Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-11-09
CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.

CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.
The announcement that a pension of S15 a
month has been granted to Capt. Mayne Reid,
the Irish novelist, now residing in England,
for services rendered and wounds received in
the Mexican war, has called out humber
of interesting notices Of Reid's life as well as
some romantic incidents connected with his
career as soldier in the American army in
Mexico. No one will regret that the name Of
Mexican veteran has been placed on the pen
sion rolls. The names of hundreds OF other
Mexican veterans ought to be there. They
are old now, and the diseases they contracted
in Mexico render them unable to earn live
lihood. They served their country well, and
they deserve this reward from their country.
There is one incident in Reid's Mexican
soldier life that has never appeared in print,
and as it is remembered by many of Reid's
comrades in the Mexican war it may not be
uninteresting to recall it. Reid was lieu
tenant in New York regiment Of volunteers,
which was commanded by Col. Ward Burnett.
This regiment formed a part Of Shields bri-
gade OF Quitman'S division. Scott's army
occupied Puebla from the 14th Of May, 1S47,
until about the middle of August of the same
year, and then moved from the mountains
into the valley of Mexico. A few days before
the army began this forward movement, Reid
being officer of the guard at the barracks OF
his regiment, and having among the prisoners
one who was very unruly and insurbordinate,
in moment of passion, and for some great
and unusual provocation, struck the prisoner
with his sword. The blow was more severe
than lie propably intended that it should be-.
The wound inflicted was so serious that the
man died in a very few minutes. Reid was
full of conceit and very vain. lie was fond
of dress and gloried in his uniform, which
was always little beyond the regulations in
the matter of gold lace and buttons. His
general good nature, lively Irish wit and the
exuberance of his animal spirits were so great,
however, that he was a boon companion and
a favorite with all who knew him.
The killing of the prisoner could not be
justified, of course, but Reid was so general
y liked that there was a great deal of SYM
pathy felt for him. The forward movement
of the army began about this time, and but
for this fact, probably, general court-martl-
al would have been convened, and Reid, per-
haps, would have been dismissed from the
army. Soon after Scott's army reached the
Valley of Mexico the battles of Contreras and
Cherubusco were fought, in both OF which
Reids regiment took part. Then followed
an armistice on the expiration of which the
battles Of Molina del Rcy, and subsequently
Chapultepec occurred.
Among the officers of the regular army who
knew Reid, was Lieut.. Wilcox, junior aid-de
camp to Major Gen. Quitman. Wilcox was
fresh from West Point and found consider
able pleasure in Reid's society. day or two
before the attack upon Chepultepc, Wilcox,
learning that it would be assaulted with two
columns, each led by storming party made
up of volunteers, rode over to the camp of the
New York regiment, called upon Lieut.. Reid,
informed him of the probable disposition of
troops for the attack upon Chepultepec, and
suggested that he should volunteer for the
storming party, because if he should volun~
teer and survive that service, the unfortunate
incident at Puebla would in all probability be
overlooked and forgotten. Ried seized Will
cox's hand and thanked him warmly for being
so mindful of him. He said he would certain
ly volunteer for the storming party and would
regard it as great misfortune if his services
were not accepted.
The following night Wilcox heard at head
quarters that there would be no volunteer
troops in the storming parties, but the men
composing them would be taken from the
regulars of the divisions of Worth and Twiggs.
The next morning Wilcox visited Reid and
notified him of the change of programme
Reid was greatly depressed at the news, be-
cause he had set his heart on wiping the Puebla
stain off his name at Chepultepec. Wilcocx,
who sympathized with him, told him that
there was still chance for him. "There
will be guard" said Wilcox, "detailed to be
near the heavy battery which will open fire on
Chepultepec early in the morning. A part OF
these guards will come from Quitman's di-
vision and will try to have your company de-
tailed for that duty" At this time Reid was
in command of his company. Wilcox then
gave Reid the following advice: "When the
infantry advance to the assault, our artillery
will be forced to suspend its fire. Your COM
pany will no longer be required as guard
in the rear. You must rush forward at
run, take the shortest route and make every
possible effort to reach the very front of the
charging troops and be among the first to
enter Chepultepec."
This plan revived Reid's spirits. His face
flushed with excitement. With glistening and
grateful ewes he seized both Of Wilcox's hands
and thanked him for his advice and his effort
to serve him. Reids company was detailed
as guard to one of the heavy batteries and
when the attack was made, the artillery ceas-
ed to fire. Reid ran like a deer down across
the slopng hills of Molina del Rey and reach
ed the advance column as it was ascending
the heights Of Chepultepec. He was conspc-
uOus for his daring and was among the fore
most when shot in the thigh. His wound
compelled him to use a crutch for month
or more.
AS Wilcox predicted the Puebla offence
was passed over in silence Reid enjoyed to
the fullest extent the notoriety and popularity
which his conduct at Chepultepec gave him.
He suffered considerable pain from his wound
for awhile, but he could afford to bear the
pain with equanimity in view OF the fact that
he had escaped being cOurt-martialed. After
the war he went to England, where he won
quite lame as a writer of fiction. Lieut..
Wilcox remained in the army, and in the
civil war cast his fortunes with the South.
BY his courage and ability he rose to the rank
of Major General After the war he was for
several years in business in New Orleans.
ABOUT NEWSPAPERS.
The following is from an article by a. IL.
Deskins, in the Metuchen, New Jersey En-
quirer: