his own noddle off just so, if there was any failure in the treaty." At the same time clipping a Mexican's head in corroboration of his assertion. His men coming up in the meantime, enabled the courageous captain to give the Mex- icans safe quarters, and the extras too, that is, if his men itmuld ratify the treaty ! "Mr. Priest Sackcloth! you're a priest, you are! I'm a soldier, I am ! You want some "rhino!" I've got the article damme! Ax the same time producing a handful of "pica- yunes" "bits" "etc." Now, Sir Sackcloth, I venerate your calling ! so much like our own — robbing d — n fools ! But, you're a Catholic — we "is'nt!" We like a horn — you "dos'nt" Now, if you'll take a horn, we'll take a little Catholicism ; that is, pay the dimes, the quintessence of Catholicism." The Priest was no drunkard, not he indeed ; though the usual prescription for monkish head-ache is a little brandytoddy made hot — very hot, with a nun to pour it. — But, "here was an honorable compromise,"* it was no harm, surely, to drink in the cause of the Virgin ? So thought the priest, and swallowed a stiff horn. The benevolent feelings of the entire company were awakened, and "picayunes" and 'bits' chinked into the box, and *horn' after 'horn' flowed down the pious father's throat, calling forth, as it gurgled in his mouth, myriads of blessings on the patrons of the holy saints. The priest's visage warmed into a natural glow ; and the liquor ran down his throat as if there had been a stream run- Here was an honorable compromise, A halfway house of diplomatic trust, Where they might meet in much more peaceful guise, And Juan now his willingness exprest Don Juan. DEATH OF COL. SCOTT. 15 ning that way all his hfe, as the pence had into his tin box. The pious father became jolly, and went around the com- pany dancing a jig, rather than a saintly walk, and singing his prayers to the Virgin in good round numbers. And he now took the 'horn' not caring much whether the ' bit' went into the can or not. He had got round the company, and was pretty full of 'horns' and 'bits', but still he seemed loth to depart. He did not find such philanthro- pists every day. "More — hie — tod — hie — dy ! — hie — more — hie — bits — hie !" Essayed the priest. "Jolly old Friar !*' Began one of the company. The priest caught the strain, and sallied into the street, with his tin box in one hand, and with the other donned his canoed beaver to his generous pat- trons ; yet in replacing it, he could not get it to ride other- wise than aslant, and thus he wielded his tin box, singing as be went along, his beaver topling on one side — "Jolly old Friar !" The grief of an old Soldier at the death of his Comma?ider, Col. Martin Scott. Passing over the batde-field of Molino del Rey, immedi- ately after our victorious standard had been planted on the enemy's works, where lay the dead and wounded mingled together, my attention was attracted to different places, by the scenes of grief and sorrow — scenes which pained my feelings and shocked my sight — there I found many acquain- tances, dead and wounded, whom I had seen but a short time previous full of health, and with buoyant spirits, marching at the head of their commands, in the strong hope of soon, by their noble deeds' and heroic valor, achieving fame for them- 16 ANECDOTES AND' INCIDENTS. ^ selves and honor for their country. But, alas I how uncer- tain are the ways of Hfe ; there I found the strong youth and the aged veteran, who fell side by side, to rise no more. Many of the most noble souls of the army, and the pride of the country's chivalry, there performed their last gallant acts on the stage of life. After going over a portion of the ground, and finding here and there a valued acquaintance, my atten- tion was attracted to a grey headed veteran, who was stand- ing by the side of one who had fallen. He leisurely took his blanket from his back, and spread it over the corpse with great care. I rode up to him, and asked him whether that was an officer. He looked up, and every lineament of his face betokening the greatest grief, replied, "You never asked a question more easily answered ; it is an officer." I then asked him who it was. He again replied, "The best soldier of the 5th infantry, sir." I then alighted from my horse, and uncovering the face, found it was Col. Martin Scott. As I again covered the face, the soldier continued, without appa- rently addressing himself to any person in particular — "They have killed him — they will be paid for this — if it had only been me — I have served with him almost four enlistments — but what will his poor family say?" And as he concluded thus, the tears coursed down his furrowed cheeks, and the swelling of his bosom showed how deeply he was affected by the death of his veteran and gallant commander. Could there have been anything more affecting than the grief of this soldier on the battle-field ? And how truly sublime and eloquent was his reply to me, that it was "the best soldier of the 5th infantry." If the greatest orator of the age had dwelt upon the memory of a departed friend until he had exhaus- ted his eulogy and eloquence, he could not have said any- thing which would make a greater impression on our feelings than did the reply of this soldier. Col. Martin Scott was among the "bravest of the brave." He fought his way into the army in the last war with Great Britain ; since that time CAMP VENTRILOQUISM. 17 he has been one of the brightest ornaments, and has signally distinguished himself in the war with Mexico, for which he has been promoted and brevetted. — Letter from an Officer, Camjp Ventriloquism. Gen. Wool's strict principles of discipline are frequently of great annoyance to the officers and soldiers of the army, especially to the volunteer corps, who have but litde respect for their officers, and still less for determinate sticklers to discipline. A private in the Indiana regiment had frequently felt the effects of Gen. Wool's disciphne ; and, of course, conceived that it was aimed particularly at himself; he, therefore, was actuated by no very friendly feelings towards the general. Upon one occasion, as the general passed the regiment in review, he was saluted with the unusual sound of ^^Old JVooley ! " The fiery little general turned round on his saddle, w^hen immediately from the other side of the horse arose a gruff voice, " Old Wooley ! " "Who dare" — commenced the general, in an enraged tone of voice, but he was interrupted by a different toned voice from the former, — " Old W^ooley ! " The general's choler was up ; his * Ebenezer was fairly riz ! ' He turned the head of his horse so as to face the line of soldiers, and was about to give utterance to some expression of rage, when a voice, apparently just by his horse's tail, squeeked "Old Wooley !" This was too bad. The little general was boiling with rage ; his horse cut a quick caper, that fairly beat the renowned ponies in their polkas. But no one was by the horse's tail. The general looked at his staff — the staff looked at the gen- eral. " Some trick," essayed Colonel ; " Trick or no trick, it's" — here the general was cut short by the old sound, " Old Wooley! " "Arrest the offender! " shouted 18 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. the general. Very good ; but the offender was not to be found. The officers looked along the line, behind, around, in every direction. The general was almost bursting with rage — universal silence again reigned — he raised himself in his stirrups, as if about to read a disciplinarian lecture to the corps of soldiers, but was again interrupted by a low chuck- ling voice, close by him, *' Give't up, old Wooley ! " The officers could contain themselves no longer ; a universal roar of laughter saluted the disciplinarian, who was forced to smile in spite of himself. " It must be the devil himself," said Wool to an officer near by. " Perhaps some Ventrilo- quist ? " The mystery was solved ! But who was the guilty character? No one knew; all the officers were interrogated, but none knew of a Ventriloquist in their ranks. "Did n't I give it to him?" whispered the Indianian to one of his messmates. "You did nothing shorter! But 1*11 be hanged, Ned, if I did n't think that awful visage of yours was goin'' to bust ; you pulled such darnation queer faces ! " Origin of^^Rough and Ready. ''^ We have all heard that the soubriquet of Rough and Ready had its origin in the Florida war, in which General Taylor treated the red-skins in the roughest way and readiest manner. It was first used in the present war during the May Battles. After the memorable battles of Resaca de la Palma and Palo Alto, the old general directed the men to be brought up before him in review, which was of course done. While reviewing them to see, no doubt, how they looked after their scrimmage with the yellow bellies; an old soldier, who served under him in the Florida war, proposed, at the top of his voice, " Three cheers for Old Rough and Ready ! " which were given with all the honors. As soon as they had subsi- ded, the old general, every feature of his open countenance YANKEE DOODLE. 19 speaking volumes, gracefully took off his chapeau, and re* turned thanks, and added, *' Gendeman, I would be happj to treat you all, but I have got nothing except some Rio Grande water with which to do it ! " ''YanJcee Doodle.'' The Teatro de Santa Anna., assumed the name of '* Na- tional Theatre" after the entrance of the American army ; and, of course, was liberally patronized by the Americans. One evening, as usual the orchestra, after having played several airs, finished with a Mexican National Air. The audience, being chiefly American, called for " Yankee Doodle"; but the orchestra paid no.attention. They stamped and rapped as if they would bring the house down over their heads, but still the orchestra heeded not. At length the bell rang, and up went the curtain. The audience seemed for an instant as if they were willing to give it up ; but at this moment, a tall, slab-sided-looking genius, who bore the ap- pearance of being a real thorough-bred volunteer, of the first water, raised himself about "half straight," and said — "I often heard that Yankee Doodle was the American fiightin' tune, but as the darned eternal greasers keep us so busy while we are fightin', that we could n't have time even to whisde a litde, I think we might have a litde touch of Uncle Sam's favorite, if it's only to make a feller think of the white settlements." This acted like an electric shock upon the audience, and they recommenced their calls for Yankee Doodle. The actors appeared upon the stage, but still they continued to stamp and haloo. Sefiora Canette bowed gracefully, and smiled bewitchingly ; but it was no use ; they had determined upon hearing our national air, and nothing could persuade them from it. The actors withdrew, the curtain fell, the orchestra complied with their demands, 20 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. and (he balance of the evening's entertainment passed off In excellent order. "Ah," said a Mexican gentlemen to an American officer, *' It Is no longer a source of surprise to me that we have been so easily conquered. Soldiers, who place love of country before the smiles of the fair sex, would conquer the world ! " Lieut. Morris. In the late conflict near Mexico, soon after Major Twiggs^ of the Marines, was killed, Lieut. Morris, of the Rifles, was ordered to make a charge, in order to attain a certain point. Deeming his men too few for the undertaking, and seeing the Marines without an officer, he ordered them to help him. They replied, that he was no officer of theirs, aud refused — he remonstrated, and they still refused. Finding authority and remonstrance of no avail, he shouted to them — "Marines, I am the son of Com. Morris — if you have any veneration for his memory, follow me." The appeal was irresistible — their sailor hearts were touched, and with a cry of joy, they bounded forward, and shared his dangers and his perils, until success was obtained. Charley Bugher. There are but few persons in Boston who do not remen> ber Charley Bugher. He was noted for his remarkable suc- cess in every enterprise he undertook. Charley was the iirst to present the citizens ©f Boston with the late Foreign papers. By boarding the steamer at an early hour, he was enabled to have his budget sold long before the City press had issued their extras, reaping at the same time a very handsome profit But what yankee ever staid at home all his life? Charley went to the wars for the fun of the thing, though not as a 21 soldier, but as a " volunteer on his own hook ;" who chose to fight where the game was most promising. He was noted for his coolness and self-possession. Before the works of Valencia, near the capital, he was calmly loading his gun, in a position separated from the main body of the army, and picking off at least one Mexican at every shot. His peculiar sang froid attracted the attention of Gen. Worth, who was, doubtless, much surprised to see a man fighting in that out- landish fashion. The general rode up — " What regiment do you belong to. Sir?" " None, Sir ! I'm one of the Printer's craft, from Bosting!'''' The next day Charley was invited to Gen. Worth's headquarters, and there received a handsome present, accompanied by the general's thanks for his gallantry. *' Woolhig''^ General Wool, In honor of the marriage of the daughter of the alclade of Saltillo, a dancing party was got up, to which three of the Mississippi volunteers were invited, Saunders, Bertha, and Pat O'Rourke. Application was accordingly made to Gen. Wool for permission to go, but the General not having found any thing about dancing in his books on tactics and discipline, and not deeming it a very necessary accomplishment of a soldier, promptly refused the request. Now here was a di- lemma. Our messmates were equally as determined to see some of the fun, and enjoy some of the dancing with the girls at the party, as General Wool was that they should stay in the camp that night. But how to effect their object was a matter of profound though somewhat vexatious study. In the midst however of their plans and schemes, none of which promised to secure the objects so dear to them, Pat was ta- ken suddenly ill, and swore by all the saints in the calendar that he must be carried to the hospital, or he would die en- tirely ; and immediately poor Saunders and Bertha, with 2ti ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. sad hearts, rolled Pat up, all dressed as he was in his best apparel, in a blanket, and taking a corner in each hand, with the watchword of '* a sick man for the hospital," they soon passed the sentry. When out of hailing distance, Pat ex- claimed, " boys, let me down aisy, we've pulled wool over ould Wool's eyes, and now let's be after the dance," and away they scampered to the wedding, where the adventure was soon told, which rendered the boys, and Pat in particu- lar, the lions of the evening. They returned to camp next morning, reporting their sick comrade well, and the whole of Uiem ready for duty. It is said, however, that General Wool, having some inkling of the trick that was played off on him, determined that, for the future, when there is any fun going on in town, there are to be no sick men, particularly from tiie Mississippi regiment, taken to the hospital. Najpoleo'o's Veteran. The first discharges of the Mexican batteries upon the opening of the first engagement of Palo Alto killed a French veteran of Napoleon. He was serving as a private in the fifth regular infantry, and while bravely doing his duty as an American soldier received a cannon shot that carried off both his legs. He had witnessed the different phases of Napoleon's fortunes. He had passed unhurt through the bloody con- flicts of Austerlitz and Jena, and had borne a manly share of the horrors and privations of the disastrous Russian cam- paign. He had seen the proud nodding of the plumes of the imperial guard, as they advanced to the charge led by the gallant and lamented Ney, and, when repulsed by the British square, he viewed their broken ranks hurrying to pro- tect the Emperor, their gallant charge covering with glory the fall of the Empire at Waterloo. He had survived all these and lived to fall by a shot from a Mexican battery upon ADVENTURE WITH A NUN. 23 the field of Palo Alto ! His comrades gathered around him, and as they saw his lamentable wounds wobld fain offer him consolation ; but the brave fellow, as his eyes were waning in death, waved his hand, and pointed to the enemy, ex- claiming with his last breath, " Go on, comrades ! I have only got what a soldier enlists for!" A71 Adventure with a Nun. Two American officers, having remained in the cathedral of Puebla after the services, were accosted by a Mexican Nun, who had lingered behind the sisterhood, with "You are an American?" addressed particularly to one of them ; the officer bowed. His companion stepped a few paces ahead, and left him to enjoy the singular and unexpected adventure. "Are you a man of honor? " began the nun. " Such is the natural trait of an American soldier," replied the officer, again bowing. " I wish you to render me an important service. Can I expect you to assist me ? " *' Anything in accordance with my principles as a gentleman of honor, and my duty as an American soldier, I will willingly render in your service." " I believe I may trust you." And, as a pledge to his sincerity, she offered him her hand, to which the officer respectfully bent his lips. *' When the bell of the convent tolls the hour of midnight, be at the western gate — more anon — adieu ! " At the appointed hour, the officer was ready at the con- vent walls, together with a few friends ; who, at his desire, had accompanied him, to vvitness the upshot of what they supposed to be an innocent love adventure. As the hour of twelve was tolled, a small wicket opened, and a figure in a dark mantle, entirely concealing the form, appeared. 