The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-01-17
RosEBURG. OREGON, SATURDAY, JANUARY II.
Colonel Jack Hays Men.


The Indiana Register, in February,
1913, published series of letters from
Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Dumont,
Fourth Indiana Volunteers. One of
them we find in copy of the New Or
leans Delta, of February l3, lS48, in our
possession, containing the following ex-
ceedingly graphic and interesting de-
scription of the entrance of Col. Jack
Hays Texas Rangers into the city of
Mexico:
''Well, yes, I was about telling you
how the Rangers came to town. They
rode-some sideways, some standing up
right, some by the reverse flank, some
faced to the rear, some on horses, some
on asses, some on mustangs. and some
on mules. Here they came, rag-tag and
bob-tail, pell-mell, helter-skelter. The
head of one covered with slouched hat,
that of another with towering cooked
hat, and third bare-headed, whilst
twenty others had caps made of the skins
of every variety of wild and tame beasts.
The dog, the cat, the bar, the coon, and
the wildcat, had for this purpose all
fallen a sacrifice, willing sacrifice, on
the express condition that not one hair
of their tails should be touched; that is
to say, / suppose it must have been on
this condition, for each cap had tail
hanging to it, and the very tail, too, i
am keen to swear, that belonged to the
original owner of the hide. / fancy even
now that / hear the last request of that
same old coon, which was, 'Oh, spare
that tailf This dying injunction has not
been forgotten. His tail is still where
nature placed it, and will there re-
main. But l am wandering. The sub
ject upon which / started was the Texas
Rangers, and find that I am on the sub
ject of coons To return. A nobler set
of fellows than these same Texan latter
demalions never unsheathed q sword in
their country's cause, or offered up their
lives on their country's altar Young
and vigorous, kind, generous, and brave,
they have purposely dressed themselves
in such garb, as to prove to the world
at glance that they are neither regulars
nor volunteers common, but Texas Ran
gers-as free and unrestrained as the air
they breathe, or the deer in their own
native wildwood
Many condemned them on sight, for
the world is prone to Judge man by his
coat. But by correct department and
marked propriety, during their stay at
this place, they won rapidly upon the es-
TEEN of those who had condemned them
in advance.
Before they left, they accompanied
General Lane to Matamoras, and fought
that battle, and as usual came off first
best, with the loss of but one man. /
have described the entrance of Hays reg
iment into this town, and will now tell a
little of what took place ON their arrival
at the city of Mexico
Hays men entered the City of the
Aztecs and approached the Halls of the
Montezumas, as at this city, the subjects
of universal curiosity. The sides of the
streets were lined with spectators of every
hue and grade, from Major General of
the North American Army to Mexican
beggar. Quietly they moved along. Not
a word was spoken. They seemed uncon-
scious that they were the observed
of all observers. The trees in
their own native forests would
have attracted as much of their
attention as they seemed to bestow upon
anything around them They seemed to
say, we have seen men, and been in
cities before The difference between
their entry into the city and that which
own. 1t is said that a real gentleman is
as much at home in one place as another
in the bear-dance and the hoe-down, as
well as in the Kings palace In each
place, they acted their part well. In this,
it was to play the part of bull at fair
Ito show more courage than conduct.
There, as the sequel proves, it was to
show both courage and conduct This.
tf lNsa{ {hkal 10,
the other the Kings palace
After entering the city, they had pro-
ceeded some distance without being mo-
Tested; but the temptation at length be-
came too great for Mexican to with
stand, and one standing upon the side
walk threw stone at the head of one of
the Rangers. AS usual with the Mexi-
cans, he oyershot the mark. and took off
the cap instead of the head of his in
tended victim. Never was guilty act
more instantly punished. 1t was the last
stone he ever threw--for, quicker than
thought, u flash was seen, a report was
heard, and the offender fell dead. A flash
of lightning from the Eternal Throne
could not have more speedily called him
to account. The Ranger quietly replaced
the pistol in his belt, reclaimed his cap,
and rode on. Ere long. another stone
was thrown and another greaser launched
into eternity. During all this time no
noise was heard, no disturbance was per-
ceivable, the column never halted. and
the ranks were not broken.
Information soon reached Scott that
two Mexieans were killed as Hays en-
tered the city. Having exerted himself
to suppress all disorder and prevent all
outrages, the commanding general was
extremely wrathy, and despatched an or
der for Colonel Hays to appear instantly
before him. In five minutes tall, gen.
tlemanly young man stood before the
commander-in-chie of the American
army, and accompanying the word with
the proper salute, thus addressed him;
4, sir, am Colonel Hays, commander
of the Texan Rangers, and report
myself to you in accordance with an or
der just received General Scott re-
piled L have been informed, sir, that
since the arrival of your command in
this city two Mexicans have been killed.
/ hold you, sir, responsible for the acts
of your men. l will not be disgraced,
nor shall the army of my country be, by
such outrages I require you, sir, to say
whether my information is correct, and
if so, you will render me satisfactory
explanation. Your information, replied
Colonel Hays, is correct, General.
The Texas Rangers are not in the
habit of being insulted without resenting
it. They did kill two Mexicans as en-
tered the city, and I, sir. am willing to be
held responsible for it. The manner in
which this was said, and the whole bear.
ing and department of Colonel Hays was
so sincere, frank and manly, that none
could have doubted his own belief that
his men had done right. The Generals S
wrath began to abate, and desiring the
Colonel to be seated, he requested a full
statement of the facts. They were de-
tailed to him. - Washington Kedettc.