The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-03-14
THE CAMP in ALARM!
From enc snturdnY courieL

ss fH - ID
In and about. .Camargo, Mexico, there are mul-
titudes of Donkeys, or Jackasses, who per-
ambuate within the very camps of our sold-
lery, whose white tents dot the banks of the
lovely San Juan. What is termed the slen,
watcher Of the night in more civilized coun-
tries, is really there made bedlam, by the
hdeous brayings of ten thousand seeming
throats of brass. It requires good long
months residence 10 The uninitiated to pro-
cure moments respite from the alarm oc-
cassoned by these trumpet tongued heroes
of the chapparal. When one gets used to it,
il ia nothing, bu, the getting 80 is hard
thing. g7.F@E gA
! Il was in the month of September; iS46,
when the regiment to which belonged, the
I'd Kentucky, or "bloody second" was sta
toned at the aforesaid place, guarding the
government stores. 'al Wal on fl
! Gen. NJ very irascible; though
good heated man, was our Brigadier, and
had his quarters within our regiment lines
Alarms were not unfrequent in those days for
an attack upon that place, if not contem-
plated by the enemy, was really obe feared
on account of the smallness of our force,
One night, whilst officer of the guard, !
was passing from the suttler's to the guard
tent, when suddenly found myself in The
midst of a horde of fpestilential qnadrupeds.
"Jim," and I, to sergeant who was busi-
y engaged in driving them along" what in
the name Of goodness are you going TO do
with all of those jackss"l ,o-,, g9
"Oh, I'm just driving them oul ofcamp-
they disturb the boys sumbers you know,n
said he, in parental tone. 1' I<
"They do, do they" replied j, suddenly
aroused 10 the prospect of seeing little fun,
for well knew jim 10 be an incorrigible
wag, and as reckless of Others slumbers as
the beasts themselves, especially as he was
on guard HIMSELF and had 10 be up all night
Guessing his intentions, | slipped slyly in
rear of The sutler's huge house of canvass,
and awaited the result.
f' Gen. Ms quarters we're in small
enclosure that had formerly been goa, fold
The fence, which was of brush, was trodden
down in several places, and through one of
these gaps Jim and his herd passed. The
weather was extremely warm and sultry, and
in consequences of this, Gen. M, for
comfort, had opened the front of his rnarque,
and raised the ground cloth and pinned il 10
the fly, ihereby giving a sweet and cooling
ventilation 10 his domicil. The third relief
had been posted about quarter OF an hour,
consequently thedIme was little past mid
night. The General was doubtless in a
deep sweet sleep, dreaming of battles, VIC
tories and various other glorious achieve
ments, whilst others were plotting 10 disturb
| his balmy repose and enchanting visions. ]
watched closely from my hiding place the
movements of my friend Sergeant Jim, and
saw him drive the long cared swarm to the
Generals tent-door, then suddenly retreat and
lake shelter behind the fence.
Ii was bright, moonlight night and could
well observe every thing transpiring. One
of the gang slowly and majestically entered
about halfinto the tent, and opening his clar-
ion throat gave one OF the loudesi, longest,
shrilest and most Startling hrays that ever re-
sounded through the plains of Mexico:
" Aw-tGn--IIAw--UGH UGH----HAw---w-w"
A "boo-whoe! hoo um with variety of
ntonatons of voice indescrbable though
fully appreciated by listeners, issued from the
lungs of the startled sleeper, as it he was
contesting psalm with his quadruped visitor.
The donkey though not eclipscd, retreated
before his adversary. In a moment more,
Gen. Nj, appeared before his tent in
glorious disabille with pistol in each hand.
Bang----bang----bang! went the revolvers, ac-
companied by any quantity of oaths and NAL
edictions upon the whole donkey race.
"Corparal of the guard No. 0" shouted
sentinel Immediately in rear Brigade Head.
quarters, and in moment the cry passed
around the whole line.
Giving myself plenty Of time TO have walk
ed from the guard tent to the scene of ac.
ton, joined the corporal as he came, and
in a loud and peremptory tohej bawled OUT
"Sentinel, who fired those shotsT
Don't know sir, come from Gen. Ms
quarters.' u ,4,
'Is tha, you L--?' shouted the General,
in rage 5"' ~ s.
q sYes, sir,' answered |. eflr
sAre you Lieutenant of the guardF
yes, sir .oe.,.
eThen Immediately order your guard TO
shoot every jackass in the neighborhood, and
keep on shooting until order it stopped.
Sentinel. pass the word TO shoot every
siack' that can be seen,' said l., t,.r
Ill see it we'll execnted,, said Sergeant
Jim, suddenly appearing and posting off to
the lines. Quick as thought, the word
passed from mouth to mouth, and bang-bang
-.-bang----bang! went the guns along the
lines. So quick did they load and fire, for
every one enjoyed the sport, and there was
no lack Of this species of foes, thatit seemed
as if an attack had really been made by Ca
males and his bend. '- 'a2 % ~
The drums in all directions commenced |