The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-21


AS we had expected, the small numbers
that had shown themselves, encouraged the
Mexicans to advance. They seemed at frs
taken aback by the fall of four oftheir ofiic'
ers; but nevertheless after moments hesi-
tation, they came laundering along full speed
They were within sixty or seventy yards OF
us, when Tanning and thirty of our riflemen
assembled the bank, and with GOODNESS and
precision that would have done credit TO the
most veteran troops,poured steady fire into
the ranks ofthe Dragons
1t requires some nerve and courage for
men who have never gone through any regu-
lar military training, 10 stand their ground
singly andunprotected, within fifty yards OF
an advancing line of cavalry. Our fellows
did it, however, and fired, not all at once, OF
in hurry, but slowly and deliberately; q
running fire, every shot ofwhch told. Sad
die after saddle was emptied; the men, as
they had been ordered, always picking out
the foremost horsemen, and as soon as they
had fired, iumpingydown the bank to reload
When the whole of the thirty men had dis
charged their rifles, Wharton and myselfwith
the reserve of six and thirty more, took their
places; but the dragons had almost had G.
nough already, and we had scarcely fired ten
shots, when they executed a right about turn,
with an uniformity and rapidity which did in
finite credit to their drill, and went off at a
pace that soon carried them out of reach of
our bullets. They probably had not expect
ed so warm a reception. We saw their otiic-
ers doing every thing they could to check
their flight imploring, threatening, even cut
ting Mt them with their sabres, but 1t was no
use; ifthey were TO be killed it must be i'll
their own way, and they perferred being cut
down by their officers to encounter the dead
ly precision of rifles, in the hands of men,
who being sure to hit n squirrel at hundred
yards, were not likely TO miss Durango
dragoon at any point within range.
Our object i'll ordering the men TO fire slow
ly was, always to have thirty or forty rifles
loaded, wherewith TO receive the enemy
should he attempt charge en- mdSSe. But
our first greeting had been a scliener, aud It
appeared almost doubtful whether he would
venture TO attack us again, although the ottic-
ers did every thing in their power TO induce
their men to advance. For long time, Meth
er threats, entreaties, nor reproaches produc-
ed any effect. We saw the officers gesticu-
lating firiously, pointing to us with their sa-
hres, and ImpaticntIy squirting their horses,
till the fiery animals plunged and reared, "
sprang with all four feet from the ground
Ii is only lust to say, that the officers exhibit
ed degree Encourage far beyond anything
we had expected from theu. OF the two
squadrons that charged us, two-thirds of the
officers had fallen; hut those who remained,
instead of being intimidated by their COM
rades' fate, redoubed their efforts to bring
their men forward.
At last there appeared some probability of
their accomplishing this, after most curious
and truly Mexican fashion. Posting them
selves in front ofther squadrons, they rode
on alone for hundred yards or so, halted,
looked round, as much as to say-"You see
g, IL fyr no then
gailoping back, led their men on. Each
time that they executed this man9uvre, the
Dragons would advance slowly some thirty
! or forty PAGES, and then halt as simultaneous
| ly-Gs ifthe word of command had been given.
Of went the officers again, some distance to
the front, and then back again to their men,
and got them on n little further In this man
ner these heroes were inveigled once more
to within hundred and fifty yards of our po-
sition.
OF course, at each of the numerous halts
which they made during their advance, they
favored us with general, but most innocu-
Gus discharge of their carbines; and at last,
gaining confidence, suppose, from our pas
sivencss, and from the noise and smoke they
themselves had been making, three squadrOns
which had not yet been under fire, formed
open column and advanced at II trot. With
out giving them time to halt or retlect-"For-
ward! Charge!" shouted the officers, urging
their own horses to their utmost speed; and
following the impulse thus given, the three
squadrons came charging furiously along
Up sprang thirty of our men to receive
them. Their orders were to fire slowly, and
not throw away a shot, but the cleaning sa-
bres and rapid approach of the Dragons fur
ried some of them, and firing hasty volley,
thew Jumped down the bank again. This
precipitation had nearly been fatal to U.S.
Several of the dragons fell, and there was
some confusion and momentary taltering
amongst the others; but they still came on
At this critical moment, Wharton and myself,
with the reserve, showed ourselves on the
bank. "Slow and sure=-mark your men!"
shouted we both. Wharton ON the right and
on the left The command was obeye6 RI
file after rifle cracked off, always aimed at the
foremost ofthe dragons, and at every report
saddle was emptied Before we had all
fired, Tanning and dozen of his sharpest
men had again loaded, and were by our side.
For nearly minute the Mexicans remained,
as if stupefed by our murderous fire, and un-
certain whether to advance or retire; but as
those who attempted the former, were invari-
ably shot down, they at last began retreat,
which was soon converted into rout. We
pave them farewell volley, which eased a
few more horses oftheir riders, and then got
under cover again, to wait what might next
occur.
But the Mexican caballeros had no notion
ofcoming up to the scratch third tme.--
They kept patrolling about, some three or
four hundred yards off, and firing volleys at
us, which they were able to do with perfect
impunity, as at that distance we did not think
proper to return shot
The skirmish had lasted nearly three quar-
ters of an hour. Strange to say we had not
Ii - s;,ola man wounded. although at times