24 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. The officer approached, when the figure saluted him in a whisper. — " Accept my gratitude !" He immediately re- cognized the voice of the nun of the morning service, and did not h(isitate to obey her injunction, " Be silent ! Follow me !" At a quick pace, she threaded through the darkened paths the officer following close behind ; and presently opened a small door under a low archway, with a key she carried sus- pended from a ribbon around her neck ; and, catching the officer by the hand, passed quickly through a dark passage, to a small door to which she applied another key, w^hen the officer found himself in a lady's chamber, the absence of every thing but a bed and chair giving sufficient evidence of its occupant. The nun turned the lock on the door, placing the key in her pocket, then turning to the officer exclaimed, *' There is yet another and severer trial of your courage and honor, sir ! Uncover that bed !" The officer obeyed, when, to his utter horror and amazement, he discerned the dead bUy of a monk, besmeared with gore. She noticed the sickened disgust of his countenance, and, in voice of rage addressed him, *' What ! are you startled at the sight of a dead body ! you, who have slain hundreds of my country- men ! The favor you are to do me is to take that body up- on your shoulders to the outer walls of the convent!" " Madam ! I promised nothing that was dishonorable. I cannot obey you." " Ha ! she exclaimed, in a smothered voice of rage, draw- ing at the same time a pistol from her person, and levelling it at the officer's head, " Refuse, and I have two dead bodies in my room ! Nay, three, for this dagger, snatching one from a table, shall be bathed in my own blood, as it has already pierced the breast of that miserable monk !" The officer was irresolute. But the pistol near his head quickly decided his questions of honor. He essayed to place tlie body on his shoulders, when the nun stopped him — "One DEATH OF HENRY CLAY, JR. 25 parting pledge !" filling at the same time two glasses of wine from a flask that was upon the table ; the officer with a forced bow quaffed the wine, though he noticed that the nun put down her glass untasted. She now assisted him with his burden ; and directed him to follow her through the same dark passage. She opened the outer wicket, and thrust the officer quickly through, closing it behind her, locking it upon the inside. The officer narrated his adventure to his comrades, when it was thought advisable to make immediate report to the commanding general. They had proceeded but a few paces however, when the officer fell a lifeless corpse upon the flagged pavement. The nun's glass of wine had done its work. A few days after a long procession of priests and common people followed the body of a nun to her grave. She had died suddenly in her bed. So said the priests. But suspi- cion whispered that the double murderess had added suicide to her other crimes. l^ The Repulse at B^iena Vista, and fall of H. Cla^j. The Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi regiments were placed by order of the General in chief in front, while O'Brien's artillery was placed on the right, to meet the charge of the Mexican lancers, who rode gallantly forward upon the American ranks, with every appearance of a desperate effort to gain the day. O'Brien's battery was the only one upon the field. Sherman's and Bragg's not having yet come up from the left were they had contributed to the repulse of the enemy. O'Brien fought until nearly all his men were killed, then retiring abandoned his guns to the enemy. At this mo- ment the batteries of Sherman and Bragg and Washington appeared on the field, and a destructive fire was opened from all sides upon the body of lancers. This action was to de- 3 26 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. cide the fate of the day, and the efforts of both parties were consequently redoubled. At length the Mexicans began to waver, when the Kentuck- ians and Illinoisians charged forward, driving the immense masses of infantry and cavalry before them. The Illinosians passed around the head of a ravine in front, while the Ken- tuckians crossed its deep bed. As they rose on the opposite bank they formed and delivered several fires, when finding themselves beyond supporting distance, and being raked in their right flank by a battery, they were unable to support the Mexican columns which had rallied and returned, charg- ing on them with fury. The Kentuckians and Illinoisians also, retired down the banks of the ravine, where they were overwhelmed with a shower of balls. Here fell Colonel John J. Hardin of the first Illinois volunteers. Col. R. W, M'Kee of the Kentucky regiment, and also the gallant Lieut. Col. Henry Clay, jr. the son of the distinguished statesman of Ashland. He had graduated at West Point as the second in his class; and, having resigned his commission, was prac- ticing law at Lexington, when the call for volunteers was made. With a patriotic devotion, not unworthy of his sire, and which has ever been the distinguishing trait of his native state, he enrolled himself under his country's banners, and joined Gen. Taylor, having been made Lieut. Colonel of the Kentucky Regiment. He was shot through the legs, during the last charge made by the regiment to which he belonged. He fell though not mortally wounded, in the bed of a ravine, and three of his men were bearing him from the field up the slope of the hill, when, being pressed by the enemy, the gen- erous Clay begged them to leave him and save themselves, and at the same time handing to one of them his pistols, said, " Take these and return them to my father. Tell him I have no further use for them." The men seeing that all must be lost unless they quickened their pace, dropped their charge and fled. Col. Clay was last seen lying on his back, fighting **GEN. TAYLOR NEVER SURRENDERS." 27 with his sword a squad of Mexicans, and was found pierced with ten bayonet wounds. ^^ General Taylor never surrenders ! " Upon the field of Buena Vista, the successful fire of the Mississippi Rifles and Third Indiana, together with the brisk cannonade of Capt. Bragg, joined bj the cavalry of Capt. May, enclosed, almost in walls of fire, a large party of Mexican cavalry, that had attempted to force the brigade of Gen. Lane. Santa Anna immediately sent an officer to know what Gen. Taylor wanted. Gen. Wool attempted to carry an answer, but was prevented by the fire of the enemy. The general-in-chief despatched Lieut. Crittenden to de- mand the surrender of the body of cavalry detached from the main body of the Mexican army. The officer, pretend- ing not to understand the message, conveyed the lieutenant blindfolded to the headquarters of Santa Anna ; who inquired of him what Gen. Taylor wanted The lieutenant replied, ♦'He has sent me to demand your immediate surrender." When this extraordinary demand was translated to the Mex- ican, he raised his hands and eyebrows in utter astonishment at the temerity and presumption of such a message, and replied, that he would expect Gen. Taylor to surrender in an hour, or he would destroy all his forces. Lieut. Critten- den's reply was, ''^General Taylor ntver surrenders ! ^"^ Santa Anna effected his object by this ruse de gueire, for the suspension of firing enabled the body of cavalry to re- turn to the Mexican army. Death of a Soldier. A soldier, by the name of Victor Galbraith, a bugler in Captain Mier's company of volunteer cavalry, was shot at Saltillo, for threatning his captain's life. The poor fellow 2S ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. had, in a moment of passion, or when gloating over some real or imaginary wrong, given utterance to an expression that brought him before a court martial ; and, according to the regulations of the service, was condemned to be shot. The troops were all mustered to witness the dreadful scene. The unhappy prisoner was brought forward under the charge of the provost marshal and guard. Sixteen men were detailed, and formed in single file. The prisoner calmly sat down on his coffin at a few paces distance, and looked the executioners firmly in the face. His sentence was then read to him ; he threw his head back, and said to the men, — " Take good aim : I am ready to die ! " They fired ; he fell immediately, having received three balls in his body ; but in a few moments he again arose, resting on his elbow, and asked for water, and drank. He then said, *' Kill me at once, and relieve me of my misery ; " when four of the men, who had reserved iheir fire, advanced ; and, placing the muzzles of their guns to within a (ew inches of his body, fired, almost cutting him asunder. Though he had, doubt- less, merited his fate, yet the resolution and firmness with which he faced death, excited tears of sympathy, from all who witnessed the sorrowful scene, that one, endowed with such manly resolution, had not met a nobler death than thai of a condemned criminal. The Man that sjJoJce Mexican. Gen Wool, the brave and heroic soldier of Buena Vista, is a strict disciplinarian as well as a gallant and accomplished officer. The following "good 'un," which Capt. Tobin tells us happened in camp, must have excited the fiery little gen- eral to a high degree. While sitting in his marquee, a Mex- ican was ushered into his presence whose demeanor denoted the importance of some important communication which he wished to deliver. SCENES AT THE QUARTERMASTER'S. 29 The General could not speak Spanish, and his interpreter was sought in vain. A long specimen of a sucker, who from the outre style of his dress, the General took, perhaps, for a ranger, happened at that moment to straggle past. "Come here my man," called out the General. With an air of perfect nonchalance, the sucker doffed his battered castor and entered the tent. "Do you speak Mexican '?" inquired the General. •'Why, General, I rather guess not." "Well, can you tell me of some one who does V" "Yes-sir-ee — I jist can," answered the man. "Quick, then, and let me know where he is," demanded the irrascible commander, "Why, here," drawled the imperturbable sucker, laying his hand on the Mexician with whom it was desired to com- municate, he can't spealc amj thing else.^^ Scenes at the Quartermaster's. Thos& who wish to see the effects of the war, should visit the Quartermaster's department at New Orleans. Early in the day numbers of returned soldiers throng around the en- tiance, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the officers connected witli the department. When the doors are opened, they all rush up to have their accounts adjudicated. Here you will see a colonel, who has just returned from Mexico. His epau- lets are faded and his countenance is bronzed with exposure. He has mounted the heights of Monterey — served at Churub- usco, Chapultepec, and like a lion, sprung through the gates of the city of Mexico. With his martial cloak thrown care- lessly around him, he does not seem to think he has done any thing, but only comes to get the accounts of his regiment settled. He thinks of his home, where his loved ones are, it may be, that for months he has not received a single letter 3* 30 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. from his friends, and he longs to meet them. After having sought the " bubble reputation e'en in the cannon's mouth," he returns to his homestead — and who can tell the greeting that he will receive ! His friends will cling around him, and look upon him as the oak that has been scarred, though not blasted by the lightnings of war. Who would not envy his feelings when he finds himself in the bosom of his family 1. Again, here enters a stalwarth captain, with an air that shews that he is bravery itself. He, too, has been to the wars, and bears the marks of honorable wounds. His company, to him have been a family, and he is as careful of their wants as though they were his own children. When he gets their ac- counts settled, and furnishes them with transportation to their homes, scenes will take place that none but those who can dive into the depths of human nature can imagine. " Cap- tain," one soldier will say, " I bid you good bye I I'm going to the west, for I've got enough of the war. When I deserved it, sir, you treated me purly hard, as I thought then, but I do not think so now, sir. God bless you, sir." Another soldier came up — may be with too much brandy in his brain, Captain, said he, " how are you old boss ! Well, we got through it all didn't we? You would'nt let me have my licker down ^here at Vera Cruz; but now I'm discharged, and I'm going on a regular bender !" Then again, a staid, sober young man, with an almost healed wound on his cheek, and his arm in a sling approaches his captain. His officer turning round and seeing his face, grasps his hand — *' Wil- liam, my dear fellow, you saved my life at Molino del Rey. I shall never forget when a swarthy Mexican brought his es- copeta to bear upon my breast, you rushed in between us and received the ball in your arm. And then, William, when I was wounded by a lance, and you were sabred, you crept up to me, whilst the blood was gushing from your cheek, and endeavored to take me off the field. William, we are both going to our homes — perhaps never to meet again — what can THE MILITARY TAILOR. Ql I do for you ?" " Captain," answers the young soldier, as he wipes his eye with his unwounded hand, '* as you say, I did all I could for you. When I enlisted I swore in my heart that I would never desert you. When the balls were coming on in showers, I did'nt care for myself, but I thought of you. Death was nothing, then, sir; but I thought of one who was far away. I promised her when I left my home in Dayton, Ohio, that I never would desert the banner of the stars and stripes. Captain, give me a line to my dear old mother, and in it please say that I have done my duty." The Military Tailor. The following rather ludicrous scene took place on board one of our men of war, while the army was encamped around Vera Cruz : — Captain -, and a very valiant captain he has proved himself, in many a hard fight — but the captain^s bravery is no part of our story. Well, then. Captain was on board one of our men of war, on a visit, while the army was encamped around Vera Cruz, and having compli- mented the commander of the craft on the appearance of his vessel, he added — "Captaine, you doesh'nt sheem to remem- berish me." The commander replied that he certainly did not remember ever having had the pleasure of seeing him before. "Vy, 1 knowsh you in ven I vash tailorsh, and I tinksh you owesh me for a coat; but never mind dat now ; for we are all gallant tailors and zoldiers togeder." The commander assured him that he was mistaken in the person, and begged to be excused, as duty required his pres- ence elswhere. The commander then le(t the captain to the care of his first lieutenant, who, (seeing the same, and know- ing that there w^as a party in the ward-room, than whom none hked fun better,) invited Captain below. As soon as the officers had talked and laughed awhile, and stowed away a few slugs of brandy, in the soldier's locker, they asked the 3S ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. green horn how it came he happened to be captain of the company. Capt. looked suspiciously around, but his entertainers appeared too serious and sincere to allow of his supposing that they were asking for amusement, or attempting to run a rig on him. He, therefore, replied, "Veil, den, you must knowsh dat I was tailorsh, and ven the volunterish want the uniforms, dey come to mine schtore, and I makes the Hniformsh for dem. I makesh great many uniformsh for all one companish, but ven I vant to get my monish, de d d volunterish had no monish at all to pay me. Vel, you shee, dat vas bad, so I vent home to mine vife, and I say to mine vife, I cannot get mine monish from de d d volunteersh, and mine vife, too, saydat was bad ; and mine vife and I ve vent to bed on it. Vel, after a little, ven I was laying in bed alongshide of mine vife, and shinking how I should get mine monish, my vife poked me in de shide and say, 'dis ish not right.' Veil, I did not know vot vas not right, and I ask mine vife, as she lay in bed. Mine vife say, *you must get de monish from de d — d volunteersh,' (no, mine vife did not say d — d ; mine vife doesh not swear.) Veil, I say I shall be glad to get de monish ; but if dey have not got de monish, how can I get it ? Den mine vife say to me, 'You are one fool ; you must go to dem volunteersh, and you must tell dem dat dey must make you captaine of de companish, or you vill put dem all in de jail, and den dey cannot go to de halls of de Montezumash ; and den mine hushband — mine goot hushbund — ven you are captaine, you vill get de monish to pay de zoldirsh dare vages, and den you can pay yourself.' I shumps up in de ped, for I see dat mine vife vas right ; so de next day I vent to de volunteersh and I tell dem vat mine vife say ; and de next day dey elect me captaine, and I paysh mine self." The officers could no longer restrain their laughter, but burst out into one simultaneous shout. The Captain sloped as well as he was able, and has never ventured on board a man of war since. DAN. MURPHY. 33 Dan Murphy, Shortly after the entrance of the American army into the capital of Mexico, there died one of those remarkable men, whose lives appear more like romance than history — Daniel Murphy, a Texan Ranger. The following is a brief sketch of his eventful life, as it appeared in the American Star, city of Mexico. After participating in the capture of San Antonio de Bexar, when Cos surrendered that fortress, and a well appointed army, to a handful of Texans, he joined the Georgia Battalion under Fannin, near Victoria, and was with them when they surrendered to Urrea, and was marched to Goliad. On the morning of the famous massacre of that noble band, and after the first discharge from the enemy, Dan, with two or three others, succeeded in making his escape, and reaching the Texan camp. He was again found in the Texan camp when Bowles, the Cherokee chief, had combined the twelve tribes to exterminate the whites and drive them from the country. The result of this campaign was the complete ex- pulsion of the Indians from the settlements. He next joined the ill-fated Santa'Fe expedition, and was again made pris- oner, and again escaped to Texas ; and coming upon the Rio Grande frontier, like the lamented Cameron, was the terror of those robbers and butchers under Canales, &c., who were the annoyance of the scattered settlers. When the war broke out between the United States and Mexico, Dan came to the Rio Grande, and has been present in every fight we have had with the Mexicans, from that place to this. His fights are now over ! Twelve years ago, he swore to be revenged for the massacre of his comrades at Goliad, and well has he kept his oith. He died in the capital of hia enemies, with the flag of his country waving over their cod- quered battlements. 