The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-05-28
HISTORICAL.
A Valuable Contribution to the
History of the Mexican War.
Interesting Extracts From the
Diary of Saline County
Volunteer.


historical interest to the state Of Mis-
souri,. and Saline county in particular.
The note by the author written on the
fy leaf correctly indicates the charac-
ter of its contents and is as follows:
Twelve months in the service
Notes of an expedition to the provinces
of New Mexico under command OF
Brig. Gen. kearney in 1916. Writ
ten ny John Sheridan. volunteer from
Saline county, NJ. under come and
of John W. Reid"
The book is In fair condition but
the greater portion was written il: blue
ink and has faded until almost illesi-
BILE, a part however 10 black ink Is as
bright and clear as the day it was in
scribed. 1t is an account OF the daily
transactions of the company from the
time il left Saline county until its re-
turn ~ months later. From its pages
a BAzoo reporter CLEANED the follow
interesting account of the battle near
Ell Paso on Christmas day 1916.
"Adjutants Decourcy and Caldwell
galloped into camp i"quiring the reas-
on of the large dust now seen for the
first time. Horsemen galloped down
returning breathless, and reported the
Mexican army approaching by thous-
ands. The bug'es bowed, Decourcy
gailoped up and then down shouting
"companies, fall in afoot! fall in
atoot !" The first impulse was to make
for the horses, but the adjutant's COM
mand. "faIl in afoot,' must be obeyed.
Capt. Reid was down watering his
horse galloped up; commanded every
man who had horse at hand to sai-
die it up. |, among the rest, had my
horse tied near mounted and formed
a squad of Is men in rear of the line
of infantry, being all the mounted
man that could be got.
The right wing of the liue was
formed in mesquite bushes extending
up from the river. In the lett wing
there was only two or three compa-
mics, HUI sons being in the extreme
left. "A company next.
The Mexicans f rned their line
mile and half off 10 the mesquite
bushes and sand hills that overlooked
our Camp. After forming the line, a
soldier bearing black flag came to
our camp. On being asked his bust
ness, he stated that his commander
wanted to talk with ours. He was told
if be would come half way he would
r be met by our commander. He said
No." he wanted him to 60 to the
Mexican camp. He was told the
colonel would not 60. He stated they
would bring him in. Caldwell
- told him to come on /;
we were waiting. He stated
there should be no quarter shown,
or none expected. He returned to
his camp.
Then there was awful suspense for
a half hour Many thinking the
time had come when they were to
die. Looking at the vast line of the
Mexican army then turning to the
small front we presented, with the
knowledge that half of our regiment
was behind then looking at the
small squad of mounted men we had,
might have struck many a heart with
terre-, but no, far different WAS the
aspect SHOWN by our men, laughing
and cracking their jokes. Some cry
ing out, "Give me a chew of tobacco.
If must die, let me die with a good
chew in nv mouth"
At length they could be seen max
ing a movement along the edge of the
sand hills as if for a charge. After
divesting themselves of every article
OF incumbrance, some of them dis
mounting, their bugIes sounded the
charge. They charged, and such a
charge (?) even Murat might have
envied it. They scattered out in a
half NILE of our line, and as they
fired, they would advance prancingly,
but slow. After firing three or four
rounds, they were within about 100
yards of our line, and not showing a
disposition 10 come closer, our left
wing fired upon them. Then could
be seen horses falling and men dis
mounting faster than they ever did
before.
As they charged, we could hear
them shouting, "Beuno heuno I" but
after We fired, | reckon they shouted
different. A party of forty of them
charged over to the wagons. but the
wsgoners and assistant wagoners fired
on them and killed couple.
Col. Doniphan then ordered Capt.
Reid to charge, then our hearts beat
high as Reds manly voice shouted
"PIatoon, right wheel, charge!