San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-03-08
written for the Fskr Pass,
OF a Texas Veteran--.The
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
pY O. RRHARD.
[Copyrighted.l
XIV.

ing we were marched out, and ordered by
the Me1icans to go double file, the Mexi-
can guard being on both sides of us. We
reached the first day little stream called
by the MeIicnns the Pajarito, (Small Bird)
At this camp we were well fed on beef and
mutton, but bread we were furnished none;
we ei.hsr had 10 bup it for money. or bar
ter for it for such things as we had to trade
off.
We were treated kindly and literally for
some three days, when wo received an or
der from the Mexican commander, that after
night we no longer could approach our
wagons to get articles belonging to us to
barter of for bread; the excuse was that the
Mexican volunteers had to furnish their
own PROVISIONS, and that they might suffer
for want of it.
Our wagons thereafter were guarded, and
ON striking camps we no longer had access
to them.
Next came an order to search our pockets
for knives; while the soldiers did that they
also robbed us of money and such yaluables
as we had then in our possession.
While this order was in force, /, after
night. partly from loneliness, strayed out
of our prescribed limits. and it being pretty
dark, I accidentally came upto one of our
guard. He discovered that had my head
covered with large gingham handkerchief
and took fancy to it.; he by signs made me
know that he would give me for it five large
dried biscuits. Iagreed to the bargain. as
bread then was more of dainty to me than
confectioner's fixings. But here arose
another quandary in my mind 1 did not
know the sentry, nor did he me, for dark
it was, but we got along. He motioned me
to stand where he was, and ho gave me up
his musket to stand guard in his place,
signing that he would go to his camp and
bring the bread, which he did. Now was
he not pattern of sentinel? 1t was the
custom of tho Mexican picket and camp
guard to sing out at intervals of about half
an hour, in very drawling. half inhuman
voice, their watcnword, "Sentinela alerta," ="
Guard be on the alert). This dismal SEN
tence would start perhaps mile off, the
next sentinel would repeat it in few min
utes afterwards, till it went all the round, to
be repeated some half hour afterwards, in
the same round.
Now stood guard at the post the Mexi-
can assigned me. I heard that doleful
watchword coming near me; it soon would
have been time for me to repeat it-but
then by my brogue, if I bad initiated it,
they would have thought something was
rotten in camp; if discovered, I as well as
the sentinel might have been ordered to be
shot, for Mexicans have but short trials
either in military or civil cases.
But nay man came In time, he gave me
five large hard baked loaves of bread. /
snatched my handkerchief off my head and
gave it to him, for was in a hurry, be-
cause by some camp fire had burnt hole
in one corner, which he did not discover,
for it was hid by the good portion of the
remainder.
made my way to camps, and after eat
ing part of the bread, and saving the bal
ance for next day, I went soundly and hap
PLY to sleep.
had no mishap about my trade, for it
being dark when it was made the sentinel
next day did not recognize me, to prove the
swindle perpetrated on him, nor did
know the party whom had duped.
Now 1 am really at loss, why our guard
kept up that dismal twang of ''Sentinela
alerta." Was it to keep them awake, or like
children in the dark afraid, to call on some
one to relieve them from fear?
Our valiant sentinels, O mongrel of half
Indians, more ignorant than the former
southern slaves, poorly clad, badly armed,
and even ignorant of using FIRE arms, the
majority of our guard having only bows,
arrows and lances, why they could have
been easily overpowered, for by their watch
word either Indians or other civilized foes
could have ascertaiaed their position. No
better sign board for traveller would have
been needed to direct them to camps and 10
eyade the guard.
However I must say that after VIC leftNeT
Mexico. our future guards were better arm
ed. and had more military tactics, than TO
sing out the everlasting cry through all
night '-Sentinela Alerta."
/ have heard il camps wolves howl. slsO
/ In the woods the voices Of VARIOUS Uiid ami
mails. The dismal screech Of the owl bat
Tat horrible tuang Of the Me1icaa watch
vcr5, apparently stiH rings IN ny ears.