These arrangements completed, our batter_Two Wars: An Autobiography of General Samuel G. French Mexican War; War between the States, a Diary; Reconstruction Period, His Experience; Incidents, Reminiscences, etc.

Ridgely, was ordered to advance, take the road through the woods and

chaparral, and attack the enemy. Here then was the singular tactics

of a battery of horse artillery all alone, leaving the entire army

behind, moving down the road through the woods without any support

whatever. Capt. Walker was our guide. He and I and Ridgely were in

advance. We had gone half a mile or more when crash through the tree

tops came a shot from the unseen batteries in front. "At a gallop,

march," was the order, and on we went until the road turned to the left

about forty-five degrees. At the turn we halted, and this gave us a

battery front (in part) to their guns near the bank of the dry river.

We could not see their guns, nor they see ours, owing to undergrowth,

but the guns were discharged at the smoke that each other made. We

kept advancing "by hand" down the road. Their skirmishers now began

to annoy us. Ridgely came to me and said: "Go to Gen. Taylor and ask

him to send some infantry supports." I got on my horse and galloped

back up the road at full speed, met Gen. Taylor, Maj. Bliss, and other

staff officers in the road, and delivered the message. The reply was:

"The infantry has been deployed and will soon be there." I returned

at a run. No one was to be seen anywhere. We had now been fighting

the enemy's guns alone for more than a half hour, and had driven them

from off the plain into the ravine or dry bed of the river, and had

obtained possession of an open camping ground directly in front of

their pieces and not over a hundred yards distant. Again Ridgely came

and said: "Go to Gen. Taylor as quick as possible, and tell him to

_send me_ assistance to capture the Mexican batteries in front of us."

The road and also the woods on both sides were now full of our infantry

moving forward. I soon met Gen. Taylor, delivered the message, adding:

"General, their guns are just in our front and can be taken." His only

answer was: "_My! my! G--d, where is May? I can't get him up!_"[8]

Nothing more was said, and I returned. By this time our infantry was

engaged with the enemy on the right of the road. The firing was very

heavy. I had been back with my gun about ten minutes, when down the

road came May, in column of fours; he halted and exclaimed: "Hello!

Ridgely, where is that battery? I am ordered to charge it." Ridgely

said: "Hold on, Charley, till I draw their fire, and you will soon

see where they are." Our guns fired, and theirs replied. Away went May

toward the Mexican guns, and our guns after him at a run. We came up to

them muzzle to muzzle, only theirs were below the banks of the ravine

and ours above. May had swept the gunners away and was out of sight on

the other side in the chaparral. I was in command of the twelve-pound

howitzer, and as I gave the order in battery, "Fire to the front!" a

Mexican regiment behind some earthworks in the ravine and on the other

side, with their right directly in front, fired a volley. Two drivers

fell, the wheel locked the gun in turning, a horse fell, and it was

with difficulty we could unlimber. I said to the sergeant, "Run for a

canister," but before he got back a gunner slipped in a shell, and on

top of that in went the canister. I could not prevent it, so great was

the din of muskets. I fired the gun myself. The wheels were lifted from

the ground. Two more canisters were fired before the regiment broke;

but at that moment our infantry opened on them, and all was over in

our immediate front. The second gun had horses killed, drivers and

men shot, and it locked a wheel in the same way. Ridgely sprang from

his horse and leaped into the dead driver's saddle, straightened the

team, and that gun came into action. What the other two did I know

not. Just as our firing ceased up rode Gen. Taylor with his staff, and

complimented us. As he sat there on his horse May's men began to come

back. A sergeant came up first and reported that he had captured Gen.

La Vega; next an infantry officer came and reported La Vega was his

prisoner; and then May returned and, riding up to Gen. Taylor, drew

from a scabbard a sword. Taking it by the point, he presented it to the

General with these words: "General, I have the honor to present to you

the sword of Gen. La Vega. He is a prisoner." It was gracefully done.

Taylor looked at it a moment and returned it to May. While we were

all there in a group down the road came Duncan's battery and crossed

the ravine. Ridgely could not stand that, and said to me: "French ask

the General if we cannot cross over too." The reply was: "No, you have

done enough to-day." Ridgely laughed, saying, "I can't receive orders

from you;" and away he went with the guns after Duncan, leaving me to

follow as soon as I repaired the damage to my gun. In a few minutes I

crossed. No one halted me. I found Duncan firing away to the left and

front, where it was reported troops were retreating. We soon moved on.

At this time I saw a man hiding behind some bushes about twenty yards

from the roadside. I went to him, and as my knowledge of Spanish had

not been cultivated, I undertook to ask him his rank (seeing he was an

officer), and tried to say to him: "¿Teniente o capitan?" It must have

been badly pronounced, for he replied, "Si, senor," and, suiting action

to the word, he put his hand in his pocket and handed me a biscuit. At

that moment up rode Dr. Barnes and Capt. Kerr, and Barnes exclaimed:

"Great heavens! French asked this gentleman for bread." No doubt the

officer, who was an aid to Gen. La Vega, understood me to say: "¿Tiene

usted pan?" ("have you any bread?"). Barnes, who afterwards became

surgeon general of the United States army, declared to the end I asked

that gentleman for bread, and never failed to tell the story on me in

company.

Well, on we went for over four miles to Fort Brown. What a welcome we

received! They had heard the sound of battle on the 8th, and again on

the 9th, and had seen the Mexicans crossing the river in great haste

and confusion. Great was the commotion in Matamoras that night. Now

when darkness came, Ridgely remembered that he had come on without

orders--in fact, pretty nearly against orders--and he told me to

ride back and see Gen. Taylor and ask for orders. So I rode back

over the road alone. Gen. Taylor was glad to hear from the garrison;

said Ridgely could remain on the Rio Grande until further orders. J.

Bankhead Magruder[9] was at headquarters, and declared it was very

imprudent for me to return by myself, and insisted that he should

send me under the protection of an escort. I accepted two men, but

as they were not mounted, the progress was too slow. I dismissed them

and galloped back safely. Duncan, who was an ambitious man, was much

disappointed that he never got sight of the enemy on the 9th; but it is

true, history to the contrary notwithstanding.

You now have the true history of the circumstances that led May to be

sent to charge that battery; it originated in the brain of Ridgely.

Duncan, who was not in the action, was made a brevet major for Palo

Alto, and lieutenant colonel for Resaca. Ridgely, who was distinguished

for his gallant conduct in both battles, was rewarded only with a

brevet captaincy, which he declined, for the two battles. Capt. May

was, if I remember aright, rewarded with two brevets without any

distinguished service, or special service at all in the first battle.

There is nothing like blowing a horn and having friends at court. I

mention this without any reflection on those two good soldiers, and

reference is thus made to point out that true service and just merit

does not always meet with its proper reward. Such is the way of the

world.

The conduct of our troops in this battle was courageous in the extreme.

Banners were captured by gallant old officers from the hands of the

enemy and held aloft in the front during the conflict that was in

some instances hand to hand. And yet the loss would not indicate such

resistance, for our killed were only thirty-nine, and the wounded about

eighty.[10] It certainly shows less stubborn resistance on the part of

the Mexicans than was found in the civil war. Col. McIntosh was pinned

to the earth with bayonets, one entering his mouth and passing through

his neck; he was rescued, and lived only to give his life for his

country at Molino del Rey. The day following was spent in burying the

dead and caring for the wounded, and in an exchange of prisoners. Our

battery, with some infantry, constituted an escort for the prisoners

to Point Isabel. On the way there I rode over the field of Palo Alto.

I saw a number of the dead that had not been buried. The flesh of the

Americans was decayed and gone, or eaten by wolves and vultures; that

of the Mexicans was dried and uncorrupted, which I attribute to the

nature of their food, it being antiseptic. I observed this also at

Monterey.

Again I was where I could see the wild waves of ocean play and come

tumbling on the shore; but like most pleasures it was short, for we

were soon on the march back to Fort Brown.

If we remember that Taylor had been given twenty-four hours, out

of distinguished consideration for his character, to get away from

before Matamoras, or take the consequences, and was so impolite in not

obeying; and if we consider that when we did leave it was regarded as

a flight; and if we call to mind the rejoicings of the people that we

had fled, we can in a measure realize the sudden change from high hopes

to despondency, from expected joy to overwhelming sorrow when they

saw their soldiers returning, not with captured flags and the spoils

of war, not with waving banners and triumphant shouts of victory, but

fleeing when no one pursued, and madly plunging into the river to gain

the shore which they lately left with expectations not realized.

On the 10th we stood on our bank of the river, the other shore so near

and yet so far! An army with no pontoon train! no bridge whereon to

cross a deep, narrow river! Where was the great organizer that makes

war successful? For one week the troops remained in front of the city

unable to cross for the want of adequate means.

On the 18th, when the advanced squadron of dragoons was swimming across

the river, Lieut. George Stevens was drowned. Balance such a man's life

with the cost of a pontoon bridge! Two of my classmates, brave men,

were now released from war. T. L. Chadbourn was killed at Resaca, and

now Stevens drowned! both men dear to me. I saw poor Stevens

"Beat the surges under him, and ride upon their back."

then sink and rise no more.

We crossed the river unmolested, and took possession of the town. Gen.

Twiggs was appointed governor of the place, and under his police system

perfect order was maintained. Many pleasant families remained and to

some of us a cordial welcome was given at all times.

My time was passed pleasantly in the city during the months of June,

July, and part of August. Our battery was in camp near the headquarters

of Gen. Twiggs. A path leading to the city passed close in front of his

office tent, and many persons went to and fro.

One day I was sitting with the General. It was a beautiful afternoon.

We were under the shade of some trees, and soldiers and strangers

passing by so near would salute or otherwise recognize the General.

However, at this time a Mexican came along with a tall sombrero on

his head and passed without noticing the General. He was hailed by

the General, came back, and was asked: "What is your name?" He took

off his sombrero politely, and answered: "Jesus Maria." Twiggs raised

both hands above his head and exclaimed: "Go away! go away from me! go

away!" and the surprised Mexican passed on. I inferred from the great

excitement the General exhibited at the name of the Mexican that his

ancestors may have worshiped in the Temple of Jerusalem, or fought with

the Maccabees in defense of their religion.

Whilst the forces under Taylor were resting in camp at Matamoras, the

quartermaster's department was busy in procuring light-draft boats to

navigate the Rio Grande, it having been determined to establish a depot

of supplies at Camargo, a town on the river nearly a hundred miles

above Matamoras, preparatory to an advance on Monterey.

Under the act calling for volunteers there were appointed to command

them two major generals, W. O. Butler, of Kentucky, and Robert

Patterson, of Pennsylvania: and G. J. Pillow, of Tennessee, T. L.

Hamer, of Ohio, John A. Quitman, of Mississippi, Thomas Marshall, of

Kentucky, Joseph Lane, of Indiana, James Shields, of Illinois, were

commissioned brigadier generals, and men to the number of near six

thousand were, as volunteers, added to Taylor's force, increasing it to

nine thousand.

This force was organized into three divisions: the first under Gen.

Twiggs, the second under Gen. Worth, and the third under Gen. W. O.

Butler, who was with Gen. Jackson at New Orleans when he defeated the

English under Pakenham. Nearly fifty years after, another Butler, Gen.

Benjamin F. Butler, figured at New Orleans, and I would not that you

mistake them, for they were one to the other as "Hyperion to a satyr."

In June I was promoted to the high rank of second lieutenant of the

Third Artillery, and sometime during the summer was assigned to Bragg's

company of artillery, whose lieutenants were George H. Thomas, John

F. Reynolds, and myself. They were all agreeable officers, but even to

this day I recall, like a woman, my first loves, Ringgold, Ridgely, and

Shover.

Early in August the first division started for Camargo. It was an

uninteresting march, hot and dusty beyond conception. By the middle of

August the forces started for Monterey. We now left the alluvial lands

of the Rio Grande, and the country was free from dust. From Seralvo we

obtained the first view of the lofty peaks of the Sierra Madre range of

mountains, seventy odd miles distant, and they created much discussion

as to whether they were mountains or clouds. From Seralvo to Monterey

the country was beautiful, rich, and fertile. We passed groves of

ebony, Brazil wood, oak, pecan, mesquite, etc. The fields of corn were

in silk, melons and vegetables of every variety were ripe; and later on

in the season we had oranges, lemons, limes, pomegranates, bananas, and

grapes.

One morning when we were between Seralvo and Marin I received an order

to remain and assist Lieut. D. B. Sacket in having the mule train

loaded. I thought it strange that an artillery officer should be put on

that duty, and felt indignant; but I was repaid in a measure by what

took place, for I sometimes enjoy a little "fun." After the muleteers

had packed the old trained mules and started them one after another on

their way, there remained a number of wild mules to have their packs

put on, I believe for the first time. One was lassoed and thrown and

the pack saddle put on. Then, for his load, two barrels of crackers

were securely put on. All being ready, the blind was removed from his

eyes. He looked slowly around, showed the white of his eyes, took one

step, humped himself, and kicked so high that the load overbalanced

him and he fell on his back unable to rise, and brayed aloud. Soon

a blind was removed from another; he surveyed the load from right to

left with rolling eyes, squatted low, humped himself, sprang forward,

stood on his forefeet and commenced high kicking, exploded the barrels

of "hardtack" with his heels, threw the biscuit in the air with the

force of a dynamite bomb, and ran away with the empty barrels dangling

behind, as badly scared as a dog with tin buckets tied to his tail. A

third, when his blind was removed, stepped lightly to the front, but

casting his eyes on either side, made a loud bray, closed down his

tail, and disappeared through the chaparral as quick as a jack rabbit,

followed with loud Mexican denunciations that I cannot translate. In

this manner four or five cargoes were lost, and the pack train moved

on. I was sorry for the poor Mexicans, but I could not but laugh at

the mules. My duty ended when the train started; so leaving it in the

charge of Lieut. Sacket with his dragoons, I rode on alone and did not

overtake my company until it had encamped.