34 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. . Charge of Captain May. Gen. Arista, after his defeat in the two successive engage- ments of Palo Alto, had fortified himself in a much stronger poshion, that of Resaca de la Palma. His troops were placed in position with consummate skill. He had selected a point of the road, upon each side of which lay a deep and impassable ravine. His front line of infantry was posted on the exposed side of the ravine, while that opposite to the American army was lined with his batteries. The Mexican ranks were quickly driven over the ravine, but the deadly fire of the enemy's batteries prevented the American force from making a further advance : while the road was rendered still more impassable by a strong battery of large fieldpieces, placed directly in its centre, together with flanking batteries. The infantry had stopped upon the edge of the ravine ; though not idle, as they were keeping up a brisk fire upon the Mexican lines ; while Ridgely's battery was engaged with the enemy's in a sharp cannonade, yet with no ulterior hopes of victory. The crisis had arrived. The sagacity of the general-in-chief perceived that the main battery of the enemy must be taken. He gave an order to an aid by his side, and in a few moments. Captain May, of the dragoons, galloped towards him. " Sir," said General Taylor, '* you must take that battery." " 1 will do it ! " replied the gallant Captain, and returned to his command. "Men, follow!" And away sped eighty-four dragoons, four abreast, with their leader four yards in front ; raising a shout as they swept along, that rang above the din of battle, while their horses' hoofs seemed to shake the ground. But May's moment had not yet come. The gallant Ridgely obstructed his onward progress. " I am ordered to charge those batteries," said May, coming to a halt. Ridgely, begrimed with powder, and laboring in the humblest offices about his pieces, turned to his brother officer, and knowing the dangerous duty he had to perform, said, '' Wait, Charley, CHARGE OF CAPT. MAY. 35 till T draw their fire." The next instant the match descended, and ere the sharp report of Ridgely's batteries had fairly broken on the air, the enemy repHed, and the copper hail came whizzing and crushing among the brave artillerists. Quick as thought Ridgely hmbered up, and deployed from the road, his men jumped on their pieces and cheered the dragoons as they passed. The dragoons were stripped of every unnecessary encumberance, and brandished their weapons with their naked arms, that displayed the well-filled muscle, glittering like the bright steel they wielded. May, far in advance, seemed to be a living messenger of death that Ridgely had sent from his battery at its last discharge. There followed in his lead the long dark line of his squad- ron ; and as his charger rose upon the enemy's batteries, the rider turned to wave on his men. That instant the enemy poured a destructive fire of grape and cannister from their upper battery, bringing eighteen horses and seven men to the ground. The Mexicans were completely driven from their guns, and their fire silenced. But, though repulsed, they were not yet conquered. Back they rushed to their guns, and commenced loading for another discharge upon the gallant squadron. May charged upon the gunners in the act of firing their pieces ; they fled, one officer alone remaining, who vainly endeavored to rally his men. Despair- ing of success, with his own hand he seized a match, when May ordered him to surrender. Discovering that the demand came from an officer, the Mexican touched his breast, and said, " General La Vega is a prisoner." Lieut. Newman, At Churubusco, Lieut. Newman, of the **Green Mountain Boys" lost his left arm, while charging with his regiment (the 9th,) the ranks of the enemy. 36 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. It was on this occasion that, a report having reached Gen. Scott that the 9th had fallen back, he rode towards the pos- ition occupied by Col. Ransom's men — and meeting an Aid of Gen. Pierce, eagerly inquired if it was so. "No, sir," re- plied the Aid ; "the 9th has charged — it has not fallen back." "Then" exclaimed the General, "the day is ours !" — thereby expressing thaf unbouded confidence in the New England bayonet, which is a favorite sentiment of the Hero of Lundy'» Lane. Afiecdote of Captain Mason, Captain Mason, in reconnoitring one of the enemy's works near the capital, advanced to within a short distance of the enemy's batteries, when a Mexican officer with a small escort rode towards him. Captain Mason drew his revolver. The Mexican then in Spanish saluted " Good morning." The captain responded. The Mexican then said, " You seem to be very curious : suppose you come a little closer." "No I thank you, sir, I can see very well where I am." "Walk inside, sir ; we will endeavor to treat you as well as the ac- commodations of the camp will enable us." " I am much obliged to you, sir, for your kindness, but prefer partaking of your hospitalities on some other occasion ; and, holding his spy glass to his eye, he continued, " I only want at the pre- sent to see how you are situated. I can see two guns in em- brasure, one in barbet, and I think you have one in embra- sure a little further to the left. That gun I see your men loading, I do not think you will be able to bring it bear on me, as I will keep you between it and myself;" and moving a little to the right, he continued his observations. One of the escort then spoke in English, and said, "You d d rascal, you knov/ better than to come in here. If I was to get hold of you, I'd cut your d d throat." The Captain quietly finished his reconnoisance, and offer- ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE SANTA ANNA. 37 ing his salaam to the Mexicans, wheeled his horse and rode off; the Mexicans returning to their ranks much chagrined at not being able to decoy ihe daring officer into the net they had spread for him. An attemjjt to capture Santa Anna, Late in the evening, a secret expedition set out from the city of Puebia, about three hundred and fifty strong, under the command of Brigadier General Lane. The object of the night march was known only to the general ; yet the officers and troops felt, having unlimited confidence in their commander, that it was more than worthy of the sacrifice of comfort they were called upon to make, by a night ride and during a cold rain. On leaving La Puebia the command took the Vera Cruz road ; but after riding about twenty miles it turned into a track, but little better than a mule path, covered with broken and jagged limestone rock, that ren- dered the rapid travelling extremely painful to both horse and rider. They, however, bore it admirably ; and, at about 5 o'clock, in the morning, the troops took up their quarters at a hacienda, near the village of Santa Clara, after having accomplished a march of over forty miles. At this place the general informed the officers, that his immediate object now was to capture Santa Anna, who, he had information, was at Tehuacan, with about one hundred and fifty men. In order that the Mexican chieftian might not obtain information 6f the presence of his troops in this section of country, the general ordered every Mexican in the hacienda, and every one found on the road during the day, to be arrested and kept close until he left in the even- ing. The order was strictly enforced; and at about dusk, the march for Tehuacan, distant about forty miles, was taken up, in the full expectation that the wily Mexican would soon be within their grasp. 38 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. Shortly after leaving th(i hacienda, at a part of the road where it runs through a deep and narrow cut, and before the moon rose, the general and his staff, riding in advance, came upon a party of Mexicans, armed, before either saw the other, at a distance of twenty feet. The Mexicans, eight in number, were instantly disarmed ; but in the rear of them was found a carriage, from which stepped a Mexican, with a passport from Gen. Smith, allowing him to travel from Mexico to Orazaba and back, widi an escort of eight armed servants. This being discovered, the arms were of course returned, and the gavalcade permitted to go on. Within eight or ten miles of Tehuacan, the guide received information that Santa Anna was, without doubt, at that place, and had with him from one hundred to two hundred men. With renewed hope every man now spurred his * jaded steed,' and on they went quick enough until within five miles of the town, where a halt of half an hour was made, and the plan of attack and capture disclosed hy the general to his officers. The party mounted ; orders were given to observe the strictest silence during the remainder of the march. The order was obeyed, for every man had an intense anxiety to obtain the prize ahead. At early dawn the troops had arrived within half a raiic of Tehuacan. The town was in sight ; and the flitting to and fro of lights, together with the discharge of a solitary gun, gave hopes of meeting the enemy. As the command came to the entrance of the town, the dragoons and rifle? dashed to the right and left, and in a^-few minutes every out- let was stopped ; the rangers galloped ahead toward the plaza, with their six-shooters cocked, glancing an eye on every side, with the belief that the enemy was on the house- tops. The rangers in the plaza, in a moment squads were galloping through the streets ; but no enemy was to be found, and in a few minutes the general had the mortification to learn that the great object of his search had fled two hours CAPTAIN JO. jj^ before he had arrived, and had taken the road to Oajaca, with an escort of seventy-five mounted men. The national flags hung out from the residences of foreigners, and white flags from the houses of Mexicans in every part of the town, told that the approach of the troops was known in advance ; and it was with chagrin that the general learned that the Mexican, whose coach and escort was stopped shortly after leaving the hacienda, sent by a short route across the mountains one of his servants to communicate to Santa Anna, that American troops were on the road, and, as he believed, with the intention of capturing him. Though General Lane's deportment throughout this ex- pedition was that of an accomplished officer, yet, had he have held the Mexican with his escort under arrest for a few hours, without the possibility of dishonoring the passport of an American general, Santa Anna would, most probably, have been a prisoner of war. As it was, the object of the expedition failed ; and the only solace the Americans had for their disappointment was the appurtenances of Santa x\nna's military wardrobe, which he had left in his hurry to escape. A richly gold laced coat, worth about seven or eight hundred dollars, fell to the lot of Col. Hays. The numerous other articles were divided among the officers, Gen. Lane only reserving to himself an excellent field-glass, ag a trophy of the self-styled "■ Napoleon of the West." Captain Jo. During Col. Doniphan's march from El Paso to Chihua- hua, the black servants of the different officers of the regi- ment formed themselves into a company. There were twelve of them, of which number eleven were officers and one high private. Jo. , servant to Lieut. , was elected Captain. He was the blackest of the crowd, and 40 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. sported a large black feather, with a small black hat ; also a large sabre, with an intensely bright brass hilt ; which same sabre was eternally getting involved in the intricate windings of his bow legs. With Jo for captain, they were a formidable body ; and to hear them talk, they would work wonders. During the battle of Sacramento, however, the company was not to be seen ; but after the action was over, they were espied breaking out from the wagons, and joining in the pursuit. That evening "one of the officers attacked Jo about his company. " Well, Jo, I hear your men were hid behind the wagons during the fight?" " Massa, Fse berry sorry to say it am de fact. De men wouldn't fight. I called on de patriotism ob de company, I injoked dem by all dey hold near and dear in dis world and de next. But it was no use ; de cowards would get on de wrong side ob de wagons." *' But what did you do, Jo, when you found your men would not fight? " *' Why, de fact am dis, de fire kept gettin' hotter and hotter, and dis nigga kept gettin' cooler and cooler ; so, de best thing I thought dis nigga could do, was to get behind de wagons his self! " The Soldier's Bible. After the storming and capture of Chapultepec, the gallant 9th infantry, under Major Seymour (the brave and lamented Ransom having just before fallen on the heights of Chapulte- pec,) found himself with others at the aqueduct, under the walls of the city. Here it sustained a most deadly fire from the enemy's balls and escopetas. Bomb shells, grape, can- ister and musket balls flew thick and fast around them, killing and wounding a number of his best and bravest men. Lieut. ANECDOTE OF SANTA ANNA. 41 Jackson, company F, of the 9th, during the melee, received an escopeta ball in his breast, which, glancing off, whizzed upon the ground for a great distance, and must have killed him dead upon the spot but for a fortunate incident, — he car- ried in his vest pocket a small copy of the bible, a precious volume, the gift his sister, just before leaving his New Eng- land home. The ball struck the book and made a deep hole in it, but it proved as good a breastwork on the occasion as the cotton bags did at New Orleans to the troops of General Jackson and saved the life of its owner. Anecdote of Santa Anna. The following is copied from the Diarioy the official paper of the Mexican government: "During ihe action of the 20th inst., while our troops were retiring from the bridge of Churubusco to Candelaria. still combating with the forces that charged after them, four dragoons, and a captain of the enemy threw themselves forward into our column with such rapidity, that they were not observed till they arrived at the works of Candelaria. They were there first recognized as enemies, and fired on by the garrison, by which the four dragoons and the captain's horse were killed. The captain, on regaining his feet, was surrounded by some of the Presi- dent's aids, and other officers who came with bis column. They were about to kill him, wh-en the PresideM interposed, and ordered them only ta disarm him;. His excellency, after taking a turn along the embattled ranks, returned to the place where they had their prisoner, when one of the officers said to him, " Genera^ this man ©ugbt to be &bot ; he has himself confessed that he came here for the purpose of killing your excellency." *' How so, what says he? inquired the Presi- dent. ** He says," was the reply, " that learning from one of the prisoners that your excellency was with this column, 4* 42 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. he^ with the four soldiers that followed him, took the resola- tion of reaching and slaying your excellency ; for if they ac- complished this it would be a most glorious act, and still more so if they should perish in doing it." Admiring their daring bravery, the President replied: "Now, less than ever, will I allow any harm to be done him. He is prisoner of war ; and let him who lays hands on him beware. Alas ! if I had many officers hke liim, Scott would not now be so near us." " Ten strike! Set 'em upT During the battle of Monterey a detachment of volunteers were ordered forward to protect Bragg's battery, while dra- goon horses could be procured to supply the places of those shot down by the enemy. Marching hurriedly out they were in some confusion, which was observed by a party of Mexican lancers, who, supposing them to be retreating, instantly char- ged upon thf^m. The officer, seeing their approach, drew up his men in order behind a chaparral fence and awaited their charge. On they came, full tilt, expecting to dislodge ihe volunteers by their furious onset ; but at a proper distance they received a volley from the volunteers, which tumbled fifteen or twenty in the dust. Not relishing this unexpected reception, they turned and fled ; in the mean time a howitzer had been brought to bear on them from the battery, the first shell of which cut down ten of the hindmost of the retreating lancers. " Good Tick!" shouted one of the b'hoys, " a ten strike, by (t — d ! Set 'cm vjp /" This anecdote reminds us of an old Texan, who, on the afternoon of the 23d September, got strayed away from his comrades, by some accident, in the streets of Monterey, and fell in with a company of the regular infantry. These he half joined, h'ghting partly on " his own account" while at the same time he endeavored to conform as much as possible *• GIVE THEM H LL." 43 to the discipline of his new acquaintances. In addition to a heavy fire of grape from the batteries, there was an incessant rattHng of small arms from the tops of the neighboring build- ings ; but the worst customers our troops had to contend with were an old man and a boy, upon the nearest house, who were loading and firing their escopetas as fast as possible, and with an accuracy of aim that killed or crippled at every shot. The regulars had discharged their muskets at them several times, yet without effect ; but now came the turn of the old Texan. Watching his chance, he waited until the old man and the lad raised themselves above the parapet. No sooner did he get them in range than he cracked away, and with such unerring aim that the same ball pierced both. " Dubs''' ejaculated the old veteran, as the twain staggered and fell, and as he said it he brought the breech of his rifle to the ground with a jerk that well nigh broke the stock. Those who have not yet forgotten their marbles, will be more than half inclined to laugh at the earnestness of the Texan, in his anxiety to count " dubs.'" ''Give them H—ll!'' Late in the day at Buena Vista, during the last charge of the Mexican Lancers, the Kentucky regiment, after having crossed a deep ravine, were nearly surrounded by the enemy. An officer was despatched to General Taylor, to know whether they must retreat, as it was almost impossible to stand their ground against the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. In a few moments the officer, Capt. , returned. "Boys," said he, *' Old Rough says to give them H — 11 ! " It acted like an electric shock. The regiment raised a scream of joy, and rushed on to the charge, roaring in the ears of the * yellow bellies,' "Hurrah for old Kentuck ! " 44 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. Scrcjiading vs Discipline. Old Rough and Ready is as much noted for his contempt of unnecessary discipline, as Gen. Wool is for his strong observance of every point of military regulalio'Vis. An amu- sing incident illustrative of the prevailing traits of the separate commanders occured while the army was encamped at Agua Nueva. Some of the officers were in the habit of whillng away part of the night in a sort of uncouth serenade of a medley of instruments, the best the camp afforded. One evening they repaired to the plain tent of Gen. Taylor, and fairly "waked an echo of the spheres" with the heartiness of their serenade to the popular "Rough and Ready." The old general appeared before his tent, with a broad smile upon his features, and invited the 'band' to "step into his tent and *wet their whistles' with some of his Madeira or Monongahela !" The company were delighted with their reception, and, after playing " Hail Columbia" and " Taylor's march," left the hospitable old 'Rough and Ready' and proceeded to the quarters of Gen. Wool, the second in command. They played several airs before there was the least intimation that the General was within hearing ; but they soon had a taste of his hospitality, for a Corporal's guard, by command of Gen. Wool, marched them off to the guard-house, in violation of the 571st rule of the service against playing musical in- struments in the camp. Ludicrous PicUire of General Pillow, The general's plan of battle, and the disposition of his hrcesr were most judicious and successful. He evinced on this, as he has done on other occasions, that masterly military ge- nius and profound knowledge of the science of waa-, whicb has astonished so much the mere martinets of the p^sfession.. LUDICROUS PICTURE OF GEN. PILLOW. 