Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-17

IL they may not have held high posi-
M tio9', still have lived and done service
with persons whose names are his
toric. When once in a laxative mood such
persons as this can give very entertaining ac-
counts Of incidents that are now almost for
gotten. Just such a character as this is Sergt
John Walters, now one Of the watchmen
at the State, War and Navy Department build
ing under Capt Tyson of Arctic fame Sergt
Walter served under Capt. (afterward gen.
eraD Sedgewick in the Mexican war; and was
for many years the orderly at the headquarters
OF the army under Gen. Winfield Scott and was
with him in Mexico. Sergt Walters was
born May s. 1921, or, as he states, upon "the
verv day that great soldier Napoleon Bona
parte left this world 1 came into it," Sergt.
Walters entered the army by enlisting In the
second regiment of artillery, then commanded
by Col Bankhead, January 81, lS45, and with
that regiment went to Mexico.
Before the siege of Vera Cruz he was de-
tailed as an orderly at the headquarters OF Gen
Scott. When the siege commenced he reioined
his company and was in charge of three NOR
tars planted about mile from the city, The
landing made in March from the 9th to
the 18th. and the little band of 1880 men
opened trenches, threw up bresstworks and
planted the mortars Upon the city's refusal
to surrender fire opened and on the 29th
the garrison surrendered and the American
troops entered the walls According TO Sergt
Walter, Gen. Scott seemed disappointed that the
force promised him. $4,000 men, had not been
sent, but nevertheless on April IL he started
out for the City of Mexico.
THEY CAPTURED A COACH
At the battle of Cerro Gordo, April II. Sergt
Walters says that his company, company H,
second artillery. were on the point of fanking
the MeXicans when they spied the coach of
Santa Anna in gulch not far off. The coach
had been left behind and the Mexican chief
and some half dozen of his suite we're seen
nearly mile distant. riding off rapidly on
American horses. Duncan's battery opened
fire on them. but the Mexicans made good their
escape. The coach was what would now be
regarded as an old-fashioned hack, and the
harness that was still fastened to it showed
that the mules or horses had been cut loose in
hurry. In the carriage was found the wooden
leg OF Santa Anna and number of boxes of
gold and silver coin. This capture, says Sergt
Walters. was the foundation of tile Soldiers
Home. This money was very considerable, but
he does not know just how much there was.
There was some controversy at the time as
to whether the capture should be paid into the
treasury, but Gen. Scott claimed that il be-
longed to the army. Consequently he turned
1t over to the quartermasters department to
be spent III providing home i'll which old and
wounded soldiers could spend the latter part
of their days. TO this sum was added the
Mexico OH its surrender.
Mr.. Walters says that when Gen. Scott re-
turned to this city he sent for Gen. Wool and
the two went out to the present location of the
home and were shown over the place by Mr..
Riggs. 1t was not, however, until they had
sampled the iron water in the spring that they
concluded that the location was the proper
one, although they had already admired the
views from various sections of the grounds
LAS far as know, said the old sergeant, Il
am the only man alive who participated in the
capture of that coach. There NAV be others
who were in the battle, but of company H.
second artillery, L do not know single sur
vivor."
Sergt. Walters on the way to the City of
Mexico was wounded at Cherubusco and says
that after the city had capitulated Gen. Scott
accosted him IN the plaza with the result that
he was made orderly at headquarters again.
This time his appointment was permanent, for
he did not leave Gen. Scott till after his retire
ment. Then he served for short time under
Gen. Haleck. There were on Gen. Scotts
staff at the time Col. H. L. Scott, Gen. Lorenzo
Thomas, the generals son-in-law. and Lieut.
(afterward generalJ Schuyler Hamilton.
HE CLEARED THE STREET.
81 remember" said the old sergeant, ''that
while the general was writing his dispatches
in the halls of the Montezumas two shots we're
fired from house top nearby. They entered
the window and whizZed by in dangerous prox-
unity to him. The old general quietly called
Sergeant, run out the 6S-pounder and take
that street. We had two guns of that caliber
and our artillery was parked in the square
We fired two rounds and every window in that
section of the city was broken. Needless to
say there were no more shots fired at us from
that street. There was some bad feeling at
this time In consequence of charges made
against Gen. Pillow growing out of the failure
to turn over a captured Mexican gun. A court
martial convened on the case, but the
hearing was adjourned to the states.
RACE HOME.
"When the order came to return Gen. Pillow
was anxious to get back before Gen. Scott The
latter, however, started before day and rea he'd
Vera Cruz first. Taking passage on schooner
he reached New York about May 20, and all
were glad enough to get out of reach of the
dreadful black vomit which was prevailing
at Vera Cruz at the time. The headquarters of
the army then at New York but during
President FIllmore's administration Gen. Scott
had his office removed to the old War Depart
ment building"
Sergt. Walters says that during the entire
time he was with Gen. Scott he never saw him
angry. Toward his officers and men he was
one of the kindest and most affable of men, his
conduct toward them strongly contradicting his
appearance, which was such as to make one
naturally suppose him to be a man of an ex-
ceedlngiy naughty and overbearing DISPOSE