We arrived at Monterey on the 19th. The dragoons and the two batteries

of field artillery encamped with Gen. Taylor at his headquarters at

Walnut Springs, three miles from the city.

CHAPTER VI.

Monterey--Population--Gen. Ampudia--Gen. Worth--Capture

a Fort--Battery in a Hot Place--Bragg's Order

Countermanded--Two Long-Haired Texans--Capture the

Bishop's Palace--Our Battery Ordered to the East End of

the City--Gens. Taylor and Quitman--Street Fighting--Gen.

Ampudia Surrenders--Gen. Worth, Gov. Henderson, and Col.

Jefferson Davis Commissioners--Enter the City--Dine with a

Mexican Gentleman--Death of Ridgely--Hot Springs--Santa Anna

President--Victoria Surrenders--Gen. Scott--Vera Cruz--Return

to Monterey--Death of Lieut. Richey--Investigation of

Richey's Death--Monterey--Saltillo--Agua Nueva--Gen.

Wool--Santa Anna Advances--Majs. Borland and Gaines

Captured--Taylor Falls Back to Buena Vista--Mexican

Army--Am Wounded--The Hacienda--Cavalry Fight with Mexican

Lancers--Flag of Truce--Victory--Carried to Saltillo.

Monterey, an old city, the capital of the State of Nuevo Leon,

contained about forty thousand inhabitants. It is situated on the left

bank of the San Juan, a small stream that empties into a larger one of

the same name.

It had three forts. The main one, called the Black Fort, was out on

the plain north of the city. Fort Tanaria was in the suburbs, in the

northeast part of the city; and about two hundred yards distant south

of it was a third fort, the guns of which commanded the interior of

the Tanaria. The hill on the slope of which was the bishop's palace was

also fortified; and strong earthworks surrounded the city on the north

and east sides, with isolated works to the south and west.

Gen. Ampudia was in command, with a force of seven thousand regular

troops, and a large volunteer force. A reconnoissance of the place by

the engineer officers, having been completed, dispositions to capture

the city were made by detaching Gen. Worth, with his division, and

Col. Hays, with his Texas regiment, to gain the road to Saltillo, by

storming its defenses, and thereby cutting off the supplies of the

enemy and holding his line of retreat. To accomplish this part of Gen.

Taylor's plan, Worth started late on the 20th, and on the 21st made the

attack, and was successful in carrying the detached works and securing

the road to Saltillo. By way of _divertisement_, or at most a diversion

in favor of Worth, Gen. Taylor moved Garland's division of regulars and

a division of volunteers, some cavalry, and our battery, down to the

northeast part of the city. As is often the case, this demonstration

terminated in a fight, and the capture of the fort or redoubt called

Tanaria and buildings adjacent. Our battery penetrated by a street some

distance into the city. The houses were mainly built of soft stone

or adobe, and the shot from the batteries in the town passed through

the buildings, covering the men, horses, and guns with lime and dust,

blinding us so that we could see nothing. From this situation we were

ordered out. In passing an opening in the works a shot killed the two

wheel horses to one of the caissons, and Lieut. Reynolds and I with

the men threw, or pushed, the horses and harness into the ditches on

either side, and after we had done this and gone some distance, another

shot passed through two horses of one of the guns. These horses were

loosed, and with their entrails dragging, in agony of pain, I suppose,

commenced eating the grass.

Having gotten out, Bragg ordered me back alone to the ditch in the edge

of the town to save the harness that was on the horses. I met Gen.

Taylor, who inquired where I was going. When told, he said, "That is

nonsense," and ordered me to go to camp, where the battery had been

sent. My ride back was rather exciting. For the distance of a half

mile or more I was on the plain in open sight of the Black Fort, or the

citadel. The gunners must have become quite vindictive, for they opened

fire on me, a lone horseman. I had to watch the smoke of each gun,

check my horse, and as the shot would cross ahead push on, stopping

to allow each shot to pass in front. I think the smoke prevented the

gunners from discovering that I halted at every discharge of a gun.

At any rate, every shot passed in front of me. I never forgave Bragg

for that picayune order, and it was supplemented on the 23d by another

equally as wild. As we were withdrawing from the city, we had to go up

a straight road leading from a four-gun battery. A shot struck a driver

on the elbow, carrying away his forearm. He fell _dead_ from his horse,

singular but true, and Bragg directed me to dismount and take off the

man's sword. I did so; and took from his pocket a knife, for I thought

I might be sent back if I did not save that too. I presented the sword

to Bragg, and desired him to take charge of the knife, but he declined,

as it was not _public_ property. I write down these little things, for

they give instances of the observance of details, characteristic of

this officer, not obtained from history.

[Illustration: PLAN OF MONTEREY, MEX.

1. Black Fort.

2. Fort Tanaria.

3. Redoubt.

4. Main Plaza.

5. French's gun.

6. Thomas's gun.

7. Bragg's battery--first day.

8. United States troops advancing on Fort Tanaria.]

The day following, the 22d, our battery was ordered to occupy, in

reserve, a depression in a plain north of the citadel. But they knew we

were there, and searched for us with shot. As I have observed already,

the garrison of the citadel was vindictive, and fired at any one in

sight and range. Sure enough, soon two long-haired Texans, on ponies,

rode down and halted near each other, on the plain, and we watched

events. Bang! went one of the heavy guns in the citadel; the ball

passed over us and went between the two Texans. One wheeled his horse

back for camp, and the other galloped down to our guns and remarked:

"Them darned fool Mexicans shoot mighty wild; they came near hitting

me." He thought the shot was directed at us, and not at him.

But, to return to more important proceedings. Behold, now a glorious

sight!

To the northwest of Monterey, and in the suburbs of the city, there

is a very high hill called Independencia, that swells abruptly from

the plain, except on the southern slope, which is more gentle. On

this slope, about halfway up, there is a massy palace, known as the

bishop's palace. It was fortified and garrisoned, and the summit was

crowned with a fort. The capture of this hill was necessary because it

commanded the Saltillo road and prevented Gen. Worth from entering the

city. As I have observed, our battery was put in reserve, and we were

in open sight of the hill Independencia.

Early in the morning when the fog rose, the battery on Independencia

hill opened, and a solitary gun responded from a distant one, which our

troops had captured the day previous. And now the base of Independencia

hill was encircled in smoke, and almost simultaneously a wreath of

smoke above it burst into view. The attack on the hill with infantry

had begun. Our men could be seen climbing up from rock to rock, and

the smoke from every musket indicated whether it was fired _up_ or

fired _down_ the hill. Gradually the circles of smoke moved higher and

nearer, as our men ascended, and when, near the top, they commingled

into one the excitement was intense. Troops on both sides looked on

in silence, with hearts throbbing, now with hope, and now stilled with

fear, as the line of battle advanced or receded. But soon it was seen

that higher up the hill the combatants struggled, until with one wild

shout and rush the lines closed, and the top smoked like a volcano.

And then through the rifts of smoke we saw our men leaping over the

parapets, and the Mexicans retreating down the slope. We clap our

hands with joy, and wave our caps! Now, the scene changes. From out

the bishop's palace swarms of men issue and rush up the hill to retake

the fallen fort. They are met halfway. Our hearts are hushed as we

look on. The enemy recede, break and run for the palace, where foe

and friends commingled, enter together, and all is still. A heavy gun

flashes, and a shell bursts _over_ the city from a captured cannon. The

flag descends, the stars and stripes go up and wave over the bishop's

palace, and the battle is won; and then arose a shout of joy so loud,

so long, it seemed to echo from the sky.

There was not much progress made on the 22d, in the eastern part of the

city, except to gain a firm footing on the edge of it, by troops under

Gen. Quitman. On the morning of the 23d our battery was ordered to the

eastern end, and remained inactive while the infantry steadily advanced

from house to house. The dwelling houses all had flat roofs, surrounded

by walls about three feet high forming so many small fortresses. The

house tops were filled with the enemy, and they commanded the streets;

besides, the streets leading to the main plaza had been barricaded,

and they crossed others at right angles. Gen. Quitman, about noon,

ordered Bragg to send a piece of artillery to drive the enemy from

a main street running the whole length of the city. To my surprise,

instead of sending Lieut. George H. Thomas, a second in command, he

ordered me with the twelve-pound howitzer to report to Gen. Quitman,

who instructed me to clear the street.

I could see no troops in this street, except those on the house tops

two or three squares in advance: so I moved on down until the musket

balls began to clip and rattle along the stone pavement rather lively.

To avoid this fire, I turned my gun to the left, into a street leading

into the plaza. To my astonishment, one block distant was a stone

barricade behind which were troops, and the houses on either side

covered with armed men. They were evidently surprised, and did not

fire at us. We were permitted to unlimber the gun, and move the horses

back into the main street. I politely waved my hand at the men at the

barricade, which should read I shook my fist at them, and gave the

command to load. Instantly the muskets were leveled over the barricade

and pointed down from the house tops, and a volley fired at us that

rattled like hail on the stones. My pony received a ricochet musket

ball that struck the shoulder blade, ran up over the withers, and was

stopped by the girth on the other side. I dismounted, and turned back

to the gun. The two men at the muzzle were shot. One poor fellow put

his hands to his side and quietly said, "Lieutenant, I am shot," and

tried to stop the flow of blood. I had the gun run back into the street

by which we entered the city. I now resorted to a device once practiced

by a mob in the city of Philadelphia; two long ropes were made fast

to the end of the trail, one rope was held by men on the lower side of

the barricaded street, and the other by the men above. The gun was now

loaded, and leveled in safety, then pushed out, and pulled by the ropes

until it pointed at the barricade, and then fired. The recoil sent the

gun back, and the rope brought it around the corner to be reloaded.

In this manner the gun was worked for two hours, and with all this

protection, four out of the five gunners were killed or wounded.

We had not been at this cross street very long before Texans,

Mississippians, and regulars began to arrive and cross under cover

of the smoke of the gun to the other side, and gain possession of the

house tops. Next Gen. Taylor and staff came down the street on foot,

and very imprudently he passed the cross street, escaping the many

shots fired at him. There he was, almost alone. He tried to enter the

store on the corner. The door being locked, he and the Mexican within

had a confab, but, not understanding what was said, he called to Col.

Kinney, the interpreter: "Come over here." The Colonel said ----, and

went over at double-quick, and made the owner open the door. The store

was empty. Here Gen. Quitman joined him with some troops and a gun in

charge of Lieut. G. H. Thomas. Quitman directed me to take my howitzer

down to the next cross street, but to save my men and horses. I

suggested that Thomas should put his gun in position first, and let us

pass over through the smoke. Comprehending the matter at once, he said:

"No, you remain here, and let Thomas pass over when you fire." Thomas

moved to the next street, and turned his gun into it. His street was

barricaded also, and defended by a piece of artillery. The infantry and

riflemen now made good progress in gaining possession of the houses,

and driving the enemy toward the plaza.

The command of Gen. Worth was all day working toward the plaza from

another direction, by breaking through the walls from house to house,

so that when night came, the Mexican troops were pent up in the main

plaza. Before dusk, the Mexicans being driven back, our two pieces of

artillery were withdrawn and ordered to camp at Walnut Springs.

I have gone into these details to show the simplicity of character

and coolness of Gen. Taylor which endeared him to his soldiers. No one

discussed depots of supplies, base of communications, lines of retreat,

or strategic positions; but every one knew that the brave old soldier

would fight the enemy, wherever he found them, to the end. During the

night some pieces of artillery, and a large mortar were put in position

and opened fire on the heart of the city, now so very crowded with

people.

Early on the 24th Gen. Ampudia sent a communication to Gen. Taylor,

asking permission to leave the city, with his troops and arms

unmolested. Of course this was refused, and finally resulted in the

appointment of Gen. Worth, Gen. Henderson, and Col. Jefferson Davis

commissioners to meet Gens. Requena and Ortega, and M. M. Llano,

commissioners on the part of the Mexican army, who arranged the terms

of the capitulation. I went to see the poor fellows depart. As they

marched by, the soldiers each carried his musket in one hand, and a

long stalk of sugar cane in the other, off of which they were regaling

themselves.

They were permitted to retain their arms. In connection with the

capitulation, an armistice for two months was agreed to, subject to

ratification by the respective governments; and now came rest. Our loss

was nearly five hundred, and among the killed was another classmate,

Lieut. Robert Hazlitt. I should have mentioned that when the expedition

for the capture of Monterey started Gen. Robert Patterson was left in

command of the district of the Rio Grande.

