New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-20
a FIRE IN THE REAR.
BY FALcoNBBIDGE.

A great number of clever works, pamphlets
and paragraphs, have been written upon the |
late campaign in Mexico and incidents connected |
Herewith. Yet so voluminous are the matters
of fun, fact and interest, connected with the |
recent war, there is no possibility of exhaustng
the subject. |
Capt. Lewis. of Louisiana, who raised a cav
airy company and went out to see the Mexican l
elephant, relates several capital items connected
with his experience as a soldier One of these |
incidents appears to be pitby enough to appear
in print, and we print it: as VI
Capt. Lewis and Capt. Walker, the famed
Texan Ranger, Joined Gen. Lane at Puebla, and
went forward toward Huamantla to overtake
Santa Anna, who was preparing to give battle
to los .4anerican0s. and wipe them out of the
schedule of affairs of Earth, by one long. weari
some march all night Lanes legion reached
small village, some few miles from Huamantla.
where halt was made by the column, and Capt.
Walkers Rangers and Lewiss cavalry sent for
ward to reconnoitre and take the town, if there
were no formidable forces to prevent them; but
if there were great numbers of the enemy OIL
hand, the order was for the infantry to come up.
However, Walker wasn't the man to conceive
it very possible for all Greaserdom to be too
many for him, so he rushed into the town, and
drove some five hundred Laneers and Guerrillas
out at a flying pace Alasi for the fortunes of
war; no sooner had Walker taken the Town than
uc WdS SuOu uUWu ny b lGtlum WIN ISA tIoli
the window of a convent, and Walkers heroic
i actions were over--he died in an hours time
The Mexicans hearing the resul, reinforced, and
while Capt. Lewis was arranging guards, and
endeayoring to call his men together, being scat
tered all over the town in puruit of perquisites,
Mexican scalps and other excitements generally,
| the foe rushed in myriads of gaudily dressed
lancers, and SO surprised the unguarded, disor
ganized Rangers and cavalry, that Capt. Lewis
Il uo n tntn ounihi1 1atj Rut with q emil
ness and courage emblematie of the man, he
| faced the enemy, beat them back, and held the
| town until Gen. Lane came up.
| Lewis was ordered to pursue the Mexicans,
which he did, aided by several companies of in
fantry; and. after pursuing the enemy some
twenty miles, and oyertaking their rear, with
the baggage, ammunition, wagons, etc, he re-
ceived an order to return to Huamantla.
1t was night when the order was received.
Lewis had a number of prisoners, and several
heavy wagons, one of which contained powder,
new muskets and sabres; another, provisions,
liquors, etc. After toilsome attempt to make
hasty return, Capt Lewis found the mules
and men 50 worn out that the wagons could not
be hurried forward; he therefore ordered them
to be destroyed. The men were glad of the
, chance to destroy the liquor and eatables; so
they fell to and demolished those things in q
very sudden way. 1t was impossible for the
officers to restrain the men, and the consequence
was, great majority got their hides so full q
: grog as to become essentially weak IN thell
, knee.pans and knowledge boxes. ~
A more motley looking set Of men was, per
haps, never seen. They had caroused to thei,
fill, and were now lying along the line Of th'
in the height of their hilarity, were seen climb
. ing the low trees in the vicinity, and every mo
ment seen tumbling down, heels over head, una
: BILE to accomplish their object Others wer
: reclining on the bank, or against the wagons
smoking furiously short Dutch pipes, and eyi
y IDENTIFY having a good time generally. All orde
was at an end.
Il Capt Lewis ordered the cavalry to taste
e upon the new sabres, and then burn the gum
g. powder and wagons that contained them. Fo
: this purpose, the powder was driven off the roat
2 the mules cut loose, and slow fire kindled III
der the wagons.
: The gun-wagon got stalled it was set on fir
II where it stood; the forces were all ordered fol
ward, Capt Lews's Lieutenant and few me
g. being left in the rear to drive up straggers an
see that the wagons were duly consumed
Now, fancy one of the darkest kind of night
line of half corned, weary men, and faggt
horses, meandering along strange, heavy roa
sh in the very midst of an enemy's country, u
s chaparral swarming with guerrlllas, and larl
: body of the Mexicans in their immediate rea
~ some where lowering around.
You can fancy that Capt. Lewis and his fello
officers, and such of the priyates as were in
- mood to comprehend or care a red cent for dea
d. or danger, were not so comfortable as they mig
be in their saddles. But the line of march W
:, formed, and slowly it spread out toward Hu
'ie manila, which place Lewis was anx 'ous to rea
= by daylight. A mile or two convinced the o.
GERS that the infantry would not be able TO
town in dogs age; they were giving out
= along the road, which Capt. Lewis obseryil
on ordered the mounted men to drive them up,
M ns- .No use, Cap'n," says trooper, 'sthey
:. too timber in the joints; all caved I'M"
Nv. "Then seize them up, each one of you, VI
. your saddles and bring them along, or they Y
=. have their jugulars severed before mornil
ms every BOBBY of them '' cried the Captain.
J. Each trooper seized soggy soldier, and Jei
=. ing them up, face down across their saddle boz
@e "s started off with motion not only annoying
= the rider, but sickening to the poor Invalid
for party had probably reached distance of
s&e miles from the wagons, the fires of which W
sale quite distinct, when gun was heard. Now
anls the night was dark and still, as little moist
possible being made by the men, the fire Q
At. nusket made some thing Of a report.
sale .What's that." says one,
sl Bang--bang- --bang-bang!
, bv "Halloo" cried Lewis, wheeling his hi
st. right about.
Bang, a-wang- -bang-bang-bang--a-
r bang.