Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-07-23
TERMS 81 so i'm advance.
WHOLE NO.

Buena Vista had not been good prospect to
him Like good Americans, you did not be-
liete a word of it; but, like good soldiers,
you thought it best to 60 and see. A volun-
teer party of fourteen, headed by Collins, of
Boonvllle, undertake to penetrate to SaltIllO,
and to bring you information of his condition.
They set out. Amidst innumerable dangers,
they accomplish their purpose and return.-
You march. Avanguard of one hundred men,
led by Lieut.. Col. Mitchell, led the way. Then
came the main body. Gf the name is not bur.
lesque on such thankfully commanded by
Col. Doniphan himself.
The whole table-land of Mexico, in all its
breadth, from west to east, was to be traversed.
A numerous and hostile population in towns
-treacherous Cumanches in the mountains
were to be passed. Everything was to be self
neutrality-suspicious., transportation, fresh
horses Tor remounts, and even the means of
vlctory-and all without military chest, or
even an empty box, in which government gold
had ever reposed. All was accomplished
Mexican towns were passed, in order and Qui-
ct: plunderlng Cumanches were punished :
means were obtained from traders to liquidate
indispensable contributions and the wants
that could not be supplied, were endured like
soldiers of veteran service
say the Cumanches were punished. And
here presents i-self an episode of a novel, ex-
traordlnary and romantic kind-Americans
chastlslng savages for plundering people who
they themselves came to conquer, and forcing
the restitution OF captlves and of plundered
| property A strange story this to tell in Eu-
rope, where backwoods character, westers
character, is not yet completely known. But
to the facts. In the muskeet forest of the
BoIsoa de Mdpini, and iii the sierras around
lhe beautiful town and fertile district of Par
ras, and IN all the open country for hundreds
OF miles round about, the savage Cumanches
have held dominion ever since the usurpel
Santa Anna dlsarmed the people and sally
forth from their Businesses to slaughter men
plunder cattle, and carry off women and chill
dren. An exploit of this kind had Just beer
performed on the line of the Missourian's
march, not far from Parras, and an advanced
party CHANGED to be in that town at the time
the news OF the depreciation arrived there.
was only fifteen strong. Moved by gratitude
for the kind attentions of the people, especial
ly the women, to the sick of General Wool'
command necessarily left in Parras, and un
willing to be outdone by enemies in generosi
ty, the heroic fifteen, upon the spot, volun
teered to go back, hunt out the depredators
and punish them, without regard to numbers
A grateful Mexican became their guide On
their way, they fell in with fifteen more o
their comrades; and, in short time, seven
teen Cumanches killed out of siAty-live; eigh
teen CaPtlves restored to their families, ant
three hundred and fifty head of cattle recover
ed Tor their owners, was the fruit of this sud
den and romantic episode.
Such noble conduct was not without its ef
feet on the minds of the astonished Mexicans
An official document from the Project of tn
place to Captain Reid, leader of this detach
ment, attests the verify of the fact, and tn
gratitude OF the MeXicans and constitutes
trophy OF new kind in the annals of war.-
Here it is in the original Spanish, and l viii
read it off in English
Ii is officially dated from the Prefecture O
the Department of Parras, signed by the Pre-
feet, Jose Ignacio Arrabe, and addressed Il
Capt. Reid, the 18th May, and says:
AT the first notice that the barbarians, ahe
killing many, and taking captives, were returning
TO their haunts, you generously and bravely Offer
ed, with fifteen of your subordinates to fight then
on their crossing by the Pozo executing this en-
terprise with celebrity, address, and bravery worth
Of all eulogy, and worthy of the brilliant issu
which all celebrate. Y GU recovered many animal
and much plundered property; and eighteen CAP
tves were restored to liberty and to social enjoy
ments, their souls OVERLOOKING with lively sent
ment Of Joy and gratitude, which all the inhab
tants Of this town equally BREATHE in favor of the
generous deliverers and their valiant chief TIL
half of the Indians killed in the combat, and thos
which fly wounded, do not calm the pain whic
all feel for the wound which your excellency re
ceived defending Christians and civilized being
against the rage and brutality of savages. All d.
sire the speedy re-establishment of your health
and although they know that in your own nobl
soul will be found the best reward of your cor
duct, they desire also to address you the expires
sion of their gratitude and high esteem. l ar
honored in being the organ of the public sentimen
and pray you to accept it, with the assurance {
my most distinguished esteem.
God and liberty -
:. This is a trophy of new kind in war, wo
by thirty Missourians, and worthy to held u
to the admiration of Christendom.
The long march from Chihuahua to Monte
rev was made more in the character of protet
ton and deliverance than of conquest and in
vason. Armed enemies were not met, an
, peaceful people were not disturbed. You al
, rived in the month OF May in Gen. Taylor
camp, and about in a condition to vlndicatt
each of you for himself. your lawful title
the double soubr1quet of the General, with tn
addition to it which the colonel of the expe1
ton has supplied well as roug
; and ready No doubt you all showed title,
, that time, to that third soupriguet but TO Sc
you now, so gayly attirea, SO sprucely equiv
ped, one might suppose that you had neye
for an instant, been stranger to the virtues
, soap and water, or the mag ministrations
the Hanchisseuse, and the elegant transform;
/ tons of the fashionable tailor Thanks, pc
haps, to the difference between pay in Il
lump at the end of service, and dribblets alol
t in the cause of it.
: You arrived in Gen. Taylors camp ragge
2 and rough, as we can well conceive, and read.
. as | can quickly show You reported for dl
ty you asked for service such as marc
5 upon San Luis de Potosi, Zacatecas, Or ii
sshalls of the Montezumas;'' or anything
t that wav that the Gen. should have mind f
a If he was going upon any excursion of tn
: kind, all right No matter about fatigues th
! were passed, or expirations of service tn
: might accrue: you came to 90, and only asks
5 the privilege That is what | call ready
e Unhappily, the conqueror of Palo Alto, Res
ca de la Palma, Monterey, and Buena Visit
was not exactly in the condition that the Liel
tenant Gen. that might have been, intendt
} him to be. He was not at the head OF 20,OO
e men he was not at the head of any thousan
. that would enable him TO march! and had
: decline the proffered service. Thus the lor
/ marched and well-fought volunteers-tf
| rough, the ready, and the ragged-had to tut
. their faces towards home, still more than tW