After the departure of the Mexican troops, a friendly intercourse was

established between our officers and the most respectable families in

the city, noted on their part for gracefulness of movement, gravity of

manners, extreme politeness, and genuine hospitality.

On one occasion, after dinner, a handsome Mexican saddle elicited the

attention of the guests, and to my surprise the next day a servant came

to my tent with a note, and the saddle, "begging me to accept it with

consideration," etc. A few days afterwards I returned the saddle, with

a small present, upon the grounds that it was too handsome for daily

exposure in service, etc.

Lieut. Randolph Ridgely brought with him a fine old setter dog, and, as

partridges were abundant, I found exercise and amusement in hunting.

Lieut. J. F. Reynolds was generally with me, and we would return with

all the game we could carry, as the birds were tame and numerous. We

also enjoyed the waters of the hot springs near by, now quite a resort

for invalids.

On the 27th of October, Capt. R. Ridgely was killed by his horse

slipping and falling in the main street of the city, where the smooth

natural rock was the pavement. He was, in my estimation, "the fearless

and irreproachable knight," the Bayard of the army. What a ball is to

a young lady, a fight was to him; it made his step light and his eye

radiant with delight, while joyous smiles beamed from his face. It

seemed the very irony of fate that he, who had raced his steed on the

sea wall of Charleston, and leaped over into the ocean unharmed, should

meet an untimely end from a horse falling in an open street. His father

lived on Elk Ridge, near Baltimore, a gentleman of the olden school,

of an age of the courtly past, and as John Randolph, of Roanoke, was a

frequent visitor there, Randolph Ridgely was named for him.

The death of Capt. Ridgely promoted Bragg to his company, and Capt. T.

W. Sherman to Bragg's company. Thus Bragg now became the commander of

the late Maj. Ringgold's battery of artillery.

It would appear as if some State governor, or some idle general would

issue a "Pronunciamento" every new moon in Mexico, in hopes of becoming

President of that republic; and thus it was that half the people of

Mexico could not tell who was President. And now Paredes was deposed,

and Santa Anna, who was permitted to enter Mexico by the United States

authorities as a man of peace,[11] reigned in his place. About the

middle of September he arrived in the city of Mexico, and hastened

soon after to San Luis Potosi to assume the command of the army thrice

defeated by Gen. Taylor.

To carry out the wishes of the War Department, to have Tampico

captured, Gen. Taylor started for Victoria, a small town, the capital

of the State of Tamaulipas, on or about the middle of December, with

the troops commanded by Gens. Twiggs and Quitman, leaving Gen. Worth in

Saltillo with his division.

On reaching Montemorelos he received information from Gen. Worth that

Santa Anna was marching on Saltillo, and turned back with all the

troops except those under Gen. Quitman and our battery. Gen. Quitman

was to continue on to Victoria. The march was uninterrupted down this

beautiful and fertile valley. On our right towered the lofty range of

the Sierra Madre Mountains in one unbroken chain and sharp serrated

edge, that looked thin enough for a man to sit astride of. In fact, at

Santa Catarina, there is a vast hole through this ridge near a thousand

feet below the crest, through which clouds, as if in another world,

could be seen moving by day, and stars by night.

The town of Linares is in a rich, wide, and beautiful valley or plain

divided into large sugar estates cultivated by peon labor. The orange

trees were very large, and all the citrus fruits abundant. As we

journeyed on, one day Christmas came, and as usual it came on time,

and, although we were in the land of the saints, we had not faith

enough to believe that Santa Claus would make us a visit. So I went

into the mountains in quest of a wild turkey for dinner, and failed to

kill one. What were we to do? Reynolds or our servants had succeeded in

procuring some eggs. With them visions of pudding and "eggnog" arose.

We could get "pulque," get "aguardiente," from the maguey plant, but it

was villainous fire water. In this dilemma I sent my servant in quest

of our doctor--Dr. C. C. Keeney, I think it was--to tell him to call

immediately. The eggs were all beaten up ready. The doctor arrived. We

made him a prisoner, and told him that he could not be released until

he wrote a note to his steward to send him a bottle of brandy and a

bottle of rum. He did it on the ground that we all were in want of a

stimulant, and on this occasion the doctor took his own prescription.

When Plymouth Rock smiles, wonder not that we, far away from home,

tried to make the service suit the day, and the day to be one of

rejoicing that immortality was brought to light.

We encamped one night at a hacienda not far from Victoria. The owner

was very civil and kind; invited us to his drawing-room, walked with us

in his large orange grove laden with golden fruit, which was protected

by a high stone wall. He possessed a vast sugar estate, and said that

he had over five hundred peon laborers on it. As far as we could see

there was only sugar cane.

On the 29th of December we marched into the great square, or plaza, of

Victoria without meeting with any resistance. The troops were drawn up

in line, the officers to the front and facing the alcazar.

The alcalde left his office, crossed the plaza, and after a short

address presented the keys of the city to Gen. Quitman. The Mexican

standard was hauled down, and as the United States flag was thrown to

the breeze the band began to play, when all at once, in emulation,

three or four jackasses began to bray, and bray, and drowned all

proceedings, amidst roars of laughter that could not be restrained,

especially among the volunteers.

We had been in camp but a few days when Gen. Taylor arrived with Gen.

Twigg's division, and almost at the same hour Gen. Patterson came in

from Matamoras with a large force.

Before I tell you any more I must inform you of certain proceedings

and events that happened or took place in the past. One was that the

President had ordered the commander in chief, Gen. Winfield Scott, to

take the field as he desired, and to proceed to Vera Cruz, and advance

on the City of Mexico from that place. Of course all the troops in

Mexico were subject to his orders. Accordingly, when Gen. Scott came

to the mouth of the Rio Grande, he made known to Gen. Taylor the

particular troops that he wished him to order to Vera Cruz by duplicate

dispatches. The letter sent to Monterey reached there after Gen. Taylor

had started for Victoria. It was reported, and I presume it is true,

that the letter was opened and read by Gen. Marshall. If so, then he

knew its importance. He committed two grave errors: First, he should

have known that it was all important that the dispatches should be

so sent as not to fall into the hands of the enemy; and secondly,

he should not have required an officer to go to almost certain death

when it was not necessary. What did he do? He placed these dispatches

in the hands of Lieut. John A. Richey, and sent or permitted him to

carry the dispatches _alone_ through the enemy's country one hundred

and fifty miles to Gen. Taylor at Victoria. The consequence was that

as Lieut. Richey was leaving the town of Villa Gran he was "lassoed"

by a Mexican, pulled from his horse, murdered, and the dispatches

forwarded in all haste to Santa Anna, who learned how Gen. Taylor would

be stripped of all the United States troops and most of his volunteer

force, how Gen. Scott was on his way to Vera Cruz to capture that city,

and then to march on his capital.

Santa Anna's decision was prompt and decided. It was what a great

commander would have done. He decided to attack Gen. Taylor without

delay, defeat him, if possible, recover all the territory lost, even

to the Nueces river; then fly to the defense of his capital in time to

meet Gen. Scott before he passed the strong defenses of Cerro Gordo.

He did not succeed in defeating Gen. Taylor, but he met Scott as he

had planned to do. This was told by Col. Iturbide, a son of the last

emperor of Mexico, whom I met after the war.

When Gen. Taylor received the duplicate of the orders from Gen. Scott

at Victoria, and learned how he was to be stripped of nearly all

the gallant men who had won for him the three battles, he gave the

necessary orders for the departure of the troops called for, and this

embraced the divisions of Gens. Worth and Twiggs, and most of Gen.

Patterson's forces. In short, all the _regular_ troops were sent to

Vera Cruz, except four field batteries of artillery and two squadrons

of dragoons, in all about six hundred men. I will not write here my

opinion, as formed from observation or otherwise, of Gen. Taylor's

equanimity of mind on that occasion. However, it was reported that by

mistake he once put mustard in his coffee instead of sugar. Wonder

not at his perplexity. He had enough to irritate him. He had some

apprehension, no doubt, that the enemy might make an advance from

San Luis Potosi on his now small force: but what wounded his pride

was--Apollyon behind him--the party opposed to the annexation of any

territory south had expressed a wish that our troops might be welcomed

by the Mexicans with "bloody hands and hospitable graves;" and the

administration, alarmed at his growing popularity with the Whig party,

hoping to divide or parallel his fame with another, sent Gen. Scott

with such an inadequate force that _he_ was obliged to deprive Gen.

Taylor of such troops as I have stated. So Gen. Taylor had Santa Anna

in _front_, the jealous administration and the anti-annexation party in

Congress to fight _behind_ him. The sequel will disclose his intrepid

character, and his triumph in the end over all.

In the latter part of January Gen. Taylor took his departure from

Victoria for Monterey. His escort consisted of Col. Jefferson Davis's

regiment of Mississippi Rifles, two squadrons of dragoons, and our

battery. My heart was not so light nor my feelings so buoyant as when

we went journeying southward. I have mentioned how Lieut. Richey was

murdered at Villa Gran and his dispatches taken. When Gen. Taylor

reached that town he directed our battery and the dragoons to be halted

in the plaza, and, sending for the alcalde, held a court to investigate

the murder of Richey. The murderer was demanded. The alcalde said that

he did not know who was the guilty man, and could not produce him.

The general did not credit his story; said he would hang him if he

did not give information as to who was the criminal. The alcalde was

very much frightened, and turned pale and trembled. The examination of

such persons as were called was fruitless, and ended in Gen. Taylor

notifying the alcalde that he would levy a contribution on the town

of (I believe) some $50,000 as indemnity, which would have to be paid

in three weeks unless the murderer was caught and delivered to him. In

all this the priests assisted the alcalde, and endeavored to pacify the

General.

When the court left the hall the General discovered that his baggage

wagons had been halted, and that vexed him, and to further irritate

him, a piece of artillery blocked the road by not being able to get up

a steep hill. The General pulled the driver's ear, got the piece up,

and ordered it to remain outside the road until everything had passed.

When he rode away, I ordered the gun into the road, and it was driven

on. I never learned whether the murderer of Richey was apprehended or

not.

When we arrived at Monterey we went into our old camp at Walnut

Springs. We had some idle time to ride out in the country. The scenery

around Monterey is very beautiful. There are near the city two isolated

mountains--Saddle Mountain and Mitra Mountain--behind which the chain

of the Sierra Madre rises in towering grandeur from the plain to the

height of near five thousand feet, stretching beyond vision as one

vast wall of rock, with a serrated edge seemingly as sharp as a saw,

and inaccessible to man. Nearly every morning a canopy of clouds would

form around the breast of Saddle Mountain, extending overhead to the

distance of five or six miles. Gradually, as the day advanced, the

clouds from the outer edge would sail gently away one after the other,

disrobing the mountain and exposing the beauty of its form to view.

Once I was on the mountain above the clouds, in the bright sunshine

looking down upon this billowy sea. Beyond was the lofty ridge glowing

in the sun; around, hiding the plain for miles distant, was an ocean

of clouds white as snow, softer than carded wool, lighter than down,

rolling and swelling as silent as the heavens above them. Then they

floated slowly away, melting into air, and left me to look down on the

gross earth to which I must return.

When Gen. Worth believed that Santa Anna was on the march to Saltillo,

Gen. Wool left Parras and hastened to Agua Nueva, and held that place,

which is seventeen or more miles in advance of Saltillo.

Sometime in the early part of February our company left Monterey, and

we began our march to Saltillo. Moving west, we passed the bishop's

palace. Thence the road runs along the base of the Cerro de la Mitra

Mountains for miles, with the Sierra Madre on the left; and, although

this immense ridge was about eight miles distant, it was so abruptly

high and the atmosphere so clear that it appeared not more distant than

one could cast a stone.

Marching on, we passed some mills; then through a valley in the

mountains, highly cultivated, trees bordering the road, and then down

an incline to the hacienda of Rinconada, closed in by mountains.

The road then ascends by a high grade to Los Muertos, thence on to

Saltillo. The ascent to Los Muertos reminded me of Thiers's description

of the road rising up the Incanale to the plateau of Rivoli, in his

account of that battle in Napoleon's Italian campaigns. I am sure no

troops could advance up that incline, straight and narrow, against

well-served artillery. It was not fortified by the Mexicans to any

extent, because it could be turned by two distant passes. This march of

sixty odd miles was interesting in a high degree. Lofty mountains, deep

valleys, wild, narrow passes, beautiful green fields in cultivation,

babbling brooks surprising me at every turn. During this march from

Monterey to Saltillo we made or gained an elevation of over four

thousand four hundred feet, and we were now over six thousand feet

above the ocean. The city is built on a slope that rises across the

valley from mountains to mountains. You must understand that when we

rose from out that steep ascent at Los Muertos there was apparently a

plain before us, but really it was a valley, with continuous mountains

on either side, all the way to Agua Nueva; thence, on south toward the

City of Mexico as far as the eye could see were blue peaks towering in

the sky.

As you will soon have a battle on hand "and a famous victory," I will

here give you some idea of the ground. Leaving the city of Saltillo

and going south, the first place of note is the hacienda of Buena

Vista,[12] five miles distant, with its thick adobe (sun-dried brick)

walls and flat roofs; next, a point eight miles from the city called La

Angustura (the Narrows), which became the center of the battlefield.

