A Campaign in New Mexico - Chapters V-VI



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CHAPTER V.
A start for Chihuahua - Mail with Letters from Santa Fe - Bent's murder, 
and the true cause of it - Doniphan and the traders - Lake of ducks - A 
seasonable rain - A warm spring - Carrizal - Wind storm - Another warm 
spring - Expectation, and alarm - Grass catches fire and runs up the 
mountain - Rumor of Mexicans near - Another fire and danger - Enemy not 
far off - Major Owens takes charge of the wagons - A Mexican spy chased - 
Picket squad drives in advanced guard of the enemy - Army moves out in 
solid square - The enemy - a reconnoitre - Doniphan resolves on an 
attack - The battle of Sacramento; and its results

ON the eleventh day of February, we started for Chihuahua. The troops left 
the Rio Grande about thirty miles below fort San Elecario, striking across 
a dry stretch of ninety miles, entering it on the evening of the 
fourteenth.

It was on the next day that a mail from Santa Fe overtook us, letters and 
newspapers. We now first heard that General Wool bad changed his route, 
and that we should not find him at Chihuahua. It was singular enough that 
this mail brought no dispatches for Colonel Doniphan.

In this situation, a council was held; and the question debated, whether 
we were to go on to Chihuahua, or turn back to Santa Fe. It was decided to 
proceed. But we halted while the mail was sorted; and each man, in saddle,

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received his letters. It was amusing to hear scraps of home news bandied 
about among my colleagues. Not having one to discuss my own letters with 
me, I left the road, dismounted, sat myself under a large soapweed, and 
proceeded to read the budget that had fallen to my share. In spite of our 
rather unpleasant position, in the midst of a dry plain, and already one 
night and day without water and with a knowledge that an almost 
overwhelming force was but a few leagues from us, and no American troops 
within even a hundred miles, many pleasant jokes connected with our homes 
were passed this night and the spirit of our letters kept us cheerfully up 
to a late hour.

A sad piece of news reached us by this mail--the assassination of Governor 
Bent at Taos. His death was particularly felt by the members of my own 
mess. Governor Bent had often come amongst us while we were at work on our 
theatre at Santa Fe, with a kindly interest in our pleasure and showing, 
in many ways his amiable disposition. It seems that after the insurgents 
had seized him, they took him to his own house, and gave him a choice of 
instant death or the loss of eyes and other atrocious disfigurement. He 
boldly bid them to kill him. To the District Attorney Liel, who had been 
one of our battalion, they gave no such choice, but used him badly and 
killed him piecemeal. We had left some of our company at a grazing ground 
near Taos; and therefore, felt great anxiety for them.

From circumstances which have come to my knowledge, I do not consider that 
the murder of Governor Bent was caused by the insurrection at Taos, but 
rather that this oc-

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currence was used as a cloak to cover what was, undoubtedly, an act of 
private malice, instigated by his wife. She was a Spaniard, very 
beautiful, but had not lived with him for some years, and resided at Taos, 
where Bent had large properties. There had been several previous attempts 
to murder him; from one of which he had only escaped by killing his 
assailant. Bent had been warned never to approach Taos, and this he had 
not done for some time previous. In order to further her own designs, this 
woman had [missing text could not be punished for it.

Soon after our departure from El Paso, two of the traders--all of whom had 
received positive orders to keep close to us--ventured to lag behind, 
preferring to await the issue of the approaching contest in safety; and 
one of them even went so far as to hire a band of Indians to run off his 
cattle. Colonel Doniphan was rather too old a hand to be thus caught, so 
he sent Colonel Mitchell with a detachment of men to urge them on. Colonel 
Mitchell merely told these traders that he would give them one hour to 
harness-up and proceed, and that if they did not do so in that time, he 
would string them up to one of the neighboring trees. They rolled their 
wagons into camp without delay. One of them afterwards ventured to repeat 
the hesitation to proceed. Colonel Doniphan told the drivers of this 
trader's wagons, that, from that moment, they were to obey him only, and 
that he had taken the responsibility to confiscate the goods in them to 
the United States. However, he afterwards returned them to the owner.

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On the seventeenth day of February, we arrived at the remarkable Lago de 
los Patos, Lake of the Ducks, which is about four miles in length, into 
which several large streams empty, but having no visible outlet. Its 
water, at most times, is too brackish for use; but now it was fuller than 
usual from there having been considerable rain in the mountains. This 
lessened the brackishness; and we found the water very welcome, for our 
poor animals had been entirely without any for three days and nights, and 
were almost furious. They instantly filled themselves almost to bursting; 
and had the water been very salty, it would have injured them.

About a quarter of a mile from this pond, is a singular spring, highly 
impregnated with sulphur. It rises from the point of a grassy cone, about 
fifteen feet high, which is as regular in shape as if made by man. The 
water, although abundant, only runs to the foot of the mound, there 
sinking into the sand at once. And with the exception of the cone, there 
is nothing green to be seen in the neighborhood, and this verdure 
continues the year round.

Soon after we had encamped, a heavy shower of rain came up. It was a 
blessing to our provision train, which, mostly drawn by oxen, had not yet 
got through the jornada, and, indeed, never would have got through, had it 
not been that the rain descended in such torrents as to run in streams 
across the road, and so enabled the exhausted oxen to drink plentifully, 
and also stop and rest. It was the opinion of all, that, had it not been 
for this rain, not a single provision wagon would have ever arrived at the 
lake.

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A few miles to the south, a warm spring rises out of the sand between two 
small pointed mounds. The water, from its abundance, forms a large stream. 
The whole bottom of the basin, which is about ten feet across, is in 
motion from the boiling up of the water. I passed my sabre down through 
the sandy bottom without the slightest difficulty and struck a rock about 
three feet below, apparently quite level and extending under the whole 
basin; yet singularly enough, there is no rock visible around it for some 
distance.

On the eighteenth, we encamped near the little town of Carrizal, which 
was, at one time, a principal military post. It has a very large fort, 
almost equal to that of San Elecario, at El Paso, and which had, until 
lately been garrisoned by a large body of Mexican soldiers, who were 
posted here to protect the surrounding country from the Navajos; but these 
savages, with their accustomed daring, had laid waste every rancho and 
house outside of the shadow of the walls, and, in consequence, the 
inhabitants were fast deserting their homes. In a few years the place will 
be in ruins. The next day we remained in camp to rest ourselves, and 
recruit our animals, but experienced the most severe wind-storm I ever 
witnessed. Tent after tent went down; and if any stood, it was only those 
which were well lashed with our lassos to sabres and bayonets run into the 
ground.

On the twentieth, we only marched eight miles, stopping by the side of a 
deep and swift running stream, made by an immense warm spring which rises 
about six miles from the road. I did not go to it, but those who did, 
described it as a most beautiful basin about thirty feet in diameter, 
pretty deep,

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and of a very comfortable warmth. Some of my comrades remarked that the 
water was rather too warm for their liking; and I, myself, observed that 
even where it crossed our road, it was not quite cold in spite of its six 
miles run. The channel of this stream, which is narrow, is perfectly 
straight, and the water runs about four feet from the surface of the 
ground. What makes it more singular is, that it is supposed to be the 
water of the river Carmen, which disappears in the sand two or three miles 
above the spring, and, although cold when it goes into the ground, rises 
thus, hot. I believe that no solution, however, been given for this 
singularity. Here we cooked for a two days' march, having to cross another 
jornada of sixty miles in length. However, this was not so bad as usual, 
as there large holes in a rock about half-way across which generally 
contain rain water.

