The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-07-28
The Daily Leader.
s1rOmcial paper OF the City, County, Ter
ritory and United States.
Magruder and the Guerrilla.


1t was during this campaign, and
about this time. that an incident oc.
CURED which the lecturer very humor.
ously described, but which is here
greatly abbreviated. General John B.
Magruder, of subsequent Confederate
fame, was then an officer in our army,
and plumed himself highly on his horse.
manship. One day he rode across the
square on superb black animal that
he had just bought for high price, and
came to the window by which Shields
lay, that the latter might see and ad-
| mire his purchase. The curvetting OF
the steed and the bearing of the rider
drew crowd into the square, and
presently there were thousand or
more soldiers, citizens and army fol-
lowers of all kinds, watching and
admiring "Jack Magruder" show off.
After a time, when Magruder had
stopped moment, one of the Mexicans
came up to him, patted and praised the
horse, and told the officer that he rode
almost as well as an inhabitant of the
country.
"Almost!'' Magruder cried: II can
ride as well as any Mexican. Show
me one who can ride BETTER;
Nay" said the Mexican, ''you claim
too much. You ride well, but it is
not possible that you can know our
horses quite as well as we do.''
Magruder insisted, and, growing
warm, offered to bet dozen doubloons
that he could ride his horse better than
the other could. The Mexican object
ed; said he did not like to bet and did
not like to show off his horsemanship
in public, and at last, Magruder grew
more urgent, he reluctantly consented,
and the money was put up in the hands
of another Mexican. For judges an
American was chosen by Magruder, a
Mexican by his adversary, and the two
together chose for third French
man. Then Magruder put his horse
through his PAGES, first walking around
the square, then trotting, then galloping,
and finally, putting the animal to top
speed, with magnificent burst that
drew cheers and hand-clappings from
the crowd. After few moments the
Mexican came forward for his trial.
Without touching his hands to the
animal he vaulted on his back and went
through with precisely the same per-
formance rs had Magruder, and really
proved himself the more accomplished
horseman of the two. Magruder him
self joined in the applause, and admit
ted frankly that he was fairly beaten.
The Mexican smiled and bowed, and
said: 'Now if the Senor will wait a
moment, will show him feat of
horssmanship the like of which he has
never seen."
Magruder assented. and the Mexican
rode half way round the square, and
then, putting spurs to the horse, dis
appeared in atwinkling.
"What the ID does that mean?"
said the owner of the horse.
81 only know one man who can ride
like that" said bystander, land that
is Molino."
''Molino, the guerrilla?" groaned
Magruder.
''The same, sir; l don't think you'll
ever see your horse again"
He never did, and the Mexican who
held the stakes had also disappeared,
probably one of Molino's men. Magru-
der never heard the last of this exploit
among his brother officers; and while
his vexation lasted he declared that he
was 'the biggest fool in the American
army. ''[General Shields Lecture.