The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-04-03
a Hero in spite Of Him 5 eli.

bravery sSainst. voltion2 A coward will
fight fOr, his life but know a case where
single man routed a large armed force
while he was in a tremor Of fear. The death
of General Andrew Porter, us. A., at Paris,
kFfance, few weeks ago, recalled the story,
and tell it as it fell from the lips of one
Hof my old transcribing clerks in Washington,
eighteen years ago-the popular and witty
pr. w T.. Reyburn. Of New Orleans. He
was surgeon in Louisiana regiment du-
ring the Mexican war, and o close friend OF
Andrew Porter, one OF the captains in the
Mounted Rifles, and, If mistake not, at
tached TO that celebrated corps. He was
thand-in-glove with all the Southern riOtaI
bles, q welcome visitor at. every lsociable
tcircle-afellow Of quick wit, with q conta-
Tkious laugh, fond ofpleasurc of every kind,
and, to complete the picture, very fat man,
who loved his leisure and his friends, and
hated work consumedly. i. ol -fsi
| /, He is dead, too; but l often think OF him
rolling into my room on his short legs, with
! his broad face aglow, his large mouth
streaming with tobacco, full OF some quaint
story, which he would relate, till every body
roared with the merrimen. he always started
| in his explosive way-fairly screaming over
his own fun. One of those incidents. and
enc of tho best, was the way he charged and
dispersed squadron of Mexican rancheros.
| ! have seen a room full of celebrities enjoy
| ing this really original story, as thus told
7 Ou viii, all recolIect that Andy Porter 8
Company Of mounted rifles was detailed as
the escort of the American commissioners,
who were to carry the treaty of Guadaloilpe.
Hidalgo from the city of Mexico, then occu-
| pied by the victorious American forces.nnder
General Winfield Scott, to the city of Quer-
etaro, for ratification by the Mexican Gov
ernment, which, driven out of t1e capital,
had taken up its quarters in that city.
Among these commissioners were Ambrose
hIh Sewer, of Arkansas. and Nathan Clifford,
Of Maine lat present q justice ofthe supreme
court ct, the United Stares). We had
whipped the Mexicans, taken their fortresses,
subdued their country, That magnificent
| empire lay at our feet. We ought to- have
| gObbled it then, q 3 we shall have to absorb
! is hereafter. The war was over. but the en-
| tire country was swept by predatory par.
| ties, and no American was safe within a few
miles Of the city of Mexico. o.s irF 1ij
The route from the capital to QuerstarO,
distant some sixty or eighty miles, was be-
set by guerillas, and the commissioners,
with their attendants, occupying several
\ handsome coaches, drawn by fine horses
could not proceed On their errand without
due military esc1t. Captain Andy Porter
was, ,as have said. in command, and was
selected ss surgeon, no doubt because
| liked him and he liked me-. Before starting
] very tlpe-looking filly was set apart for
| ME for you must recollect gentlemen,
! that we laid under contribution the best
animals the vicinage could afford. | am
/ iond Of good horse. and you can imagine
! my displeasnre when L saw that the animal
that had BEEN assigned me was considered
too light hy the owner, who came to me
saying: u DIR. Reyburn, You have long
Journey before You, aud would not like tc
find your horse lame. ! have, therefore
! brought with me a handsome roadster
capable Of carrying You comfortably. Asl
iui the owner OF both, and as you would be
certain to destroy the illly by your heavy
weight, without helping yourself, why moi
ttake the easy and safe roadster, and there
! by subserve your own comfort and my in.
terests?" ~u...tI g '..'ifi4 .,i
! Csptivated By the candor of NV friend
and not knowing that his only object was
selfish, and, above all, not knowing that the
roadster, rs he called it, had been an old
campaigner, gladly mounted him, and the
cortege proceeded on its way, headed by
Captain Porter. TWAS beautiful day, and
our course ran through o picturesque
country. The commissioners were happy,
command in good order, the surgeon THAI
Is MYSELF in the rear-none happier than
| our gallant leader. and none more perfectly
at ease than myself. But you must recol
i'lect, gentlemen, that make no professions
to intrepidity the fact ISL suspect lam q
coward at any rate always kept myself
in the rear of my valor. In the midst OF
our pleasantries We heard the ring of the
bugle in the front, then the quick roll Of
drums, and now and then dropping shot.
1, of course, regarded this as among the
pyrotechnics of the journey, but as the
, noise proceeded felt quick tremor of my
horse and noticed strange movement OF
his ears, till at last the firing became more
brisk, and the rolling Of the drums and the
blasts OF the bugle more frequent, when ne
became upgovernable until I lost all con-
troll, and he burst ahead with me, past the
commissioners, past the escort, past the
gallant Captain Andrew Porter-Hhen, to
my horror, l found stretched acrsss the
road large body OF Mexicans, arms in
hand, resolved to dispute our passage. Y on
may we'll imagine my CONSERVATION, 40
hlfNcver having set squadron in the field
y 9. Nor the division OF Q battle knew, .n
| More Than spinster!" f..
Conceive my feelings when saw myself,
siBg.c-handed and alone, without an effort
of my own. and certainly without my con-
sent, facing the enemies OF my country ;
/ yet, judge of my retef when, supp0sing me
I 10 be the advance guard of q charging col
ump. they divided on both sides of the road
and fed up the hills leaving the way unob-
structed. never was In the same Danger
before, and yet cannot express to you my
! relief at the escIpe when drawing In my
veteran charger, he having accomplished
his work, quietly turned back to the es-
, cort feeling somewhat like an unconscious
oonqHerer, yet usprepared for the salute l
received from my good Captain, Andrew
Porter, who was scarcely able to articulate
between his amusement at my unexpected
.cours &C and his rage at the loss of a chance
| to distinguish himself "'What, in God g
name did you mean ?'i Why, sir, did you
dare to leave your position In the rear and
attack the enemy in the front?n Who gave
you orders TO charge ~ Are you aware that
lyou spoiled fine chance for my men to un-
| load their muskets, and rid the road Of set
I Of internal scoundrels who are violating the
truce between the two nations z" 'WeH,
sir,1n was my respectful reply to ny good
friend Andy, "all have to say Is. that you
must not accuse me Of courage l make no
jpretensions to it; Am not fighting man ;
! / am simply Doctor Reyburn OF New Or
leans, and ii / have shown anything like
pluck ON this occasion you must attribute il
| to the Internal Mexican who was afraid to
allow me the use of his good horse, and
Wlio put upon me ON old cavalry charger
| without giving me notice, in advance that
| he would be sure to respond to the first
\ bugle. call or rouse ut the, first tap, of a
| t1rGni'n You may imagine, for cannot
describe, the effect OF this story told BY the
Mo- vsfoJ ~