We were in constant expectation of being attacked, and, while moving on, 
had just crossed the dry bed of the Rio Carmen, when an alarm was given 
that the enemy was coming, and, certainly, a cloud of dust was seen 
rapidly approaching. So, our advance guard fell back on the main body; and 
the battery was, at once, unlimbered and everything got ready for action. 
We had stood thus some minutes, when the cause of alarm turned out to be 
the dust raised by our own picket guard, which had been stationed six 
miles on the road above, and, being relieved, had come in to water their 
horses before starting on the jornada.

Curiosity induced me to wander down the dry bed of the river, which I 
found to be very wide and sandy. When about a mile from the road, I found, 
under the roots of an

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immense oak, which projected from the bank to some distance, a beautiful 
pool of clear icy-cold water of great depth. It was directly in the sand, 
which at all other parts, was as level as a floor.

On the evening of the second day, in the jornada, we came to the holes in 
the rock I have before mentioned, and found them nearly full of water. It 
was rather bitter to the taste and muddy, and enabled us only to fill our 
canteens for immediate use and no more. On the afternoon of the next day 
we discovered water about two miles off the road in a canyon in the 
mountains. While. here, the short dry grass caught fire, and the flame 
swept grandly over the mountains, urged by a stiff breeze. I never saw a 
more beautiful sight than the steady progress at night of that long line 
of fire-up one surface of an immense mountain by our side, it extended 
from base to summit; and the timber, in the hollows behind the mountains, 
having caught, the air was glowing with a rich, red glare, all around.

The next day rumor said that the Mexicans were in great force at the 
Laguna de Encenillas, which was the real termination of the jornada we 
were in, and, to reach which, we had to pass one more night without water. 
Here, it was stated, they intended to await us, expecting that ourselves 
and our animals would be worn down with thirst.

It would have proved rather a serious business for them, for I believe 
that men will fight harder when thus suffering from thirst, than from any 
other excitement. We certainly often [missing text]...od between us and a 
full canteen. However, when

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we reached the laguna, our foes had retired. This laguna is a larger pond 
of water than the Lago de los Patos, but with similar peculiarities of 
brackishness, shallowness, and having no outlet. We were just making camp, 
when an accidental fire caught in the grass behind us, and, sweeping 
towards us with great speed, forced us to harness up our teams again and 
run. The race lasted two or three miles; and finding that the fire was 
gaining on us rapidly, the men were dismounted, and placed in a line 
leading from the lake up to the road, with branches in their hands to beat 
out the fire at this point, their horses having been first led in a 
constant string over the line; and in their passage, passing a short 
distance through the water. The wagons all got over in time. But the 
artillery had to take refuge, by a quick run, into the lake-frightening 
thereby a party of Mexican soldiers, who were at a rancho across it, so 
that they hastened to the mountains and hid themselves, supposing that the 
artillery were going to charge across the lake, which is in no part very 
deep. Immediately the fire was checked, we all moved over on to the burnt 
part, and thus avoided all danger.

On the twenty-sixth, we reached the Rancho of Governor Trias, and found 
that a large body of the enemy had encamped there the previous night, and 
had only left at ten o'clock that morning. The rancheros said that these 
troops had gone back to Chihuahua; but we afterwards found that they had 
only withdrawn themselves a little off the road, and had followed us the 
next day, but had not the spirit to attack our rear, which they had been 
ordered to do. They had,

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however, driven off all the beef cattle, except about half a dozen, which 
we soon slaughtered.

The next day, we only marched a few miles, coming to a few small brackish 
ponds. Some time was spent in arranging the plan of advance for the 
morrow--when we should certainly meet the enemy. The wagons, numbering 
over three hundred, were given in charge of Major Owens, a trader who 
formed all his teamsters into two companies, arming them, and explaining 
to them that, until orders, they were to drive their wagons along in four 
parallel lines about fifty feet apart, thus forming a rectangle over a 
quarter of a mile in length, and they were to be all prepared to form a 
square corraal or fort with the wagons for the soldiers, should it prove 
necessary.

This evening, Captain Skillman and another trader had chased a Mexican spy 
so hard as to force him to dismount, and seek safety on foot. They brought 
in the horse, beautifully equipped with silver mounted saddle and bridle, 
and fine holster pistols. Our picket-guard also, on going out after dark 
to take up their position, had driven in the advance guard of our foe, 
although twice their number.

The next morning, Sunday, the twenty-eighth of February, we moved out of 
camp, the wagons first taking up the positions fixed upon the evening 
previous; and the artillery occupying the centre space between the two 
battalions of Doniphan's regiment, who filled the two outside spaces. Our 
company marched ahead of the now solid square.

Although I was very unwell, and almost unable to ride, I had gone forward 
with three others to reconnoitre; and get-

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ting upon some rising ground, with the aid of a telescope, I obtained a 
fine view of the whole of the Mexican force; and I do not hesitate to say 
that, as I turned from viewing that dense mass of soldiery to look at our 
little band as it came slowly but steadily on, my heart felt a little 
faint. I could see the numerous entrenchments and batteries of the 
Mexicans; and I observed to myself, that there was but one way by which we 
could possibly fight them on at all even ground--and this was, by crossing 
a deep gully, when we should get upon a grassy plain, extending with a 
slight ascent up to their position. On all other sides the high bluff bank 
forbade all attempt.

I rejoined our company; and found that Colonel Doniphan had resolved to 
attack: following exactly the route I have above mentioned. And now, 
spades and pickaxes are put in requisition, and numerous willing hands 
soon fill up the gully.

As our troops cross it, the trumpets sound the Trot. All move out from the 
cover of the wagons, and take up a position about nine hundred yards from 
the most advanced of the enemy, and, from the sloping ground, rather below 
them. Nothing can exceed the enthusiasm of the men--one would suppose they 
are rather thinking of getting up a fandango, than of going into such an 
unequal fight. That overwhelming force in their front had no other effect 
than to raise their spirits still higher.

But slowly and majestically above our heads, sails America's bird, a large 
bald eagle.--"An omen, an omen,"

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runs through our ranks, and all eyes glance at him for a moment.

Our little battalion occupies the centre of our position--on the right and 
left of it are two companies of cavalry, one of them Col. Mitchell's 
escort and behind them, dismounted and acting as infantry, impatiently 
stand the rest of Doniphan's regiment.

As we form, the enemy's artillery opens upon us, and, at that instant, 
Weightman's deep voice is heard "form battery, action front, load and fire 
at will;" and our pieces ring out the death-knell of the enemy; now comes 
the friendly struggle between our gunners, who shall pour in the deadliest 
and quickest fire, and beautifully are those pieces served, mowing lane 
after lane through the solid columns of the Mexicans. In the centre of our 
battery, their horses bounding at every discharge, stand Clark and his 
officers. As the balls fly through the opposing ranks, and the shells tear 
their columns, shout after shout is heard from our men.