Farther on is Encantada, the enchanted place, and then Agua Nueva,

nearly twenty miles from Saltillo. The ravines on the left of the road

at Angustura ran back to the base of the mountain, and to the right of

the road were deep gullies (barrancas), some extending to the mountains

on the west. At one place the ravines on the left and the gullies

on the right approach so near that there is room only for the road,

forming the Narrows.

[Illustration: MAP OF THE COUNTRY NEAR BUENA VISTA.]

It was about the 8th of February when we reached Saltillo, and soon

after we were sent to the front at Agua Nueva. From many sources came

corroborative testimony that the enemy was advancing on Saltillo by

detachments. Seventy volunteers, under Majs. Borland and Gaines, were

captured at Encarnacion, within twenty miles of where we were encamped.

On the 20th Col. May was sent to Hediondo on a reconnoissance, and

some of his troops were captured, but he returned with the information

given him by a deserter from the Mexican army that Santa Anna, with an

army of twenty thousand men, was at La Encarnacion, only twenty miles

distant from Agua Nueva. May got back early on the morning of the 21st,

and a few hours after Maj. McCulloch arrived with like information,

with this difference: He went to Encarnacion, climbed a lofty peak that

overlooked the encampment of the Mexicans, and computed their number

_for himself_. This was confirmation strong.

On the 20th I went hunting with Lieut. R. L. Moore, of the Mississippi

regiment. The day was warm; the winds were in their caves; an ominous

silence pervaded all nature; the sun did not dazzle the eye, and was

distinct in outline, like the full moon; the game was tame and stupid;

Moore was heavy of heart and dreamy. There was something peculiar in

this silence--like the desert--like the stillness that oft precedes the

tempest and the earthquake. Did Moore have a premonition of his death?

He fell in the coming battle. The day left a lasting impression on my

mind, it was so weirdlike and mystical.

"By a divine instinct men's minds mistrust

Ensuing danger; as by proof, we see

The water swell before a boisterous storm."

On the 21st, as I have mentioned, both May and McCulloch returned

to camp. Bragg, in his usual sarcastic manner commenting on May's

expedition, remarked: "I perceive that it is harder to _lose_ one's

reputation than to make it."

It being an open country for some distance around Agua Nueva, Gen.

Taylor, considering the great superiority of the enemy in numbers,

resolved to fall back to Angustura, the narrow pass, near Buena Vista.

Our company went into camp on the plain above and near the city. On the

morning of the 22d, we moved down to the site selected for the field

of battle. If the Hudson river, where it passes through the Catskill

Mountains, were dry and wider, and its surface furrowed by deep ravines

and water gullies crossing it, it would resemble the field of Buena

Vista.

Capt. Washington's battery of eight guns was placed in the road at

the Narrows. Thence a ravine ran in a southeasterly direction. At the

mouth of this ravine, on the plain, the line of infantry commenced

and extended on the left toward the mountains. The howitzer which I

commanded was put in position on the left of Col. Bissell's Second

Regiment of Illinois. Lieut. G. H. Thomas had his gun on the right of

this regiment. It was not long before away in the distance clouds of

dust were seen growing larger and nearer as the cavalry came in sight;

then came artillery and infantry moving to their right and confronting

our line, with bands playing and banners waving. Hours were consumed in

this movement. In the meantime Gen. Santa Anna under a flag of truce

sent to Gen. Taylor a long communication, particularly informing him

that he was surrounded by twenty thousand men, and to avoid being cut

to pieces, called on him to surrender at discretion, that he would

be treated with the consideration belonging to the Mexican character,

etc., and inscribed it: "God and liberty! Camp at Encantada, February

22, 1847. Anto. Lopez de Santa Anna."

It was in the Spanish language, and had to be translated to the

General. Turning to Maj. Bliss, his adjutant general, he announced a

very forcible reply that was toned down by Maj. Bliss to the following:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION, }

NEAR BUENA VISTA, February 22, 1847.}

_Sir:_ In reply to your note of this date summoning me to

surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that I

decline acceding to your request.

Z. TAYLOR,

Major General U. S. A., Commanding.

Senor Gen. D. Anto. Lopez de Santa Anna, Commanding in Chief,

Encantada.

As no signs of an advance had been made, and as none could be attempted

until after the return of the flag of truce, I rode down to where Gen.

Taylor was to learn the purport of the dispatch. I regret now that I

did not write down the exact words made by the General in his verbal

reply.

I am sorry that I have no time to write you a description of this

battle, but you will find it in some of the histories of this war. I

can only tell you what relates to me and what I saw and heard.

At 3 P.M. the firing of a solitary gun by the enemy was the signal

for battle; and immediately the enemy began ascending a ridge of the

mountain on our left. At the same time our troops began climbing up

another. These two ridges, like the sides of a triangle, met at a point

halfway up the mountain side; so the higher they went the nearer they

approached each other. This skirmishing on the mountain continued long

after dark, and the bright flashes of the muskets imparted an interest

to the surroundings.

When this prelude terminated, under the watchful sentinels, the two

armies rested as best they could during the night. If you will bear

in mind that the height of Mount Washington is 6,234 feet, and that

the plain or valley of La Encantada is 6,140 feet above tide water,

you will not be impressed with the idea that we were slumbering in an

atmosphere as balmy as Egypt. On the contrary, the wind swept along the

valley like a young Dakota blizzard.

Maj. John Munroe, one of the kindest men to be found in the army, may

have derived his knowledge of Connecticut "bundling" from the veritable

historian Diedrick Knickerbocker or otherwise; but be that as it may,

he suggested to Lieut. J. F. Reynolds and me that we should "bundle" to

keep warm during the night. So a blanket was spread on the ground and

the others used for covering. The Major slept to windward, and Reynolds

to leeward. In all my varied experience in life I cannot recall a night

when I came so near perishing from cold. Yet there was nothing severely

frozen, only the wind carried off all the heat from our bodies. When we

got up I could not keep my teeth quiet. Some of the men of the company

had a little fire, and we warmed our hands. Everybody was shivering.

My servant was in camp at Saltillo, and I do not remember getting any

breakfast; I know I had no dinner or supper.

[Illustration: PLAN OF BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA.

Fought February 22, 23, 1847.

(flag) Headquarters of Taylor.

A--Hacienda of Buena Vista.

B--La Angustura.

C--Deep gullies.

D--High land.

E--Plateau.

F--Ravines.

G--Broad ravine.

H--Encampment.

I--Elevated ridge.

J--Occupied by enemy on the 22d.

K--Slope of the mountain occupied by our forces on the 22d.

L--Position of O'Brien's and Indiana Regiment.

M--Enemy's battery.

N--Bragg's Battery and Kentucky Volunteers.

O P Q--Gorges.

R--Second Illinois and Lieuts. Thomas's and French's guns.

S--Two of Sherman's guns.

T--United States dragoons.

U--Texas Rangers.

V--Lane's Indiana Volunteers.

W--Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry.

X--Column of first attack.

Y--Lombardeni's Division.

Z--Pacheco's Division.]

Santa Anna was very considerate in not having reveille till a late

hour, and then it was sounded in one command after another, perhaps

to impress us with the number he had. Everything was done with Spanish

gravity suitable to the occasion. There was no running to and fro, but

decorum marked their proceedings, for I had an opportunity to judge.

There had been some skirmishing since daylight up in the mountain,

which was merely a side show. I was ordered by Col. Churchill to go to

the base of the mountain and ride down the side of the ravine in front

of the enemy to ascertain if it could be crossed by artillery. I did

as directed, and was not fired at. This was before the heavy masses

of infantry were put in motion. I reported the ravine impassable for

artillery.

The enemy's infantry was formed into three columns of attack. One moved

down the road toward Washington's battery. The central one was composed

of two divisions commanded by Gens. Lombardini and Pacheco. Their third

column had been deployed already, and a part of it had been skirmishing

all the morning on the mountain side. I took the greatest interest in

the central column. Pacheco managed to get his division in a ravine by

entering it at the gorge, and moved up concealed, directly in front

of us. I tried to burst shells over them by shortening the fuses, as

they were only about one hundred and fifty yards distant. Their firing

increased rapidly. As Lombardini was advancing across the plateau

to Pacheco's right, Pacheco's division rose from the ravine (to form

line with him) directly opposite the Second Illinois troops. Instantly

Bissell's and Lane's infantry opened fire on them, and Thomas and I

used canister as rapidly as men (so well trained as ours were) could

serve the guns.

Unfortunately some of Lane's troops gave way and fled, and this enabled

the enemy to gain our left flank and rear. At this time I was struck

with an ounce musket ball in the upper part of the right thigh while

my left foot was in the stirrup in the act of mounting my horse. The

shot was not painful at all, and the sensation was that of being struck

with a club. I was put on my horse, as I could not walk. Soon after, to

prevent being entirely surrounded, we were ordered to fall back toward

the road, and came into line facing toward the mountain, and opened

fire, now taking the enemy in flank and rear as they were crossing the

plain. I refused to be taken from my horse and put in a wagon, knowing

I would be "lanced" by the Mexicans in case of disaster, so I sat on my

horse all the rest of the day walking him sometimes to the battery when

it remained in one place any length of time. In the attack made in our

rear Reynolds came by with his guns, and we drove back a large body of

cavalry alone. Reynolds at the caissons prepared the shells, cut the

fuses himself, and I directed the firing until the Mexican troops were

driven beyond the range of the shells. He then moved in pursuit at full

gallop and left me alone. The enemy was now in our front, left flank,

and rear. When Reynolds left me I concluded to go to the hacienda of

Buena Vista, now close by; but before I reached there I noticed the

Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry forming in line a little way to the east

of the hacienda, and at the same time I saw a brigade of the enemy's

lancers coming from the base of the mountain to attack them. As I had

never seen a cavalry fight, I watched it with a great deal of interest,

being close by. The enemy were over two to one of ours. They came on

in solid column, received the fire of our men without being checked

at all, rode directly through our men, using their lances freely on

every side. After passing over our troops they went near the hacienda,

and were fired on by our men on the top of the building as they passed

by. This brigade of lancers crossed the road to the west, then went

south and joined the army where Santa Anna was, thereby having made the

complete _circuit of our army_ during the battle.

When this affair was ended I saw another body of the enemy's cavalry

coming down from near the mountains heading for the hacienda, and

our infantry moving to intercept them. Observing large crowds around

and in the buildings, I went to them. I asked them, I begged them,

implored them to fall into line, not to fight, but to show themselves

to the enemy. I got about twenty into a company, and while waiting

for others to join one by one those that I had asked went into the

building for their companions until finally I was left alone, none of

them returning. By this time the cavalry referred to came on down in

splendid style, and, instead of making a headlong charge, halted in

front of the Mississippians and Indianians under Col. Jefferson Davis,

and were repulsed with heavy loss. One of the guns of our battery was

also engaged in this isolated fight. Why this cavalry rode down into

the very jaws of death and came to a halt I never heard explained.

Weary, tired, and weakened by loss of blood, with my leg stiff and

useless, I rode into the court of the hacienda, and was taken from

my horse and carried into a very large room and laid on the floor.

The whole floor was covered with wounded. I was placed between two

soldiers. One had both legs broken below the knee. The scene almost

beggars description. The screams of agony from pain, the moans of the

dying, the messages sent home by the despairing, the parting farewells

of friends, the incoherent speech, the peculiar movements of the hands

and fingers, silence, the spirit's flight--to where? And amidst all

this some of the mean passions of humanity were displayed. Near me was

a poor soldier hopelessly wounded. He was cold, and yet a wretch came

and, against remonstrances, took the blanket off him, claiming that it

was his.

On the field I was twice taken from my horse by the surgeons and had

the wound probed, but no probe could reach the ball. No surgeon was at

the hacienda, so there I remained until after dark. I think there must

have been seven or eight hundred able-bodied men at the buildings who

had left ranks. When the firing ended Gen. Taylor came. A tailboard

of a wagon was brought in, I was placed on it and carried out and put

in a common wagon (by the General, Dr. Hitchcock, Col. May, and some

others) between two wounded men. One of them was Col. Jefferson Davis,

the other a lieutenant of volunteers. I said to the General I hoped

he would gain a complete victory on the morrow, and his reply was:

"Yes, yes, if too many of my men do not give me the slip to-night." I

think he made this reply because he was mortified and pained to find

so many men at the hacienda who had deserted the field, many of them by

carrying off the wounded and not returning to their companies.

I was taken to our camp at Saltillo, put on the ground in my tent

with but little covering, and left alone. Where my servant was I know

not. The camp was silent, every one being away on or near the field

of battle. It was to me a night of bodily suffering. About daylight

I heard footsteps and called aloud, and was answered by a passing

soldier coming to my relief. That morning I was moved to a hospital

and received medical attention, and soon after I was sent to a private

house occupied by the wife of one of our soldiers, where I received

every care and was made comfortable.

