Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-22
MAYNE REID.
The Novelist as a Soldier in she Mexican
War-A Romantic Incident I'm
which He WAS
Aided by Con. wilcox, Tennessee Sol
dier-An Amusement for a Hasty
and Cruel Act

There 10 one InclQentln helO's me1lcdn SOL
| der life that has never appeared IN print
| and as il is remembered by many OF Reid
comrades in the Mexican war il may not b
uninteresting to recall it. Reid was lieu
tenant in . New York regiment of volun
teers, which was commanded by Col. Ware
Burnett. This regiment formed part o
Shields brigade, OF Quitman's division
SCOTS army occupied Puebla from the 18th
of Nay, 1847, until about the middle OF Au
gust of the same year, and then moved iron
the mountains into the valley Of Mexico. A
| few DAYS before the army began this forward
movement, Reid being officer Of the guard a
he barTaeks of his egImept, and having
among the prisoners one who was very uu
ruly and insubordinste, in moment OF pas
sion. and for some great and unusual provo
cation struck the prisoner with his sword
The blow was more severe than he probably
intend, d that it should be. The wound in
dIcted was 30 serious that the man died in q
very few minutes. Reid was full of conceil
aud very vain. He was fond of dress and
goried in his uniform, which was always 9
little beyond the regulations in the matters
OF gold lace and buttons His general good
nsture, lively Irish wit, and the exuberance
of his animal spirits were so great, however,
that he was a boon companion and favorite
with all who knew him. The killing OF the
prisoner could moi be justified, of course, but
great deal of sympathy felt for him. The
forward movement of the army began about
his time, aud but for this fact, probably, q
general court martial would have been Con-
veued, and Reid perhaps would have been
dismissed from the army. Soon after Scott's
army reached the Valley Of Mexico the bat
ties of Contreras and Cherubusco were
fought, in both of which Reid's regiment
TOOK part. Then followed an armistice, on
the expiration of which the battles of Mo-
lima del Rey, and, subsequently, Chepultepec
occurred.
Among the officers of the regular army
who knew Reed was Lieut.. Wilcox, abide
camp TO Maj Gen. Quitman. Wilcox was
fresh from West Point and found considera-
BILE pleasure in Reid's society. h day or two
before the attack upon Chepultepec, Wilcox,
learning that il 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 distri-
button of troops for the attack upon Chepul-
tepec, and suggested that he should volun-
teer for the stormin., party, because, If he
should volunteer and survive that service,
the unfortunate incident at Puebla would
in all probability be overlooked and for
gotten. Reid seized Wilcox's hand and
thanked him warmly for being SO mindful
unteer for the storming party and
would regard it as great misfor
tune if his services were not accepted.
The following night Wilcox heard at
headquarters that there would be no volun-
teer troops in the storming parties, but thai
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, because he had set his heart in
viping the Puebla stain off his name at
Cne pultepec. Wilcox, who sympathizrd
with him, Told him that there was still q
chance tor him. "Thtrs will be a guard,"
said Wilcox, detailed to be near the heavy
battery which will open FIRE on chapnftepse
early 10 the morning. A part OF these guards
will come from Qaitman's division, and /
will try TO have your company detailed for
that duIy.n At this time Reid was in COM
mand of his company. Wilcox then gave
Reid the following advice when the infan-
fantry advance TO the assault, our artillery
will be forced 10 suspend its ERE. Your COM
pany will no longer be required as a guard
in the rear. You must rush forward at a
run, take the shortest route, and make
every possible effort to reach the front of the
charging troops and be among the first 10
enter Chepultepec." This plan revived
held'6 Sptrlt5. Ills lace uuSneu Win e4Clte-
ment. With glistenipg and grateful eyes he
seized both of Wilcox's hands and thanked
him for his advice and for his efforts to
serve him. Reid's company was detained as
a guard to one of the heavy batteries, and
when the attack was made and the artillery
ceased to FIRE, Reid ran like deer down
across the soping hills of Molina del Rey
and reached the advance column it was
ascending the nights of ChepuItepec. He
was conspicuous for his daring and was
among the foremost when he was shot in the
thigh. His wound compelled him to use
crutch Tor a month or more. As Wilcox
predicted, the Puebla offense 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 equa-
nimity in view of the fact that he had es-
capped being court martialed. After the war
he went to England, where he won quite a
name as a writer of fiction. Lieut. Wilcox
manned in the army, and in the civil war
cast his fortunes with the South. By his
aud ability he rose 10 the Lsuk of
NJ ior-general. Alter the war he was for
several years in business in New Orleans.-
Nev On leans Times Democrat.