The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-03-09
A torie.l ..om.nee.

The New Albany Ledger gives this graphic
pen picture of the trouble between Gen.
and Col. Lane in Mexico, alluded to by the
SeStIAa not long since; --, ava t..-
This is mistake, as the difficulty between
these gallsnt officers occurred prior to the
battle of Buena Vista, ane while Gen. Tay-
lor's army was encamped At Aqua Nueva,
fourteen miles south of Buena Vista. The
quarrel Was brought about oy q trivial oc,
currenee. II commenced in Gen. Lanes
tent, aud in The presence of Col. B. c..
Kent of this city, Lieut.. A. L. Robinson,
al 10 the general, and several other officers.
The were engaged in the discussion of the
relative merits Of two companies of the
brigade, Gncidental to discussion with
refereoce 70 the organization Of another req
iment at the close OF the service OF the regi-
ments then in the servicel, Gen. Lane cham
pioDing Capt. Sanderson'. company, OF the
second regiment, of this city, while Col.
Lane was equally enthusiastic in regard to
the qualities of the company of Capt. Ford,
OF the third regiment, of Madison, this
State. b Ith of these companies were excee
lent, ana it WAS the utmost difficulty ~ de
eide which WAS really the better of the two.
During the discussion, the Lanes became
very much excited and something aroused
the General TO such pitch that he deemed
1t necessary to fight it out then and there,
and, reaching to his camp chest, produced
a pair of very excellent dUeling pistols, and
handing them toward Col Lane, ssked him
to take his choice. The latter endeavored
to secure one of the pistols, but the parties
were separated by Lieut.. Robinson and
Others, when Col. Lane withdrew from the
t n. Both of these officers were highly ex-
asperated, and were with difficulty pre-
vented from laying violent hands on each
other. This occurred in the afternoon, near
the time for the usual dress parade of the
several regiments. When the third regi-
ment was assembled to the parade ground,
ready for the exercise, Col Lane being pres
ent, Gen. Lane came down the iae of tents
with an old-fashioned rifle on his shoulder,
and called upon the Colonel to arm himself,
for he had cpme to demand satisfaction for
the insult offered him in the tent. Col.
Lane promptly directed one of the color
guards to load his gun with ball cartridge,
which was done dt once. In the meahtine,
intelligence had been conveyed to Major j..
A. Cravens, of the second Indians regi-
ment, who was officer of the day, and he at
once repaired to the parade ground and ar
rested the two officers, just as they were
about to take their places for an exchange
of shots. wv ''-- ''' '''.
Their swords were surrendered and sent
by Major Cravens to Gen. Wool's head
quarters. 1t was very fortunate that Maj "
Cravens was SD prompt In action, for there
is no doubt but that one or both of these
officers would have been killed, both being
men of courage and at the hire exasperated
to the highest degree. Nor would the feud
have ended there, for the members of the
second regiment were devotedto Gen. Lqne,
and looked upon him with the reverence
usually bestowed upon a father and conf
| dence as a commander. During the excite
ment in the camp previous to the arrest,
many of the members of the second regi-
ment seized their arms, loaded them, and
were prepared to take hand lnthe defense
of the General, and, no doubt, if he had
fallen, would have sought revenge in an at
| tempt to take the life of Col. Lane. The
devotion of the second regiment to the
| General was no greater than the love and
| admiration of the third for their chivalrous
colonel, and they would have sought the
| life of Gen. Lane had their ircomniander been
| killed. These were they feelings that per
vaded the camp in these two regiments al
the time. These events occurred in the
early part of February, and the two officers
| made no effort to reconcile their differences,
nor would they permit their friends to inter
| fere. They both remained under arrest un
| til the evening OF, the twenty first of Febru
airy, when Gen. Wool sent their swords {
promoted to major-general, with the info
nation that he presumed they would have
an opportunity within few days of draw
ing them on a common enemy, it then being
known to Gen., Wool that Santa Anna was
advancing on his position from the San Luis
road, and that conflict would occur within
| forty eight hours, which was realized in the
| famous battle of Buena Vista, where less
I than five thousand American volunteers put
| to flight trained army of twenty-five thou
sand Mexicahs. Shortly after the battle,
and while the army was encamped at the
rancho of Buenna Vista, the former friendly
relations of these two officers were re-estab
| lished, aud continued until the second and
| third regiments returned to their homes
| They were frequent visitors to their several
quarters, and those then best acquainted
with them would never have dreamed that
the former bitter -feud -existed.--sIt is no
true that Gen. Lane refused TO recognize thu
services of the third regiment in cOnse
| quence of this quarrel. There was some de
Law on the part of Col. Lane to submit hi
report to his brigade commander. but thi
was through no fault of Gem Lane, bu
arose, probably, from the fact that the colo
mel was doubtful as to what course to pur
sue in consequence of the then recent IN
pleasant relations " hich existed. But it |
untrue that either harbored any unpleasan
feelings after the battle, but were in fac
anxious that the whole matter should b
forgotten, as the oifense, if any really ex
lsied, had been forgiven Both men wer
impulsive, courageous and chivalrous, an,
when fired by areal or imaginary insul
were readily led to do that which a fe'
hours of cool reflection would cause them :
regret. When Gen. Lane bade farewell .
his brigade, near the town of Reynoso, 0
the Rio Grande, he was especially compl
mentary to Col. Lane and his command.