45 His plan was very similar to that by which Napoleon effected the reduction of the fortress of Ulm, and General Scott was so perfectly well pleased with it that he could not interfere with it, but left it to the gallant projector to carry it into glo- rious and successful execution. In this battle, with about 4500 men, our army engaged an enemy with a force of 16,000, occupying a position which could only be reached with extreme difficulty by inlantry, with entrenched works commanding the approach to it fof a mile round in every di- rection, with, as I have before observed, twenty-nine pieces of artillery. The victory was most brilliant and complete. Nothing could have been better planned than this battle. I must relate an interesting and exciting incident that occurred during the rage of the battle. A Mexican officer being seen by one of General Pillow's aids to leave the enemy's lines, and to advance several yards nearer our position, the gene- ral, as soon as he heard of the impudent rashness of the Mexican, put spurs to his charger, and galloped at full speed towards him. As soon as he got near to the Mexican, the general called out, in Spanish, " Saque su sabel para defen- derse — let the honor and prowess of our respective countries be determined by the issue of this combat." Straightway the Mexican drew his sword with one hand and balanced his lance in the other, and rushed towards our general, who, with a revolver in one hand and his sabre in the other, waited the onset of the Mexican. The combat was a long and severe one. The Mexican was a large, muscular man, and handled his arms with great vigor and skill, but our gen- eral was his superior in dexterity and coolness. At last the Mexican made one terrible charge at our general with his lance, which the latter evaded with great promptitude and activity, using his sword, he tossed the weapon of the Mexi- can high in the air, and then quietly blew his brains out with his revolver. Both the American and Mexican armies wit- nessed this splendid effort,* ♦Extracted from the famous Loonidas Letter, attributed to Gen, Pillow, 4(> ANECDOTES AND INCID^ENTS* Death of Major Ringgold. At the battle of Palo Alto fell Major Ringgold, a valuable?' and accomplished officer, whose death has been universally lamented. The flying artillery, adapted by him to the American Army, has proved of great utility in every engage- ment in which it has borne a part ; and, in fact, may be termed the life guard of our army. Upon the fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma it proved of eminent service, and saved the day at Buena Vista. His death is thus described by an able writer in one of the eastern papers. Major Ringgold having rode a little to the rear of the eight- een pounders, checked his horse in range of the Mexican batteries whose fire at this moment was concentrated on this point. At the same instant, Lieut. Col. Payne, inspector general of the army and acting as aid to Gen. Taylor, came up and got of Churchill permission to sight his pieces. This he did, and sent forth a thundering volley, opening a view of the sky through the Mexican ranks, A cloud of smoke enveloped Ringgold from their view, and instantly from the Mexican guns several large shot passed oiter Churchill's battery, throwing up a cloud of dust in the rear. In a mo- ment a soldier rushes forward towards Col. Payne exclaiming, '*Colonel, look there !" He points to where Ringgold lay bleeding on the neck of his dying horse. A six-pound shot had first struck bis right thigh and passing through his horse cut his left thigh in the same line in which the ball first struck him, exposing but not breaking the bones. Payne, Churchill, and several soldiers cluster around him, and to them, amid the rattling hail of the enemy's artillery, he said ; "Leave me ; there is work for you yonder. You must drive the Mexicans before you and save our comrades at Fort Brown !" Then taking a chain from his neck, and with it his gold watch, he handed them to Col. Payne, saying ; "Give that to my sister !" He took out his purse and handed that to Col. Payne also, with the same request. 47 Gen. Taylor^ Good Things. If Gen. Taylor did not say the good things that are as- cribed to him, we must give the gentlemen who have put them in his mouth, credit for an admirable perception of what is becoming in the mouth of a great commander. A. collec- tion of his reputed sayings in times of emergency, would be as fine an ' ana' as there is in print anywhere. His abrupt close of the conference with Ampudia, for instance, when treating for the surrender of Monterey, is as much to the pur- pose, and as full of meaning as anything in Wellington's despatches — " Sir, I hold you, and your town, and your army, in the hollow of my hand, ami you know it. The conference is closed — in thirty minutes you shall hear from my batteries." Of course Gen. Taylor w^ould not have said this to a gal- lant and respected enemy. He would have spoken in a very different vein to a brave and gallant general, who had main- tained his position as long as it could be maintained, and now having satisfied the demands of honor and duty to their full extent, was ready, with the frankness of a soldier and a gen- tleman, to accept the necessity of his position. But to Ampudia, neither brave nor gallant, and whiffling over a capitulation which he knew to be inevitable, the response was as fitting as it was well-timed and effective. There was, on the other hand, a delicious touch of humor in the old General's acknowledgement to the ' boys' who laughed at him for dodging. In the thickest of the fight, at Buena Vista, when the balls were flying ' considerable,' Gen. Taylor saw some of the men ducking their heads as the missiles whizzed by, and called out, " No dodging, gendemen, soldiers never dodge." But in a few minutes a twenty-four pounder came humming so near the old gentleman's nose, that he involuntarily ducked his own head — -whereat some of the ' boys' " snickered out." " Dodge the balls, gentlemen," exclaimed old Zach, as grave as a mustard pot; "dodge ihe bails, gentlemen, but don't run." 48 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. In the same style was his quiet remark at Resaca de la Palma, where the balls made lively music, too. One of them cut off a piece of his coat-tail ; whereupon he dryly remarked to one that was near him, " These balls are getting excited." But the best thing he is said to have said, was also at Buena Vista. It was not only quaint, but grand ; there was a sort of heroic largeness about it, in conception and expression, than which, we know of nothing that more fills the mind's eye. It was when the last, desperate, almost overwhelming charge was made on Capt. Bragg's battery. The Captain saw the mighty cohort coming, with an anxious gaze, for there was no infantry at hand to sustain him. Place- ing his pieces in position, he hurried to the general, who was not far ofl^, to represent that his little band would be ridden over, and to beg for a reenforcements. " I have no reen- forceoient to give you," answered the general, '' but Major Bliss and I will support you." " Major Bliss and I" accordingly put spurs to their horses and took post by the cannon. We all know what the result was. A thrilling IncidenU Gloomy foreboding pervaded the American squadron sta- tioned off Vera Cruz at the time the batde of Buena Vista was reported to be in favor of Santa Anna. It was about dusk when this news so joyful to the Mexicans, was made known wittiin the wall of Vera Cruz. The firing of cannon, the blaze of rockets bursting in mid air, the rolling of drums, the displaying of flags from every prominent point, and the loud huzzas of the population, struck dismay among the brave tars composing our navy. These rejoicings of the Mexicans, however, were to perish by the rising northern blast, like bud- ding flowers which sometimes fall before they ripen to per- fection of beauty in the early spring time. For, whilst the ^THRILLING SKETCH. 49 rejoicings were progressing, a speck much whiter than the crested wave appeared bobbing up and down in the far dis- tance. The glasses were soon in requisition, and the little speck was magnified into a sail, above wliich floated in glorious triumph the stars and stripes of America. The fierce norther freshened every moment, and the foaming bil- lows succeeded each other in mad and powerful array. Great solicitation was felt by every one in the squadron for the safety of the frail craft which bore aloft the flag of our country. Now she was seen, and then to disappear; pres- ently she arose *'once more upon the waters," and came dashing proudly on. She soon became an object of univer- sal attraction. The bright galaxy of stars, shedding their lustre from an 'enormous' flag at her mast head, cast so much light upon the real character of the little skipper of the seas, that the attention of the Mexicans was alarmingly attracted. Sounds of rejoicing within the walls seemed to cease, and a big gun was elevated at the castle of San Juan de Ulua, to give the stranger rather a warm reception. As she came dashing through the spray, every heart in the squadron beat quicker and quicker with indescribable emo- tion ; all was breathless attention and anxiety ; it was, so to speak, like the calm which is the usual precursor of the storm. The news must be of a cheering nature, thought they on board our gallant navy, or such an enormous flag would not be unfurled to the o^ale. The launch came on before the breeze, and did not deviate from a given point, inside the vessels. To have gone to leeward she never could have made the vessels. Her course was straight, and when wiihin three hundred yards of the fortress a cannon was fired tiiere- from, and the ball passed across her bow. It made no dif- ference to the stout hearts on that little craft. Her course was steady ; and, when within one hundred and fifty yards of the castle, immediately in front, another cannon, mucii 5 50 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. larger than its predecessor, was fired, but it only gave the crew a good drenching, which, however, they had become familiar with by this time. So far the little craft escaped, and the valiant heroes at the castle determined to sink her. They fired another gun, but its huge messenger of death fell harmless. It was the parting gun. The launch soon hauled up alongside the flagship of the navy, and gave the joyful news that General Taylor had a rough and ready fight with Santa Anna at Buena Vista, and had put wooden-leg and his army to flight. What a glorious reaction immediately took place ! The good news was spread through the squad- ron by means of naval telegraph, and every stripe of bunting was flung to the breeze ; every sailor manned the rigging, and such hearty cheering wag never heard before. It was our turn ; long-toms were brought out, which sent the news of the glorious victory into the very heart of Mexico. That little Texas launch w-as manned only by two men and a small boy, all of whom hail from Texas The little fel- low had the helm at the time of the firing from the castle, and his steady and devoted attention to the commands of the two men reflected the highest honor upon his head and heart. The Lame Drummer. Whilst a regiment of volunteers were marching through Camargo, a captain, a strict disciplinarian, observing that one of the drums did not beat, ordered a lieutenant to in- quire the reason. The fellow, on being interrogated, whispered to the lieutenant, *' I have two ducks and a turkey in my drum, and the turkey is for the captain." This being revealed to the captain, he exclaimed, "Why didn't the drummer say he was lame ? 1 don't want men to do their duty when they are not able." GUERILLA FIGHT. 61 Capt, Baylor\^ Fight with Guerillas, The frequent depredations of numerous guerilla parties upon the wagon trains of the American army, passing between Cerralvo and Monterey, were of so annoying a nature, that Col. Abbott, commandant at the former place, ordered Captain Baylor, with a small detachment; to proceed to several of the ranches in the neighborhood, and arrest all who bore the appearance of having participated in the assaults upon the trains ; and also to burn and destroy their habita- tions : thus taking summary vengeance upon those who carried on this barbarous kind of warfare. The captain accordingly proceeded, in obedience to his orders, and scoured the country for several miles around Cerralvo, taking some half-dozen or more prisoners. When about to return to the main road, the captain suddenly found himself surrounded by about two hundred Mexican guerillas. His own force numbered but twenty-seven, all told; yet the gallant captain determined upon giving the enemy battle. But he did not attempt such fearful odds vyithout first con- sulting his men ; who, to a nian, being all Texans, declared for fight. " Follow me, then," — exclaimed the heroic cap- tain — " we must cut through the enemy, or die in the attempt! " The little band sent up a shout, and swore io " stick to him to the death ! " The large body of the enemy had now entirely surroun- ded the devoted band ; yet every eye that gleamed in fiery hate around them seemed but to add another nerve to their heroism. The Mexicans threw their deadly lances* and fired their escopetas, which told fearfully upon the little band ; yet they were not idle, every shot brought a Mexicaji in agony to the dust. But soon they come hand to hand. The Mexican L:ince is attached to the saddle bow by means of a las^o, which enables the rider to regain his weapon after having hurled it at the ene- my. The Mexican Lancers' dexterous use of his lance has been a source of wonder and admiration to all who have witnessed the evolutions of their brilliant squadrons. o2 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. The brave Baylor was foremost in the thickest of the fight ; liis sword dealt deadly blows upon his enemies. But the unequal conflict could not last long. Already had half of the little band fallen. Captain Baylor, seeing that all would be lost unless an effort — a tremendous effort — was made to cut through the enemy's ranks, waved his sword to bid his remaining comrades follow, and made a dash through the lines. Terrible was the onslaught! The lances were ihrust in myriads against the breasts of the brave Texans, but with their swords they dashed them aside, and reached the open field ; they were no longer hemmed in, but only six men of the gallant twenty-seven remained ; three, partially wounded, escaped into the chapparal, and afterwards bore the lamentable news to Cerralvo. They last saw the brave Baylor with two of his men uhorsed, though still with sword in hand manfully combatting the enemy. Swapj}in'' Hosses. General Taylor's marque at Victoria was about a mile above that of General Patterson's, and between the two the Tennessee cavalry was encamped. General Taylor was riding from his quarters to Gen. Patterson's one day, upon a beautiful Mexican pony, and on his route passed close to a Tennessee trooper, who was rubbing down his horse. Totally ignorant of the rank of the plainly dressed old man, and struck by the beauty of his animal, he accosted him with " Look here, stranger, would'nt you like to swap that ar ])ony ? " " No, friend," quietly responded the general, '* he is a favorite nag of mine, and I do not desire to part with him.'' A comrade of the trooper's, recognizing the general, said to him in an under tone, " Bill, you d d fool, don't you know who you're a talkin' to? That's Gineral Taylor! " BOMBAEDMENT OF FORT BROWN. 53 Now, Bill, regarding General 'Old Rough and Ready' as the greatest naan on the face of the smiling earth, was terri- fied at finding that he had put his foot in it, and stammered out — *' G-g-gineral, J-I-I didn't know it was you — I beg p-p-pardon, gineral." The old commander kindly offered his hand to the trooper to reliere him from his embarrass- ment, inquired his name and residence, complimented the Tennesseeans, telling him he found them the bravest' ^he brave, and rode quietly on. Bombcu-dment of Fort Broicn. At noon, on the 2Sth of March, 1846, Gen. Taylor en- camped opposite the city of Matamoras, and gave orders for the commencement of the fortifications which were subse- quently^ called " Fort Brown." Shortly after, Gen. Taylor left the fort for Point Isabel, to prepare himself for battle, as well as to secure that position. The Mexicans, feeling that the snuall body left in the fort would be unable to resist them, commenced a bombardment on Sunday morning, May S, from a seven gun battery sta- tioned at the outskirts of Matamoras-. The fire was answered with effect by Major Browo', and in less than twenty minutes time one of the Mexican guns was blown twenty feet into the air, accompanied by torn and bleeding bodies. This had the effect of silencing the battery. The cannonading was re- sumed with few intermissions till midnight. During the day the Americans had one man killed, (Sergeant Weigart) and an artillery soldier woui-^ded. The Mexicans took to them- selves great glory for this dasy's achievement. An official despatch was forwarded to the Mexican government, setting the loss of the Americans at Jifty-six, and their own at one Sergeant and two artillery-men. The firing on the fort was feeard by Gen. Taylor at Point Isabel, and he immediately 5* 54 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS^ despacthed Captains May and Walker to> ascertain the con- dition of .Major Brown,; they returned with intelligence that he could resist any force that might be brought to. bear against it. The firing continued, with but casual iatermissionsy. until about 6 o'clock on Wednesday. Major Brown ordered the signal guns to be fired, as agreed upon between^ himself and the general-in-chief. The firing recommenced and continued until ten o'clock A.. M. just before which time the gallant Major Brown received a mortal wound from a falling shelL which took off one of his legs, and otherwise mangled him in a shocking manner. He was taken to the hospital and his leg amputated above the kneev He lingered until Saturday the 9th, whea he died, lamented by the army and the whole country. The command then devolved on Captain Hawkins, About this time jiarties of infantry and mounted men appeared in the rear of the fort, but a few rounds from Capt. Bragg's battery sent them back in hot haste. For several hours that brave and devoted band received a continual shower of shot and shells, which, for want of ammunition, they dared not return. At half past four o'clock a parley was sounded, and Gen. Arista sent a summons to the commander of the fort to surrender ^' for the sake of humanity," offering him one hour to return an answer, and threatening to put the garrison to the sword in case his demand was not complied with. This was a trying emergency. The garrison scarcely numbered three thousand men ; their enemy several thousands ! Captain Hawkins called a council of war, composed of the several company commanders in the fort, and laid the subject before them. They had neither time nor disposition to deliberate, " Defend the Fort to the Death .'" broke forth almost simul- taneously from the hps of that devoted band. The firing was renewed and continiued wntil sun-set. The tremendous fire of the enemy's batteries, continued throughout the entire day, and frequently part of the night, seemed to intimate to the besieged that there was but little ROMBARDMEXT OF FORT BROWN. 