The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-05-19


"Bsfore tell you my story, geutlemen,' >
said Captain Sheldon, 70 small party OF Us
who sat around the festive board, -" will
give you toast. Fill up your glasses and
let il be drank in silence"
And as We eli complied, the captain rose
and said, With much soiemnity,-
"To the memory Of the brave heroes who
fell at Monterey" .....
An impressive silence of some moments
followed, during which we all drank and
the speaker resumed his seat.
81 believe | promised you somewhat
romantic story. in which happened TO play
rather important part" proceeded Cap
tain Sheldon, as one collecting his thoughts
for n direct, straightforward narration.
'.Well, here YOU have it, then and am
inclined to think the facts viii interest you,
even if my manner of telling them does
not"
"It is needless pursued the captain, "to
enter into any description of the storming
OF Monterey, For with the general facts you
( are all familiar and it is also needless to
tell you that, US one Of that glorious band
Of heroes, known IA the Texas Rangers
or. ns General Wor was pleased to style
Us. the Texas Dragoons--l saw some pretty
hard fighting during that memorable siege.
ave had taken Fort Tsneria, the Bishops
Palace, and some other strong positions,
and had concentrated our forces upon the
town, and were forcing our way as best we
rnuid 20 the Cathedral Plaza, where the
MAIN body Of the enemy were then station
"a. The conflict was terrible, and Mt its
balrht. and roar Of canon, the sharp rattle
Of mu-ketry. the Thunder Of dashing artil-
larv, the battortug in OF doors, the psakin nR
through thick walls, the loud commands oil
nlicers, the shouts Of the nssailants. the
groans ef the wounded. and the shrieks OF
terrified women-aud chlldreu-ali together
made most horrid din, such as | never
Rlsh . hear again.
sThc streets being barricaded, and each
hnfhilng turned into n sort of fortified cas-
,te-fr0m the Eat roof of which. behind
hrrastwork Of sandbags. the enemy contin-
uaiIy poured down most destructive fire
il became necessary for some OF the troops
TO enter these buildings. force passage
through from one 10 the other, dislodge the
garrison Of each. and use them as safe
coyerts from which 20 annoy the foe in
turn.
ain this hazardous occupation, had
been engaged for several hours, and had
Witnessed. some fearful seenes-as. in cut
ting our WAY through from one house to
the other we had oecasionalls come in con-
tao, with men brave enough to bar our
passage with their lives--when suddenly,
iust as had thrown myself down on seat
10 get rnv breath and a few moments rest. |
heard tbe wild shout that announced tue
saceassFui passage Of our little band INTO
another adjoining building. Fairly mingled
With this shout, were the report OF fire.
arms, she CLASH Of steel and the shrIess OF
women. There WIS no time to be idle now;
AMI starting up | ran forward, with my
sword 90 ona band and revolver in the
asHer Making nv way to the aperture
whicb bad hasn forced through the two
walls, | entered an apartment dim with
smoke whore all WAS excitement and conta-
son. Our party, still victorious, were
mostly grouped around two wounded com.
rales. while noar" them lav two dead Mext-
can. tbesr comrades having fed: and IN one
Garner sey arAt women were huddlsd together
rraativ terrified sad shrieking for mercy,
sapposiua as from all they had heard TO be
10 better than so many savages.
s.As could speak Spanish so a. TO read
i'y understood, stepped forward to the
frightened females, and had just began 10
utter few words calculated 70 aiiay shelr
fears. when faneisd heard heavy, jar
ring sound IN an adjoining room, anu
wild crv IN Spsuish Of
- Spare him spare him! no IS ay
fatherm
"Percsiviug a door. which ] thought
{ a l.. 4 ! - L
I to IL, tore il opcn, and, in the center OF
small apartment. a. once beheld three ng
urrs-~an old man graphing with Young
aas--spi beautiful female, with Der arms
psgily tbrown around the elder, as u TO
( iFaw him svav and shield him, wn,le .
prayer for rnefcv was issuing from her lips.
ssup4dn | shouted, in a tone that in-
stantly arrested the attention of oil parties.
sSrn5r.' quickly added ia Spanish, adj
isessjn. the old gentleman. you must al
once yipla yourseif prisoner OF war, or
eAnr6t - aEssv cradle for the consequences 7
ssSla bad airgaay done so, SenS Cses!-
l-~a, whsn th5s feilaw attempted to rob him,
aaa be srsgpled wI,k him 10 prevent him
sest fraya h5tps piauaeTaa,' said the female,
: tn-rlar upau srs usess bssnsifsl face. and
ssns agep ns pair # most eewischins
2 8eS eyes
: ~'What' have we common highway
saA1 ssa 'h = zaaes as 2 cried |. turning
+ fs7esiy az ghe Ganger, whose nov down
S2sf sd guilty lsek AZ oace convinced me
tha sas ass stssatss 10 was last.
Sf & stsnaasr fsrth some excuse,
81 ( gzsf a5m oGS Of nv sigh.. with .
tNre- e asest severe pspisAnssas IN the
s ms aeArias aaysaiug more cf his
sryass.
- o., ,Asaks. aeble sir rssnv. rscy
.bsnsef' cssss sAs female, springiag fer
pzr3. sefsins nv tAAi sai carrying il 30
t~s ianx. soa. srasa ssa = sh. esofiuusi.
sA.sx ss large. 'sssreas eyss upon
ssa4 ,n sssn wass tssss& szs manner in the
~sTs sr~~~ Nsss srss ry father and
IsAy ssa ezass $50, ea3 pea!s vaii ever
t@a - vss 10 81 .lssssssf
be assured. fsig S~3t, he 10 only a
FE.sonrs of var, sed net hair Of bis head
shall &c injar~si ! WAS av gallant reply, -
icekcd sse~aiiy snss she dark. speak
] snx eyss % near 10 mine. ana fsls a strange,
rcmanfsa fasssRai,aa stealing cyes me.
"sfasher. DO you hear that, saii Paula,
;syFes.r. SEC what Il 10 10 meet With !
naklc ossear. Pray step into thAs c,as>,
there. and hiring him some refrssAassss.,
1 ssThaaS., fair LADY 2 sasd ], = tAs sii
-sr,lere. s.ced ssfe deos aud 91ap'