Further to our right is Colonel Doniphan on his beautiful chestnut 
charger, with his leg crossed over the saddle, steadily whittling a piece 
of wood, but with his eye glancing proudly over the ranks of his little 
band. As the cannonading becomes hotter, he quietly says "Well, they're 
giving---us now, boys" and passes coolly to the left of our position, 
untouched by the copper hail that pours around him.

And here we are (at a distance too great for anything but cannon), sitting 
on our horses, dodging Mexican balls as they come humming through our 
ranks, first striking the ground

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about midway, and so becoming visible. It was surprising the skill which 
we soon obtained in this employment. After a few shots, we could tell to a 
foot where the copper messenger would alight; although, a few minutes 
before, joke after joke was passing among us, the silence was now almost 
unbroken, for nothing acts so well, by way of a safety valve to a man's 
courage as having to sit on horseback half an hour and dodge cannon balls. 
As yet we know of no injuries amongst us, but suddenly, a German close by, 
blurts out "I'se kilt," and, tumbling off his horse, rolls up his 
trowsers, showing a severe contusion on his leg, caused by a stone thrown 
up by the ricochet of a cannon-ball; round the limb goes a handkerchief 
and up mounts the man again. At that moment a groan bursts from the line 
to my left, and a man is borne dying from the ranks, while off goes the 
head of Lieutenant Dorn's horse. Hot work on all sides!

So confident are the Mexicans, that some of the richest citizens of 
Chihuahua have come out as spectators; but now, judging wisely, off they 
fly at all speed to the city, giving notice of the probable result, but 
are so little believed that, like the prophets before them, they are 
actually stoned in the streets.

A shell explodes directly in the ranks of the enemy--they draw back behind 
their entrenchments--and we immediately advance until within four hundred 
yards--again the deadly shower opens from our ranks, fiercely returned The 
order to charge rings through our lines. Colonel Mitchell on his favorite 
white charger, Roderick, waves his sabre as he leads us on; rumbling and 
crashing behind us comes Weightman

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with his howitzers, leaving the rest of the battery in position to cover 
our advance. Dashing past us goes Major Owens, waving his hand in an 
exulting manner, and shouting out, "Give it to them, boys! they can't 
withstand us" -and away he goes: falling, in two minutes a corpse, struck 
in the forehead by a grape-shot while storming the redoubts, and being so 
close to the gun that the fire actually burns his clothes. Rapidly is our 
charge made; but just fairly under way, it is about to be ruined! A 
countermanding order, as if from Doniphan, is given by a drunken officer 
whose rank (alone) requires respect. In surprise we suddenly halt within a 
few yards of the redoubts, and are fully exposed to the whole of the 
enemy's fire. "For God's sake, advance!" roars out our sutler Pomeroy, who 
was fighting in the ranks--our hesitation vanishes, and away we instantly 
dash forward, gallantly led by Mitchell and Gilpin, while Weightman fires 
his howitzers loaded with canister, with great effect, and again 
advancing, wheels them to the right and left, throwing in another charge 
of grape and canister and raking the whole line of the enemy's position. 
To our left is a battalion of brave cavalry, from Durango, who have 
arrived on the field only half an hour before--'tis their last fight--they 
are terribly cut to pieces, and are forced to retreat. A piece of their 
artillery, being dismounted, they attempt to "snake," by fastening their 
lassos to it, and drag it along the ground, but they are overtaken and 
made prisoners, and the gun is ours. Our men, pouring over the embankment, 
actually push the Mexicans out. Now comes the rout; the Mexicans give way; 
and sauve qui peut is their

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only object. We are in possession of their main position. The rest of our 
battery comes galloping up to occupy it. A body of their lancers reforms 
and prepares to renew the attack--but they are soon sent after their 
flying companions. We are about congratulating ourselves on a victory: 
when bang goes a cannon, and a ball bounds amongst us, knocking the saddle-
blanket off the mule of one of our company, from which he has this instant 
dismounted. A cloud of white smoke curls gracefully upwards from a 
hitherto masked battery to the right upon yon high mountain, as shot after 
shot falls amongst us. Two of our six pounders are at once placed in one 
of the deserted entrenchments and commence a well directed fire, which 
soon dismounts one of the enemy's pieces. Up charges Mitchell at the head 
of his company, and takes the position; yet down, with headlong speed, 
dashes an officer waving a Mexican flag--one of our gunners points his 
cannon at him--a moment and he would have been no more, but his horse is 
recognized, 'tis Colonel Mitchell's Roderick, while the Colonel himself is 
the standard bearer.

Numerous skirmishes occur as pursuit takes the place of resistance. 
Weightman dashes on with the cavalry towards the city. Looking over his 
shoulder, he sees his howitzers halted on the hill side instead of 
following him, and galloping back, he shouts "On with that battery; if I 
knew who had halted you, I'd cut him down." The officer who had done so 
said not a word.

But the battle is won. And gradually we assemble on the

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battle-field. The enemy are fast disappearing in the distance, baffling 
pursuit.

And what has, all this time, been the conduct of the priest Ortis and the 
three other Spaniards we brought down to see the fight? At the 
commencement of the struggle, they stand up in their light carriage, to 
which two mules are attached, and which still remains in the centre of our 
wagon columns. Seeing the dense mass of their countrymen, they cannot 
contain their joy--the first few shots are exchanged.--Ortis and his three 
companions are still standing in the vehicle with outstretched necks and 
eager eyes.--But see the Mexican columns waver, and rank after rank bites 
the dust,--at last, they fly--the countenances of the priest and his 
companions fall, their bright visions vanish, and, jumping out, they run 
behind that very large wagon-wheel. Good men, they are praying and telling 
their beads with unusual rapidity, with trembling voices and shaking 
hands. A sad task was the priest's that night, and many a poor Mexican 
soldier died murmuring his confession into his ear.

Recognitions and congratulations take place. "Why, I heard you were 
killed!" is said by one to another, until after everybody had shaken hands 
with almost everybody, and then the question arose, who was killed? For, 
with the exception of Major Owens, we had not lost a man! but the dead and 
the dying of the enemy were all around us. It is true, that we had several 
severely wounded, and many slightly; and as the shot fired at us was of 
copper, we were afraid we should lose many of our wounded; but three only, 
as I understand, have since died.

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On examining the ground we had won, it seemed almost impossible to believe 
that, in only three hours, we had beaten such a large force, holding so 
excellent a position, the hill which they had chosen giving them the 
advantage of ground on all sides, and commanding all three roads into 
Chihuahua. There were five large circular redoubts, connected by long 
entrenchments for infantry between; the whole number of redoubts and 
entrenchments was twenty-eight, and these were defended by ten pieces of 
four, six, and nine pound-artillery, with six musquetoons or escopetas, 
carrying one pound lead balls. Several loads of ammunition were left 
behind; and among the spoil were nine wagon loads or about thirteen 
thousand pounds of hard bread, four loads of dried meat, weighing over 
sixteen thousand pounds, and any quantity of sweetened flour for making 
atole, besides over seven hundred thousand cigaritos, several thousand 
head of cattle, and ten acres of sheep.

