Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-03-08

command but were disappointed, as he had
left that morning. We remained here four
hours. Some of the boys had found some
mess pork in one Of the buildings on the Plaza
and reporting it to the Colonel, lie ordered
them to roll it ont on the Plaza and burn it.
They misunderstood him, however, and set it
on fire in the house. A high wind prevailing
at the time, it flew from house to house and
by eleven o'clock our quarters were SO hot
that we had to "uam0se the ranch" The
troops were very tired; for two nights they
had had no Sleep but still they kept their
courage up. The burning town gave US
brilliant light to marehhy. Slowly we toiIed
along through the dusty road; nought was
heard around us but the bowling Of the wolf
and the bark of the cayote
AT daylight we biyouac for the purpose
OF enjoying our crackers, bacon, and cold wa
ter We were soon under way again and at
o'clock we drove in the picket guard Of
large body of Mexicans under the command
Of Gen Urea The troops were thrown into
hollow square, and we awaited their on
saught But they were not ready, and we
slowly continued our march. We had three
Texan Rangers with us--Capt. Boxer Capt
Graham, acting IT, s. Quarter Master, and
the other name | have forgotten. The Col
and the Rangers held a council of war and
concluded to ask for Volunteer to ride thro'
to Monterey and bring down some assistance
2nd Lieut.. Stuart, Of company h., was cho-
sen. Mounting the splendid horse Of Capt
Boxer away he went. lie was received by
the Mexcans with volleys of mnsketry, but
dashing wildly through the leaden storm, he
sped on his joyful crrand. Not man IN the
battalion was left with the shadow Of hope
that Stuart was not killed or captured. sFor
ten long miles we marched in square expecting
every minute to be attacked The suspense
was horrible. Sometimes they would make
grand display around us their banners
would be thrown to the breeze, while the
blasts Of their trumpets sounded merrily a.
mong the crags and peaks of the mountains
Now they're comng." every one would eX-
claim; but they would disappear in the chap
paral, to appear again in the same manner
| At last they found convenient place TO at
tack us Int deep ravine through which the
road run. surrounded on all sides by high hills
they determined to capture the "corporals
guard as our little band was denominated
1 bv Urea. The Mexicans were composed OF
/ 500 Iianccrs. and about l4o0 Rancheros, or
/ irregular troops
Hardly had we reached the bottom Of the
rayine, when our ears were greeted by the
blasts Of trumpets, and the loud shouts Of the
MeXcans. We answered with Yankee Doc
die and three hearty cheers Steady, boys,
steadylp shouted Morgan; "they are on us,
and Ike IN avalanche" We received the
shock of 500 lancers the column led by
! 10 Of mo
scarce twelve feet in diameter, never faltered;
while high above the din of battle were heard
the voices Of Morganand the Texans" Pour
it in my Ladsl-give it to themw and like
expressions Of encouragement
The Mexcans were repulsed with loss Of
% killed and wounded, while not a man in
the battalion had received a scratch. Again
did they gather in dark clouds on the hills a.
round us, and ii appeared that we would have
the whole mass poured upon us from all sides;
hut they had made a change in their maneu-
vers There was large brush fence on our
right, enclosing rancho. Cautiously dis
mounting five or six hundred men, they were
placed behind this fence, when they opened q
terrible fire upon us, which soon extended all
around to every bush But they shot toe
high and we soon got used toit Skermishers
were thrown out on our fanks, and thus foI
FIVE hours and half did we keep them at bay
Night was fast approaching, and it was de
termined to shin it' to the top Of the hill,
thinking that if we got on level ground they
would be afraid to molest US just at this
moment Capt. Graham was shot and instant
ly killed. lie was put into the wagon, and
we started for the top of the hill. We had
not moved ten steps before heavy firing Of
artillery and musketry was heard in our front
"Stuart is coming.p some one cried and
cheer after cheer rent the air The Mexicans
answered it, and poured their fire in hotter
and faster Our boys could hardly be re
strained from storming the fence.
Soon the starry banner Of the lst Ohoans
appeared on the hill aboye US, a squad of 80
men with two four Founders with them, and
wheeling into line, numbered and poured
grape and canister right and left Then linn
bering up, they came down the hill on the
Jump, and wheeling into line on our right, they
poured a destructive fire into the fence, the
guns being loaded to the muzze with grape
and canister. The brave Gen Urea could not
stand it, and drawing off his forces-beat a
retreat, leaving his dead and wounded to take
care of themselves The last round Of the
Mexicans killed two Of the artilleryman ma
king our loss 3 killed. The loss of the Mex
leans we never ascertained definitely, as it was
so late in the day that we could not spare
the time to look over the ground. Eighty
Mexicans were counted who appeared to be
dead, aud 20 who were wounded We arri-
we'd safely at Monterey about nine o'clock,
r