The National tribune., 1882-03-25
MCoL, BENNY RoRERTs.u

There are enough good stories current con-
cerning this gallant officer to fill a volume
He was appointed captain in the Mounted
Rifles in 1847, and with his regiment partic-
pated in the battles Of Cerro Gordo, Contre-
ras, Churubusco, and at the storming of
Chepultepec, where his valor was so conspic-
uous as to procure for him the brevet rank
of major. For his part in the assault and
capture of the City of Mexico, actions at
Tlascalla and Matamoras and at the Pass of
Galaxara he was breveted lieutenant
colonel. With the exception of four years
duty in the Typographical Bureau at Wash
ington from 1850 to 1854, he was stationed
on the Frontier from the close of the Mexi-
can war until the outbreak of the rebellion,
by which time he had reached the rank of
major and brevet colonel for gallant conduct
in the battle of Valverde New Mexico
July 10Th he was made brigadier-general of
volunteers and served with credit during
the war of the rebellion. being breveted
maior-general of volunteers for gallantry at
Cedar Mountain and Manassas. The fol-
lowing anecdotes, related to the writer by
one of General Robertss old companions in
arms, are too good to be lost.
HOW THE THIEVES WERE HUNG
Capt. Benjamin S. Roberts, of the Mounted
Rifles, was stationed at Ringgold Barracks,
Texas, in 1856. One day, two men who had
robbed the church in Camargo, Mexico, of a
quantity of silver plate, crossed the Rio
Grande, and stole two United States horses
on which to make their escape. They were
captured by troops at the post and brought
into camp. The silver was taken from them
and they were carried before a magistrate
and put on trial for the theft of the horses,
During the trial the fact of the robbery at
Camargo came to light and the magistrate
insisted that it should be brought into court
and charges preferred against them for that
ofense. To this Captain Roberts demurred.
preferring to send the silver back to the
padre and secure their punishment on the
charge of horse stealing, a much moro helm
ous offense. The magistrate examined the
statutes carefully and at length decided that
the theft of United States property was not
an offense punishable by the laws of Texas.
"Then do you mean to say" said Roberts,
"that you are not going to try these men ?"
"Yes, SIR" said the magistrate; "they can
go, for there is no law to punish them"
"And they are free?"
ayes, sir, as free as yourself"
Motioning to his sergeant, he gave him
some order in low tone and resumed his
conversation with the magistrate, thus re-
tanning the prisoners for sometime longer.
At length they were discharged from arrest,
and were passing out Of the house when the
sergeant tapped them on the shoulder and
requested their presence at headquarters
On their way they passed huge live-oak
tree with wide spreading branches, from one
of which two ropes were dangling. A group
Of soldiers were lounging near by, and in a
trice the two thieves were dancing on
nothing" One of the ropes broke, and the
half choked wretch darted into the chapparel.
Fire." commanded the sergeant, and the
man was soon brought back covered with
blood Instead of finishing their work, the