I have said that the dead and dying Mexicans were around us; but having 
found, in their medical wagon, a quantity of excellent litters, we had all 
the wounded brought in. Their surgeon, who was a prisoner, was requested 
to attend to them, but he obstinately refused; and numbers bled to death 
that night from inattention. Our men showed their natural goodness of 
heart by the kind attention they paid to them; and the next morning, our 
own surgeon dressed their wounds. I was much struck with one of the 
prisoners, who was secretary and aid-de-camp to the Governor, Angel Trias; 
he was a Spaniard, and a very handsome man, both in face and figure. He 
had received a rifle ball in the small of the back, which

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had passed through just inside the spine, thus making an exceedingly 
painful, although not dangerous wound. He had evidently had enough of 
fighting Americans: and afterwards, while recovering at Chihuahua, was 
much pleased when any of us would visit him. The enemy lost, in killed and 
wounded, about eleven hundred men, besides a considerable amount of 
property. Several of our soldiers found large sums of money at the camp, 
in the trunks of the officers, which they broke open. There must have been 
over fifty thousand dollars, altogether; and as every man kept his own 
counsel, it was not recovered.

I found a white flag on the battle field; and one of our men picked up the 
black flag that had been brought out to us at Bracito. It was brought home 
by Major Clark, who still retains it. Several national and regimental 
colors were also taken.

In one of the wagons, left behind by the Mexicans, were several bundles of 
rope, cut into short convenient pieces. These had been provided to tie us 
when we should have been conquered. There were also great quantities of 
small bags, which a Mexican officer told us were to have been filled with 
cotton, and hung around the necks of their soldiers, as a sort of 
protective armor;--they must have heard of General Jackson and the cotton 
bags at New Orleans.

In a hollow near the Mexican camp, we found a large wagon, with the mules 
ready harnessed; but one of the animals was killed by a cannon ball. Under 
the wagon a fire was kindled, and some of our men, lifting the cover, saw 
several wounded Mexicans lying in it, whom they helped out, after

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kicking away the fire, which had almost burned through the bottom. Among 
those in the wagon, to our astonishment, we found an old acquaintance; 
being no other than the sergeant whom I mentioned as being cured of three 
bullet holes through his intestines at Bracito. This time he had not come 
off so well, as both of his legs were shot off. He died in the hospital at 
Chihuahua. Under these poor fellows, we found about three hundred pounds 
of fine Kentucky rifle powder, which the enemy, being unable to carry off, 
on account of the wounded mules, had thus attempted to destroy,--fifteen 
minutes more, and the poor wounded Mexicans would have been blown to atoms.

I should have mentioned, that about a month before, a notice had been 
forwarded by Colonel Doniphan to the Governor of Chihuahua, that if he did 
not come out and fight us in open field, he would burn the city. They had, 
accordingly, come out here with French engineers, and erected their 
defences: and no place could have been better adapted for it. If two 
thousand Americans were to occupy this position, no five thousand men 
could drive them from it; but we had not more than nine hundred in the 
action, yet drove more than four thousand out. I saw their Adjutant 
General's book, which showed their force to be four thousand two hundred 
men, commanded by "Generals Heredia; Garcia Conde; Angel Trias, Governor 
of Chihuahua; and Cuilty."

A detachment was at once sent on to the city, to secure it, and to send 
the alcalde to bury the dead, which he did, by having them thrown into the 
trenches, and tumbling the embankments upon them. Little did those now 
under them

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think, when throwing up the redoubts, that they were digging their own 
graves.

I have understood that, as we started on the charge, Colonel Doniphan 
covered his face with his hands, and almost groaned out, "My God! they're 
gone! the boys will all be killed!" Then instantly raising his head, he 
struck his spurs into his horse's sides, and came dashing after us.

We encamped upon the battle field this night. The next day, we marched but 
a few miles; and the day after brushed ourselves up for a triumphal march 
into Chihuahua. My company carried in the captured banners and lances, and 
I had the honor of bearing one of the Mexican national flags, now, 
however, closely gathered round its staff, and not flaunting the air as it 
had done the day it was borne out of the city. In our line, were all the 
captured artillery and other trophies.

The road, by which we approached the city, was thickly strewed with 
fragments of arms and other military things, showing the haste with which 
the Mexicans had fled.(*)

(* See the official account of the battle in the Appendix, No. 2.)



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CHAPTER VI.
Chihuahua. The bull ring. The Plaza. The Congress Hall. Cathedral. Funeral 
rites over Major Owens. Mexican naked pet dogs. Chapel of San Francisco. 
Monument to Hidalgo. Splashes of blood on the pavement. Negro story. 
Bread, cakes and butter. Architectural freak in building an aqueduct. 
Dexterity in spinning. Danger among gun powder. The mint. Mr. Potts and 
his threats. A council called. "Sarah and the children." Start for Parras. 
Orders to join General Taylor. Difference between rich and poor. Lizards. 
Rancho and dead bodies. Santa Cruz. The liquor called Mezcal. Guajaquilla. 
San Berrado. A disappearing spring. Fort Pelayo surprised. Mapini, and the 
inhabitants' alarm, and Mexican force near. Lights on the mountains. 
Traders alarmed. Rancho of El Poso and fight with the Lipans. Medicine-
man's skull. Parras, and a thief. Brutal attack on a soldier, and Mexican 
wounded.

The side from which we entered the city presented the worst view of it; 
and it was not until we had traversed a long distance of suburbs with 
immense piles of scoria alternating with mean houses that we came to any 
good looking dwellings. But a course which took us past the unfinished 
Jesuit's College, the plaza and fine cathedral, and through nicely paved 
streets to the Alameda or public walk, soon showed us that we had got into 
a city far superior to any place we had before entered. Most of the houses 
had white stone fronts;

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while the paved streets and good side walks made it somewhat home like, 
for we had seen no pavement before since leaving Missouri. We were 
quartered at the Plaza de Toros or Bull Ring. This is a fine amphitheatre, 
and being government property, it is built in the best manner, with 
several rows of white stone seats all round, and a covered gallery above 
and at the back of them. The ring itself is more than one hundred yards in 
diameter, and the whole building, which is square externally, is very high 
and handsomely decorated. In front of this, and extending the whole length 
of the city, is the public Alameda handsomely planted with rows of 
cottonwood trees and streams of water running through it; and here and 
there white stone seats. In the middle of the city is the plaza or square, 
and in the centre of this is a public fountain, to which the water is 
brought from falls about six miles below. The plaza is surrounded by 
numerous handsome resting places, or rather large stone sofas. Fronting it 
towards the north is a large building containing the public granary and 
Congress Hall -- the former of which is very extensive and well fitted up, 
and in it we found a large quantity of maize and beans. The Congress Hall 
consists of a beautiful room, with a railed enclosure at one end, in which 
sat their legislature, and at the top of the table, under a canopy, used 
to preside the Governor. Behind his seat is a large painting representing 
Iturbide, Hidalgo and Morelos, the latter in the act of being crowned by 
Liberty, while, under their feet lies a Spanish soldier, with sundry 
broken fetters and whips. Around the upper part of the room, is a

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gallery with a gilt railing. I sat down in the chair which Governor Trias 
occupied, when the legislative body decided what should be our fate when 
taken: which was, after being stripped of money -- and arms, to be sent on 
foot to the city of Mexico. Attached to the hall are numerous rooms, with 
such designations at the doors as showed them to have been occupied by 
judges and officers of state. In front of the building runs a wide 
colonnade, between the pillars of which we placed our battery. Attached to 
the water spouts in front, I remarked several Apache scalps, relies of 
some unusually successful skirmish. On the western side of the plaza 
stands the treasury building, very massive, with numerous handsome rooms, 
which we used as quarters for some of our companies.

