New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-20


A regular discharge, Mexican fashion, one
after another, Of musketry. This woke up some
of the drowsy, the horses prieked up their ears,
the officers brushed their optics, and smelt q
fight. @, . @
g Mezicans. by Jovel order, right about!''
cried Lewis. a s ~ 4.
q Forwardi'' was the word. +
Forward it wasi The condition Of things was
not such as to brace the nerves Of the most +
brave; for, to be surprised by the enemy in the
dark, hampered by SO many stupifed men, the
whole party might be cut off, and hacked up
like dogs. ga5Ib gss sssss Essi.
.Forwardln cried Lewis ssdash down the
drunken scoundrels, and forward, men, for %
wardn The troopers, sick of their charges,
let the poor, sick and soggy soldiers down In q
lump; and, wheeling about, drew their sabres,
the order was renewed to ss ssforward"
As the troopers neared the scene Of action,
the wagons were so enveloped in smoke, amid
the general darkness Of the night, that the fires
didsnot enable Capt. Lewis to make any decisive
observation; but, believing shat the Mexieans
had attacked his vanguard, left to destroy the
wagons, ETC., Lewis cautiously approached to
where the irregular firing was still going on.
'eBoys having tight time Of it, by thunder !"
says the Lieutenant g 4iagsl
ssI believe, in my soul, they are surrounded
by the Greasers I" says Lewis. :" Yes, there
they go!" 5Hg5 si @ ri
Bang-bang bang. ~
'sHsre they come! Here they come!'
ssWhere p cried Lewis, nerving his arm for
grand effort Q sEsais
Here; full charge" answered one Of the
II troopers. sS8s a #ts @ Hs3 S
| ssAre they lancers!'' g f.
| g Infantry 2 lsasa5 @i e. s3t
| ssGreasers!" slt# s8=E# 525 il f&.
| g Guerrillasi" were the anxious questions
| But moment decided the matter; the last
grand round Of bang-bang-bang, the bullets
whistled over their heads, and here came a half
dozen of Lewis's guard, rushing their horses,
and yelling s. Back!" 5 t
sFall back, Cap'n!" gss5
"What, in thunder, is up?" cries the Cap
tain ss Order, men, steady, forward, and give
the villains Ned from the jump r asg .a
| ssHold ho-ho-hold your horses, Captain the
powder wagon is going up: take care, a-'' ys
A bim- m IN m, bum m -m-m! tQ ta SslA54f
| Up she went with rush some six hundred
pounds Of Mexican powder, wheels of wagons,
ETC., producing very considerable blaze, and 3
roar. the horses making general effort to bolt,
and the whole squad except the little guard,
dumfounded by the entire operation.
| But the play was over; darker than ever
came down the curtain Of night; tie explana-
ton was hurriedly given, and to the point.
The alarming Sc fire in the rear % came from the
Imusket wagon the pieces were loaded, unknown
to Lewis of course, and as the fire consumed
the wagon, the muskets popped off, scattering
the bullets quite freely. ,s@zsyts; Fz5a..zs
The event caused general alarm; but no time
was to be lost; the Mexican for miles around
were aroused and Capt Lewis pushed forward
and reached Huamantla in double quick time.
! Next day, Gen. Lane ordered the Louisiana
troops to go out and drive in the stragglers, and
sure enough, Capt Lewis found some seventy of
the poor fellows who had given out along road,
gashed across the neck, murdered and robbed.