55 hope for tbem. The brave defenders of the fort became ex- hausted,, and began to be indifferent of life ; when, during one of the intermissions, at about half past two, a heavy can- nonading was heard in the direction of Point Isabel, which revived the drooping spirits of that heroic band. It was the firing where Gen. Taylor was engaged with the Mexicans at Palo Alto. The Americans welcomed the sound with a tremendous shout. They knew that for Taylor to fight was to conquer. The enemy recommenced their bombardment with redoubled energy ; but the continuous and exulting shouts of the Americans finally silenced the bombardment. At sun-set, a Mexican deserter brought the news of the victory of Palo Alto ; and the wearied garrison felt that their labors and dangers were nearly closed. On Saturday the 9th of May, the 7th and last day of the bombardmeat, at about ten o'clock, a heavy discharge of shells, canister, and round shot was received from the Mex- ican batteries, which continued to pour out shells until about half past two, when a rather severe connonading was heard in nearly the same direction as that of the preceding day. It was the guns of Resaca de la Palma. The defenders of the fort again raised such shouts as seemed to paralyze the Mexican batteries, for they ceased their action until about 6 o'clock, when they fired their last shots and joined the retreating cavalry and infantry that were escaping from the disastrous field of Resaca de la Palma. The defence of the "Alamo," and that of Croghan at *' Fort Erie," afford, perliaps, the only parallel to this glo- rious defence. And they stand upon the pages of history as memorable instances of what may be accomplished by the determined bravery of a few, against an opposing force greatly superior in numbers. How different might have been the result, if the ten thousand troops within the walls of Monterey had been actuated by one jot of tlie in- domitable spirit of the heroes of the Alamo, Fort Erie, or Fort Brown I 56 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. An American Matron. When the afflicting intelligence was conveyed to the mother of Lieut. B of his death, (on the 9th of Sep- tember, in the battle of Molino del Rey,) not a tear fell from her eyes, not a sigh escaped from her breast — •' Is he dead? Did he do his duty? Thank God, he left no widow ! " were the only words she uttered. What a sublime illustra- tion of a woman's heart was this — ^^TlianJc God, he left no Widow!'''' How perfectly free from selfishness the thought that prompted the expression ! Even when she felt that the ties of love were severed, and knew that her life was rendered a barren winter, instead of the joyous summer it had been before, warmed by the sunny smiles of her darling boy, yet a generous feeling for her sex drove every thought of selfishness from her breast, and she was thankful that no widow's or orphan's wail would mourn a husband or a father, and that a mother alone was left to sorrow over his loss ! ^'•Did he do his duty 9 " Patriotism was paramount to affection — Love of country, and anxiety for her child''s honor, stood proudly forth before the throbbings of a breaking heart ! Anecdote of Gen, JJirea. Four or five privates of the 2nd Ohio regiment were taken prisoners by General Urrea, having straggled from the main body of a train guard passing from Cerralvo to Mon- tery. They were afterwards marched to San Luis Potosi, and treated with considerable rigor. On their being brought before him, General Urrea expressed himself as follows : " The Americans are viumaJ, (very bad,) — that no more than 200 or 300 of them (alluding to Col. Morgan's command, on the 20th of Feb.) fought 1500 of his men — that they stood up in an open plain, and received his fire for half a ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN COFFY. 57 day, and had the impudence to wave their caps and yell like wild Camanches, and bid defiance to the whole Mexican world ! " This anecdote was related by Dr. Bullock, an American resident at Cadaretta. General Urrea also told the doctor that " he did not believe these voluntarios fought for love of country, but for mere love of fighting. And that he believed they would as lief shoot a Mexican as some wild animal; and he considerad these soldados Americanos no hueno — mucho dlaholo ! " Anecdote of CajHaln Coffy. The 2nd Illinois Regiment received, with the 2nd Indiana, the first and heaviest fire of the enemy on the morning of the 23d, on the field of Buena Vista. The 2nd Indiana retreated in disorder, and left the 2nd Illinois with two pieces of light artillery, commanded by Lieut. French, who was shot down by his gun, the only force at this critical moment to resist the advancing line of the enemy, more than ten times their number. At this time, Captain CofFy, who commanded a company in the Illinois Regiment, received a severe wound in the left arm, fracturing it ; the lieutenant colonel was standing near, the gallant captain came up to him and said — " Colonel, I am wounded, but must stick to my company." In a few minutes he returned to the same officer, and exclaimed' — *' Colonel, they've shot me again." He had then received a ball in his left shoulder. " I am sorry for you — stay with your company as long as possible," was the reply to him. Captain C. returned to his company, and in a few moments an 18-pound shot struck the ground a iew feet before him, ricochetting over his head, and covering him with sand and gravel, and stinging him severely with the pebbles thrown 58 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. into his face. Faint with the loss of blood from his two wounds, and under the impression that the explosion of a shell had severely wounded him, he returned a third time to the same officer, exclaiming — " Colonel, I am now torn to pieces, and must get away if I can, but never yield the day to them." And yet he was neither a Mississippian or a Kentuckian, but a plain, straight-forward Illinois man, that required to be shot twice and torn to pieces once before he gave up. Storming of Chapultepcc. On the evening of the 12di, about 5 o'clock. General Pil- low came to our regiment, 15th infantry, saying that this post, Chapultepec, must fall by the next morning, and that we could not advance without its possession, and that he had the selecting of a storming party, from the different regiments, men who would be daring enough to engage in this arduous undertaking, and who would either seal their devotion to their country with their hearts' blood, or gain immortal laurels. He called upon those who were willing to join this dangerous expedition to step forward ; and how many do you think there were ready ? Only one man, and he was our leader, and he offered his whole regiment, man for man ; not a single man would stand back, although the castle lay before us, on an almost perpendicular rock, and bade defiance all day to our artillery, shewing us seventeen open-mouthed cannon, and thousands of Mexicans crouched on its bastions. Never- theless, every one of the boys wanted to be of the party, and with impatience they begged of the general to go at the work that same night. This was a great moment. A tear stole down the cheek of General Pillow, expressive of the feelings which took possession of his breast. With but few heartfelt words, he thanked us for our readiness^ and called us, as he STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC. 59 has done ever since, his "gallant 15th." The attack could not, however, take place that evening, but we moved silently into the great corn magazine, immediately at the foot of the rock, to be ready for the work at break of day. Pillow him- self took quarters in our midst. # * * * * # We advanced, after three or four more shots from the enemy, so far that the walls of the castle protected us com- pletely, whi!e the Mexicans blazed away with their small arms over our heads. Now the call was made for ladders, a few of which made their appearance ; but several times the carriers were either killed or wounded, and the ladders tumbled half way down the hill again. On a sudden the fire of our battery ceased, and a lieutenant of the New York Rifle Regiment, with a flag in hand, attempted to mount a ladder, when the heads of a dozen Mexican rascals popped over the walls, and fired their muskets — and the gallant lieutenant was wounded in the head ; haply, hov^/ever, not mortally. This was the grand finale, and the retreating of the enemy commenced in right good earnest. But, oh, God ! the one ladder, which was near where I stood, was not enough, nor were the six or eight more which were soon procured. Despairing of our chance to be the first upon the walls of the castle, we commenced lifting each other up, by climbing on one another's shoulders, and soon the walls were crowded with Uncle Sam's boys. Onward, over death, we wended our way to the interior of the castle, which the Mexicans defended step by step, while in the rear of a platform they once more posted themselves and continued the fight. Soon, however, they began to give way, and hundreds took to their heels towards the city ; our men followed quickly from building to building, and in less than three quarters of an hour from the time of the com- mencement of the attack, the banner of the free waved in triumph from the main turret of the castle. The colors of 60 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. three regiments were nearly at the same time on the spot ; but the colors of the New York regiment were first unfurled. With tears in his eyes, General Scott expressed his thanks to us. '* Had I millions of thanks to give you, it would not be enough. Oh, that I had a thousand arms to press you to my bosom ! " were some of his words, while he embraced the officers, and shook hands with such of the others as were within his reach. — I^ettcr from an officer. Lessons at " Single SlicJc.^^ Two of Lieut. Burford's men had been engaged in settling a little difference by the approved method of knocking one another down and pummelling each other's faces ; and so hard did the blows resound on the empty pates of the dra- froons as to attract the attention of the commander. He im- mediately hastened to the spot, when the combattants desis- ted and were about separating, but the lieutenant stopped xhem, and ascertaining the cause of the quarrel, informed them he was willing to gratify their desire to thrash each other, but that it must be done in a better and fairer manner. He accordingly despatched the sergeant of the guard for three good stout sticks, and upon their being brought, he gave one to each of the men, and the third to the sergeant, and placed the two men whhin fair striking distance. *' Now," said the lieutenant, " Smith, you are number one, and you, Jones are number two. When I say number one. Smith will strike Jones, and when I call out number two, Jones will strike Smith, Now, then, make ready. Number one." Whack ! came the stick of Smith upon the shoulders of Jones. ♦' Num- ber two." Crack ! came down number two's stick on num- ber one's head, and as " one, two," — " one, two," were called in rapid succession, the dust flew out of the combat- tant's jackets in fine style. At length number one began to BATTLE OF HUAMANTLA. 61 think that what was fun for the company, who were all gig- gling or grimly smiling or watching the curious combat, and for the lieutenant, who conducted the exhibition with a face as stern and unmoved as a marble monument, was all but death for him, and raising his stick as number two was coming down upon him like " ten hundred bricks," he warded off the blow. " Stop !" cried the lieutenant sternly. " How dare you guard off his blow, Smith? Such a proceeding cannot be tolerated, and you must receive a double blow. Hit him again, number two." The order was obeyed. ** If the lieutenant please," murmured the discomfitted Smith, as he winced under the flagellation of number two' " I don't think that's fliir, sir." " No matter what you think,* replied his superior, " 1 think it is, and that is all-sufficient. Make ready ; number — " " If the lieutenant please," hastily interposed number one, *' I'm perfectly satisfied." " Oh, you are ; and what are your views on the same subject, Mr. Jones?" blandly enquired the officer. " The same, sir, if the lieutenant please," said number two, rubbing his shoulders. " Very well, then, you can go ; but let me hear of no more quarrelling or fighting in the company for the next six months. The scene was so perfectly ridiculous, and the poor fellows were so thoroughly laughed at by their comrades, they soon shook hands and became friends. Battle of Hnamantla and death of Caj)tain Walker, On the evening of October 8, the train halted at a hacien- da two and a half leagues from Nopaluca. Geneal Lane sent out a spy to the town of Huamantla that night, having received information that Santa Anna had gone thither during the day before. The next, morning he returned, and reported 6 62 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. that the cavalry of the enemy had left the town, leaving be- hind six pieces of artillery. Orders were immediately issued for the cavalry under Captain Walker, Col. Gorman's regi- ment, Major Lally's battalion, Colonel Wynkoop's regiment, Captain Taylor's battery, and Captain Hehzelman's battalion to be in readiness to march for the town, leaving the train with about eleven hundred men and two pieces of artillery, under the command of Colonel Brough. At eleven o'clock the whole moved off in fine style. The cavalry were ordered to keep some distance in advance. They had gone about two miles when Captain Walker determined to push on at a gallop and surprise the enemy. For five miles the cavalry moved at a very rapid pace until they reached the outskirts of the town, when jCaptain Walker gave the orders to form fours and close up. He then entered a very narrow lane, both sides of which were lined with thick maguey, so narrow in many places that the sets of fours had to be broken and the column moved by twos. On they went at a trot, until the lane opened into the main street leading into the plaza, when, in column of four, the order was given to draw sabres and charge. Then rose a wild yell and such a charge ! The flashing of the sabres, the thundering of the horses' feet over the paved streets, were enough to strike terror into the hearts of the enemy. Two of their cannon were pointed up the street, another pointed down a cross street and the fuse was burning in it. The terrified artillerymen moved merely to the sides of the houses, at whom our men made their thrusts and right and left cuts, killing many in this manner. The cavalry rushed over their cannon ; the lancers, about three or four hundred, fled, and the men separated into small par- ties, pursuing them beyond the town, on the outskirts of which a good many were killed. Captain Walker went beyond the town for the purpose of overtaking the artillery which had left the place. Captain Lewis went in another direction for the same purpose. Captain Besangon was ordered to follow DEATH OF CAPT. WALKER. 68 the road to see if the artillery could be overtaken. In the meantime, most of the men having gone in pursuit, Captain Loyall with a few men, assisted by Adjutant Claiborne, se- cured some fifty or sixty prisoners at their quarters, together with their arms, &:c. Lieut. Claiborne then proceeded to se- cure and bring up to the Plaza the cannon, (three pieces,) that had b(!en captured. Captain Walker returned about this time, and going to the Plaza, was collecting the men. Lieut. Anderson of tbe Georgia volunteers, pursued and cap- tured Major Lurbide and Colonel La Vega, (a brother of the General,) and a lieutenant ; these he delivered to Cap- tain Walker. Lieutenant Claiborne, assisted by Corporal Hescock and private Myers, and one or two others, limbered up the six pounder and brought it to the Plaza ; leaving it limbered up and the mules standing in it, and returning to get the four-pounder, the lieutenant was in the act of bring- ing it up when he was forced to leave it by the appearance of all Santa Anna's cavalry, two thousand five hundred strong. Corporal Tilghman, of company C, (rifles,) brought up a small howitzer. Private Dusenbery took a lieutenant of ar- tillery prisoner, and turned him over to Surgeon Reynolds. By this time a good many of the men had returned, and were in the Plaza in scattered groups, when the lancers charged them suddenly and unexpectedly. The troops received them with great bravery, and kept the plaza, with the exception of a few under Captain Walker, who retired by a street leading west from the plaza ; they were joined by Lieutenant Clai- borne and his party, who were approaching the square. Cap- tain Walker led them from the plaza — the enemy close on them at a charge ; he turned the next street to his left, while the enemy seeing the four-pounder, rushed to it to retake it. It was fortunate for the few men with Captain Walker that the Mexicans saw this piece, for at the very next corner a still larger force met him ; he wheeled, and dashing swiftly past the rear of those who had cut him off from the plaza, again 64 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. entered it. Here the men dismounted and occupied the con- vent yard, together with a large house on the corner of the square. At this juncture, Captain Walker, while examining the ap- proach of the enemy, and looking at the four pounder on our right, was shot from behind, from a house displaying the white flag. He sunk down immediately, and was borne into the yard, the men bursting into tears as the cry spread amongst them, " Captain Walker is killed." Camp Hydropathy. While the army was encamped at Buena Vista, the soldiers frequently amused themselves by getting ' corned' ; One day a dragoon rode into camp so drunk as to be scarcely able to keep a straight seat on his horse. One of his comrades seized his horse's bridle and endeavored to hold the animal, but the rider was obstinately drunk and digging his spurs into his horse, he sprang from the grasp of his comrade and dash- ed off at a terrific pace. After driving up to a thick wall and striking his head against it violently, he wheeled, and bolting off in a different direction, the rider was thrown for- cibly to the ground, and it was thought killed. Upon exam- ination, however, he was found to be only stunned, and to have received no injury of a serious character. " The big drunk" was upon him very strong, though, and the lieutenant ordered buckets of water to be brought, and the drunken man to be stripped. After half a dozen buckets of water had been dashed over him, the operators withdrew, and the man began to " come to." He raised himself up and stared va- cantly about, but almost immediately lay down again and relapsed into his drunken fit. A few more pails of water nearly restored him, and upon the lieutenant's calling him by name, he uttered a very thick and puddingly " S-w-i" !" COL. WYNKOOP AND CAPT. WALKER. 