When I left my gun I went in search of an army surgeon, as I was urged

to do by Lieut. Thomas, because I became dizzy and had to be taken from

my horse for a while. I found Dr. Hitchcock somewhere in the field and

exposed to some fire from the enemy in front. He advised me to take a

wagon and go to the hospital. He was extracting a ball from Capt. Enoch

Steen, of the dragoons, who was wounded, and who, perhaps to divert

his mind from what the doctor was doing, or for relief from pain, was

cursing two men who had stopped on their way back to their company to

see the operation performed. He ordered them away, called them cowards,

and other vile names; but still they moved not until a musket ball came

passing by more closely than others, knocked the hat off the head of

one of them, and left his head white where it cut the hair from his

scalp. He dropped his musket and jumped and danced around like mad,

crying out, "I am killed, I am killed," to Steen's amusement and relief

from the knife, by diverting his attention.

After the right wing of the Mexican army, which had gotten away behind

us, had been checked, it began to fall back along the base of the

mountains, and succeeded finally in reaching the position it started

from by a _trick_ of Santa Anna's. Under a flag of truce, which our

troops respected, he sent a message to Gen. Taylor "_to know what he

wanted_," and when our troops stopped firing he withdrew his right

wing.[13]

After this came the last great effort of the enemy. He massed his

troops and made the second grand attack very much as he did in the

morning, and over the same ground. How near he came being successful

by this sudden attack on the force centered about Angostura while so

many of our men were away near the base of the mountains in our rear,

you will find in the published accounts of the battle; and it was

caused by the enemy making the attack before our troops could get on

the plateau by reason of the circuitous route around the ravines that

could not be crossed. I did not see this last struggle. Lieut. O'Brien

lost his guns. Bragg would have lost his in a few minutes had not our

battery and Davis's and Lane's regiments arrived the moment they did

to meet the advancing mass of the enemy. It was a death struggle. Our

concentrated fire swept away the advancing line, the second faltered,

halted, fell back, and the field was won.

Santa Anna, when referring to this battle, frequently declared that he

"won the victory, only Gen. Taylor did not know when he was whipped,"

and just stayed there, while _he_ was obliged to go back for water,

provisions, and forage, and left the field to Taylor. I take this

occasion to express my gratification to Santa Anna, even at this late

date, for not staying on the field he had won, and I acknowledge his

distinguished consideration in permitting me to remain at Saltillo. How

vexatious it must have been to Santa Anna in his old age to recall to

mind that the ignorance of Gen. Taylor in not knowing he was whipped so

changed his destiny, and no doubt he thought how truthful is the line:

"Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise."

We had present 4,691 officers and men, and our loss was: killed, 272;

wounded, 388; missing, 6; total, 666. The relative number of wounded to

the killed is very remarkable. Usually there are five or more wounded

to one killed. The enemy numbered over 20,000 men. Although their

reports place their loss at over 4,000, it falls short of the real

number.

At dawn on the following morning it was discovered that Santa Anna

had retreated to Agua Nueva. Gen. Taylor, with a proper escort, rode

to Encantada and sent Col. Bliss to Santa Anna for an exchange of

prisoners captured before the battle. This was effected. The wounded

Mexicans even from Encarnacion were removed to Saltillo for medical

care.

Here we have the achievements of one plain, unpretending practical,

common sense man, who was ever observant of duty, and whose declaration

was, "I will fight the enemy wherever I find him," summed up in four

victories--Palo Alto, Resaca, Monterey, and Buena Vista. Success,

ordinarily, is the measure of the greatness of a soldier.

CHAPTER VII.

Drs. T. C. Madison, U. S. A., and G. M. Provost--Surgical

Operation--Courtesy of a Mexican Woman--Leave

Saltillo--Paltry Escort--Safe at Monterey--The Rio

Grande--Maj. W. W. H. Davis--New Orleans--Gen. Pillow--Col.

McIntosh--Bailey Peyton and Sargeant S. Prentiss--Drunk by

Absorption--Steamer for Louisville--Racing on the River--Trip

to Pittsburg, Pa.--By Canal Boat to Harrisburg--Home--Report

to the Adjutant General--Go to Trenton, N. J.--Presentation

of a Sword--Go to Washington--John W. Forney's Bargain with

Secretary Buchanan--Capt. A. W. Reynolds--Sent to Troy,

N. Y.--Gen. Wool--Leave Buffalo--Toledo--To Cincinnati by

Canal--Society in Cincinnati--Appointed Captain and Assistant

Quartermaster--Start for Washington--Cross the Alleghany

Mountains by Stage--Six Commissions in United States

Army--Reception by Gen. Jesup--Capt. Rufus Ingalls.

I now come back to personal matters. The weather was springlike. The

door of my room in Saltillo opened on the street on a level with

the pavements, and through it and the windows I could see all the

passersby, and it imparted a cheerfulness to the surroundings.

My physician was Thomas C. Madison, United States army, a most

estimable gentleman and skillful surgeon. Several consultations were

held in my case. They would not cut for the ball because they could not

discover where it was. I was becoming emaciated, and felt conscious

that I could not live unless the ball was removed. I had now been on

the cot over forty days, and I demanded that they should extract the

ball, for I could tell them _where_ it was. So next day Dr. Madison

came, and with him Dr. Grayson M. Prevost. They declined to use the

knife, but promised to come on the morrow, and Dr. Madison came alone

next morning. No one was present but my servant. I placed my finger

over where I was sure the ball was then located, and told him to

perform his duty, that I was responsible for the result. In those days

there was no anæsthetic known, and surgical instruments were not often

made for special purposes. As I predicted, the doctor found the ball.

I was watching his face intently, and the moment he touched the ball

I saw an expression of delight come over his countenance. Suffice to

say, for the want of modern instruments, he cut a gash, or hole, large

enough to insert his finger and a large steel hook to get the ball out.

I think the doctor was in a better humor than I was, for I had said bad

words to my servant for not holding my foot. I found afterwards it was

the tetanus that cramped or contracted the muscles of the leg. In three

days I managed to sit on the side of my cot; and some days after, with

crutches, I went to the door and looked into the street.

And now I must tell you a little incident. From my cot I could see a

Mexican woman who almost every afternoon would sit on her doorstep. She

must have been very old, for her hair was as white as snow, her cheeks

were bony, and her hands without flesh. She must have sympathized with

me, though her enemy in war, for on seeing me at my door she rose from

her seat, made a slight courtesy, and soon after sent me a bunch of

fresh flowers by a little girl.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world akin."

Sometime early in April I was informed that I could have an ambulance,

with leave to return to the United States and report to the Adjutant

General in Washington.

I was furnished with an escort of _two men_ on horses and my servant,

five in all, to pass through the enemy's country to Monterey, a

protection really inadequate. We reached Rinconada late in the day,

and my bed was the counter of an abandoned store. The next day we

arrived at Monterey safely, and I was made very comfortable by the

quartermaster. I remained in the city until a train of wagons left for

Camargo for army supplies, and when we started I took one "last, long,

lingering" look at the surroundings of the city which had but a few

months before been to me so pregnant with exciting events.

The journey to Camargo was devoid of particular interest. I found a

government steamer there, and took passage for Point Isabel, or Brazos

Santiago. On the trip down the river we saw a great many cattle that,

in attempting to get water, had sunk in the mud to perish. Some had

only their heads visible; others, a part of their bodies. It was a

piteous sight to see the poor beasts, while yet alive, being devoured

by buzzards.

When I arrived at Matamoras Capt. W. W. H. Davis came down to the

steamer to see me. He was a student with us at Burlington, N. J., and

was a general in the United States army during the late war, and is now

a resident of Doylestown, Pa. When in Matamoras he was a member of the

staff of Gen. Caleb Cashing. He had retained my mail, and brought it to

me on the steamer. Among the letters was one from Hon. Garret D. Wall

informing me that the citizens of New Jersey had caused a sword to be

made for me, and had placed it in his hands for presentation, at such

place and time as would suit my convenience. This was a surprise to me,

for no one had informed me of these matters.

On arrival at Point Isabel there were a brig and a steamer ready

to sail for New Orleans. I was put on board the brig, but it was

so dirty that I could not remain, preferring to risk my life on the

old sidewheel steamer James L. Day. As I was taken ashore I met Col.

McClung, of Mississippi, also wounded, going on the brig, where he

remained. On the steamer were some officers on their way to New Orleans

from Gen. Scott's army, and among them was Gen. Gideon J. Pillow,

who was wounded slightly at Cerro Gordo. The steamer was unfit for a

voyage on the ocean, although the weather was calm and the sea smooth.

I amused myself watching from my cot the partition boards slide up

and down, caused by the gentle rolling of the vessel. On reaching New

Orleans we landed aside of some ship, on which I was placed, put in a

chair, hoisted up and run out the yardarm, and lowered on to the wharf.

I think we arrived in New Orleans about the 18th of May. At the St.

Charles I met a number of old friends, army officers and civilians, and

among the latter were Col. Bailey Peyton and S. S. Prentiss. In a few

days I learned to locomote very well on one leg and my crutches.

Some few days after we arrived in the city a grand illumination and

street procession was gotten up to celebrate some victory of our

army in Mexico, and late in the afternoon a committee called on me to

participate. About 8 P.M. Col. MacIntosh and myself were escorted to

a barouche drawn by four white horses, to take our place in the line

of procession. The streets were crowded with people. The horses did

not like the crowd, the shouts, the music, nor the transparencies,

and manifested it by frequently standing upon their hind legs; and

had it become necessary to get out of the carriage, I was not able to

do so. The Colonel and I were put on exhibition as two "heroes" from

the war. The Colonel, as you remember, deserved it, for he was once

pinned to the earth with bayonets and lances. One bayonet went in his

mouth and passed through his neck into the earth. I rejoice to say we

were returned to our landlord, from whom we had been borrowed, safely.

I write this to show you how evanescent these things are. To-day we

are the idols of the crowd; to-morrow we pass along the same street

unobserved, unheeded, unknown save to friends. So passes away much of

the glory of this world.

One evening after tea Col. Peyton and Mr. Prentiss asked me if I was

able to join them in a short walk down the street. We had gone but

a little way when, passing a door, we heard some one speaking, and

loud applause in a hall, the floor of which was on a level with the

pavement. Mr. Peyton said: "Let us go in." It proved to be a political

meeting called for the purpose of expressing a preference for some one

of the prominent men in the Whig party for the presidency. Mr. Hunt,

who was speaking, closed his address in a few minutes after we entered.

We were close to the door by which we had entered. Some one saw Mr.

Prentiss, and called out: "Prentiss!" He turned to gain the street, but

the crowd would not let him pass, while "Prentiss! Prentiss!" came from

a hundred mouths. He exclaimed to his friend: "Why did we come here?"

There was no alternative but to face the standing crowd. He uncovered

his head and in a few words excused himself. It was in vain! The cry

was everywhere: "Go to the platform!" Getting into a chair that chanced

to be near the door, he spoke somewhat as follows, as I recall it after

a lapse of near fifty years:

_Mr. Chairman and Friends:_ As I was passing along this

street with some friends I saw lights in this room and heard

loud applause, and we entered to ascertain what was the

object of the meeting, and from the closing remarks made by

the distinguished gentleman who has just taken his seat I can

infer the object of this assemblage.

When a young lady has been robed for a grand ball her

maid opens and places on the toilet table before her her

jewelry case, that she may select such as will be the most

appropriate for the occasion. She takes out the sapphires and

arrays them on her person to embellish her charms, but she

places them on the table before her. The attendant encircles

her swanlike neck with pearls, emblems of her purity, but

she has them placed beside the sapphires. They put diamonds

in her ears, and the sparkling cross rests on her bosom,

flashing incessant lights as it rises and falls with every

breath. She surveys them carefully; then has them removed and

put aside also. And now rubies, the most costly of stones,

are contrasted with her fair complexion; and at last they

too are removed and laid with the others. She surveys them

all, contrasts their qualities, and as each would be alike

appropriate for the occasion, she stands undecided which

is preferable. Now, Mr. Chairman, when I open the casket

of _Whig jewels_, and gaze on their varied brilliancy, I

am as undecided as the young lady was. They differ in some

respects, but each is qualified for the opportunity, and I

hesitate which I would commend as most worthy to occupy the

presidential chair.

How nicely he evades an expression of preference for any one for the

office, and this without offense to any of the aspirants!

While speaking of Mr. Prentiss I will relate to you as best I can a

story of his reply to Mr. P., who accused him of intoxication while

they were each making the joint canvass for Congress from Mississippi.

And I will premise it by stating that P. had the reputation of being

a lover of whisky. It was before a large and appreciative audience

of Prentiss's friends, and in joint debate that the charge was made.

In replying to that Mr. Prentiss said in his rejoinder, as I heard it

_Ladies and Gentlemen:_ Many of you know me well, you have

been present with me at numerous social entertainments,

and I acknowledge it is true that I have a taste for the

light wines of Italy and the pleasant wines of France.

Wines have been the common beverage of mankind on festive

occasions from the remotest ages. They impart a genial

warmth to my feelings, a glow of tenderness to my heart,

awaken my imagination, enlarge my sympathy, and give to music

enrapturing charms, until in the fullness of joy I forget the

ills of life and love my fellow-men.

I assure you, my friends, I have never been drunk from

_drinking_ whisky; but my opponent here is never so happy

as when he retires to his room and draws from the closet his

demijohn of whisky, throws it over his back, tips it over his

shoulder: and no music is so sweet to his ear as the sound

of the whisky singing "gurgle, gurgle, gurgle," as it leaps

into the cup, save only that other sound of "gargle, gargle,

gargle," as he pours it down his capacious throat.