On the south side, is a building of which the inhabitants are justly 
proud, the cathedral. Its exterior is covered with fine carving and 
statues. The front has three tiers of pillars, one above another, with 
figures of Christ and the twelve Apostles in different niches the size of 
life. Its two steeples, which are square and composed of pillars 
fancifully carved, were, a short time before, hung with bells; but the 
inhabitants had cleared one of the steeples, in order to use the metal in 
making cannon. The edifice stands upon a raised terrace well walled 
around. The next day after we had entered, I had an opportunity of seeing 
the inside of the building; and although most of the valuable articles had 
been removed, yet the interior fully realized my expectations. It is 
lighted only from the dome, which is very large and gaily painted. Around 
the walls are six large shrines reaching to the ceiling,

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and resembling highly decorated chapel fronts, richly gilded, and having 
wax images and artificial flowers enclosed within glass or gratings The 
altar is not handsome; nor did I at any time see upon it much plate and 
gold or silver emblems This cathedral cost two millions of dollars, and 
was some thirty years in building. The occasion on which I first visited 
it was, however, a very melancholy one. In the centre of the church lay 
the body of Major Owens. He had been a Catholic, the priests had willingly 
offered to inter him. It was sad to know that under that velvet pall, lay 
the man who had so exultingly dashed before us in the charge a few days 
before!

Perhaps nothing could have been better calculated to allay the terror and 
dislike of the citizens, than to see their priests thus performing funeral 
service over one of our officers. At the head of the coffin stood a high 
pyramidal stand, covered with velvet, and upon it was candles in silver 
sconces set all over it; the priests were in their canonicals of velvet 
and gold, chanting the ms ???? ; while round them knelt numerous Mexicans, 
and outside them were our men standing closely together. At the end of the 
usual church service, the priests all marched in procession round the 
church, preceded by a man wearing a green mantle, with a red heart 
embroidered upon the left breast, who, being the sexton, would 
occasionally raise a smile on our heretic faces, by stopping the 
procession to drive out some intruding dog

I do not think I have previously spoken of the immense number of dogs in 
Mexico. it seems to me beyond calculation; and being almost a cross of the 
prairie wolf have an ex-

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ceedingly mean appearance. I did not see a gentlemanly dog in all Mexico. 
The pet dogs are called "Comanche;" but why I know not. They are without 
any hair, and of a dark slate color; and to me, the nastiest animals I 
know of to look at or to feel, and as to the dogs in general should advise 
a traveller never to stir out without a revolving pistol. The dogs have as 
strong a dislike to it as their masters, and the possession alone will be 
a sufficient safeguard from either cur or owner. 

A short distance down one of the streets leading from the plaza, stands 
the unfinished college chapel of San Francisco, begun by the Jesuits some 
years before their expulsion, and not finished on account of that event 
(which occurred in 1767). The chapel remains as they left it, looking like 
some enormous skeleton rising from a heap of ruins. This appearance arises 
from several slender arches of large span, which were to have supported 
the roof but now stand alone, although the stone composing them is not 
more than two feet square. The front and one of the side entrances are 
finished, and have good evidence that, had the Jesuits been allowed to 
complete the building, it would have been very grand and pure in design. 
Numerous statues adorn the outside; but within, there have lately been 
erected two large furnaces, in which we melted the bells and other metal 
for the cannon we had taken from them, and which were cast in a pit in the 
floor of the building. The smoke from these furnaces has blackened all the 
inside of such part as was finished, and given it a very singular 
appearance. Adjoining the chapel is the Jesuits' Hospital, a large and 
very complex building, and

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to which we removed our sick and wounded. In this building had once been 
imprisoned the patriot Hidalgo, who was shot in the square in the rear. 
And here, too, Kendall and his party had been confined. On the spot where 
Hidalgo fell, is erected a high monument, which would be handsome were it 
not that the obelisk part is painted in flames; rather a sinister 
compliment to the spirit of the Catholic patriot. On the four sides are 
long inscriptions, two to Hidalgo, one to Iturbide, and one to the 
glorious sixteenth day of September, 1810, the day of Mexican Independence.

In my rambles about the streets, I observed, in most of them, splashes of 
blood, evidently caused by some wounded soldier hastily dismounting. One 
can imagine this bloody messenger from the field, hurriedly telling of 
defeat.

Let me here correct a statement made in the public papers. It is said that 
our artillery, at the battle of Sacramento, was drawn by oxen. Not so, our 
American horses, and fine horses they were, were employed, while mules 
drew our caissons.

I have the following second-hand, and yet there is no reason to doubt it. 
During our march from El Paso to Chihuahua, the black servants of the 
different officers of the regiment formed themselves into a company. There 
were twelve of them, of which number eleven were officers, and one high 
private. Jo -- servant to Lieut. D -- was elected Captain. He was the 
blackest of the crowd, and sported a large black feather with a small 
black hat -- also, a large sabre, with an intensely bright brass hilt -- 
which same sabre was eternally getting involved with the intricate 
windings of

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his bow legs. With Jo for captain they were a formidable body, and to hear 
them talk, they would work wonders! During the battle of Sacramento, 
however, the company was not to be seen; but after the action was over, 
they were espied breaking out from the wagons, and joining in the pursuit. 
That evening, one of our officers attacked Jo about his company.

"Well, Jo, I hear your men were hid behind the wagons during the fight?"

"Lieutenant, I'se berry sorry to say it am de truf! I done eberyting -- I 
call'd on de paterism ob de men -- I injoked dem by all dey hold most deah 
in dis world and de nex, but it was no go -- dey would get on de wrong 
sides ob de wagons."

"But what did you do there?"

"I stood dar gittin' cooler, and de firing kept gittin' hotter, and at 
last de cannon balls cum so ormighty fass, I thought de best ting dis 
nigga could do, war to get behind de wagons heself!"

I found, in the Secretary of State's office, where we were quartered, 
among other papers, a government extra, showing most accurately our force 
and strength, but interlarded with peculiarly Mexican untruths; a 
translation is in the Appendix No. 3.

Ortis and his companions were released immediately we arrived at 
Chihuahua; and they stated, when they got back to El Paso, that we had not 
fought like men, but like wolves and tigers. While we stayed in Chihuahua, 
a bull fight was got up for

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our amusement. But the bulls named Ampudia, Ponce de Leon, and so on, had 
been too much starved to show fight, and it was difficult to get them to 
attack the matadores. Many cock-fights took place, at which much money 
changed hands.

