American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-07-02
[From the Cincinnati Enuu irer !
LIFE ON THE RIO GRANDE.

I"o s'lu"utoh vi vera CIuL'
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
LIFE ON THE RIO GRANDE.
In returning upon the Ben Franklin the
other evening, from pleasant jaunt to Madi-
son, Indiana, we fell in with one of the recruit
ing officers, lately sent from tho Army of Oc-
cupatiOn. We learned his name to be Melon
ald-and as fair specimen of an American
officer as one would wish 10 meet with Small,
but well-built up, and evidently active, he
walked the decks with the quiet case of one
who had seen some service. We fell into con-
versation, and enjoyed two hours talk to him
about our brave fellows in Mexico. He had
been in the Florida war; on the Rio Grande,
and taken part in the battles ofthe Sth and 9th.
at is great mistake" he said, among
other things, "to assert, as the papers do, that
these Mexican soldiers are towards. When
tried, they have always fought well-and, in
the battles Of the Sth and 9th, with great brave
ry, considering the disadvantages under which
they labored. Except one regiment-the Tam
pico Guards-they were miserably equipped,
wretchedly armed, and worse drilled. The
country is covered, as you know, with chap
parel and prickly pear, over which we had
great difficulty in marching in our thick boots.
Well, sir, the greater part Of these Mexicans
had nothing on their feet but sandals, with
their legs bare, and how they managed to
march was a wonder to US all. 1t is only by
charge ofbayonets they can be moved, and you
know, sir, very few of the best disciplined SOL
diers in Europe can be brought to stand that"
"Our men acted with great spirit in these
fights, did they not2..'
Eyes, sir on the 9th especially. In the
fight of the Sth it was somewhat more trying
to the nerve. The greater part was carried on
with cannon, and we were drawn up in line of
battle, and had to wait for hours anticipating a
charge from an unknown force"
"Did you see anything of Old Rough and
Ready?"
"Yes-just after we had drawn up our eigh-
teen FOUNDERS, he came in front Of US. The
Mexicans had been throwing their shot too high
most of it falling among our train in the rear.
They changed, and threw it as much too low,
but one of their balls came twisting in among
the guns, and carried off the foot of one of our
oxen. There, said Gen. Taylor, you will
have plenty of beef for supper, boys At
this we all laughed; upon which he added-'but
come, they have been amusing us-let US amuse
them little We gave them round of grape
without producing any effect. Gen. Taylor
then ordered us to try round shot. We did so.
One of our officers levelled gun with great
care, and fired. We saw the men and horses
whirling to the right and left, and way OPEN
ed wide enough to drive wagon through
| Every shot after told in the same way, until
/ the grass caught fire. This was another event
| greatly to the disadvantage of the Mexicans.
! The wind blew the fire and smoke directly in
to their aces-and under cover we charged up
and drove them from their ground.
alt was on the 9th our men acted with the
greatest spirit. Every one seemed trying to
! get ahead of the other. 1t was almost impos-
sible to keep them together, so anxious were
they to get into the Mexicans hand to hand.
Sergeant Mcdonald here related to us sew
eral instances Of individual bravery, which we
must defer to another article, our space not per-
hitting here detail of them.
81 did not witness, " he went on to relate ''the
charge of Captain May. Our company had
marched too far to the right, in the chapperal,
and when we broke into the road again the
charge had just been made, and the guns silen-
ced. Some of Captain Nays troops were re-
turning in squads. We were old acquaintances,
having often before bvouaced together, and
seeing US, they began cheering. We knew then
the game was up, and dashed on, so as to be in
at the death. The Mexicans left everything in
their f1ight-even their guns and swords. We
found supper nicely cooked or cooking. Stakes
| oOlOlO tHo uIoj uiIu as VIC hdu
nothing to eat all day, told the men to fall to,
but aniofficer Immediately ordered them to de-
sist. Each man then gathered up something
the queerest plumber any one ever saw-and,
with Mexican banners and lancers waving,
mached on towards the fort. Our men in the
fort took Us for number of the enemy, and
came very doing what the Mexcans failed in,
| by giving us two shots"
We asked if it was true that the Mexican
army was in starving as condition generally
represented.
He said that was certainly not the case, fol-
| they found any quantity of provisions in theil
camp; and it would have been wonder had il
been otherwise. The Mexican soldier general
| ly puts quantity of corn and salt in his KNAPP
sack, for emergencies, as q sort Of last resort -
Our MEN finding some, thought their soldiers
were fed on such food altogether.
BEARER OF DISPATCHES. We learn from
the Norfolk Beacon, that 1t Francis B. Hen
shaw, of the U. S. Navy, recently attached to
the U. s. brig Lawrence, directly from the Rio
Grande, came passenger in the steamer Alice
on Saturday and proceeded OIL Immediately TO
Baltimore. 1t is rumored that he was bear
er of dispatches for our government
PHILADELPHIA TELEGRAPH. The laying OF
a new vile from Philadelphia to Jersey City
was completed on Monday This will enable
them to operate at the same time in both direc-
tons,