Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-07-05


Amer and appeared 10 be slowly NOV
g about on the prairie.-When within
alf a mile it was evident enough they
'ere buffalo, the herd spread out over
ne immense space and in countless
umbers.
Although orders were given for the
nen not to leavet the rank, nothing could
estrain the youngsters along from tax
ne a hand in the coming chase. The
merchants and others not attached 10
he military could go where they
pleased as matter of course; and by
the preparations going on among the
volunteers it was evident that many of
Them were determined upon taken the
responsibility of joining the hunt LET
what would come of it.
We were soon among the buffalo,
and every two minutes some one
of the party would be seen leaving the
ranks at full gallop and dashing off af-
ter the prey. Never have | Witnessed
such scene Of excitemeni. Those Of
the command who did not join in the
hunt kept steadily along, and in half an
hours time after the buffalo were first
described nothing could be seen in any
direction but the huge and unwieldy
animals scampering off at heavy lum-
bering gallop. 10 the distance as far-as
the eye could reach they we're BE
seen quietly grazing and apparently
unconscious Of the danger so near but
within mile or two Of the command
all was commotion.
Unable to mount horse al the time
could not join the sport but | could
still see and enjoy the scene which was
being enacted on every side. Some Of
our men were to be seen apparently
hemmedin on every side by the lnfuria-
ted, animals then the smoke Of a pistol
was visible, quickly followed by the re-
port, and then a general scattering
would be noticed. Many oflhe horses
were unused to the sport and fought
shy"to use common expression;others
again had been regularly trained, and
would run up directly along side and
allowed their riders to bang and blaze
away without moving a muscle.
Among the merchants was a wild
frolicking, rolicking lrishman named
Fitzgerald, one of the best fellows that
ever the sun shone upon. Fitz, as he
was universally called is descended
70 one of the best families in Ireland,
nearly every member of which has
been distinguished as an officer in the
British service. His mother is daugh-
ter of the celebration Archibald Ha-
milton Rowan who acted so conspi-
cous a part in the Irish rebellion Of 9S
and one of his uncles, Sir John Fos-
ter Fitzgerald major general in the
English army has recently returned 10
England from Bombay where he was
Governor. AS several of Fitzgerald S
brothers had received appointments as
officers in the British service his fami.
lies thought it expedient to make {
civilian of him, and accordingly, at the
age of Is, procured him situation ii
one ofthe West India custom-houses
| About this time Gen. Evans Legior
was raised in England to 60 TO the as
sistance of Isabella Of Spain, and Fit
Joined it as volunteer. Step by steT
/ he was promoted, and finally, for lead
ing welI-conducted forlorn hope, h
received a captains commission ant
was. also knighted. The return of thi
expedition to England left him withou
employment, and he Immediately star
ted off for Persia TO Join that service
Returning to England he visited tn
Cape of Good, Hope, Van Dieman''
: Land and South, America, and fnall
found himself again at home. Hearin
there was. such place as Texas heem
= barked for that Republic, and his mex
business was selling dry goods !
! San Antonio de Bexar. This bus
t ness however, did not prevent .hir
t from joining the diferenr expedition
e against the Indians constantly bein
fitted out at that place, and in this wa
he become enamored Of a wild pralrl
p life, feeling which induced him
II join the Santa Fe expedition, Educ;
y ted in France he spoke the Frenc
e language, and his three years soIour
pt in Spain also gave him smattering
/. Spanish-enough, at all events to ca
I ry on an ordinary conversation.
b Always willing, ready and anon
the first to enter into any daring {
II breakneck scrape as matter of cour'
IF Fitz led off the chase after the buffal
e He was mounted on a game ar
/ untlring Mexican pony loaded dow
r. with saddle.bags, water gourd, bla
it kets, &c. &C.; but this did not Diet
is him from starting off at once. Avs
IT he went in neck-or-nothing style,
j, ding up to the first buffalo he met al
ID banging away right and left with h
10 pistols. In the chase he lost his b;
IN then his blankets, and finally his sa
in dle-bags and gourd-but these we
W mere trifes when such game was