Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-05-28
rrpM MS OF ADVERTISING.
MISCELLANY.
The RancherO's Daughter;
A TALE OF BUENA VISTA AND IT'S
HORRORS.
BY LIEUT.. H., OF TENNESSEE.

Monterey had fallen before the genius
of a TAYLOR and Worth, both of whom,
by thousands mourned, now fill honored
prayes--fallen before the arms OF those
who knew no fear, while their countrys
dear flag spread its broad folds amid the
glare and smoke of battle. We had lost
many dear and cherished friends, but they
died as MEN should die, and we gave them
soldier burial, dropped silent tear upon
their grave, and swore to avenge their
fall
And we had advanced toward that fear
full field whereon Taylor soon after won
fame which will never die, and fought the
most desperate battle on modern record
against odds Of six to one.
The armistice concluded at Monterey
was over, and supposing that we were to
advance on the Capital via the Saltillo
route we were already reyeling, in imagi-
nation, in the Halls of the Montezumas.
One morning received an order from
my commanding officer to take thirty men,
mounted, and accompany detachment Of
u. s. dragoons, under another officer, ON
an expedition the object of which was the
capture of celebrated Ranchero chieftan
and his band, who had been annoying much
in attacks upon our provision and ammuni-
ton trains. We set out at an early hour,
while vet the dew lay bright on bud and
flower, and taking westerly course, gui-
ded by Mexican, whose treachery to an
acquaintance and friend had been bought
for a few doubloons, rode towards noun
famous range westward Of us. The noun
taius did not seem far distant when we star
ted, vet it was high noon before we reach
ed the first gorge or defile, through which
our guide said we must pass. Here VIC
were obliged to send out scouts, and ad-
vance more slowly and with greater eau
tion, for huge precipices oyerhung Che
rayine on either hand and few resolute
men in pass SO narrow, could make fear
ful havoc upon an advancing party, whose
numbers, however great, would be of little
avail, since they could show but narrow
front in action. But we were not attack
ed, and nothing of note occurred, although
our scouts had observed a splendidly-
mounted Mexican ahead of us, who seemed
to be watching our movements but they
tried in vain to get him in range.
1t was almost night when, after winding
through the hills some five hours, we came
abruptly to the entrance of one of the most
beautiful little vallys, or rather basins, that
l ever saw.
Tia Balsa de Flores r--the Bag Of Flow
p ers--said our guide, as he pointed to it.
II was indeed Aowery place. Fertile
meadows, fields Of grain, groves Of orange
and of lemon, were spread before us. The
crimson cactus, and a thousand other flow
ers met the eye. Every tree was laden
with some towering vine.
Pointing to building, or rather group
of buildings, about a mile or little more
from us, on rising slope at the far side Of
the valley, near which many horses and
cattle were grazing, the guide said
That is the place. Ramon Canovas, the
Ranchero, lives there
The SOLITARY horseman' who had been
watching our movements, was now obsery-
ed squirting swiftly up to the buildings,
and while we were forming column after
our struggling ride through the rocky de
files, we observed that party Of vaqueros
hurriedly drove the horses ana cattle into
high picketed enclosure which seemed ia
surround the buildings,
Il shouldn't wonder if we had work be.
fore we get that place, Lieutenant said
the dragoon officer to me, as he carefully
scanned the place through his field glass
and handed the telescope to me.
Il should wonder if we didn'tl' was my
reply, as my eye ran over its defensible
position and noted its strength.
We'll, the sooner We are at it the better
thank God we've bright moon to work
by he answered, and then gave the order
to move forward.
Rapidly we rode through the beautiful
valley, not giving our tired horses coveted