New Ulm weekly review., 1883-11-21
CAPT. MAYNE REID.
Some Of His Adventures in the Mexican
War. 3a

Some Of His Adventures in the Mexican
War.
The castle of Chapultepec, command
ing the great road to Mexico, was sue
cessfully stormed by our troops on the
18th of September, 1916.
Reid was in command of the grena-
der company Of New York volunteers
and detachment of United States ma
rines, with orders to guard battery
which they had thrown up. The morn
ing of the 18th was fixed for the as
sault. The batteries were ordered to
cease firing at II O o'clock, and the at
tack began.
Reid and the artillery officers, stand
ing by their guns, watched the advance
of the line with intense anxiety, which
became apprehension when they saw
that about halfway up the slope there
was halt II knew he says in his
account, s'that, if Chapultepec was not
taken, neither would the city be; and,
failing that, not a man of us might,
ever leave the valley of Mexico alive.
Asking leave of the senior engineer
officer to join the storming party with
his men, he obtained it with the words,
$50, and God be with you'll Hewas
off at once, with his volunteers and ma
rines. After quick run across the in
tervening ground, they came up with
the storming party under the brow of
the hill, where it had halted to await
the scaling ladders. cat this point"
says Lieut.. Marshall, of the 18th in
fantry, ''the fire from the castle was so
continuous and fatal that the men fall
tered, and several officers were wound
ed while urging them on. At this mo-
ment, I noticed Lieut.. Mayne Reid, of
the New York volunteers; I noticed
him more particularly at the time on
account of the very brilliant uniform
he wore. He suddenly jumped to his
feet, and calling upon those around to
follow, and without looking around to
see whether he was sustained or not,
pushed on almost alone to the very
Walls.''
Reid's action was not quite SO reck-
less as this account of an eyewitness
would make it appear. The outer wall
of the castle was commanded by three
pieces of cannon on the parapet, which,
loaded with grape and canister, fear
fully decimated the ranks of heAmer-
leans at every discharge. To advance
seemed certain death. But death seemed
equally certain whether the assailants
retreated or remained where they were.
Such is his own explanation of his con-
duct.
4'Men!'' he shouted out, in moment.
ary lull of the conflict, .sif we don't
take Chapultepeo the American army is
lost. Let us charge up the Walls!'
VOlnna nnsWprld, ;;WnWlll nhnrga if
anyone will lead us! We're readym
''Come on! I'll lead you!'' shouted
Capt. Reid, as he bravely leaped over
the scarp that had temporarily shell
tered them, and made the charge al
ready described. ~
There. was no need, he says, to look
back to see if he was followed. He
knew that his men would not have been
there, unless prepared to 60 where he
led. About halfway up, he saw the
parapet crowded with Mexican artiller-
lists, on the point of discharging vol
ley. He avoided it by throwing him
self on his face, receiving only a slight
wound in his word-hand, another shot
cutting his clothing. Instantly on his
feet again, he made, for the wall, in
front Of which he was brought down
by aMexican ounce-ball tearing through
his thigh. =..1s.s.. d.
All the testimony goes to show that
he was first before the wall of Chapulte-
pee Reid 8 lieutenant, Hypolite Oar
donville, a young Frenchman, mount
ing the scaling ladders with the fore
most, tore down the Mexican flag from
it's staff 4ra4
Before. that, however, Reid was OBJ
served by Lieut. Cochrane, Of the Vol
tigeurs. Cochrane was pushing for the
castle with his men, when before him,
scarcely ten, yards from the wall, an
officer Of infantry and a .comrade were
shot and fell. l..ss... They were the only
two at the time" he says in his state
ment, s..whom saw in advance of me
on the rock upon which we were scram-
bling. 1,a SO ses7s1 .s.f5, @ss s. e
i Reaching the wall, Cochrane. ordered
two men ''to go back "a little way and
assist the ladders up the hill. :" AS they
passed the spot where the wounded Off
Ger lay, he raised himself with evident
pain J, and sang out above the din and
rattle of musketry, .imploring the men
to stand firm:a 5
a Don't leave that WALL. he cried,
!: .:s'or we shall all be cut to pieces. Hold
on, and the castle is ours!'
2 Cochrane answered to .reassure him:
There is no danger, captain, Of our
leaving this! Never fear!', Then the
ladders came, the rush was made, and
the castle fell.
''The wounded officer,' Cochrane
continues, ''proved to be Lieut.. Mayne
Reid, of the New York volunteers. y
Lieut.. Marshall, to whom we are in
debted for that vivid glimpse Of the
young officer in "his very brilliant uni
form,'' describes the effect produced by
the exploit all those who witnessed or
knew Of it pronouncing it, without
exception the bravest and most brilliant
achievement performed by a single in
dividual during the campaign. ~. Z.
IToe06r1dge, IN st. Nicholas for Noy.