Blessings on the Chihuahuans, for their light bread and sweet cakes. It 
was a great treat to the volunteer, after walking to the market early in 
the morning, and purchasing this bread and a lump of butter, to enjoy both 
with a cup of coffee. They have a singular mode of putting up their 
butter; it is in lumps the size and shape of a hen's egg wrapped round 
with the shuck of the Indian corn, and each two lumps fastened together. 
As the inhabitants never use salt, from its high price, the butter does 
not keep long. I here purchased some salt for our troops, and had to pay 
no less than fifteen dollars for each fanega, equal to seven dollars a 
bushel; and this was of the coarsest kind and was more than half lime. And 
yet I only paid the customary price. It is brought all the way from El 
Poso, although there is, in fact, plenty around Chihuahua, but the Apaches 
will not let the inhabitants collect it -- indeed, these savages have 
stopped the working of all the mines, by driving the miners away.

Crossing a valley about three miles from the city, are numerous very tall 
arches supporting the aqueduct, which conducts the water to the fountain 
in the plaza. By some freak of the architect, two of the arches are 
imperfect, being made to incline in opposite directions, and giving it a 
very singular appearance.

Just below the dam which throws the water into this

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aqueduct is a beautiful natural fall in the stream. It is not high, but at 
the point of a cleft, the water tumbles down between the rocks with great 
noise.

I may here remark, upon the spinning of the coarse wool of the Mexican 
sheep by the women of the lowest orders. They may be seen constantly 
seated on the floor twirling, with great dexterity, a spindle, set in a 
shallow saucer upon the ground, and twisting the yarn between the left 
finger and thumb; and it is surprising with what dexterity they will thus 
spin a coarse yarn, or, rather, what is called by our spinners, a sliver, 
which is used in the manufacture of their blankets.

The ridiculous fool-hardiness of our men was illustrated one day, by the 
following incident. I was superintending the unloading of an ammunition 
wagon by some of our own men, and was receiving the powder, &e. , in a 
small room, in which lay more than two hundred cannon cartridges, besides 
other ammunition, when one of the men very coolly walked in with a keg of 
powder on his shoulder and a lighted pipe in his mouth! and asked me to 
lift it down for him; on remonstrating with him, he expressed the greatest 
surprise at my remarks; this is only one ease out of a dozen. They seemed 
to be entirely devoid of fear, but I am not ashamed to say that I felt 
very uncomfortable when the man walked into the room.

The mint here is very extensive, and under contract by an Englishman, 
named Potts, who made himself conspicuous by threatening us with the 
displeasure of his government. Colonel Mitchell was desirous of examining 
the residence

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of Governor Trias, who had fled; and understanding that Mr. Potts had the 
key, he sent for and told him that it was necessary he should take up his 
residence in the mansion for a few days, in order to examine any papers 
there at his leisure. But Potts became angry, and told the Colonel that 
the key had been entrusted to him, and he should not give it up. On being 
assured that the door would be broken open, he said that being a British 
subject he considered the house under the protection of the British flag, 
and that any violence to it would be resented by his government. Colonel 
Mitchell, who was standing in front of the house, turned to me and told me 
to collect what men I could find in the streets, and send up for a 
howitzer with which to blow open the door. I did so immediately; and in a 
few minutes two howitzers arrived, and were pointed at the huge portal. At 
this moment, out came running Mrs. Potts from her own house, exclaiming, 
"Don't fire! don't fire! perhaps my brother is behind that door!" Colonel 
Mitchell told her that nothing should prevent him blowing the doors down, 
if Mr. Potts did not produce the key, and he now meanly said he had lost 
it. Some of our men clambered over a side wall and broke open the doors 
from the inside. On that day, "Pedrigo Potts was not a happy man!"

Soon after we entered Chihuahua, our company were set to work making 
cartridges for our captured cannon; and it certainly would have frightened 
any nervous man to have seen the quantity of gunpowder strewed through our 
building day after day. I believe there was more than five hundred pounds 
of loose powder standing open in boxes or

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scattered about, and subject, at any moment, to a chance spark of fire -- 
several of our men occasionally passing over it with lighted cigars.

While we were in this city, a Council of War was called. We had expected 
to have here met and joined General Wool; however, we had done our work 
without him; but what course were we now to take? for there was danger at 
all points! A few of the officers proposed staying in Chihuahua, others 
were for trying to join General Taylor, and some suggested a retrograde 
march to Santa Fe; most, however, were in favor of pressing home by way of 
Monterey. No ultimate decision was at that time had; but a short time 
afterwards, another council was held, and, at this time, most of the 
officers were for remaining in quarters. Doniphan heard them for some 
time, but with impatience, and at last, bringing his heavy fist down on 
the table, he gave the board to understand that they might possibly have 
found fair reasons for staying, "but gentlemen," added the Colonel, "I'm 
for going home to Sarah and the children." The reader may be assured that 
we caught up these words, and often afterwards spoke of "going home to 
Sarah and the children."

On the fifth of April, the artillery, with one battalion of Colonel 
Doniphan's regiment, started for Parral, a large town where the state 
government had established itself, after its expulsion from the city of 
Chihuahua; but, on the third day out, some Americans came up, bringing 
news that the frightened governor had broken up his government and fled to 
the city of Mexico -- so there was a return to old quarters.

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The next day, an express of twelve men was sent down to General Taylor for 
orders, which were to decide whether we would at once go home by the way 
of Texas, or join him. The express returned on the twenty-fourth of April, 
bringing orders for us to join General Taylor at once, via Parras and 
Saltillo.

On Sunday, the twenty-fifth, we bid farewell to the city of Chihuahua, 
where we had been quartered more than a month. The thick-headed Mexicans, 
who had all been living on us, made night hideous by their rejoicing cries 
and bell ringing. Their principal shout was, "The gringoes are gone, 
hurrah!" This word "gringo," is a corruption of "greenhorn," and is 
supposed by the Mexicans to be the most opprobrious American term they can 
use, equal to the word chivo with them, which means a he-goat. You may 
call a Mexican by any term of reproach but this use chivo, even to a 
common beggar, and you will put him into a most tremendous passion.

It is utterly impossible for any one who has not seen it, to imagine the 
difference which exists between the rich and the poor in this wretched 
country. The rich, who rule everything -- even the minds of the poor -- 
are generally most debased in all moral sense, and become, from their 
brutality, cruel masters. And having, too, the power to punish to any 
extent save death, they are served with the most abject deference by their 
peons or servants. These, mostly bound to them by some debt which the 
master takes care the poor fellow shall not be enabled to pay, appear to 
have neither mind nor hope above their present condition, and will 
continue to

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work on, from day to day, and from year to year, without receiving more 
than enough to keep body and soul together. There is nothing they will not 
do for a little money, even to the sale of wives and daughters. The 
religious feeling which pervades all classes, young and old, is 
remarkable. Never do you see any of them pass a church without uncovering 
their heads and turning their faces thitherward, while, at the sound of 
the bell for vespers, every hat is removed and all stand uncovered where 
they are, until the sound is over, when each one resumes whatever he may 
have been doing when interrupted.

