The Osceola times., 1882-12-09
CAPT. MAYNE REID.
me of His Mexican War Experiences.

some of His Mexican War Experiences.
Cincinnati Commercial.
Mr.. Mayne Reid, who was placed on
the pension list the other day, and who is
now living in a very quiet way near a
little English town in straitened circum-
stances, writing snarling letters about
his neighbors to New York paper, in
stead ofthe thrilling fctions which has
made him well known to the boys of the
world, was gay youth when he was
younger. He is described by men who
knew him before the Mexican war as a
dashing, somewhat reckless, handsome
young Englishman with a hot temper.
He went to the Mexican war in the New
York volunteer regiment commanded by
Gen. Ward Burnett. who was himself
pensioned last year. Reid knew some
thing about soldering, and having found
favor in the eyes of his colonel, was APP
pointed lieutenant and placed in COM
mand of company at Pueblo, Mexico,
=. here the American army halted for a
time Lieut.. Reid, while reproving one
of the men in his company became very
much heated and ran his sword through
the mans body. The man died the same
night. Lieut.. Reid's grief was almost un-
controllable. The feeling against him,
despite the fact that he had provocauon
for the act, was very strong in the regi-
ment. A soldier and a slave were not
SYNONYMOUS to an American army in
those days, even in the mouths of officers.
If the regiment had not moved with The
rest of army toward the city of Mexico
the next day, Lieut.. Reid would have
been court-martiaied and might have
been shot. As ii was he marched forward
with heavy heart On the night the
army reached the field of Chepultepec,
Lieut.. Wilcox, West-Pointer, on Gen.
Qmtmans staff, afterwards a major gem
eral in the Confederate army and now
employed in the clerks office of the
United States senate, who had already
manifested his sympathy with Lieut.. Reid
in many WAYS, rode over TO where the
New York regiment was lying and call
ing up his friend told him that on the
morrow storming party of volunteers
and regulars was to be sent to the forts
on the heights, and urged him to apply
for permission to 90 with il, that he
might wash away the blood on his hands
with the blood of the Mexicans, at the
worst diving bravely in the foremost of
the fight. Lieut.. Reid, his face glowing
with pleasure and his form quivering
with emotion, grasped the hands of his
friend and shaking them in his strong,
hearty way. thanked him most extrava-
gantly for his kind thoughtfulness. Will
cox galloped back 10 his headquarters
and Reid went TO bed. >.
He was sleeping more restfully than he
had slept before for weeks, when Lieut..
Wilcox came galloping back toward morn
ing and routed him out again. The smile
with which Reid met him faded away
when Wilcox said, Il am sorry to say
that none but regulars will be permitted
to 90 in the storming party to-day"
Then. as he saw Reid's face fall and the
old sorrow coming back, he went on to
saw: But think see a way by which
Won can take hand in the attack. Your
regiment will probably be set to guard
the artillery which will cover the advance
of the storming party. OF course The guns
will be silenced as soon as the stormlng
party gets within their range. That VIII
be your opportunity, -. ,
Reid's face flushed with pleasure, and
the smile came back again as his frieno
continued: Leave your men where they
stand. and run after the storming party