Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-02
REMARKABLE ADVENTURES OF CAPT.
HENRIE.

When the tRo scouting parties under Majors
Borland and Gaines were captured by the Mexi-
can forces under Gen. Mnon, on the 23l jan
uarv, about sixty miles from Saltlo. there were
taken with them Texan, Capt. d. Elenrie, and
a Mexican guide who had been compelled to act
as such. Before the Americans surrendered,
Gen. Minon pledged his honor thai Captain Hen
rie should be treated as prisoner Of war, and
should not be huu, and that the Mexican guide
should have a fair trial. Soon afterwards, the
Mexican guide was shot down, by order Of the
Mexican General circumstance which indi.
Gated clearly 10 the Captain what his fate was 10
be. The subsequent occurrences connected
with his escape are thus narrated by himself:
The whole party remained at Encarn aeion
that day. The nexI morning, the 24lh, the pri-
soners were started under guard Of two hun.
dred men for San Luis Potosi. Majors Gaines
and Borland were permitted 10 retain their
horses and arms; the rest ofthe prisoners were
stript Of both. Captains Clay and Danly and
other commissioned officers, were furnished
with NUISANCE ponies; the remainder marched
on foot.
The treatment Of the Mexican guide induced
Captain Henrie 10 believe that he might share
the same fate. He had no confidence whatever
in the word Of General Minon. During the day
he remarked the officers talking 10 each other
and looking at him. Manuel Sanchez who lives
at Saltillo, and who also received from our off,
GERS many thousand dollars for corn, was with
Gen. Mnon. He recognized Henrie, and rid
ing up TO him said-"Well, sir, | suppose you
will visit the city OF Mexico second ime."-
"That is very doubtful" replied Henrie. In
the afternoon an express came in with letter.
Some acts Of The officer who received it, aroused
Henrie's suspicious further, and turning short
around where the officer was reading the letter,
he found number apparently watching him.
He believed they designed TO murder him, and
he determined TO make his escape if possible,
and advised some Of the prisoners oft.
By some accident, during the evening, he found
himself on Major Gaines mare, one of the best
blooded nags in Kentucky, and the Majors pis-
tolls still remaining in the holsters. The pri-
soners became considerably scattered near sun
set, and Capt. Henrio SET himself busily to work
to make them keep close together
To do this he rode back, TO within ten files of
the rear of the line when, discovering a small
interval in the line of the Mexican guard, he sud.
denly put spurs TO the mare and darted through
the lines. The guard Immediately wheeled in
DufSuI, Dul lltilT pOulCo WCIC Hu IldlCu IOI u
Kentucky blooded horse, and before gun could
be fairly levelled at him, he had daued out of
reach. He had three rancheros TO pass. As he
passed them, he found that the Mexicans in pur-
suit gave the alarm 10 the rancheros, who follow
ed him with fresh horses; still he outstriDped
them all. After passing the last ranchero, he
pulled up his mare TO rest her, when single
Mexican came up. supposing him to be unarm-
ed. He waited until he came within thirty steps
when, cooking the Majors dueIing pistol he
fired, and the Mexican rolled off
In a short time another came near; he likewise
permitted him TO approach still nearer, when he
wheeled and shot him down. He loaded his
pistol, and after going some distance, another
started up from behind some bushes near the
road and rode at him; he shot at him, with what
success he could not tell, but was not pursued
by that Mexican any farther. When he came
TO Encarnac ion, he found the camp had been "a
larmed. as he supposes by some one who had
passed him when he left the road. Diverging
from this straight course, he crossed several
roads and evaded number Of parties who were
in pursuit Of him. AT length he came 10 plain
where there was no place 10 hide. The moon
was shining, and he could sec large number
of men in pursuit. Putting spurs TO his now
iaded marc, he made for valley, and following
it to the east, he at length euded his pursurers
He travelled up the valley forty miles, as he
supposed, hoping TO find an outlet towards PaIo-
mas, but in this he was disappointed. He was
unable TO find water for himself or his furnished
mare. and the next morning after his escape the
noble animal expired. more for the want Of wa
ter than from fatigue.
Capt, Henrie now had TO make it on foot. He
wandered about all day. trying TO find path a.
cross the mountain. In the evening he found
water 10 quench his thirst. He then determined
to relrace his steps down the valley, and did so,
without water or food. During the 26lh, 9th,
and 28rh, he walked along through the chappa.
rel and prickly pears, without food or water,
frequently seeing parties of Mexicans, whom he
had to avoid. On the 28lh he killed rat with
a club, part Of which he ute and put the balance
in his pocket for another meul.
On the night of the 28lh he reached the road,
and followed it until an hour after sunset, when
he discovered a party of horsemen approaching
Not knowing whether they were friends or ene-
mics, he concealed hmselfunlil they came near,
when he discovered they were u picket guard of
the Arkansas troops. He gave one shout and
gave up--nature was exhausted! His nerves,
which had been strung up to the highest degree
of tension, became unstrung, and he was almost
helpless. They put him on horse and took
him to Aqua Neuva, where Captain Pike COM
manded an outpost.
Capt. Pike informed me that when Henrie
came in he was The most miserable looking being
he ever saw. His shoes were worn out, his PAN
falcons cut in rags, his head was bare, and his
hair and beard were maued his hands, feet. and
legs were filled with ihorns from the prckly
pear, and his skin was parched and withered
with privation, exposure, and exeron. He had
tasted no water for four days, and seemed almost
furnished for want of il. The soldiers gathered
around him, and all that was in their wallets was
at his service, and as they had recently had an
outfit of clothing, Capt, Il. was soon fitted out.