The whole country to the south of Chihuahua swarmed with small black and 
yellow lizards, which started from under our horses' feet in all 
directions; they moved with remarkable rapidity, and it was difficult to 
catch them. Their number was so great at times, as to give a seeming 
living motion to the ground.

Our first encampment was at a most beautiful rancho. All the buildings 
were of white stone. It was part of the estate of a Frenchman, lately 
deceased, who had been, for many years, a resident of Chihuahua. The next 
day we passed a deserted rancho. It had been attacked by the Apache 
Indians a very short time before, and the dead undestroyed bodies lying 
around, showed the cruelty of the assailants. Let me here observe, that I 
have mentioned before how the wolves were said to have scratched up the 
dead bodies, after the battle and their burial at Bracito. I did not mean 
to have it also inferred, that the wolves had devoured the dead Mexicans, 
for it is a curious fact that the wolf will not eat the

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Mexican -- the red pepper, which makes a mummy of the latter, is also said 
to make the flesh too high-seasoned for the former. Only think of an 
epicurean wolf!

We were obliged, from the entire want of grass south of Chihuahua, to 
purchase the standing wheat as fodder for our horses; and where we 
encamped away from any village, our poor animals had to live on the maize 
alone, which sadly heated them with fever.

A few days afterwards, we encamped at Santa Cruz, a fine town, and near 
which is a large hacienda or country seat, where I found a good cotton 
mill, fitted up with American machinery. I never saw a finer water-wheel 
than that attached to this mill. Here I also observed the first cotton 
growing.

On the thirtieth, we reached San Rosalia, where we saw another specimen of 
Mexican folly, in an immense unfinished fort, which was commenced to repel 
General Wool, who was expected to come by this route to Chihuahua. What 
could ever make them believe that Wool would take the trouble to attack a 
fort posted where this was, when he could march all round it out of gun 
shot, I cannot imagine! At this place, large quantities of a coarse 
liquor, called mescal, are manufactured from the Maguey plant or Agave 
Americana, which is largely cultivated at all the southern villages, 
although it grows in a wild state in all parts below Chihuahua. In order 
to obtain the liquor from this Aloe, the leaves are cut off level with the 
ground, and then the root is dug up. The latter is about the size and 
shape of a quart bowl and is,

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of a dry woody texture; but, on being piled in large heaps, and roasted, 
it becomes very juicy and tender, and of a sweet taste. The roots are then 
pressed, and the liquor allowed to ferment; after fermentation, it 
resembles beer in appearance, and somewhat in taste, but a little smoky, 
and is called pulque. It is drunk very extensively by the lower classes. 
From the pulque there is distilled a clear colorless liquor, of a most 
acrid and burning taste, which is the mescal. It is only fit for a Mexican 
to drink -- he can do it without winking; but I shall never forget a glass 
of it which I swallowed at San Rosalia, and which was considered of an 
extra good quality. It appeared to draw my tongue half way down my throat, 
and took my breath away for an instant. It was the first and last glass of 
mescal I ever drank.

Our next camp was at Guajaquilla, where we had to prepare for another of 
those dry jornadas -- sixty miles across. We encamped upon it but once, 
travelling all the second night, and late on the second day reached San 
Berrado, where we got only brackish water, strongly impregnated with 
sulphur. On a hill rises a large fine spring, cool and pretty good, but 
the water, disappearing before it gets down the hill, re-appears in the 
valley in numerous deep holes, very much the worse in quality for its 
subterranean journey. The next night we encamped below the walls of Fort 
Pelayo, which crowns the top of a very high conical hill, almost 
impregnable from its position. And here were posted some Mexican soldiers. 
However, they were only to keep the Indians off. Colonel Mitchell, who had 
preceded us by one day's march, with a small escort, had surrounded the

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place the day before and disarmed the soldiers, surprising their commander 
in bed, but had returned the men their guns on their word not to use them 
against Americans. This sort of treatment astonished them exceedingly, but 
it no doubt had a very good effect on the surrounding inhabitants.

Our men this night gave loose to their foraging propensities, by 
slaughtering almost all the pigs, fowls and young calves in the village 
below the fort. I never saw our soldiers act so before -- they had 
invariably treated the people with great forbearance -- always paying for 
what they took. But, to-night, the spirit of destruction seemed to seize 
on all, while no effort was made to repress the outbreak. From remarks 
made, all the fowls were supposed to have been cleared off, but a 
companion told me, he positively, in the morning, heard the crowing of one 
solitary cock!

At Fort Pelayo is a very large warm spring of pure water, which runs along 
the ground for about a quarter of a mile, and then tumbles, suddenly, into 
a hole. Where it goes to, I do not know; but it was the subject of remark 
that so much warm water and sulphur as we had seen and smelt for the last 
two days seemed to betoken a contiguity to a certain place of punishment, 
while, as long as this spring continued to run, there would be no want of 
water down below. The next night we encamped at Rancho Cadena, the owner 
of which, having heard of our foray on the pigs and chickens of the 
previous evening, rode out to meet us, and offered us whatever we might 
require of wood and corn, if we would respect his property. This was 
readily agreed to.

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At his house we found a two-pounder cannon, very handsomely mounted in 
heavy field-piece style, and evidently new. The owner assured us, however, 
that it was only got to resist Apache Indians and not American citizens; 
and he was allowed to keep his cannon. Encamped here, we found an old 
Mexican with a hundred pack-mules laden with common corn sugar, which he 
was taking to the upper countries to sell, having accumulated the money 
which he had earned while carrying goods from Matamoros to General 
Taylor's camp. He spoke in the highest terms of old Rough and Ready, but I 
believe that good prices here gave the veteran a good character.

After this, we came to the small village of Mapini, then almost deserted. 
As this was in the state of Durango, the government had adopted a real 
Mexican mode of keeping up appearances. In order to get to Parras, where 
we were to await further orders, it was necessary to cross this upper 
easterly corner of Durango; but which, as we had no idea of conquering the 
whole state, was thought rather impudent, and, therefore, four thousand 
valiant dragoons were sent to Mapini to follow us through the state, and 
then to come back and boast how they had chased the Yankees through the 
glorious and invincible state of Durango; of course, ending their report 
in the usual Mexican style, "Dios-y-Libertad!" All this they carried out 
to the letter. They encamped in the mountains about six miles from the 
town, until we had left it.

The poor inhabitants, who had fled from their homes by order of the 
government, had ascended the sides of the moun-

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tains; and their fires were to be seen like stars on the dark hill sides. 
However, we had just received the news of the taking of Vera Cruz, and, 
about nine o'clock, we fired a salute in honor of General Scott's victory. 
It was laughable to see the lights on the mountains go out, one after 
another, their watchers evidently thinking we were about sending them iron 
messengers. I could imagine the terror of the poor people while waiting, 
breathlessly, for the expected ball to strike some of them, and the relief 
they must have felt when the salute was over. By the time the last gun was 
fired, there was not a spark to be seen in the mountains. Silence and 
darkness were with the unhappy dwellers there.

