The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-01-23
Colonel Jack Hays Men.

Colonel Jack Hays Men.
The Indiana Register, in February,
| 1848, 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 13, 1S48, 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 a towering cooked
hat, and a 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 sacrifice, a willing sacrifice, on
tle express condition that not one hair
of their tails should be touched; that is
to say, I 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. I fancy even
| now that hear the last request of that
same old coon, which was, 'Oh, spare
that tailp This dying injunction has not
been forgotten. His tail is still where
nature placed it, and will there re-
main. But am wandering. The sub
ject upon which started was the Texas
Rangers, and find that am on the sub
ject of coons. 70 return. A nobler set
of fellows than these same Texan latter
demalions never unsheathed a 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.
3'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
little of what took place on their arrival
at the city of Mexico.
tHays' 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
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
I now describe was a mere freak of their
own. It is said that q real gentleman is
as much at home in one place as another
well as in the Kings palace. In each
place, they acted their part well. In this,
it was to play the part of a bull at a fair
to show more courage than conduct.
There, as the sequel proves, it was to
show both courage and conduct. This,
with them, was to he the bear dance, and
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 a stone at the head of one of
the Rangers. As usual with the Mexi-
cans, he overshot the mark, and took off
| the cap instead of the head of his in
| tended victim. Never was a guilty act
more instantly punished. It was the last
stone he ever threw-for, quicker than
thought, 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.
ssInformation soon reached Scott that
two Mexicans 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-c chief of the American
army, and accompanying the word with
the proper salute, thus addressed him:
I z, 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 4 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. will not be dis Faced,
nor shall the army of my country q, by
such outrages. I require you, sir, % say
Ylhather my information is correct, and
repder me q satisfactory