I have told you that I have never been drunk from drinking

whisky. But by whisky, ah! I remember me now; I was once

made drunk, and it happened in this way. Sometime ago I

had occasion to attend court in a remote county, sparcely

settled, and where there was but little accommodation for

the court. I arrived after night and repaired to the house

pointed out to me where I could get lodging. The proprietor

said his rooms were all full, but there was one room occupied

by a lawyer that had a double bed in it, and perhaps he would

share it with me. When I was ready to retire the landlord

took a tallow candle and conducted me to the room. By the dim

light I saw my present opponent in bed asleep, oblivious to

sounds. I retired and slept by his side. When morning came

I found myself possessed of a strange feeling; I was dizzy,

sick, drunk. Yes, _drunk by absorption!_

When Mr. Prentiss began the great speech he made in New York City a

clergyman took his watch from his pocket to note the time; and two

hours after, when Mr. Prentiss fell exhausted, this clergyman felt his

pocket for his watch. It was gone, and he thought he was robbed, until

he discovered his watch open in his left hand. He was so captivated and

_en rapport_ with the wonderful orator that he was oblivious to time,

and stood there in the vast crowd listening to the words as they fell

from his lips. Turning to a friend, he exclaimed: "Never tell me that

man is not inspired."

I could tell you many things about this remarkable man, but time

and other matters forbid. I will say, however, that I believe that

_Alexander Hamilton_ and _S. S. Prentiss_ head the list of all men in

the United States who have achieved greatness in early life. Prentiss's

oratory burst on the people like a meteor athwart the sky, and ended as

suddenly with his early death.

When I left New Orleans the surgeons advised me that I should go by

water as far as I could on my journey north, and avoid the shaking

of the railroad cars. I took passage on the steamer Chancellor for

Louisville, and when we backed out from the levee and headed up the

river we saw a steamer--the Belle of the West, I think it was--close

behind us, and then the race began. For fifteen hundred miles it was a

bitter struggle; first one ahead and then the other, according to the

landings made. Now the Belle would be ahead and then our pilot would

quit the main channel and by taking the "chutes" come out ahead. Then

we would be overtaken and run side by side. Often the two boats ran

with their guards touching, allowing the passengers of the two steamers

to converse with each other and have a jolly time. On the Belle was a

lady with her three daughters, of whom you will hear more hereafter. At

Paducah, finding a number of barrels of resin, our captain bought them

to use with the wood to increase the steam. So on and on we went, with

boilers hissing and volumes of black smoke rolling from the smokestacks

or chimneys, forming great clouds that were wafted away by the winds.

After five or six days and nights of clanking of the fire doors,

ringing of the bells above and below, and the blowing of whistles, we

arrived at Louisville just fifteen minutes behind the Belle.

When I look back on the danger incurred from the explosion of a boiler,

I cannot recall to mind one word of protest from any passenger against

carrying such a high pressure of steam, or of asking the officers to

desist. On the contrary, every one would shout for joy and wave their

handkerchiefs on the passing boat.

However reprehensible, those races were common in the palmy days of

steamboats on the "Father of Waters."

From Louisville I went to Cincinnati, thence on a small steamer to

Pittsburg. Here I took passage on a canal boat for the east. As time

was no object to me, I was not impatient of delay, and enjoyed the

wild mountain scenery of the Alleghanies, and the pretty views along

the blue Juniata; and as chance would have it, among the passengers

were the lady (Mrs. J. L. Roberts) and her daughters that were on the

Belle of the West, to whom I was presented by the gentleman who came

to Pittsburg to meet them. They went by canal because one of them had

been injured by having been thrown from their carriage. From this time

on they were kind friends of mine, and I recall with delight the many

happy days that I subsequently passed at their home on their plantation

back of Natchez, Miss.

I reached home in June, and my father and mother welcomed me--whom the

newspapers had reported killed in battle--with a joy not unlike that

given to him for whom the fattened calf was killed.

I soon reported at the Adjutant General's office, and was given

indefinite leave. Returning home, I received a note from a friend in

the office of the Quartermaster General soon after, telling me that

there were some vacancies in the quartermaster's department, and that

if I would return to Washington and report to the department for duty I

might be made captain and assistant quartermaster in the regular staff;

but I did not go until sometime in July.

I received a letter from Senator G. D. Wall stating that it was the

wish of the committee that I should be in Trenton on the fourth of July

to receive the sword that was to be presented to me. So I repaired

to Burlington, and in company with him and the Rt. Rev. G. W. Doane,

bishop of New Jersey, went to Trenton. When the people were leaving

the hotel for the public hall where the presentation was to take place,

the Senator sent me the manuscript of his intended remarks. It was too

late to write anything in reply, as the carriages were waiting; so we

got in and went to the hall. I was very much frightened. There were

many on the stage or platform, and among them an officer of the navy in

uniform. I had on a citizen's dress.

Mr. Wall made a very appropriate address, and delivered the sword to

me. I am sure that I made a very poor reply, and the only good thing

was its brevity. But think of it! Wall did not say anything that he had

written, but made an extempore speech, much to my surprise. When it was

ended Senator W. L. Dayton said to the General: "You made an excellent

address." "Well, I have a much better one in my pocket," was his reply.

As I was comparatively a stranger to most of the large audience, I

think the officer in uniform was taken for me, for when I rose to

receive the sword there was a hum of surprise all over the house. I was

glad when the presentation was ended. The next thing in order was to

dine with the "Society of the Cincinnati," of New Jersey. I was invited

to dine with the "Society of the Cincinnati" of Pennsylvania also, but

declined. One dinner was ample, and I was not strong.

In a day or two I returned to Washington. I was ordered by Dr. A. S.

Wotherspoon to quit all labor, and after he had bandaged my leg he kept

me on my back three weeks. It did no good; no adhesion of the parts was

made. I was vexed; so I took from my trunk a bottle of I know not what,

obtained in New Orleans, only it smelled of turpentine, and injected it

into the wound. I got up in the morning to go home, but lo and behold,

the bandages were all saturated with blood and the wound inflamed.

So, instead of going home, I was put on my back again. However that

injection inflamed the sinus in my leg, and when bandaged again all the

interior grew together, and in three weeks I was on my crutches, and

my toes, or foot, touched the ground for the first time for about six

months. So I was permanently cured by accident.

I had made application to the President for the appointment of

assistant quartermaster some time in June. Now one day in July, when

I was kept in bed by the doctor, a friend of mine, Mr. Nugent, came

to my room to impart to me the information that I would not get

the appointment because I could not "take the field," and that it

would be given to Lieut. A. W. Reynolds, who was in Philadelphia on

recruiting service. Nugent was connected with a newspaper, and was

at times an assistant in the office of James Buchanan, Secretary of

State, if I remember aright. On that day J. W. Forney, editor of _The

Pennsylvanian_, a Democratic paper in Philadelphia, was in the office

of Mr. Buchanan, and agreed to throw George M. Dallas, Vice President,

overboard and support Mr. Buchanan for the presidency provided certain

things were done by him for Mr. Forney. One of these items was that A.

W. Reynolds should be appointed assistant quartermaster. I asked Nugent

what special service Reynolds had rendered, as he had not been in

Mexico at all, to entitle him to promotion. "Why he has always carried

his _recruits_ to the polls to vote for Forney's Democratic friends."

And thus it was; and on the 5th of August Reynolds was appointed "to

take the field." Reynolds was a genial fellow, and "took the field"

by remaining in Philadelphia until the spring of 1848, when he went to

Matamoras to bring some mules to the States.

Lieut. Derby, alias John Phœnix, alias John P. Squibob, that prince

of humorists, and I had now located ourselves on Fourteenth Street,

near Willard's, expecting to have a pleasant time during the coming

winter, when one day about the 8th of September a messenger from the

War Department brought me a note asking me if I was able to go to the

arsenal at Troy, N. Y., to select a six-gun field battery, caissons,

harness, etc., all complete, and take it with me, by way of the lakes

and canal, to Cincinnati, Ohio.

I replied that I would leave immediately. While at Troy I met Gen.

Wool. He had come home from Buena Vista. He had some friends to meet

me at a dining, and I remember his pun on a young lady to whom I was

presented, "Miss Hart, one of _deer_ family." The battery was shipped

on a canal boat to Buffalo. I went by train. Stopped in Rochester all

night. The next morning, October 16, the ground was covered with snow,

which made me apprehensive that the navigation by canal would close in

Ohio before I could reach there. When the steamer arrived at Cleveland

the water had been let out of the canal, so we went on to Toledo.

From there I went on to Cincinnati by passenger boat. I was the only

passenger, except local ones getting on and off along the route. Toledo

was no town at all, and the sidewalks were "paved" with gunwales of

barge boats, and here and there a plank, and the mud!

I remained in Cincinnati during the months of November and December

idle, awaiting orders. There were many parties given, and the society

people were pleasant and accomplished. During the day, however, nearly

all the men were busy, and I used to say there were but three young men

idle in the city--Grosbeck, Febiger, of the navy, and myself.

Early in January, 1848, Senator J. D. Westcott informed me that the

President had appointed me captain and assistant quartermaster, and

sent my name, among others, to the Senate for confirmation.

The commission is dated January 12, 1848. I had been in the service

only four and a half years and had received six commissions--viz.,

brevet second lieutenant, United States army; second lieutenant,

Third Artillery; brevet first lieutenant, United States army; first

lieutenant, Third Artillery; brevet captain, United States army; and

captain and assistant quartermaster in the general staff of the army,

outranking some officers that had been from twelve to eighteen years

in service. The brevets were bestowed for "gallant and meritorious

services at the battles of Monterey and Buena Vista, Mexico."

When I was informed of the appointment I went up the river to

Brownsville, Pa., thence to Cumberland, Md., by stage. The weather was

intensely cold. Snow covered the plains and the mountains, and travel

had made the roads very smooth and slippery. In going down Laurel

Mountain we barely escaped an accident. The stagecoach, when held back,

would swing around on the icy incline and go down sideways, and to

prevent this the driver gave reins to the horses and we were descending

at a gallop, when turning a point we met an eight-mule team that had

the inside track, leaving our driver just a possible space to pass.

He measured the space and saw the danger instantly, barely missed the

hubs of the enormous wagon, and, as he sheered in behind the wagon,

our hind wheel on the right threw down the mountain side a quantity

of earth, snow, and rocks. There were nine of us in the coach, which

gave us the privilege of stopping at night. A member of the Senate from

Missouri was opposed to the delay; he must be in Washington, and so the

party was divided. The narrow escape from death settled the matter, for

when we got out for supper no one said to the driver: "We will go on

to-night."

On arriving in Washington I was ordered to report to Gen. Thomas S.

Jesup, Quartermaster General of the army. He received me courteously,

but observed in a pleasant manner: "Capt. French, neither you nor Capt.

Rufus Ingalls were recommended by me for appointment in my department;

you were commissioned over officers that I recommended. Besides, the

regulations of the army forbids any officer from becoming a captain and

assistant quartermaster until he has been _five years_ in service, and

neither of you have been in the army five years."

It was suggested to him that experience was a slow but very good

teacher; that one of his last appointees had not been in the field,

while Capt. Ingalls and I had served nearly two years in Mexico, and

from experience had derived some knowledge of the duties of officers of

the department which should overbalance length of years of service in

garrison at home, and that we should not be condemned before trial.

It is a remarkable fact that Gen. Ingalls was retained, from the

beginning to the end of the war, as the chief quartermaster of the

Army of the Potomac under its many commanders. It is proof of his great

administrative ability.

CHAPTER VIII.

Ordered to New Orleans--Baton Rouge--Col. W. W. S.

Bliss--Maj. J. H. Eaton--Maj. R. S. Garnett--Taylor

Nominated for President--Return to New Orleans--Ordered

to Vicksburg--"Gen." McMacken, the Prince of

Landlords--Bishop Polk--Sent to Mobile--Regular Army at

East Pascagoula, Miss.--Gen. Twiggs and His Fiancée--Sail

for Galveston--Galveston--Houston--Austin--Troops Sent to

Establish Posts, now Cities--San Antonio--Death of Gen.

Worth--El Paso--Return to San Antonio--New Orleans--Call on

Gen. Twiggs--Twiggs and Tree--Sword Presented to Me--Dine

at the President's--Death of President Taylor--Fillmore

President--Capt. Ringgold, U. S. N.--Ordered to

Louisville--Return to Washington--Col. Joseph Taylor--Gen. W.

O. Butler--Maj. Gaines--Cincinnati--Salmon P. Chase.

I was ordered to report for duty to Col. D. D. Tompkins in New Orleans,

and remained there some three months. From that city I was put on duty

at Baton Rouge, La., where Gen. Taylor and his family were living at

the barracks. Of his staff, Col. Bliss, Maj. Eaton, and Capt. R. S.

Garnett were with him. One day I was walking down town with Mrs. Taylor

and her daughter Bettie, when a steamer landed, and brought the news

of the General's nomination for President. Mrs. Taylor expressed regret

that he was nominated; said "he had honors enough;" but added, however,

"Since he has become a candidate, I hope he will be elected, and if he

be, I will not preside at the White House."