65 " Get up, sir," said his officer. After several ludicrous and ineffectual attempts, he raised himself and hraced up against a tree. " Where are your clothes, sir?" demanded the lieu- tenant, sternly. The poor wretch surveyed himself from top to toe with the most bewildered expression of countenance, as if to assure himself that he was not dreaming, and, apparently not perfectly convinced of the reality of his being in a most complete state of nudity, he passed his hand over his breast and shoulders, and then turning to his officer with a most indescribable air, he replied, " It makes no difference," taking another survey of his person, and then of the soldiers who stood about him, he cried out in a most ludicrous tone of command, " Bring another bucket of water," amidst a roar of laughter. A frequent application of the pure element, not in infinitesimal doses, soon restored him sufficiently to admit of his being ' bucked' under the waggon for several hours. Colonel Wy^iJiooj) and Captam Walli'er. I heard a touching incident of Colonel Wynkoop and Captain Walker yesterday, which I fear I cannot give as I received it. It is known, probably, in the United States, that difficulties had existed between these officers, which their mutual friends always regretted. They had, I believe, preferred charges against each other ; but when Colonel Wynkoop heard that Captain Walker was seriously wounded, and not likely to live, he sent a staff officer to request an interview with the dying officer. Before the return of the messenger, the Colonel hastened to where the captain lay, and found him dead. The shock to him was overwhelming, and he could scarcely utter a word. In a few moments, however, he said, with much emotion, *' I would have given six years of my life for one word with that man ! " — and 6* 66 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. turned from the corpse to ask of General Lane the command of Walker's troop, that he might dash upon the retreating enemy, and revenge the death of the gallant trooper. The General refused his request, as Walker's men had been greatly reduced, and those not killed were much exhausted ; the colonel returned to his command with a heavy heart. — Letter from an officer. The night after the battle of Buena Vista, The night after the batde of Buena Vista was one of the most intense anxiety to the participators in the bloody fight. After twelve hours of obstinate fighting, with the final result yet unknown, nothing but water having passed the lips of those gallant men for the last twelve hours, the flower of their re- spective corps dead or wounded, and the certainty of a re- newal of the onslaught the next day, it is hard to imagine a period more calculated to " try men's souls" than that night. After the cessation of the fight, came the lassitude superin- duced by the extraordinary excitement of the day : men fell exhausted, and bivouacked in line — " the weary to rest and the wounded to die." The depression of physical energy was so great that neither hunger nor danger could incite them. That bloody field was at eight o'clock as silent as the grave. It can only be surmised what were the feelings of that " great old man" upon contemplating the results of that day's work. No officers sought repose, and the camp fires, which on other occasions had been the scene of jest and merriment, were now still, and the deep anxiety depicted on the faces of the various groups of officers impressed you with a solemnity, a foreboding of ill, that was truly painful. All eyes were turned ever and anon to the tent of one upon whom all their hopes were placed, but not a light, not a movement could be discerned. The occasion made that single tent an A MEXICAN FANATIC. 67 object of intense solicitude. Some wondered if he was alone, others would have given their earthly wealth to have known the thoughts, the hopes, the wishes, and the intentions of the old hero ; but all was dark and silent as the tomb. Capt. L., of the Topographical Engineers, had visited the battle ground at night. He had made some discoveries he thought important to be communicated to the commander-in-chief. On approaching the general's quarters, he overtook his ser- vant, who had been attending to his master's cavalry, and inquired if the ' old man ' was alone and awake. " I spec he fast asleep Captin, for he eat a monstrous hearty supper, and when he eat a big supper he sleep bery hard and sound, and I reckon you wont see ' de old hos ' 'fore four o'clock in de mornin. Listen, you hear him snore clean out here." When the Captain made a report of this last reconnoisance, joy and satisfaction were diffused throughout the camp. They knew that all was safe. Capture and death of a Mexican Fanatic. While at Camargo, that gallant Texan officer. Colonel Cooke, first heard of the inhuman massacre near Ceralvo. He started in pursuit of the murderers, to rain down retribu- tive justice on their heads for their dastardly conduct. He succeeded in capturing one of Urrea's officers, whose fanati- cism no doubt instigated the atrocities, too revolting to de- cency and manhood to be described. He was identified as the murderer of Burns, and was seen to mangle most horribly the dead bodies of the American teamsters. Moved by the spirit of a demon, he attempted, and would have murdered the grief distracted daughter of the unfortunate Burns, but for the interference of a brother officer in the same division. After he was taken and bound by thongs around the wrists he sprang, seized a pistol which Colonel Cooke had laid 6S ^ ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. ' down, and fired at and wounded him in the knee. En- raged for an instant, he drew his sword, but his anger mehed away at the sight of the cords which confined his arms, and he desisted from his hasty purpose. He was then placed in a wagon, with a sick soldier, guarded by a file of men, and was thus conveyed until they reached the spot where the mas- sacre had taken place. A halt was called until the rites of burial could be performed. One of the company who had lost a brother in the fight, stole with his rifle, unperceived, to the distance of one hundred and fifty yards from the wagon, where he secreted himself behind a bush, and waited until his comrades left an open space between him and the butcherer of his brother, when he fired and drove a ball through his bosom. The desperate man, feeling that the thread which bound him to life was cut, snatched the gun of the sick soldier and made an almost superhuman efi*ort to shoot one of the guards, which he came within a hair's breadth of accomplishing, and then expired. Incident at Buena Vista. After the batde I was ordered with sixteen men to escort Major Bliss with a flag of truce to Santa Anna. When we arrived within about one hundred yards of a regiment of lancers, which seemed to be the rear guard, we were halted. Major Bliss was blindfolded and conducted to Santa Anna. On the departure of the Major, a platoon of lancers was or- dered from the regiment, and took post facing my platoon, and within ten steps of me. The lieutenant in command dismounted his men ; I did the same. He was a fat, good- looking fellow ; wore a short sack coat, neatly trimmed with lace, and seemed quite pompous. As he dismounted he handed the bridle rein to his orderly, and commenced strut- ting before his platoon, in a very haughty manner. Presently RUM VS. SOLDIER. 69 • he called his orderly, who handed, from a pocket in the side of his saddle, a bottle from which he took a drink, without saying a word to me, much to my astonishment, and com- menced strutting as before. I just then recollected I had in my holster a small bottle of whiskey, and that it would not do to be outdone by this Mexicano : so I handed my rein to the right file of my platoon, and commenced playing the pea- cock in front of my men. In a few minutes I halted short, and ordered my bugler to hand me the bottle out of the hol- ster, and I took a drink, curled my mustache, and continued peacocking it. As soon as my Mexican friend saw my imi- tating movements he walked faster — I increased my pace — he halted and took a drink ; I halted and took a drink. Thus we performed for some time, until I actually bluffed him off, for he walked to the rear of his platoon — when I halted and sat down on the grass. — Letter from an Officer. Rum vs. Soldier. "Yes, sir, I'm a volunteer. I'm proud to say I'm one of 'em — one of those patriotic sons that have left the comforts of a home, the delights of a fireside, hove down the imple- ment of the husbandman, and chucked the tool of the me- chanic into the chimney place, buckled on the cartridge box, and taken up the musket to go into the heart of an enemy's country, and all for the honor of mine. Yes, sir, the flame of patriotism was kindled in my breast, and went ofi* in a light blaze at the very first shot which was fired on the mortal plains of Paler Alter, and it is a consuming me with its ter- rible violence." Such were the " neat and appropriate remarks," which emanated from the lips of an individual in a very war-worn and dirty suit of half-military clothes, after the Recorder had addressed him blandly as Mr. Peagrim and inquired of him whether he was a soldier. 70 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. " You are charged here, sir, with being intoxicated last night, and of disturbing the peace of the city." "Is it possible that such a charge as that has been fetched against me?" said Mr. Peagrim. " Well, it aint the fust time. My persecutors follers me everywhere. 1 was accused of being drunk afore I 'listed, I was accused of being drunk when I 'listed, and I was dis- charged for being drunk. In Mexico I fought the battles of my country, and I poked it into the Mexicans lively. I was in four battles, and distinguished myself in every one of 'era. At the sound of the first gun I fell back, in good order to the rear, to protect the baggage, but unable to appreciate my great military skill and courage, they accused me of running away, and my captain gave me fits. The physicians said I had been cupped too often, and recommended my discharge. I came home, sir," — here he became very much affected — " but when I landed on the levee, I didn't hear ne'er a can- non thunderin' out my welcome. There wasn't no loud shouts of the populace when I arrived, except when I fell into the water in getting ashore. I didn't see no military turned out to escort me through the streets, and I was com- pelled to walk alone in the place de armys and go through the magnificent arch, that had been built for my reception expressly, with all them green things and signs on it. For a moment I felt my heart was too full for utterance, but I thanked the people, that was about, for the compliment, but they only laughed at me and hove stones. With a broken heart I went straight off and liquored. — A^. O. Pic, Captain Henrie, Captain Henrie was with the scouting party of Majors Gaines and Borland at the time of its capture by the Mexi- cans. It was composed of three companies of the Kentucky CAPTAIN HENRIE. 71 and Arkansas cavalry, and numbered about seventy. At a considerable distance from camp, they were surrounded by about two thousand horsemen, under General Minon, and induced to surrender, on promise of being treated as prisoners of war. The whole party were then conducted under a strong escort toward the city of Mexico. One officer, however, escaped — he was Captain Henrie. He was very anxious for a fight, and, with Capt. Cassius M. Clay, strongly dissuaded Major Gaines from surrendering. He told the men to count their bullets, and if they had one for every two Mexicans, it was a fair game and he would go it. He also cautioned them to hit the Mexicans below their beards, that they might frighten off the others by their groans, and to give them as much misery as possible. One of the Mexican officers, recognizing him, cried out in Spanish, "I shall have the pleasure of your company to the city of Mex- ico, Captain Henrie!" "Excuse me, senor, I generally choose my own company ;" replied the cool and courtly captain. It was the second day after their capture, and near the town of Salado, famous in Texan history as the place of the decimation of the Mier prisoners, that Major Gaines's high- spirited mare showing considerable restlessness, the major requested Captain Henrie, who is a famous rider of the Jack Hays school, to " mount her and take off the wire-edge of her spirit." The captain did so, and riding up to Captain Clay, carelessly remarked, " Clay, I am going to make a break." The Mexican commander, half suspecting his de- sign, placed addidonal forces at the head and rear of the column of lancers, within which the prisoners were placed, and rode himself by the side of Henrie, who would pace up and down the line, cracking jokes with the boys, and firing up the spirit of the mare by various ingenious manoeuvres. At last, Henrie, seeing a favorable opportunity, plunged his spurs deep into the sides of the noble blood, and rushing 72 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. against, and knocking down three or four of the mustangs with their lancers, started off in full view of the whole party, at a rate of speed equal to the best time that Boston or Fashion ever made. After him rushed half a dozen well- mounted lancers, who, firing their escopetas at him, started off in close pursuit. But it was no race at all — the Kentucky- blood was too much for the mustang. The lancers were soon distanced, and the last view they got of Henrie, he was flying up a steep mountain, waving his white handkerchief, and crying out in a voice which echoed afar off through the valley. "Adios, sefiores — 'adios, seiiores !" The prisoners, forgetting their situation, gave three loud cheers as they saw the gallant Henrie leaving his pursuers far behind, and safely placed beyond their reach. The sub- sequent adventures and sufferings of Henrie are well known. After many narrow escapes from the enemy and starvation, and after loosing his noble mare, he arrived safely at camp, and gave the first authentic intelligence, of the capture of Majors Gaines and Borland's party. Magnanimity of General Shields. On the 19th of August, the army approached the position of Contreras, a strongly entrenched camp, defended by twenty large cannon. On that day our advanced troops suffered much from the constant fire of the enemy's artillery. The night closed gloomily. The rain poured down in torrents, and the darkness was so great, that many of our troops were dispersed over the country, unable to find their camps and head-quarters. The suffering and depression which prevail- ed throughout the whole army that night cannot be well described. Before them, and on the road to the city, Santa Anna had, by incredible exertions, fortified a position of great natural strength, and collected behind it an immense TEXAS RANGERS. 