Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-09-08

plush, while the brlm is covered with the
tips and eyes of pheasant's feathers made
to be also in as skin-like way as possible.
Not a little of last Winters aggressiveness
will be retained as in keeping perhaps with
the dude collars, fronts, and ties that have
had such immense success.
RosALIND MAY.
A Mexican Brigadier and Governor.
SAN DIEGO, TEX, Aug. 81, 1885.
Editor Of The Spcctator:-
During last Winter, the writer was visit
ing at Monterey, Mexico, and frequently
observed the Governor and passed by his
mansion, and since living here has found
place, from whom the writer has learned
seme facts, together with these of his own
knowledge, and with few scraps of histo-
ry will be able to give partial description
and short sketch OF the Governor of Nuevo
Leon (new lion), Brigadier-General Bernar-
do Reyes, that may be of interest to your
readers. The Governor lives at the seat of
Government of the State, at Monterey,
(meaning in English '.King Mountain) and
the writer may here add that al the names,
or nearly all the Mexican names, have a
meaning. For instance, ''San Diego" in
English means ''St. James," and "Reyes"
means "kings,' &c., and as for a descrip-
tion of Monterey, her Black Fort, her Bish-
ops Palace, her wonderful cathedrals, her
beautiful scenery, &C., the writer may give
you in some future letter, unless war be de-
clared between the United States and Mex
leo, and the black bean comes to him.
Monterey and the State of Nuevo Leon
are the headquarters of Mexican brag.-
There has always been, at least for a num-
Der of years, a party there Systematically
teaching hostility to the United States, and
there are American adventurers who have
done good deal to increase this feeling
All this has very much to do with the po-
litical disturbances in Nuevo Leon and on
the border.
Mexico is still a confederation rather
than national
UNION,
and each State claims to be able to govern
herself and quite frequently attempts to
throw off the federal power, hence the nu-
merous conflicts; and not seldom do the
State laws of the several States arise in op-
position to the federal laws. There has
been for years a strong and vigorous tend
ency to the modification of the confedera-
tive forms, and towards the growth of
more distinctly national federation. Presi-
dent Diaz and the executive power
ing and sentiment. Gen. Reyes is with the
President in this matter. All the cid order
land, trade or church influences-are do
ing the reverse. None are likely to be scru-
pulous in their methods of resistance or at
tainment, but the necessity of the situation
lends justification to the President, as we'll
as Gen. Reyes, in their endeavors to hold
together and unity the republic; but my OBJ
ject is to write of one of the
GREATEST GENERALS
of Mexico since the days of Cortes. He ia
tall, with black hair and eyes, hair mixed
with gray enough to give him dignifed
appearance, heat in dress, gentlemanly in
manners, easy in conversation, and is de-
scendant of one of the best families of Mex
leo. He is rather a young man, having
been born in 1850, and is feared by many
and admired by more-hardly loved by any;
for such thing only seems to exist in
name in this country. Many of his snces-
tors and members of his family have dis
tinguished themselves in the cause of war,
of liberty, and progress of the Mexican ma
tion. When the General was boy, he, Of
course, was taught the use, at an early day,
of firearms and military toys, and the
knowledge of horseback. riding, and at the
age of twelve be left his studies, that of the
profession of civil engineering, with the OBJ
ject of going to join the army against the
French, who occupied Mexican soil then
but the little experience he had, on account
of his age, compelled him to change his
mind. However, the young future General
and Governor could not be held down, and
shortly afterwards, while on his way to
join the forces of Gen. Regules in the Mi
choacan mountains, he was
ARRESTED,
in company with another young man by
the name of Jose Corona, by an advance
guard of the Mexican troops, which we're in
advance of the Imperial Government,
whose principal commander, Gen. Berua,
whom he was taken before, on seeing the
tender age of the young soldiers, in charge
keep them prisoners-that they might be
DISCHARGED
and go to their homes; that there were
enough strong, brave men in Mexico to
like them, when young Reyes replied, Con
ly give us show" which so pleased the
General that before year had passed he
had obtained, or rather assigned, position
of ensign to Reyes in the Republican forces
in the State of Zacatecas.
This letter will be limited to onlya
FEW OF REYEs's aRANDEsT ACTS,
as space will allow only Of those for which
he deserves most praise.
In the city of Queretaro, in 1867, when
he was only II years old, at battle fought
at that place, he received sword-wound in
his forehead. He kept his place in the
ranks, however, as if nothing had happen
ed, and by his dauntless courage his cop1-
mand gained complete victory. For this
he was made Lieutenant.
THREE YEARS AFTERWARDS,
when the young lieutenant was only twen-
ty years old, in 1870, when Gen. Pedro
Marines and Gen. Garcia de la Cadena
fought the memorable battle of Ovejo,
against Gen. Donate Guerra, and captured
the strong, fortified city of Zacatecas, the
following story is told of our hero and veri-
fed by the discharge of the Captain and
the placing of Lieut.. Reyes in his stead:
Lieut.. Reyes, then under this certain
Captain (who was afterward shot), while
making explorations, were in camp, when
the enemy came suddenly upon them. The
Captain took flight and left the camp, but
Lieut.. Reyes, instead of losing courage on
account of this,
RALLIED THE MEN
and completely routed the enemy, who
turned out to be an escort of 80 men under
Mai Gen. Antonio Jaurequi, all of whom
Reyes captured and carried to headquarters
in triumph amid great applause at the
maia camp, for which gallautry he received