The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-03
.JacK HAYS AND MS MEN,

nation Of Gen. TayIors army, as appears IRON nu-
merous letters from the camp, but IN the hearts OF
the people of the United States, until their exploits
at the battle Of Monterey have created perfect en-
thuslasm in the popular mind to know who and
what this famous "Jack Hays and his men, really
are. In reply to inquiries, friend from western
Texas presents US with the following sketch;
John C. Hays, native Of Middle Tennessee,
came to Texas early in the year 1889, believe, and
settling at San Antonio, commenced business as a
land locator and surveyor. This calling was, then,
exceedingly dangerous, for il was rare indeed That
surveying party went beyond the settlements with
out renconre with either Mexicans, Cumanehes,
Beediis, Wacoss, Towaekanes, keechies, or
struggling bands Of other hostile tribe nfest-
ing the western frontier Of Texas. In these en-
counters, Hays, though hardly man in age, soon
obtained reputation for GOODNESS, judgment, cour.
age, energy, and a knowledge OF frontier life and
Indian and Mexican character, which induced the
government Of Texas to tender TO him the conn
mand Gifts first company OF rangers, which was or
ganized in the winter Of l640 and al. Sometime
afterwards, when il found necessary to raise
two more ringing companies, Capt, Hays was ln-
vested with the command of the battalion, with the
rank OF major and he and CHS men, continued 10
serve as Ringers until the annexation. He is not
more than 30 years Of age (if SO old) and weighs
from 100 to lao pounds ! need say nothing to
YOU concerning ElS hOiulbTly
for the pens and voices Of such men as Bale Pey.
ton and Gen. Worth have already told the world
that il holds few such warriors Jack Hays.
In western Texas, where, from habit, all men
are good Indian and Mexican fighters, modesty is
his most remarkable trait; for il is no uncommon
thing TO hear an oyer-modest man characterized as
being almost as bashfu as Jack Hays Indeed, l
question whether there is man in Taylor's army
who has as poor an opinion Of the merits and ser
vices of H. as he himself He thinks much and
speaks little, and that little always to the purpose.
There never lived commander more idolized by
his men; for his word is their law. Now, as they
are regular frontier men, and Of course VIGOROUSLY
restless under any other restraint his perfect con-
troll of them attracted much curiosity and many in
quiries in Texas before its annexation. Their ex-
perence with him soldier has given him their
confidence; but his rigid and exact justice to them,
his habits Of living and farng roughly as any
private in the regiment, when on duty and OF treat
ing each eomrade in arms as in all respect his equal
when not on duty, are probably the reason why
the boys, one aud all are so willing, without muir
mer to live on parched corn, ride 10 or 50 miles
without dismounting for five minutes at a time, or
TO fight Mexieans with pick-axes, when Hays deems
either necessary. # ..s... ...
His men, who, in the estimation Of Gen. Worth,
the best light troops in the world, are just the
men to be led by such an officer. ...
Out of the four hundred, presume at least three
hundred and fifty farmers and stock raisers IN a
small way on the Colorado, Navidad, Lavaeca,
Guadalupe, and San Antonio, rivers in Western
Texas. ... Jason. .. ..N.
b From the time Of the battle of San Jacinto up to
forty-one, when formed into regular ranging COM
panes they defended the frontier on their own hook
without pay, emolument, provision, or even amnu-
milton at the expense of the government When.
ever Indians or Mexicans approached the settle
ments runners were despatched up and down the
rivers have before named to sound the alarm, and
on such notice those now composing Hays's "hrst
regiment of Texas rangers" rarely required more
than six hours TO prepare for a campaign Of three
months; for after all catching their horses running
fifty bullets and parching and grinding half bushe
Of corn for cod -four or pdno as the Mexicans term
it, were the only preparations necessary. Hot OF
cold, wet dry, they carried no tents, aad required
other provisions than fresh beef, which was
usually driven with them. Once in a while green
horn, his first campaign, would pack o
title sugar coffee and SALT but he would soon learn
that boys who had to fight for nothing and find their
own horse flesh and ammunition, could do il about
as well on "cdrni, "-solus In fact, after little
experience with such life, few at least, of those
men, would be troubs ed with the care of any other
provision than beef with any other equipment
than shooting irons bowie. knife, pair of blank
cts, Mexican sad etree, and good horse; which,
with leather brooches, ndomitabe perseverance,, an
extra shirt, light heart great capacity for endur-
ance and sworn hatred to Mexicans and Indians,
make up the Texan ranger. .. ...g
Suffer me to digress for a moment, In order TO
lay that, having been "out" four or FIVE times with
. hese men, claim to know what is necessary for
The true comforts of the soldier in active service
With this knowledge, was not little amused the
other day, on reading the Baltimore bill Of com
plants against the government and General Will
liam o. Butler. can well imagine the fun the young
gentleman correspondent of the Sun would afford to
a squad of Hays's men, on telling his griefs over
Their camp fire. / refer to the writer who growls
about no sugar when his coffee is ready, and no
bread when there is beef enough Verify if the boys
had not smet "carni' for a fortnight they would
quit the very interesting work, (under such circum-
stances) of roasting ribs to roast" such customer
after their own fashion; and Heaven help the grum-
bier who falls into their hands.
But to continue. When the government Of Tex
as organized these men into regular companies, they
first began to receive pay and perhaps, half of those
now with Hays, gave up their farms and took to
soldering for livelihood.
Capt Ben. McCuoch, who commands the first
company of this regiment, Ito which Kendall, of the
Picayune, is attachedD q. L. Howard, who was
lately despatched to Santa Fe by the President, and
has since joined Wool's force, to which he will soon
be what McCulioch is to the main army; poor
Gillespie, who killed in the late battle, and Han
cock Chevallie, originally Of Richmond, Va, were
Hays's right hand men IN the frontier campaigns of
Texas. McCulloch isa native of Tennessee, near
the Alabama line and came to Texas from the latter
State, settling in Gonzales county, as surveyor.
He served of the two field pieces in the battle of
San Jacinto, "the twin sisters, as the Texans dab
bed them, and there, for the first time, dis
tinguished himself. He is the hero Of what
is known as the Plumb creek fight with
the Indians who burnt Linnville Howard is
a native of this city, and commanded in the
famous courthouse fight in the town of San Anto-
MIC, when he found it necessary to close the door,
and, with nineteen men, to fight thirty-seven Gu
rianches, both parties being completely armed. In
this melee, he himself received four wounds, and
LOST nine men killed, all the rest of the command
beng more or less wounded. But seven Of the In
dianS got out Of the room alive; and Of these, six
were subsequently, killed in the street. Gillespie is
either native Of Virginia or Tennessee; and being
the lieutenant OF the first company of rangers, was
chosen its captain when Hays was promoted to the
command ofthe original battalion. Indeed all these
gentlemen are distinguished frontier officers, having
long since won their wayto fame in Texas, in, |
may almost write, q hundred well-fought battles!
S.Ws Walker, Ms Captain Walker Of the begin.
ming Of this campaign, who, by-the-by, is from this
city also, is the lieutenant colonel of the reg-
ment, having fairly earned his election in the events
Of the month prior to the battles Of the 9Th and
9th OF May last, Ever since the organization
III 80. =. - - l.. If.l