73 and well-equipped army. And here was our little army, with- out quarters, exposed to a merciless storm of cold rain, with most inadequate means, and insufficient ammunition, brought to a stand by one of the enemy's outposts. But there were two men, at least, in our army, who, amid all these discour- agements, preserved their confidence and courage unshaken. They were Winfield Scott and Persifor F. Smith. The latter, with the eye of a true soldier, had surveyed the field, and conceived the plan by which he was confident of carry- ing that important position. Through his Aid, he commu- nicated his plan to Gen. Scott, who was three miles off, and who, with a map before him, was engaged in tracing the operations which he had determined to be the order of the next day. Gen. Scott was struck with Smith's strategy, approved it fully, and sent Shields to aid him. That night Shields' brigade was under arms, and commenced a night march over a strange and horribly rough country, and under an unceasing shower of rain. Over the rough pedrega.l, through the corn-fields, wading ditches, and ascending and descending ravines where the men would have to cling to every hanging root or tree to save them from falling. Shields' gallant volunteers proceeded to join Smith. When the latter saw Shields coming up, he turned pale, and could not conceal the mortification and disappointment he felt in being ranked just on the eve of the great battle he had so skilfully matured. "Make yourself easy. General Smith," remarked the gener- ous and magnanimous Shields , as he saluted him, — "You missed your chance at Cerro Gordo, but you shall have it now. I will assist, but not command you." Texan Ranger. A small party of Colonel C. F. Smith's police guard of the city was fired on by a band of robbers or guerillas occu- 7 74 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. pying a house in the suburbs of the city. Not deeming their force sufficient to assault the house, they took a position that would prevent escape, and sent for a reinforcement. The doors were then forced, and all its inmates captured except one, who jumped out of a window, mounted a horse and dashed off at full speed. As he started off, he drew a pistol and fired it off into the crowd — without however, injuring any one. There was one of Jack Hay's Rangers standing close by, apparently a silent spectator of the whole affair ; but as soon as the Mexican fired his pistol, he leisurely drew his revolver, remarking, " Ah, ha, my larkey, that's a game that two can play at!" and at the crack of the pistol down came the Mexican. The Texan then mounted his own horse, and after run- ning four or five hundred yards, lassoed the horse and re- turned with him, saying to the officer present, " Well, Cap- tain, as I knocked the centre out of that fellow, I s'pose I'm entitled to his pony." The officer replied in the affirmative, and the Texan rode off as cool as though it was an every day business with him. The Mexicans who were taken in the house were sent off to the guardhouse, and tried by a military commission. " I couldn't help it^ General Quitman relates the following incident: "With- in a mile of the city of Mexico, where you know we had hard fighting, I was standing talking to General Shields as to the mode of action. Before us the Mexican cannon were belch- ing forth fire and smoke and the musketeers were not idle. General Shields left me. I took out my pocket glass to re- connoitre, to see where we could make the most efi'ective attack, and while I had it to my eye, I heard something fall heavily near my feet. I looked down and behold it was one APPLYING TO THE HEAD BOSS. 75 of my men. A ball had struck him in the knee and he was bleeding profusely. His wound was tied up with a handker- chief, and he was removed about five feet from me. I was interested for the man. He was unable to sit even. He had twisted himself around, and was feeling for his musket, which he finally caught by the bayonet, and drew it to him. Occa- sionally I glanced in the direction of the soldier. While I had been attending to other matters, he had turned on his side and had actually his gun in shooting position. He fired at the enemy ! I approached and remarked to him, " My good fellow haven't you had enough of fighting yet?' He looked at me, and in a tone which seemed to ask forgive- ness, replied, "Why, General — I — couldn't help it." Applying to the Head Boss, " Plaze, sir," said an Irish soldier, touching his hat to his captain, "whin will we be paid off, sir? "In a few davs, Patrick," replied the ofiicer. " Yis, sir," continued Pat, " and whin, sir, will we be after Santy Anny, the black- guard?" " That's more than I can tell you, Patrick; its rather hard to tell when or where he- will show himself," re- plied the officer. " Yis, sir, thank you kindly, sir, we'll be paid off* in a few days any ways, however," said Pat, as he touched his hat again and retired. In a few days he again appeared and opened the conversation with. — "If ye plaze, sir, divil the copper have we been paid yet, sir I " "I know it, Patrick," was the reply of the ofiicer, " but I can't help it ; they are waiting for the paymaster to arrive." " Oh, it's the paymaster we're a waiting for, is it ? and what the divil's the excuse he has for not bein' here when he is wanted ? What's the use of havin' a paymaster, if he isn't on the spot whin he's wanted ? " said Pat, beginning to wax indignant at having to wait so long for his 'tin.' The circumstance 76 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. caused him much uneasiness, and after cogitating the matter over and over, he was struck with a luminous idea, and an- nounced to his comrades that he'd have his money before you could say " thread on my coat." One morning immediately after breakfast, off posted Pat to General Taylor's camp, and approaching his tent, enquired of a soldier standing by, where the General's * shanty' was. *' That's his tent," said the sentinel, pointing out the general's quarters. "And is that the Gineral's tent? " said Pat, taking off his hat and rubbing his hand over his hair, which had been cut to that degree of shortness peculiar to the natives of Erin's green isle. "And Where's the Gineral's old grey boss ?" inquired Pat. " There" replied the soldier, indicating the spot, where the old horse stood lazily whisking the flies away with his tail. "And is that the old boss?" again inquired the sprig of Erin, with great awe, " an' where, if you plaze sir, is the old gintleman himself? " continued Pat. " There he sits under that aw^n- ing," answered the soldier. "What!" exclaimed Pat, in almost a whisper, and in a tone amounting to reverence, " an' is that the old gintleman?" "Yes," said the soldier walk- ing away, " that's General Taylor." After gazing upon the * war-worn veteran' in silent admiration for a while, he at last mustered sufficient courage to approach him. " I beg your pardon Gineral, but you'll plaze to excuse the bit of liberty Pm taking in presuming to call on your honor, but if you plaze, sir, I come on a little mather of business, bein' as I thought maybe you might be afther helpin' us out of a little bit of a scrape." " Well," said the General kindly, " what is the trouble, and what do you wish? " " If you plaze, sir, Pd like to know when the hands will be paid off, sir? " " When the hands will be paid off? " repeated the General a little puzzled. " Yis sir, if you plaze to have the goodness. The bands have had divil the cint of wages since they've been in the country." AN AFFECTING SCENE. 77 Oh, I understand, you're a volunteer, and wish to know when you'll be paid off. Well, my good fellow, you must apply to your company officers for that information, I have nothing to do with it." " Beggin' your pardon, sir, I did ax the boss about it, but he didn't give me no sort of satisfaction about it, and so I told the other hands I would fix it ; and bein' as you're the head boss, I thought I'd be comin' over here to see if you couldn't give us some satisfaction." The * head boss' being unable to relieve the anxiety of Pat, the latter retired to the ' other hands,' having the satis- faction of saying, that altliough he had failed in the object of his mission, he had seen the ' head boss' and his ' shanty' and ' the old grey horse' which was '' glory enough for one day." An Affecting Scene. Jesus Pico (brother of Pio Pico, governor of California,) was condemned to be shot, for breaking his parole, and also for headmg an insurrection. Twelve was the hour fixed for execution. At eleven, the wife and children of Pico, with a crowd of Ladies rushed into the room of Lieut. Col. Fremont, (at that time commandant,) and fell upon their knees, beseeching in the most piteous accents to par- don the husband and father. The children of Pico clung to Col. Fremont's knees and prayed for their father's life. The wife, w4th an agonizing look, begged him not to render her children fatherless and herself a widow. Shrieks and groans were mingled with their supplications. Col. Frement was unable to look upon the heart-rending scene, and hid his face in his hands ; and the word pardon involuntarily escaped from his lips. He was not formed to resist the supplications of those in distress, and the warm feelings of his nature prompted him to pardon Pico. 7* 78 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. The tumult of feelings took a different turn. Joy and gratitude broke out, filled the room with benedictions, and spread to those without. Blessings were showered upon Fremont's head in myriads ; every tongue vieing in thank- fulness. To finish the scene, the condemned man was brought in ; and then the whole impulsiveness and fire of the Spanish character, when excited by some powerful emotion, was fully developed. He had been calm, com- posed, quiet, and almost silent, under his trial and condem- nation ; but, at the word ' pardon,' a storm of impetuous feeling burst forth, and, throwing himself at the feet of Col. Fremont, he swore to him an eternal fidelity, and demanded the privilege of going with him and dying for him ! But it was not yet over with Col. Fremont. His own men required the death of Pico ; he had done them much harm, and, in fact, was the head of the insurrection in that district, and had broken his parole. The Colonel went among them, and calmed the ferment in his own camp. But others, who were not there, have since cried out for the execution of Pico, and made his pardon an accusation against Col. Fremont. The pacified state of the country will answer the accusation, and show that it was a case in which policy and humanity went together. Santa Anna''s GamccocJts. A party of dragoons, while exploring the premises of Santa Anna, at Mango de Clavo, came upon the building where he kept his gamecocks. (Santa Anna is Well known for his propensity to fight cocks, though he is not quite so keen to fight ' Los Yankees '.) There was an immense deal of cock-fighting in that neighborhood for several days. The opportunity of fighting Santa Anna's cocks was too rare to be allowed to pass away unhonored ; so the officers THE RIFLES. 79 had rare sport. One particular fight created great excite- ment. A fierce looking fellow, which they dubbed ' General Taylor,' (not so large as some, but with the game sticking out all over him,) was pitted against along, gangling chicken, that bore his owner's name — a heavy but clumsy bird, with but little fight in him. Well, General Taylor and Santa Anna, as represented by the cocks of the latter, were set upon one another, and after a few heavy hits from the former, the latter ' bambosed' out of the fight as fast his two legs would carry him, leaving General Taylor's representative upon the ground, crowing quite lustily. Cheers, of course, were raised for ' Rough and Ready,' both cock and man ; but a dragoon cried out "Licked on his own dunghill, by G — d ! " The Rifles I rejoice in? the glorious laurels which the rifles have won. It is, as all acknowledge, the fighting regiment of the army. It entered Chapultepec simultaneously with the storming party. It was first in all the enemy's works from Chapulte- pec to the citadel. It was the first that entered the city, and first planted its triumphant banner on the palace of the Monte- zumas. Wherever bloody work was to be done, " the rifles" was the cry, and there they were. All speak of them in terms of admiration. Let me give you but a single instance. Some of the officers and men were standing together when General Scott happened to ride by. Checking his horse, he returned their salute, saying with great energy and emphasis, " Brave Rifles ! veterans ! You have been baptized in fire and blood and have come out steel! " Had you seen the unbidden tears stealing to the eyes of those rough but gallant spirits, whose hearts knew no fear, and who had never yet, in their long trial, faltered or fallen back, while their flashing eyes 80 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. and upright forms bespoke its truth, you would have felt with me that such words as those wiped out long months of hard- ship and suffering. But what told still more the tale of suf- fering and death were the deserted ranks and scanty numbers of that gallant regiment. Five hundred sturdy men left Jef- ferson Barracks for the plains of Mexico — one hundred and fifty-nine have met us here, and now one hundred and seventy alone are left to tell the tale. The fate of the rest you know already. Chapultepec's bloody hill, Mexico's capital, have cost us an hundred noble fellows, while seven officers have felt that the rifles were doomed. Our gallant major lost his arm early in the day. Palmer has a grapeshot in the thigh. One of our captains saved his life by half an inch, while the rest, whose slighter wounds permit them to be about, attend to duty from necessity. — Letter from an officer. Capttire of Alvarado, t One day Mister Perry wanted to have a chowder of Mexi- cano, a la Alvarado, and was going to let all the school go down and see him eat it , and he asked Mister Scott to go down with his school too ; but Mister Scott had just been eating soup a la Ulua, and he did not care a pin for Mexi- cano, ct la Alvarado ; so he told Usher Quitman he might take some of the boys and go. Then Mister Perry told Master Hunter, who had just come to school, to go down and watch the Alvarado, and keep anything from getting into it till he could come — for Mister Perry could not go fast. But Master Hunter was a greedy boy, and had not been well brought up, and did not care ; and a saucy boy and had no respect for his betters, and his parents should have been whipped for not whipping him more — for so soon as he got where it was, he ate up all the Alvarado and more too. He was very hungry, and had gone a good ways ; but he hadn't ELOQUENCE OF ACTIOiV. 81 orter done so — for when Mister Perry and Usher Quitman came, thej could get nothhig to eat, and had to go back, feeling worse than any body ever felt before or ever will feel again. Then Mister Perry shut Master Charley up, till he and the ushers could find out what to do with him ; and one usher thought they ought to put a piece of rope round his neck and tie him up to the yard-arm. But Mister Perry did not dare do that, for little Charley had twenty millions of friends who would have done so to him, had he done so to Charley — so that all Mister Perry could do was to send him away from school ; but he gave a smart man two shilhngs and sixpence to write a reprimand on Master Hunter, and told all the ushers to read in their divisions. — Yarikee Doodle. The Eloquence of Action. We rejoice that w^e are able to relate one good thing that occurred while Gen. Shields w^as in our place. A good honest laboring son of the Green Isle, had been standing round waiting for an introduction to his countryman, the General. Our committee, however, being men of exalted minds, at least about that time, did not see the honest Hib- ernian, who was too modest to ask an introduction, but fol- lowed the crowd to the railroad depot, where some of our citizens had prepared a cannon to give a loud farewell to Gen. Shields. On arriving at a point near the door of the car. Gen. Shields halted and seemed, for a moment, to be in sol- emn thought, as if the roaring cannon reminded him of other scenes. Our honest Irish friend during the time, had kept near his person as if spell-bound, until about the time the general was in the act of taking his final leave. Poor Pat could stand it no longer ; he rushed forward to the general, caught him by the hand, exclaiming, *' How are you my countryman ? I am prouder of you than you are of yonr- 82 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. self! " Gen. Shields, with a manner that showed his heart was in the act, taking off his cap, caught the hand of the poor laborer, and gave him such a shake as none but a noble heart in an Irishman's breast could give, exclaiming at the same time, "How do you do, my worthy countryman? I am indeed glad to meet you ! thank you, thank you." Pat stepping back, and standing some inches above his usual height, exclaimed ; "And failh, you're the boy under whom I would like to fight! "—.S. C. Paper. Charge of tJie Mississippiaiis at Buena. Vista, When a portion of the troops, panic struck, were fleeing before the shot of the enenry, at Buena Vista, the Mississip- pians were ordered to advance. Scarcely three hundred in number, with their rifles without bayonets, they advanced to ^ the charge against a superior force, outnumbering them so far that they might be regarded almost as a forlorn hope. Steadily and unwaveringly they pressed on, loading and firing with terrible effect, and utterly regardless of the deadly fire of the enemy, which was creating fearful havoc in their own ranks. All know the result of that charge, and what effect it had upon the enemy. Of this small, noble band, no less than ninety odd were stretched upon that bloody field in one charge. Such a charge has never been equalled in modern warfare. Just before their departure, a drizzly un- pleasant'rain set in, in the midst of which the regiment, under the command of Capt. Hooper, marched in front of General Taylor's tent and presented arms. The General was in his tent, but came out and shook hands with Capt. H., and then addressed the following remarks to them with much feeling : " My friends, I part from you with great reluctance. You are about returning to your homes and your families, covered with honors scarcely ever equalled. You have won honor INCIDENT AT CERRO GORDO. 83 for yourselves, your state and your country, and I can only express a sincere hope for your health and future happiness." He then shook hands with the officers, and as the regiment filed off, they gave three hearty cheers for the brave old gen- eral, under whom they have won such green and unfading laurels. Ineidcnt at Cerro Gordo. I continued attending to the various stages of the amputa- tion in the midst of balls and the cry of the enemy, and at last finished an operation that seemed to have lasted an age. The serenity and resignation of my companions in this crisis were admirable, and is above description. All remained around the patient, attending to that part of the operation which fell to their share, in the midst of the whistling of balls and the cries of death ; and when we rose, looking to heaven with gratitude for our salvation, as we thought, a new peril came to dismay us. A number of volunteers presented them- selves in front of our entry, and seeing our uniform, cried — " Death to the Mexican officers," and presented their guns to our breasts. I do not know what sentiment inspired me in the resolution which T took, but I rushed to the muzzles of their rifles — and showed them my hand, dripping with blood, and holding a piece of the mutilated leg, cried — '* Res- pect humanity or a hospital of blood — we are surgeons." My words produced a magic offect. In an instant, an officer whose name I have since learned to be Pion, stepped between the volunteers and ourselves, raised their guns with his sword, and these men, animated by victory, thirsting to avenge the loss of their general, (General Shields,) mortally wounded, as I have since learned, became from that moment our friends, our protectors. — Letter of a Mexican Siirgeoiu 84 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. Alexander Kimze, In the same part of the field, and about the same time with Clay, McKee and Hardin, another fell, pierced by a lance, whose name is worthy of a place on the rolls of fame — Pri- vate Alexander Kunze of Company H, 2d Regiment of Illi- nois. The writer was honored with his friendship, and had an opportunity of knowing him well, being a member of the same company and his tent mate. His conduct on the field was most soldierly, cool, calm, deliberate and prompt in obey- ing orders. His courage was conspicuous, even in the mo- ment of his death, when he refused to surrender. Except a brother in South America, he left no relatives on this conti- nent. His widowed mother lives in Bueckeburg, in Hano- ver, near his native city, Hamburg. He recived a splendid education at the universities of Jena and Goettingen. He had been but a year in the United States^ when lie joined our regiment at Alton, whither he had come to volunteer from Wisconsin. His motives in taking this step, were, that he might serve the country, whose constitution he respected be- fore all other systems of government, and to gratify his curi- osity in a new mode of life, by seeing Mexico and observing, as he did, with a philosophic eye, the character of her people and institutions. The writer promised himself much pleasure in travelling with him through this country. He was twenty seven years of age, and probably the most learned man in the army. His knowledge of philology was accurate and profound. Such was his familiarity with the Latin, that by one day's examination of a Spanish grammar, he was able to read the cognate language with facility. JNIany pleasant hours have we spent together in rambling over the mountains and plains of Mexico, while he filled his haversack with new plants to send to Germany, and which his knowledge of botany often enabled him to class in the several genera and species. A better and a braver heart than his never beat its last upon a field of battle. — Letter from a Private. EXECUTION OF DESERTERS. 