Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-08-28
i TALE OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
BY SUSAN ARCHER WEISS.

It was shortly after the battle of Cerro
Gordo that the department, under Gen
eral Twiggs. to which my brigade was
attached, found itself near Contreras,
IN the vicinity of the Mexican General
Valencia, in command Of five thou
sand troops. E.
Here, on the Goth of August, an &C
ton took place, resulting IN no decided
advantage to either side. We held our
ground, however, and during the night
two of our best brigades crept, upper
ceived by the enemy. through darkness,
mud and rain, close up to the rear of
their camp, and there lay concealed be-
hind the clay "barancas until daylight
enabled us to make an attack.
The MeXicans, not expecting us from
this quarter. were thrown into confu-
sion, and before they could bring their
artillery to bear upon US, we were over
the . barancas and in the midst of
them. -....-
The action lasted exactly twenty
minutes. At the end Of that time. the
main body of our troops having rein
forced US, we had captured thirty can
non, and nearly one thousand prison
ers, and were following full speed after
the retreating Mexicans. -
They, however, were our superiors IN
retreat, and we were soon dlstanced.
AS we Numbered down declivity upon
the village of Los Angeles. we saw the
last Of them crossing the rapid little
river of Pedregal, on the road to Mexico
City, near which we knew that the main
l1l &c TO +bo,,
lying Obeying the order, we drew
rein, and contented ourselves for the
time with our victory and the possession
of Los Angeles. -
The day was hot and oppressive.
The soldiers, wearied with the fight and
the long pursuit, threw themselves
down in the shade of the houses to rest
and sleep. .....-.s
Not an inhabitant of the village APP
peared on the streets. The heavy doors
of the dwellings were closely secured,
and though the windows were open,
their iron bars protected them from
intrusion. -
From many of these bars were hung
the flags of various nations French,
German, Spanish and Portuguese-sig-
nifying that the inmates were foreign
ers, and therefore entitled to our re-
spect. From the houses of the Mexi-
cans, white banner the. emblem OF
peace-prOtruded.
Through the bars we could occa-
sionally see forms moving to and fro;
and at length, when it seemed to be I'M
derstood that pillage was not intended
by the American troops. a few persons,
chiefly women, began timidlv to show
themselves at the windows, actuated 10y
that curiosity which, in their sex, is said
to be stronger than fear .si. t.~... --.
[ at this time held the rank of first
lieutenant, and, with a brother g sub -
was seated ia the shade CT tree, re-
freshing myself with a few morsels OF
food-the first / had tasted in twenty
four hours. AS we bivouacked, | per
ceiyed my captain approaching, his left
arm slung In his scarf, and his empty
sleeve hangingloose from his shoulder
He was little pale, but greeted Us
cheerfully, and assured as that his
wound was "of no consequence
bullet fesh-wound merely" He had
received it early inthe action, but hay
ing his sword-arm safe, had hastily
bandaged the wound, disdaining to leave
the field till 1T was won. -
He, like myself, was a young man
not over four-and twenty, and was brave