The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-06-12
CAPTAIN MAY.

The New Orleans Tropic Of May 90,
says: This gallant officer has immortal
lied himself. 4 friend who has watched
his equestrian movements az The camp dc.
scribes him as being most singular beng.
With beard extending TO his breast, and
hair TO his hip. bone, which as he cuts thro'
the wind on his charger, streams out in all
disectIuns, presents most imposing up
pearance. His gait on foot is awkward,
and tina, Of his horse Gan immense one) is
the rack Of the Canadian Poncy. We arc
glad 10 quote the annexed paragraph from
last evenings Courier:
We have seen letter from this gallant
officer to his brother IN this city, dated
Point Isabel, May 18Th. IL was received
last Sunday by the Col. Harvey. The
Captain tells his brother that the squadron,
at the head Of which he charged the enc.
my's battery, contained 50 men land OF
these he lost one officer and ten priyaies
killed, and 3 wounded-2S horses killed,
ard 10 wounded, that i nearly one.thlId
of his men, and almost half OF his horses
hors du combat The Captain himself was
not touched, which fortunate circumstance
was owing to ms being abou. ten yards in
advance Of his squadron III the charge.
The Captain was born at the city OF
Washington, where his flthcr DR.. May,
died few months ago, was highly respec.
ted by his feIlow-cllzens Of all cAsses.
lie letI six or seven sons-al fine looking
men, not one Of them under SIX feet in
height. The Captain, who has so highly
distinguished himself in The late operations
on the Rio Grandc, some years ago, when
quite youth, attracted the notice of Gen.
Jackson, BY his fine horscmanship, and the
old chief appointed him a cornc, in one Of
the reslmeulsofd Dragons, then organizing.
The General was good Judge Of men, aud
~ the instance Of young May, his prescn-
tlment has been fully verified"
TIE RANCHEROSa OF MEXICO.
We copy from on Albany paper the fol
lowing description Of the Mexican Ran
cheros
" |, will have been observed, in the scv
eral statements tha, have from time to time
been put forth relative to the matcrid q
the Mexican armies, aud more particular
ly the one which the American troops have
just encountered, that mention is made o
description OF troops called Rdncheros
This Is an appeIlation derived from lhc
occupation and mode Of life, and is CON
mon TO a similar class Of men who subsis
on the pampas Of South America. Hal
Indian and half Spanish in their extraction
gauW, shrIycllcd, through muscular il
their frames, aud dark and swarthy vsaaeC
as they are, these men are tie Arabs 0
the AmerCan continent. Living half O
the time N the saddle, (lor they arc unri
vailed horscmcn,) with Iasso in hand, the
traverse those vast plains 10 search Of III
buffalo and Wild horse, who roam them Il
countless herds. The killing Of these ami
mails, aud the preparation aud sale Of lhct
hides, ts their 500 means Of livelihood
other than occasionally lending helpiny
hand to some Of the partisans 10 the CIV,
wars that are continually being wagcd d
round them. Their costume generally con
sists OF pair Of tough hide eggins, wit
sandals OF the same material, bound tC
eelher with lcathern thongs, over which
blanket with hole in the centre, larn
enough TO allow the head to be thrust GU
and which falls no, ungtaccfulIy over thei
shoulders, leaving ample room for the pa
OF their arms. Add to this broad s,ra,
somJrero, and the lasso hanging ready 70
use IN his girdle, and you have the Ran
ehero rs he appears in the time of peace, Q
10 Tue pursuit Of his occupation. Join /
'h's long lance, with sharp spear, OF
hamented with strip OF red bunting, on
morse as savage and as unmanaaeabe a
himself, and his belt beautifully supple
win pistols and knives, and YOU have III
RaHchcro as a member Of troop Of ban
dhll, or as soldier IN a body Of cavalry