85 Execution of Deserters, On the morning of the 9th September, was hung at San Angel, sixteen deserters from the American army, who had taken up arms against their government.* Immediately after some ten or twelve were whipped, and branded on the cheek with the letter D. Riley, the chief of the San Patricio crowd, came in for a share of the whipping and branding ; and right well was the former laid on by a Mexi- can muleteer, Gen. Twiggs deeming it too much honor to the major to be flo namely, at the rate of one hundred and twenty-five miles a day. On this ride the grass on the road was the food for the houses. At Monterey they had barley ; but these horses, meaning those trained and domesticated, as the canalos were, eat almost anything in the way of vegetable food, or even drink, that their master uses, by whom they are petted and caressed, and rarely sold. Bread, fruits, sugar, coffee, and even wine, like the Persian horse, they take from the hand of their master, and obey with like docility his slightest intimation. A tap of the whip on the saddle springs him into action ; the check of a thread rein, on a Spanish bit, would stop them ; and stopped short at speed, they do not josde the rider or throw him forward. They leap on any thing — man, beast, or weapon, on which their master directs them. But this description, so far as conduct and behavior are concerned, of course only applies to the the trained and domesticated horse. — Nat. Intelligencer, The Man who was not horn to he hilled hij a Shell. During the bombardment of Fort Brown, the besieged troops were obliged to throw themselves flat upon the ground every time a shell from the enemy was fired at them. A shell exploding among men in a standing position, would be more apt to kill them, than if they were close to the ground. A knot of officers were standing together for a moment one day, resting and chatting, when the look-out man gave the word to dodge a shell. The officers were down in an instant, Lieut. H. prostrating himself face downward, and looking over his shoulder. The shell came fizzling down, close by them. " I vvonder if she'll bust," remarked the waggish H. ; " she's a d — 1 of a long while about it, any how." Hardly were the words uttered, when a tremendous explosion replied **A FIRE IN THE REAR." 12-3 to them, and H.'s head went down like a lump of lead. Pretty soon the pieces began to fall, with a pattering sound, around them. — " Now we'll catch it," remarked H. inclining his head a little upward, but still keeping close. '' There it comes ! " said he, as he saw a large fragment descending rapidly, directly upon his back. His comrades saw it, and thought, sure enough, that poor H.'s time had come. 'Twas useless to dodge, for he might roll himself directly in the way of it, so he "lay and took it," as he remarked afterwards. The piece hit him plumb between the shoulders. " Hoo !" grunted H., and his friends sprang forward to see if he was dead. "x\re you hurt, H. ? " "Nof said he cooly, rising and shaking his coat, "but a fellow might as well be, as to be scared to death !" It was a clod of dirt that hit him, the shell having penetrated the ground, in a hard place, throwing off clods in every direction. " A fire in the Reary Water was scarce during the heat of summer, at Brasos Island, and liquor not so plentiful, at times, as the necessities of the sojourners required. It was at one of these thirsty seasons that a Yankee, by some hook or crook, got hold of a barrel of tolerably fair cider and with this small stock in trade he at once " set up" business. To rake and scrape to- gether a parcel of boards and odd bits of canvass, enough to build a small shanty, was the work of but a short hour ; to set the barrel on a couple of skids, in the back part of the tent, to tap it, and to commence retailing it at a dime a glass, occupied but a short time more. Customers flocked in by the dozens, the cider went off at a rapid rate, and the Yankee was making his " etarnal forlin" at a stride that would have elated John Jacob Astor, in his early days. Some of his patrons complained that a dime a 11* \ 126 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. glass for cider, which was not worth more than two dollars a barrel at the outside, was an outrageous price ; but the times were hard, the retailer's conscience easy — he had all the ci- der in the market, and could not afford to sell any cheaper. This state of things went on for an entire day, the Yankee's quarters being beset by throngs of patrons. On the following morning, and before the cider was yet half sold, they began to thin off gradually, and by the middle of the afternoon it was only now and then that a straggling stranger visited the shade and cider of the retailer. What was the matter ? What had caused this sudden falling off of custom ? The reader will soon see. Towards night a new face appeared in the shanty, and called for a glass of cider. It was drawn, swallowed, and the customer took out his purse and enquired the price. "One dime." said the Yankee. " One what ? " retorted the customer. " One dime," cooly replied the Yankee. " One h — 11," snarled the customer ; " why, I can get just as good cider here ^ov Jive cents a glass." " N-o y-o-u c-a-n-t," drawled the Yankee. *' There aint a pint of cider, 'cept what I've got in this here barril, this side of Orleans, I'll be darned if there is." " I know better," ejaculated the customer, tartly. " I bought a glass of cider not two hours ago, and only paid five cents for it." " I'd like to know where you effected that small transac- tion," queried the Yankee. '* Right round here," was the answer. *' I guess it was ' right round here.' Right round wliere^ I'd like to know? " continued the cider vender. " Why, close by here, somewhere — just back of your place," returned the customer. " I'll bet you tu drinks you didn't," spoke up the Yankee, " and we'll go right round and see." " Done," said the customer, and off they started. AMPUDIA AND TAYLOR. 127 Sure enough, " right round here," they found another ci- der establishment in full blast. A second Yankee had rig- ged a small shade in the rear of the first Yankee's shanty, had tapped the other end of the latter's barrel of cider, through a board, and was retailing it at five cents a glass, to a perfect rush of customers. Ge7ierals Taylor and Ampudia. The interview between Generals Taylor and Ampudia, in relation to the capitulation of Monterey, has been described by a gentleman who was present, as a very rich scene, in which the two chiefs were in fine contrast. Ampudia was all courtesy and fine words, big speeches, great volubility, with an abundance of gesticulation, shrugs, nods, alternate smiles and frowns, and that whole catalogue of silent language with which persons of French origin are wont to help the expres- sion of their ideas. Gen. Ampudia is of a French family, and was born in the West Indies. Gen. Taylor, on the other hand, was as dry as a chip, as plain as a pipe-stem, and as short as pie-crust. Dressed in his best coat, (which, by the by, looks as if it had served some half a dozen campaigns,) with his glazed oil cloth cap, strapless pants, and old fash- ioned white vest, he seemed more like an old farmer, lately elected militia colonel, who had put on his every day suit, with the slightest possible regard to military toggery, to dis- tinguish him from the crowd of mere civilians. In his reply to Ampudia's long harrangues, he used such direct, blunt, and emphatic language, that the valorous Mexican was taken all aback, and *' had nothing to say." Ampudia opened the interview by saying that his forces were too large to be con- quered by Gen. Taylor's arrny — that he had an abundance of ammunition, 7000 infantry and 3000 cavalry, with 40 cannon, and the best artillerists in the world — that his loss was very small, and he felt confident that he could defend 128 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. the city against a much stronger force than that under Gen. Taylor's command ; but that, from motives of humanity — to save the effusion of blood — to save the lives of helpless wo- men and children — he was willing so far to compromise the glory of the great Mexican nation, as to surrender the city, provided he was allowed to retire with the whole of his force, and carry the public property with him, and all the arms and munitions of war. When he had finished his magnificent oration, which, in the style of his celebrated proclamation, was garnished with numerous allusions to the stupendous power and unfading glory and renown of magnanimous Mex- ico, old Zack quietly stuck his hands deep into his breeches pockets, cocked his head a Utile on one side, and gently rais- ing his grizzly eyebrows, that the bold little black eye lurking beneath might have full play upon the grandiloquent Mexican, replied in these few but expressive words ; " Gen. Ampudia, we came here to take Monterey, and we are going to do it on such terms as please us. I wish you good morning." And the old general hobbled off on his two short little legs, leaving the Mexican general and staff in the profoundest bewilderment. Military Etiquette. A story is told of an eccentric officer, on the banks of the Rio Grande, showing that he is inclined, occasionally, to overlook slight breaches of military etiquette. The officer had returned from a convivial party, and felt in a pretty good humor with himself and every body else. Being inclined to breathe the fresh air, and suffer the effects of good cheer to evaporate, he selected a patch of green sward in camp for a promenade, and commenced slowly walking backward and forward. Now it so happened that a sentinel on duty had post directly in the officers line of march, and every few min- utes would encounter his superior officer, and, as in duty TAYLOR AND THE VOLUNTEERS. 129 bound, his musket would be presented to salute him, and when he had passed, brought to the shoulder again. This continued for a long time, till the sentinel was quite tired of saluting him, and at last said, " Colonel, if you pass this way again, sir, I shan't salute you." The officer paused, spread his legs, surveyed his man from his glazed fatigue cap to the toes of his brogans, and back to his cap again, and thrusting his hands deep into his pockets, exclaimed ; " And if you think I care whether you do or not, you are most infernally mistaken, my fine fellow — that's all I've got to say;" and re- suming his promenade, the officer and private passed each other with the utmost indifference. Gen. Taylor a,7id the Volunteers. Gen. Taylor is singular in everything. I have reason to believe that he is, notwithstanding his austerity of manner when busy, as full of humor as an egg is of meat. Taking this for granted, he must have been gready amused, the other day, at the manoeuvers of some volunteers, who went to his *' ranche" to take a peep at the old lion. The General's tent is just like those around it, only, perhaps, a little more so — and when he sits in it, with his farmer's clothes on, and spectacles on his nose, poring over some order or official document, he looks more like an honest yeomen trying to decipher the details of his merchant's account, than the man he really is. The volunteers, half a dozen in number, loitered about head quarters awhile, and seeing the old tarpaulin, that is stretched over a pole in front of the General's tent, they went under it and seated themselves on the wooden benches. They saw an honest looking elderly man seated in the lent, eight or ten feet off, and neither knowing or caring who he was, they chatted awhile rather loudly, canvassing the merits and demerits of " Old Zach," some saying that " he was a d — d tough old cock ; " others that, " he was pretty d — d 130 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. tight on the Americans, sometimes," &c. Finally they struck up old Dan Tucker in real Kentucky style, beating time on the benches, not uproarously, but heartily. The General paid no attention to what was going on, and the free hearted fellows bad no idea that they were within half a mile of" old Zach," thinking, probably, that he had " stepped out somewhere," The General rose, and went to Major Bliss' office, and spoke to him, and then started off towards town. " See here," said one of the volunteers, " I'll bet that yon- der is old Zach ! " " Oh h — 11, no ! " exclaimed another, positively, " that old Gen. Taylor ! " and he laughed the other into silence. But the first speaker thought he would make sure, so he stepped up to Major Bliss and asked — " Is that the old fellow, yonder?" pointing to the General. "What old fellow do you mean?" replied the Major. " Why, the old General that ain't him, is it? " " That is Gen. Taylor : yes, sir," replied the Major, highly amused at the scene. " The h — 11 it is, ! " exclaimed the fellow, stalking after old Rough and Ready — " come on boys ! that's him, by Jupiter, I told you so ! " — and the company started off in pursuit. — Letter from an Officer. Lieutenant Colonel Duncan. Lieut. Col. Duncan, of the battalion of artillery, as at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, signalized himself for his bra- very at Monterey. Col. Duncan is known not to be very fastidious in his dres, rather negligent in matters of the toilet, and this led to a rather ludicrous error at the interview or parley between Gens. Taylor and Ampudia, at which, many officers, of both armies, w^ere present; aVid Lieut. Duncan by the invitation of Gen. Taylor. He was unshaven — wore a shocking bad hat — and seeemed to have much more of the "l-do-as'l-d — n please" air of the Texan Ranger, than he had of an officer of high rank among the regulars. As he MAJOR GENERAL PILLOW. 131 entered the audience chamber, with his usual 2dY o^ abandon^ the Mexican officers seemed to have been suddenly and sim- ultaneously operated upon by an electrifying machine. They would look at Duncan and whisper to one another, and then look and whisper again. At length Don Jose Maria Negriti, a busy little Mark Meddle of a feliow, one of Ampudia's aids, who spoke English passing well, stepped up to one of Gen. Taylor's staff, and pointing to Lieut. Col. Duncan, begged to be informed " If that was not Capt. Walker? " " No." " Nor Hays ? " " No." " Nor McCulloch ? " " No." "Then is he not at least a Texaq ? " "No," The little Aid, having got this particular and general information that the gallant Duncan was not a Texan "no how," he breathed freer, and returned to his general and comrade officers, to whom he communicated this gratifying intelligence.* Major Genei'al Pillow. Upon his appointment to the Brigadier Generalship, G. J. Pillow hastened to join the army and assume the command allotted to him, where he has since gained such imperishable laurels. His stay in New Orleans is thus happly hit off by the editor of a southern paper ; — He was dressed in a full suit of " regimentals," with the brass buttons and gilt lace pertain- ing to a " full brigadier," and wore his three cornered cocked hat after the most approved style of militia musters. He was accompanied by his aid, two servants, and had along the requisite number of prancing coursers, either for a charge or a retreat. The General gratified the citizens of N. O. with his horsemanship, frequently, during his stay. Every morning, his servants led out two of his chargers, elegantly caparisoned, * General Ampudia liad heard that the Texans, to a man, had determined upon cutting his throat the first opportunity they might have ; and this accounts for his consternation, as Lieut. Col. Duncan was taken for one of the 'b'hoye/ 132 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. and walked them up and down the street, in front of the St. Charles; and, upon inquky as to whose horses they were, always condescended to answer, " They are Brigadier Gen- eral Pillow's, sir — Brigadier General Pillow is gwyne to take a ride, sir." The morning after his arrival, the Brigadier, accompanied by his aid, mounted his horse, it is said, with- out any other accident except twice tripping himself up with his spurs, and gallantly trotted up St. Charles, around into Magazine street, where he halted before the Picayune office. The publisher, in hot haste, rushed to the door, where, after receiving a military salute from the Brigadier, the following racy and unique dialogue took place ; " What is the price," says the Brigadier, " of twelve num- bers of the Picayune, per annum ? " " Twenty dollars," said the publisher. " That is pretty tall ; however, send six numbers to Mrs. Brigadier General Pillow, at Columbia, Tennessee ; and six to Mr. Brigadier General Pillow, wherever he may be on service, as he expects to be on active duty soon. And, by the way, you can announce in your paper, to-morrow, that Brigadier General Pillow has arrived in the city, in good health, and is, at present, staying at the St. Charles." Overcome with the announcement, the publisher retreated to his room. The Brigadier and his aid travelled off in fine style, and, as they turned the corner of Magazine street, they met a brother soldier, belonging to the 51st regiment of rag- ged volunteers, singing the new popular military ballad of — " The volunteers to the war have gone, In the ranks of death you'll find 'em, With their little caps their heads upon, And no coat tails behind 'em." t mSmMhmm :^^[■T^^H'.<^^ ^smpM^ ' r ^ ^ ^ A A mCB >!:■^^^^^^^^«.■ .MiF^^ m .liiii mmmm mm Wd MM '^h0}M'' ''ll-:/* ^V'l^rvirhl »flj«r«H»ffl' LIBRARY OF CONGRESS "i^SSJC 011 897 185 1 n-^^^' . t^^ J:-.