From Baton Rouge I went to New Orleans; thence to Vicksburg, Miss.,

July 4, 1848, to muster out of service the regiment of Mississippi

riflemen commanded by Col. Reuben M. Davis. We lived at the Prentiss

House, kept by that prince of landlords, Gen. McMacken, who always

"cried" his bill of fare. He said that when he kept a hotel in Jackson,

Miss., he was obliged to do so, because so many of the members of

the Legislature at that time could not read the printed ones, and he

continued it to the day of his death. He was exceedingly pleasing in

manners. On one occasion, seeing a gentleman of a commanding presence

enter the dining room and seat himself at the table, he welcomed

him with: "Good morning, general." "That is not my title, sir." "Ah,

excuse me, judge." "Mistaken again, sir." "Well, bishop, what will you

be helped to?" "Why do you call me bishop?" "Because I am sure that

you stand at the head of your profession, whatever it may be." That

gentleman was Bishop Leonidas Polk, afterwards a Confederate general.

During the summer and fall there was yellow fever in Mobile and New

Orleans; but no one regarded it, except to leave the cities at night if

possible; during the day business went on as usual.

On my return to New Orleans I was ordered to Mobile, Ala., to take

charge of government property, and to muster out a company of Alabama

cavalry. This finished, I was kept there awaiting orders. In the

meantime the army from Mexico had returned, and was encamped at East

Pascagoula, and in September I was ordered there.

The evening I arrived there was a ball given at the hotel. I met there

a young, tall, and pretty lady from Mobile, with whom I was acquainted.

She personated the morning star. Leaving the "floor," she took a seat

on a sofa beside Gen. Twiggs, and I seated myself on the other side of

her. She declined several sets, and I remained talking with her. All

the while the General said but a few words. The windows were open, and

I felt some one on the gallery pull my hair. I went out to ascertain

the meaning of it. Two or three officers came up, and said: "French,

don't unpack your trunk; you will be ordered away in the morning. Don't

you know that young lady is Gen. Twiggs's fiancée? He is as jealous as

a Barbary cock." I mention this because of something hereafter.

I remained in Pascagoula until the army had been sent hither and

thither, according to the wants of the service. The last shipment of

troops was some cavalry to Galveston, and I followed on after them,

last of all, in an old propeller. It so happened, as I was leaving

the wharf, that a captain of a vessel had just made an observation

of the sun to get the time, and I set my watch by it. When we got out

on the gulf a cyclone came on. The ship had no chronometer, and only

anthracite coal, which made but little steam. The propeller was now

spinning in the air; then motionless when under water. Finally the

captain had to run before the wind to the south.

Some days after, when running north, we saw land, and made

observations. I got the longitude from my watch. It said thirty miles

from Galveston. The captain said that the land was the mouth of the

Sabine river. Two hours after, we saw the shipping in Galveston,

proving my observation correct. The wind was still blowing hard. No

pilot boat could come out for us. It was a government ship, and I

ordered the captain to make the harbor. The trouble was to find the

outer buoy. Finally it was discovered, and we got in safely.

Gen. Twiggs had been assigned to the Department of Texas, and I found

him in Houston. We remained there a few days; and, when the dragoons

started for Austin, Twiggs, his aid, Capt. W. T. H. Brooks, and I

took the stage for Austin also. It had been raining all day and all

night when we started. From Houston to a small mound on the prairie

twenty-five miles on the road the land was all under water, and still

it rained. We crossed the Brazos river about noon, and went on in the

rain, which continued all night. At 2 A.M. the driver turned out of

the road, and down went the coach till the body was on the ground. The

driver said that there was a farmhouse about four miles farther on.

A horse was unhitched, and Gen. Twiggs was put on it bareback to ride

to the house. Two passengers went on foot. I had in a satchel $5,000

in gold (government funds), which was in the box under the hind seat.

Brooks said that he would stay there and guard it, if I would go on

and get help. I also mounted a horse and overtook the General. When

we reached the house, the farmer got up, had a fire made to dry our

clothing, and agreed to send some mules to bring in the coach. The

General made so many abusive remarks about Texas and the people that

the farmer got mad, and said that the stage might "stay where it was;"

but when he was satisfied that the remarks made by Twiggs were not

personal, he started the servants for the coach. The General and I had

to rest in the one bed the best we could.

The coach came up about eight in the morning. The General declared that

he would go no farther, but return to New Orleans. Now, the truth was,

he wished to go back to meet that young lady. I was told that when she

returned to Mobile some of her old and experienced friends persuaded

her to marry a younger man, who had long solicited her hand. When the

General reached New Orleans he was sadly disappointed; but he found

consolation soon after in marrying the widow of Col. Hunt, late of the

United States army.

We left Taylor's (the farmer) the same day, and went on to Plum Creek;

and, as it was not fordable, we had to stop with a widow and her

two daughters. Her house had only one room, and a cock loft gained

by a ladder. The following persons found shelter with the family

that night--viz., Maj. Ben McCulloch, Durand and his two sisters,

our two passengers, the postmaster, Brooks, myself, and the stage

driver--thirteen in number.

After supper was over our hostess lit her cob pipe, and enjoyed her

evening smoke, after which she politely offered it to those inclined

to indulge. When the time arrived to retire, the old woman had no

trouble in disposing of her ten guests. She merely said, "You men can

go aloft," and there on the floor we passed the night. It was well that

the General remained at Taylor's. The morning dawned clear, but the

creek was not fordable until noon. In the course of time the stagecoach

reached Austin, where I remained during the winter, furnishing

transportation for troops to the frontier; and where they were located

are now to be found the cities of Waco, Dallas, Fredericksburg, etc.

The sword plants the banner, and a city is built around it.

In the month of February, 1849, I received an order from the

Quartermaster General to go to San Antonio and fit out a train to go

to El Paso with the troops to be stationed there. For that purpose I

bought one thousand one hundred and eighty oxen, and collected about

two thousand head of mules, six hundred of which were wild mules from

Mexico, and I have never had any admiration for that animal in his

native state since, for, like his sire as told in the book of Job,

"neither regardeth he the crying of the driver."

To-day (November 22, 1894) is my birthday, and I am now six years past

the time alloted to man by the psalmist. For this I am truly grateful

to Him from whom all blessings flow, and I will henceforth endeavor to

walk humbly before him.

I had established my camp on the prairie about nine miles from the

city, where there were almost four hundred hired men. In March the

cholera made its appearance, and in a malignant form. Some cases

occurred in camp, and, as I could not get a physician to go out there,

I wrote for Dr. Baker, of Austin, an elderly man, to come over and take

charge of it. On his arrival I furnished him with a mule, and gave him

directions to find the camp. Night came on, and no doctor returned.

The next morning about nine o'clock he rode up to my office with his

umbrella under his arm, his mouth drawn up, the picture of despair. I

asked him: "Are many sick in camp?" He shook his head in the negative.

He was invited to dismount and come into the office, which he did, and

told his grievance. It appears that he found camp, attended to the few

sick, and started to return to the city. When he reached the Salado, a

small stream a few miles from town that was about ten feet wide, his

mule declined to cross the creek; neither would she wet her feet, as

the doctor did, and be led over. All attempts were futile. So, worn

out, the doctor sought the shelter of a tree, and sat there all night

holding in his hands the bride reins. In the morning the animal was

still stubborn, and the doctor in despair. No lone sailor on a raft

in midocean hailed an approaching sail with more delight than did the

doctor a Mexican coming down the road. He made known his trouble to

the Mexican, who said: "Si, Señor, me fix him." The man got off his own

mule, mounted the doctor's, rode off about fifty yards; then applying

whip and spur at every leap, the mule could not stop, but was plunged

into the water. He rode quietly across three or four times, and then

the doctor had no more trouble. The next trip the doctor was furnished

with a pony. He was a kind old gentleman, and went on with us to El

Paso as physician.

In May Gen. Worth arrived to take command of the department. A few

days after, he died of cholera, and the command devolved on Gen. W. S.

Harney.

The expedition to Paso del Norte was under the command of Maj.

Jefferson Van Horne, Engineer Officer Col. J. E. Johnston, and the

Quartermaster (myself). The object of the expedition was to march a

part of the third regiment of infantry to Paso del Norte to garrison

that place, and my train was to convey public stores there for their

future use and to open a public road to that point now called El Paso.

There was no road, not a path, from San Antonio to Paso del Norte. All

was an unknown, untrodden extent of plains, hills, and mountains over

which perhaps no white man had ever traveled, except two United States

engineers who had ridden over it in returning from New Mexico.

We left San Antonio June 1, 1849, and arrived at El Paso early in

September. We remained there nearly a month. At that time El Paso

was a town on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande river. There was

but _one_ building on the Texas side, and that was the Maggoffin's

hacienda. Vegetation at El Paso grows very rank, and fruit exceedingly

fine. The grape attains a large size, and bunches weighing four pounds

were common. I brought with me cacti, in form like an acorn, and so

large that the hoops had to be removed from a clothing tierce (a small

hogshead) to put a single one inside for transportation.

I pass over all description of the country and incidents of the

journey home, because I leave you the original diary, and my report

was published by the United States government.[14] The oxen and wagons

drawn by them were all turned over to the post quartermaster, and I

returned with the mule teams only.

Our return to San Antonio was over the Guadalupe mountains, down

Delaware Creek to the Horse-head crossing of the Pecos river, thence

down that stream to where we crossed it on our way out. There is now a

railroad from San Antonio to El Paso, following generally our route,

which runs on to the City of Mexico.[15] Remaining in San Antonio

long enough to make out my accounts, I proceeded to New Orleans. I

there found Gen. Twiggs in command, and called from courtesy to see

him at his headquarters. His aid, Capt. W. T. H. Brooks, who, as I

have related, remained in the stage when it sank in the mud, informed

me that the general commanding said I must shave off my beard, as a

general order to the effect had been issued by the adjutant general.

I did not obey, as I was under orders from the quartermaster general

to return to Washington, and did not consider myself in his command

at all. The next day I was at the general's office unshaved. He made

no remarks to me about it then, but some time that day Brooks came to

the hotel and ordered me to have my beard cut off. I did not go to the

barber. The next day I left New Orleans resolved to beard the adjutant

general in his den in Washington. On arrival there I found the shaving

order not enforced, and thus I saved my beard.

As I never met Gen. Twiggs again while I remained in the United States

army, I will take my leave of him. He was not a man well beloved by

officers or soldiers; he possessed no magnetic power; he was not genial

in temper or disposition, and yet he enjoyed a joke, and at times made

a pun. He entered the army in 1812. When that war terminated he was a

captain. On the reorganization of the army he was retained in service

and made a major. Being asked in what battle he gained his promotion,

he replied "in the _affair_ at _Ghent_," meaning the treaty of peace

with Great Britain. There was in the second regiment of dragoons

an officer named A. D. Tree, who possessed a frailty from which the

General was not exempt. On account of this, complaint was made to the

General about Tree. The General sent for Tree and asked him about the

matter. His reply was: "You cannot blame me; just as the Twigg is bent,

the Tree is inclined." The common influence of example was tacitly

acknowledged, his wit appreciated, and he withdrew under words of

advice from lips that smiled. When Twigg's native State seceded from

the Union, he resigned from the army and entered the service of the

Confederate States. His advanced age kept him from active operations in

the field. He had left in New Orleans the sword presented to him by the

State, together with his silver plate, and it was all seized by Gen.

Benjamin F. Butler, United States army, when in command in that city.

While I was absent in Texas, on the 8th of February, 1849, the Governor

of the State of New Jersey, in pursuance of a resolution passed

February 10, 1847 by the Legislature of that State, directing him to

procure swords to be presented to Capt. W. R. Montgomery, Lieut. N. B.

Rossell, Fowler Hamilton, and Samuel G. French, of the United States

army, for brave and gallant conduct displayed by them in the battles

of Palo Alto. Resaca de la Palma, and Monterey, made the presentation.

Richard P. Thompson, of Salem, N. J., acting in my behalf, received the

sword for me, and I am sure I will be pardoned for relating some of the

proceedings.

Gov. Haines, in his address, was pleased to say in reference to me at

Palo Alto:

While the battle was fiercely raging, a body of Mexican

lancers made a movement to the right, apparently with a

design upon the trains. The Fifth Regiment of Infantry, with

two pieces of artillery, were ordered to advance and check

them. To form in square to receive the impetuous charge of

the horsemen and to repel them, was the well-performed duty

of the Fifth Infantry; to scatter them in all directions was

the quick work of the battery under First Lieut. Ridgely,

assisted by Second Lieut. French.

At Palo Alto, and Resaca:

The bearing of Lieuts. French and Hamilton in both these

sanguinary engagements was marked for its gallantry and

courage, and merits our highest praise. Of the former it is

sufficient to say that he served a battery in conjunction

with Lieut. Ridgely, and in that duty contributed largely to

the success of our arms.

At Monterey:

Lieut. French performed deeds of daring worthy of

commendation. He was exposed during the attack to imminent

perils. Among others, the battery under his command advanced

through the blood-stained streets of the well-fortified town

in the face of the enemy's artillery and amidst showers of

balls from the musketry upon house tops. Of the five who

served his gun, four were shot down by his side. These are

the battles, and this but a small part of the brave and

gallant conduct referred to by the Legislature in their

resolution, and for which, in the name of the people of the

State, they desire to thank and to honor you. That they have

not misjudged is manifested by your subsequent conduct.

