Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1847-03-17
Sketches ian the Cau,n.
BY IN EX-REPoRTER OF THE STATE SENTINEL
No IL

But lew incidents of Importance have occurred
since my last Sketch was written. The guard-housc
has been occupied occasionally with several off nders
both American and Mexican but it is now nearly emp
ty-he former seeing the necessity of CONDUCTING them
selves properly IN eneinys country and the latter
beginning To understand how to act so ns 10 ayold
suspicion. The Americans and Mexicans mass nwav
the time nucii more tremendously than could be ex-
pected. Whenever any outrage is committed by one
party on the other, Gen Lane has the matter injured
into, and has the offender tried IN accordance with the
regulations OF the army, and the orders Of Gen Inv
Tor. Only few outrages have been committed bv |
either party Some OF the soldiers seem TO think that
it is no harm to take a stick of candy or n cake from,
poor ragged Mexican boy that is obi gcd to pedde
for subsistence, or strip old Mexican peasant off
his blanket but such things dscounienanc ed by
large majority OF the soldiers. When few voun-
teers do acts that discountenanced by all others
reproach is cast upon the whole volunteer service
by some designing person that always delights to
speak Ill OF Others some tactclan who yainly |
imagines that neither patriotism, chvalv or moral
worth. can come from any other than West
Point II Is FAR from me to speak dSparaglnglv Of
our regular army the soldiers not be exceed
in discipline, and are less brave and effective in
battle. | look upon regular army with pride but
am equally proud Of those gallant volunteers who
fought at Monterey, and consider them the faithful
representatives only Of the chvalry of their re-
spectlye States, but vi the other volunteer regiments
that not IN that battle. have viewed the gh,s
above the Bisiop faace that were assembled by the
gallant Worth and the Texan Rangers | have pass
ed ground where the field division of volun-
teers, under the command of Gen. Butler made the
charge upon the enemy have stood upon the breast
work that was charged upon by the Mississippi Rifle
men, and have asked myself the question. - Would
arms have been victorious at the siege of Mon
terey If the brave sons Of Texas Tennessee Mis-
sssipp and Ohio had not been there - Those who
fought that battle can answer the question. 1t is
illtmcd and out of character for that have
been educated at the great charity school of the
nation, abuse volunteers, whose fathers part
Of the taxpayers OF that nation. The volunteers left
their homes, and many of them lucrative situations
to fight for their country. great number of them
have fallen victims 10 the climate, while others have
been slain by an enemy or crippled for life The
little remnant OF volunteers that may be so fortunate
as to return to their homes, they approach the Dor
dcrs Of their respective States, Will probably be met
and called upon to support some candidate for Con-
gross favorable to the West Point interest.
The abuse and inslnuatons upon the volunteers
does not from the soldiers of TIE regular arny
but from the officers who CONNIE nd them. The Ma
t,onal lnieligencer publishes letter written by an
oihcer OF ranE and experience" soon after the battle
OF Monterey, that Contains the following sentence
= Discharge the volunteers, and raise your regular
forces to lrty fifty thousand men," This officer Of
rank very gratuItOus III his advice The volunteers
not wish 10 be discharged until their Of
vice expires. To discharge them sooner, would be to
censurc them. The Secretary of War will doubtless
consider the dispatches of Generals Taylor, Butler,
, Worth, and henderson good evidence IN favor OF
the volunteers, and with these facts before him,
not likely that he Will drum the volunteers out Of the
service, simply TO crafty the whim Of officer Of
rank.
The soldiers In the regular service, ike the volun-
tecrs, devoted the interests of their country,
and | can feelingy say that | wish better fate
awaited them wish they better rewarded for
the services they have done their country. There
are some men IN the regular army who have served
their country honestly and faithfully for more than
twenty years-who have proved themselves to be
something more than mere theorists-good practical
men III battle-and, for their personal bravery have
been promoted no higher than sergeant corporal
he men who have endured the hardships of many a
cainpa gn-nen who have encountered the dangers OF
o I"'"r-hcid-'nust stand back and make themselves
coniented with back seat because somebody .o
oeen 10 w es PCn and had the good luck 10 find his
way back again. There are, however. a great ma ny
honorable exceptions In the officers of the regular
army that take pleasure in dong Justice to the vol
uneerS, but am sorry say of some of them, the
r old Duchman said Of his sons when they put su,-
penders both ends of their pantaoons they for
got their brotia' up.'
The rumors of the encmys approach have been cir
cuaied IN this city for time past Several
ing parties have been on, and returned. Major
Gaines, Capt Cassius NJ Clay, about eighty of the
Kentucky cavalry, Major Scion Borland of Arkansas
with determination to 90 farther than any of their
predecessors. On the night of the 2lst of January
they encamped near Ell Salado, about 93 miles from
Naitlilo The sentlnes gave the alarm twice In the
course OF the night. and both occasions the men
got up and placed themselves in position for defence
but retired to bed after every thing quiet, little
thinking OF the fate that awaited them. At daybreak,
when they were about RISE they looked up and OBJ
served that they surrounded by not less than
2VOo Mexican cavalry, with their lances and swords
drawn, that they could have killed every American
before much resistance could have been made. Their
hrst impression to fight, but they that
II would be useless for 80 men undertake TO fight
100, when they had so great advantage over them
They surrendered TO the Mexlcans, and mmedI-
ately marched Oft towards San LUIS Potosl Captain
Henry, being familiar with tie Mexican language,
very soon ascertained, the morning of the 23d,
that he was identified Texan and must suffer
death lie put on a cheerful air and did not seem to
, notice what was passing In the course of the day,
While he was ON his horse, he rode up and down the
line where the prisoners were, and talked to them
very harshly: he told them march in close order,
and not tall behind; and while he near the rear,
he suddenly spurred his horse such a that
he Jumped TO one side and passed the rear guard.
Capt III. then rode off full gallop. Several of the
best horses with expert riders selected, and
Capt II. was pursued. After riding distance,
the Mexicans observed that they had gained but
lItte SO they stopped at every rancho they passed
and got fresh horses, and after riding distance
one OF the Mexlcans approached very Capt. H.,
when the Captain suddenly wheeled and fired. bring
ing the Mexican to the ground. The Captain rode
on fast he could, until another Mexican was
3 about to overake him, when he shared the same
fate. Two being killed, daunted the courage of his
pnrsuers, bat they did not quit the chase; and il
only few minutes when another Mexican about
to overtake him. Capt. Henry fired upon HIM and
wounded him IN the arm when the Mexican turned
his course Capt. ii. was soon out of sight of his
pursuers, and them no more. He rode on until