Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-12-08
THE GUERILLA'S DAUGHTER
OR
the FANDANG0 FIGHT,

A company o! Texas hangers, "oi
a scout" having encamped for th'
night, Bill Frazier, a noted yarn spin
ner, was called upon for a story.
! well, boys commenced Bill, 'yot
all know that when the fight at Man
teca occurred our regular encampmenl
was in the glorious old woods ofSan
to Domingo, near Monterey, and il
the sight of the marquee of oul
brave old Rough and Ready. Oul
tents were pitched around those
beautiful springs the Mexicans call.
ed los Ajos del Agnas, (tbe Eyes OF
the Waters while the Old Man S
camp was little way down the
stream, among the Dragons.
well, for several months we'con'
tinued to occupy this delightful en-
campment. till the grand old oaks
that shaded our tents, and spread
their great branches over the ioun-
taius, began TO be loved as familiar
friends; and we almost felt as il we
would be willing to spend our lives
among their fragrant shadows.
For some weeks We had but little
TO do, but to furnish an occasional
escort to trains and expresses: and
now and then spend few days in re.
connoitering the country, in search
Of guerillas, who might be threaten.
ing the road.
'As a matter Of course, we ran
gers could not be altogether inactive.
We had but little camp duty to per-
form no drills or parades to attend;
aud much of our leisure time was
filled up in rides to the neighboring
ranches and villages, and in cnliiva-
ting the good will and friendship OF
The ranchoros.
'0ne evening as party OF us Ran.
gers were preparing to exercise our
horses, which from high feeding and
little work. were becoming fat aud
spirited, ranchero, mounted on q
sleek mule, role into our camp. and
announced that fandango, in honor
Of the patron Saint Of the village,
was to come oil that night at the
pueblo of Aqua Frio. lie had been
dispatched, he said, to invite tho Tex
ans to participate in the amusemants
OF the evening. Not very large
crowd, he hinted, would be expected,
as the preparations having been has
lily made, would not suffice for a
large party; but whoever came would
be kindly welcomed.
"A hnd,ngo! who's for the fan
dangO?' was shouted through our lit
tie camp--and in few minutes a
bout twenty Of us bad sa9dled up,
and Sere ready TO dash over the
road in the direction Of Agua Frlo.
'lt was a beautiful evening. There
had been y shower 10 the morning,
and the roads we're in the finest or
der for a ride. The distance vas
some five or six leagues from the
camp; but that was a mere trifle for
our fresh horses, that impatient OF re-
straint, were paving the ground dis
dainfully, and ohamping their brides,
in anticipation Of the free gallop be-
fore them. The acacia thickets wore
in blossom; and bending beneath
their weight Of dew, made the eve'
ming mir redolsnt with their exhilara-
ling perfume. A soft breeze blow
ing through the ohapparal, made
the atmosphere cool aud fragrant
almost intoxicating to the senses.--
Away we dashed, along the road,
every foot of which we had passed
over SO often that we were as famll.
lar with it as we were with the paths
about our camp ground.
The stars shone brightly 10 the
clcar sky; and the old mountains on
either hand, reared their bold fronts
beavsnward, making their sharp out
lines as distinct as in the glare ol
the day.
Never, in my life, do ] remember
TO have enjoyed a ride with go mech
genuine, boyish zesi, as did that
rapid dash TO Aqua Frio.
Before we entered the pueblo, We
knew By the sound Of rude music
that the dance had commenced. =
This was conducted Ia the open air,
aud upon taa ground 10 front o.
some Of the principal nouses.
Our arrival was scelebrased by :
4 !. f..A-... kl.ot From