Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-12-07
"REMINISCENCES OF THE MEXI-
CAN WAR.

CAN WAR.
The period Of tine embracing the few
weeks proceeding the battle of Buena Vista
v-ay one Of the moot critical erss in the whole
history OF The Mexican war. The American
| lire oi operations having been denuded of its
1 ElcSt effective tIoops, was peculiarly liable to
: j sudden c:tack of SGGta Anna, the CELEBRITY
OF whose movements, whatever may be his
dement's as military commander, has been
seldom equalled in modern warfare From
| Monterey 10 Matamoros tie whole frontier
was IN a state of exciting suspense Engiu-
GERS were bISy eXcavatiug bitches, ard con-
/ structiug raHparts; forts were strengthened
and provisions and stores placed in security
! liz Camargo and Matamoros the pI1zas were
strongly fortified and artillery was placed at
/ the angles of the streets where the little huts
or jGcd!es which abound in the outskirts of
! all Mexican towns, aud which might afford
| shelter TO the avGnt gGrde OF an enemy were
made TO contribute TO the amusements of the
soldiers, by furnishing materials for rather
| extensive 5oufIreS. At SaltIIIo the proxiJni-
! II of tie commander in chief Infused more
confidence into the minds of our troops but
at Monterey, which. from It's isolated posi-
ton, and the sDaliness OF the garrison left to
/ protect It, was considered especially insecure,
/ the anxiety of the Americans was very gren,
! 'AhN t+4C4E "tAkCIl4 UlHtSS pTtDDTtlOldiiY
creased. The commissary's and quarter
masters stores were removed into the cita-
del, aud all the troops were Withdrawn from
their quarters III town and placed within the
same fertilization. That work was STRENGTH
ened as much as the short time would per
mt, and the building in its centre which had
oeel the commencement OF an old cathedral
was converted intoa magazine. At this time
there were in Monterey about eleven hundred
men, comprising the 1st Ohio Regiment. the
Louisville Legion, Pren,iss' battery, and a
squadron ot kentucky cavalry. On Saturday
The goth OF February, General MsrshaH then
III command, received an order to start i'm
mediately to Gen. Taylor's assistance. or
course this circumstance created great ex-
element. 1t had for some time been rumor
ed TINT Santa Anna was abou: making for
ward movement from San Luis POtOsi but
so rapid were his manRuvers tkat tins WIS
the hTst certain or even reliable information |
we had received Of his approach. On the |
afternoon of the dag above mentioned Gene
raj Marshall commenced his march, taking
with him Prentiss artillery and the squadron
Of Kentucky cavalry. This left at Monterey
only the Ohio Regiment and the Louisville
Legion, which being stationed i'm the citadel
The city was left almost entirely deserted.
Nor is this mere rhetorical figure, for the
we've plague stricken, and the thirty or forty
Americans who remained enjoyed the larges,
liberty IN roaming through the silent and des-
oiate streets, and peeFiug with curious eve
into empty houses. The anxiety and pain
full suspense Of this small party may be i'm |
agined, but it cunnot be described They
could occasionally see bodies OF Mexican Ian. /
GERS, probably belonging to Urrea's predato |
ry bands, prowling about on the surrounding /
bills, and apparently cycling the city as If |
they deemed it already in their power
eartui every moment of surprise, a con- !
slant watch was kept, and the slamrDiDg Of q |
door, which would resound from one end of
the dcsolate city to the other, would fire. |
quently assemble all the population in the |
plaza, to await the attack of their unseen and /
imaginary foe.
As Inst resort, IN case of extremity. thew
had converted the house of one Mr. AioreI. /
Louisidnlan, into a Kind of fortress, in which /
were placed number of mus,se,s and other /
~nrllke implements. AS we said before. /
Gen. Marshall set out on the Goth. He /
marched as far as the pass of Los Mucrto. |
or Inc hIneonada, on Sunday, the 2lst where
IN obedience to an order from General Thy
Tor, he halted during Monday, and on Tues
aay recommended his march, arriving at /
Saltlllo on Wednesday morning, the dav af
ter the glorious battle of the 23d. In tho
mean time the people in Monterey were to-
tally ignorant of everything that was going
on above. Occasionally indeed, the rolling
of distant thunder would be mistaken for the
roar of the far off battle; but in fnct uncpr
tanty pervaded every mind. Thus the time
passed away heavily enough; Monday, Tues
day, "Wednesday, Thursday, came and went.
aud still no tidings from the army At last,
on the afternoon of Friday, when exUecta
ton had been strained to its utmost, from the /
NIL on which the famous Bishops Palace is
situated, single herserIan was deserted in /
the distance, hurrying towards the city along
the Saltiilo road. His appearance instantly /
called to mind the Atheulan messenger. no
bore the tidings OF victory to his couutrvneD
from the blood stained field of Marathon.-
Immediately all the horses which could be
procured were pG; ia requisi'ion, and par-
~ of four started to meet the single cavalier.
Long before they were sufficiently near 10
his voice they saw him take his
hat from his head and waive II in the air.
till. approaching still nearer they heard 4
''HurIah for Old lack - burst from hi. Inns.
The cry was responded TO with genuine en-
and 'Hurrah for Old lack ~ tho
uttered by few voices, rang far and wide
through the valley. Soon the horserpan.
VINO proved to be an Arkansas volunteer, was
by eager questioners. "What
news do you bring from Old lack - said
they. "Wall. boys" replied the volunteer.
''but il beat all the bar fights that ever see
in Arkansas, now | tell you, though Santa
Anna and his twenty thousand greasers had
to put ont in double quick time, after aIl."-
How is Col. Yelli" said another Arkan.ns