In the bloody and desperate conflict of Buena Vista, Lieut.

French bore himself with great intrepidity, and was severely

wounded. For his gallantry he has been promoted to the rank

of captain, and we have to regret that his services in a

distant part of the country deprives us of the pleasure of

his company here to-day, and requires him to be represented

by his friend.

Richard P. Thompson, Esq., on my behalf spoke as follows:

_Sir_: In behalf of Capt. French, to whose patriotic services

you have alluded in terms so eloquent and just, I accept

with profound gratitude this beautiful sword--the proudest

testimonial a brave man could desire from his native State.

It is a soldier's duty to obey with cheerfulness and alacrity

the call of his country--his post of honor is on the battle

field, amidst the "pride and pomp, and circumstances of

war,"--his loftiest ambition to bear that flag to victory

that never knew defeat, and to win for himself the approval

of his countrymen. When on the bloody fields of Buena Vista,

Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Monterey, Lieut. French

periled his life for his country, one bright and sunny hope

animated his young and gallant spirit, and this day, sir,

finds that glorious hope fulfilled. Here, in sight of the

battle ground of Trenton, the descendants of heroes are

proving to the world how Jerseymen appreciate and reward the

heroism of her sons.

To Capt. French, now absent on military duty, the events

of this day, sir, shall be faithfully transmitted, and I

can well imagine how his manly heart will overflow with

gratitude. The perils and privations he endured, the pain and

anguish of his wound, will be forgotten in the joy of this

event--in the knowledge that the Legislature of his beloved

State, with a magnanimity alike honorable to themselves

as to him, have placed in his hands this mute but eloquent

certificate of brave deeds in his country's service.

In accepting for him this evidence of the regard in which New

Jersey holds his bravery, in the presence of her assembled

representatives, and of this bright and beautiful array

of her mothers, wives, and daughters, I pledge myself to

you, sir, her chief Executive Magistrate, that my brave

young friend will treasure it as the proudest gift of his

life--that its keen and polished blade shall suffer no stain

from his dishonor--that in peace he will guard it with a

soldier's fidelity, in war defend with it the honor of his

country--unsheath it never in an unholy cause--and part with

it only when he shall be laid at rest "beneath a soldier's

sepulcher."

The inscription on the scabbard reads:

Presented by the State of New Jersey to Lieut. Samuel G.

French, of the third Regiment, United States Artillery,

for brave and gallant conduct displayed in the battles of

Palo Alto, Reseca de la Palma, and Monterey. Subsequently

distinguished at Buena Vista, and promoted to the rank of

captain.

AEQUM EST MILITEM

INTREPIDUM

HONORE

AFFICERE.

And so my good friend Mr. Thompson relieved me from the embarrassment

of returning thanks, publicly, for the sword delivered by the Governor.

While on this subject I will here remark that this sword and the former

one were taken from my summer home in Woodbury, N. J., in the absence

of the family, and with all personal property and realty sold by the

United States marshal at public outcry under the confiscation act of

1862.[16] Were the proceeds covered into the treasury?

I arrived in Washington during the winter of 1849-50, and made a

report of the expedition that was published by the government as I

have stated. The Quartermaster General, or the War Department, kept me

all the year 1850 in Washington, or within call, for any special duty

required.

Soon after my arrival in Washington I was honored with an invitation to

dine with the President. I had the pleasure of taking in to dinner Miss

Taylor, a young lady from Louisiana. The guests were too many for any

general conversation, and nothing of moment occurred.

I was in Philadelphia when the news of the death of the President was

received, July 9, 1850. Having been with him in all his battles in

Mexico, I was pained to hear of his death, and that I had lost a kind

friend. He had lived a soldier's life until elected President, and had

never heard the voice of detraction, or his name mentioned except for

praise, until he was forced into the political arena.

A lady friend of mine told me that she had a room at the hotel

adjoining the General's reception room, and thus involuntarily heard

much wrangling about the formation of his cabinet. Delegations of

politicians from different States would go so far as to demand that

certain men should be members of his cabinet as the price of loyalty

to the party and support of his administration. The enemy on the

battlefield never perplexed him as did his political _friends_ and the

pressure for appointment to office. He whose order and every word was

obeyed now found himself confronted by the bitterest opposition, which

perplexed him in the extreme, and, no doubt, it shortened his days.

Brave, honest, pure, sincere, as a soldier he never deviated from the

path of duty; and if we consider that the world has limited the fame of

a soldier to one single measure, _deeds performed_, by this test his

fame is imperishable. His every success was achieved by his daring,

steadfast determination to do his duty, and fight the enemy wherever

he found him, regardless of all odds. In this respect he might be

paralleled with Nelson.

Mr. Fillmore now became President. Soon after this the Gardiner claim

was being investigated, and I believe there were six commissioners to

be sent to Mexico to examine the _mine_. The President was to name

two of these commissioners; the Senate, two; etc. I was informed by

the Adjutant General that the President instructed him not to send me

on any duty out of the city, as he purposed to name me as one of his

commissioners. However, about a month after this, Senator Soule, of

Louisiana, came to the department to see me, and I believe my knowledge

of the Spanish language did not come up to his expectations; and, if I

remember aright, Lieut. Doubleday was named at his suggestion.

It was about this time that Capt. Ringgold, of the United States navy,

asked me urgently to go with him as the artist on an expedition to

make a coast survey of Kamchatka, and thence on south. He consulted the

Secretary of War, and obtained permission for me to go if he made the

application. He spoke of the climate in summer, and said in the fall

we would sail for the Sandwich Islands and pass the winter there. The

expedition was a tempting one, but other considerations induced me to

decline going. Capt. Ringgold was a brother of Maj. Ringgold, who was

killed at the battle of Palo Alto.

I think it was during this autumn that I was sent to Louisville, Ky.,

to purchase horses for the cavalry.

About the middle of December Col. Joseph Taylor, Maj. Gaines, his two

daughters, and I took passage on a steamer for Cincinnati. There was

much floating ice in the river, and snow began to fall, and it turned

very cold. The captain ran into the mouth of the Kentucky river to

avoid the heavy drift ice. In the morning we found the steamer fast in

frozen ice, and wagons and sleighs came alongside. Gen. W. O. Butler

came on board to see Col. Taylor, and, as there was no prospect of

the steamer leaving for weeks, arrangements were made for Gen. Butler

to send us on to Florence in his common two-horse farm wagon. The

next morning the trunks were put in for seats and we started on our

journey. The country was covered deep with snow, and the thermometer

was fourteen degrees below zero. I walked behind the wagon nearly all

the way to keep warm. The driver's hands were nearly frozen, and in

crossing an awful ravine the horses were not checked and the wheels on

one side would have missed the bridge and all in the wagon been killed

had not my trunk fallen out in front and stopped the wagon. Fortunately

no damage was done. The driver was to blame for not telling us his

hands were half frozen.

It was dark when we reached Florence, and for once fire could not

warm me for hours. Next day Col. Taylor bargained for a jumper (sled)

to take him and me to Cincinnati. We crossed the river on the ice,

and were driven up to the door of the hotel in the jumper. Next day

Hon. Salmon P. Chase joined Col. Taylor, and we went on to Washington

together.

CHAPTER IX.

January, 1851, Ordered to El Paso--Capt. Sitgreaves--Sail

for Havana--Barnum and Jennie Lind--Sail for New Orleans--By

Steamer to Galveston--On the Gulf for Indianola--San

Antonio--Report of Expedition--Unprecedented March without

Water--Indians--With Gen. Jesup--Hartford Convention--Battles

on the Canadian Frontier--Gov. W. P. Duval (Ralph

Ringwood)--United States Senators--Clay's Magnetism--His

Duel with John Randolph--Lieut R. F. Stockton, United States

Navy, Duel with English Officers at Gibraltar--John Howard

Payne--Commodore Van Rensselaer Morgan--My Marriage--Assigned

to Fort Smith, Ark.--Trips to Washita, Fort Gibson, and

Towson--Choctaws and Cherokees--John Ross--Journey from

Fort Smith to Natchez, Miss.--A Misanthrope--Gen. John A.

Quitman--Death of Mrs. Roberts--Tender My Resignation--Go to

My Plantation--Go to San Antonio--Death of Mrs. French--Sail

for Europe--John Brown's Raid.

In the early part of January, 1851, Gen. Jesup told me that he would

have to send me to El Paso again. I suggested that some other officer

be ordered on that duty, as I had made the trip once. He said that

there had been no rain in Western Texas for over a year; that the

report was the troops were out of provisions, and as I had been over

the road and knew the country, I must go again; that he would not

under such circumstances intrust the expedition to any one else. This

was complimentary, to be sure, and I pointed out the difficulties that

would be encountered on such a long journey over a now barren country,

destitute of water and grass; but told him I would do the best I could

to make the expedition a success.

Capt. Lorenzo Sitgreaves, topographical engineer, United States army,

was in the city under orders to make a survey of the Gila river, and,

as he had to go to El Paso, would accompany the expedition. With him

was Dr. S. W. Woodhouse, of Philadelphia, Pa. In due time we went to

New York, and sailed for Havana, Cuba.

In Havana at the hotel were P. T. Barnum with Miss Jennie Lind, James

G. Bennett and wife. We remained in the city about a week, and then

took steamer for New Orleans. Capt. Hartstine, of the United States

navy, commanded the steamer. He gave Miss Jennie his stateroom on

deck. I was sitting with Miss Jennie in her room when we entered the

Mississippi river. Soon a sweet little girl came in, and, dropping on

her knees before the songstress, said: "Miss Jennie, you promised that

you would sing for me when we got in smooth water. Please do, for the

winds and waves are still." And she sung "I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble

Halls" and "Home, Sweet Home." O how melodious her voice sounded to

us alone there far away, where the waters of half a continent mingled

with the ocean, and awakened new emotions that moistened the eye with

a tear! I heard her sing on the stage, but I remember better her songs

to the little girl. She asked me about the length of the Mississippi

river, and her astonishment was great when I informed her that she

could go all the way from where we were, if the river were straightened

out, to her home in Stockholm.

When we arrived at the landing in New Orleans there were perhaps a

thousand persons present. The police appeared helpless. To land the

ladies looked like an impossibility. How could they get through that

crowd to the carriages? Miss Jennie would not attempt it. After a

long time Barnum's tact accomplished it. The crowd had seen both Miss

Jennie and Barnum's daughter on the deck when the steamer arrived. They

were now below deck in despair. Barnum arrayed his daughter like Miss

Jennie, covering her face with a thick veil, gave her his arm, and

met the crowd, worked his way through to a carriage that was covered

with people, and finally got his daughter inside, and jumped in. The

carriage moved slowly on, the mob after it to see her get out. Then

Miss Jennie was landed, and put in another carriage that followed.

But the crowd discovered the deception, met Miss Jennie, and escorted

her to her hotel. All this was merely a desire to see a distinguished

vocalist. An hour or two after, we also got on shore. I have failed

to tell you that Dr. Fisher, of Philadelphia, was one of our party.

He was employed by me as physician to render medical services to the

civil employees on the expedition. From New Orleans we took steamer to

Galveston, where we were detained some days.

How often do extremes meet! In New Orleans we had just listened to the

sweet voice of Jennie Lind; here we were entertained by an old negro

slave with music drawn out of a cheese box made into a banjo. He knew

but one song, and as he played it over and over we paid him to quit

instead of encouraging him to continue. It made me feel very sad to see

the poor fellow trying to please the people at the hotel with his rude

banjo and song. What a fall from a Cremona or Stradivarius to a cheese

box!

From Galveston we sailed to Indianola, and thence to San Antonio by

stage, where we arrived February 24.

As it will be too much trouble for me to abbreviate my report of this

expedition, I will, mainly for preservation, give it in full:

REPORT.

WASHINGTON CITY, November 2, 1851.

_General_: I have the honor to inclose to you the

accompanying report in relation to the late expedition to El

Paso, made in compliance with the following order:

QUARTERMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE, }

WASHINGTON CITY, January 14, 1851.}

_Sir_: A large supply of stores for El Paso is on the way

from Baltimore to Indianola, Tex., as you are aware, to meet

an apprehended deficiency of subsistence for the troops at

that post and its dependencies in New Mexico. This supply

is to be taken to its destination in a public train. You are

selected to take charge of and conduct it. You will proceed

to San Antonio, and report to Maj. Babbitt for that service.

On your way thither you will stop at New Orleans, and

ascertain from Col. Hunt the state of the wagons which he has

shipped to Indianola by orders from this office; and if they

are not in every respect in a condition for the service in

which they are to be employed, you will call for whatsoever

you may think necessary to the efficiency of the service.

Should you obtain information on the route of the loss of any

of the wagons shipped recently from Philadelphia, you will

take measures to replace as many of them as you may think

necessary.

Two Wars: An Autobiography of General Samuel G. French Mexican War; War between the States, a Diary; Reconstruction Period, His Experience; Incidents, Reminiscences, etc. · 第 21 / 27 章

These arrangements completed, our battery, now under the command of