The next night we had just encamped, after a ride of forty miles, when a 
Spaniard dashed into camp, and, in a breath, stated that the four thousand 
Mexican troops were going to cut off the traders, who had lagged behind us 
this day. As to the traders and their goods, I know not but that they 
would have been left to their fate, had it not been known that two of 
them, Magoffin and another, had their wives with them, and that these were 
American ladies. Half an hour had not elapsed before two hundred and fifty 
men were galloping back to their relief; that number being modestly 
considered as sufficient to beat off the four thousand. But for some 
reason, the traders were not attacked, and got safely into camp about 
twelve o'clock at night.

Our next encampment was at San Lorenzo, on the banks of the Nazas river. 
Here I purchased as pretty a white pony as ever I saw for fifteen dollars. 
Two days afterwards, on reaching a large rancho called El Poso, we found,

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lying just outside of the walls, some dozen naked bodies of Indians, badly 
cut up by rifle balls. The mystery was soon explained: -- a band of about 
sixty Lipans, (a branch of the Camanches,) had been observed coming up the 
valley from San Luis Potosi, with many stolen horses and captive Mexicans. 
A guard, that had preceded us, with Colonel Mitchell, was then in Parras, 
twenty-five miles off; and the owner of El Poso, knowing that the savages 
would attack his rancho, went to the men composing Mitchell's guard, and 
offered each one the use of a good pony to go up and repel them. About a 
dozen agreed to do so, and having ridden nearly all night, arrived just 
before day-light at the estate. Soon afterwards, a small party from our 
troops, principally officers, who had left the main body early that 
morning, to push on to Parras by the evening, came up, thus increasing the 
force to twenty, who, as soon as it was daylight, perceived the Indians 
advancing up the valley. As they came in front of the buildings, the 
Americans sallied out, and took up a position in front of them; and, after 
receiving a heavy flight of arrows, fired a volley at the Indians, which, 
apparently, did no harm, as they kept waving their bodies about in their 
saddles, thus disturbing the aim. A sturdy fight began and lasted about an 
hour -- sometimes one party retreating, and then the other. But the 
savages soon found out that they had not Mexican carbines to deal with, 
but Yankee rifles; and they fled the field, leaving all their animals and 
about a dozen prisoners, together with over twenty of their warriors 
slain. These showed great muscular power and handsome forms -- but the 
savage was apparent in every

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part. Our men received many arrows in their clothes, but were all 
uninjured, except the Captain, who had two slight arrow wounds on the 
chin. A Mexican distinguished himself here by his skillful use of the 
lasso, having, with it, dragged down and killed two of the Indians. This 
is a terrible weapon in an experienced hand; and I have since heard that, 
among the forces sent out to meet us at Santa Fe, there were about one 
thousand lassoers. I would much rather encounter a Mexican armed with a 
carbine, than one holding a lasso. We had a man very badly injured, a 
short time after the period I am referring to, while away from camp. He 
was caught by a mounted Mexican in this way, and dragged some distance, 
tearing his face very much; but, luckily, the lasso did not go down low 
enough to entirely secure his arms, and he succeeded in freeing himself.

It was singular to see our men, who had come to make war on the Mexicans, 
turning round, and, at the hazard of their lives, protecting the property 
of the owner of El Poso. The latter generously presented each of his 
defenders with the horse he had ridden from Parras. Among the Indians 
slain, was their medicine-man, whose head our physician slyly bore away 
for the sake of his skull. I heard that the mess to which the physician 
belonged, snuffed something occasionally that was not lavender, and it 
afterwards became a savage question among them, whether our man of 
medicine had sufficiently cured the cranium of the medicine-man to save it 
from Hamlet's remark on the skull of Yorick.

On entering the pretty town of Parras, we encamped in the Alameda. Here, 
General Wool had encamped for

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some time. The Alcalde told us that we must be very careful, or the 
Mexicans would steal everything from us -- that General Wool, who was a 
Catholic, had very wrongly allowed them to thieve and abuse his men 
without giving the soldiers any redress. Our officers assured him that 
they would have rather different folks to deal with now. We were not five 
minutes in camp, before a thief got so beaten and kicked as to be hardly 
able to drag himself away.

The next day, a horrible occurrence took place. One of our cannon drivers, 
a young and remarkably inoffensive man, who had been on the sick list for 
a week previous, had started, with two or three companions, to take a look 
at the town; but, after proceeding some way, he had found himself too weak 
to go further, and had separated from his companions to return to camp, 
when a thorn having entered his foot, he drew off his boot and sat down in 
the street. He was looking into his boot, when a stone struck him on the 
forehead, and knocked him down senseless. He supposed that the Mexicans 
then beat him on the fate with stones, and left him for dead. On 
recovering his senses, he made his way down to camp; and I never saw a 
more horrible sight than his face presented; his forehead was broken 
through in two places, and the flesh all cut to pieces, and his lower jaw 
broken; besides, a fracture just below the eye. His wounds were dressed, 
and he seemed to be rapidly recovering at the time we left him at 
Saltillo; but I afterwards heard that he died of lockjaw. The sight of our 
friend's bloody figure at once excited some of the soldiers; and they 
sallied into the town, and closed most of the shops. Vengeance was sworn, 
and

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each felt that, after what had happened, it would not require much 
provocation to produce an outbreak. Nor did it. A short time afterwards, a 
Mexican sat down on the pole of one of our wagons. The driver, who was 
sitting near, and who, from having been a prisoner among them for some 
time, spoke Spanish, told him, mildly, to get off, as the hounds were 
broken, and he was injuring the wagon by sitting on that part. The fellow 
insolently responded: "I shall not -- this ground is as much mine as 
yours." Without another word, the teamster caught up his heavy iron-shod 
whip, and struck the Mexican on the left temple, fracturing the skull over 
four inches. He fell, but got up and staggered off. However, he died the 
same night. This occurrence happened before the house of the constable of 
the alcalde, who came running out with his staff of office in one hand, 
and a drawn sabre in the other, crying out, "Respect the law." But an 
American, standing by, knocked the constable down with his fist, and, 
seizing his sabre, bent it up and threw it into the sako. The constable 
moved off, and did not venture to interfere in that or any other matter 
during the day. In the night, a Mexican was found dead, with a horrible 
sabre wound in his breast, lying in the street.

This system of retaliation cannot be defended; but the offence on the 
Mexican side was very gross, after the uniform kind treatment they had met 
with from us; and it was more surprising, because this was the town where, 
when General Wool arrived, the inhabitants had quarreled as to who should 
receive and attend on the American sick -- everybody being desirous to 
receive them into their houses. And we

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had never met with such treatment north of this place, the Mexicans 
seeming properly to appreciate the forbearance exhibited by our soldiers. 
Whenever we encamped, in five minutes, women and children would roam 
through the tents to sell different articles, never meeting with insult or 
injury. Although we had flogged several Mexicans very severely at 
Chihuahua for stealing, yet the rest of the inhabitants were not 
dissatisfied; it being known that we were whipping common thieves, and 
that the example would, probably, prove beneficial.