Thomas County cat., 1890-07-17
Santa Annals Coach.


esting characterA some of whom
though they may not have held higl
ipOsitiOns, still have lived and don
service with persons whose names ar
historic. When once in a talkativ
mood such persons as this can give yer,
entertaining accounts of incidents tina
are now almost forgotten. Just such
character as this is Sergt. John Wal
tiers, now one Of the watchmen at tn
state, war and navy department build
ing under Capt. Tyson, of Arctic fame
Sergt. Walters served under Capt. (af
terward GEM Sedgwick in the Mexi
can war, and was for many years th'
orderly at the headquarters of tn,
army under Cen Winfield Scott ant
was with him in Mexico. Sergt. Wal
ters was born May 5, 1921, or, as h
states, upon 'the very day that great
soldier, Napoleon Bonaparte, left thi.
world came into it." Sergt. Walter.
entered the army by enlisting in the
Second regiment of artillery, then com
manded by Col. Bankhead, Jan. 81
1916, and with that regiment went t6
Mexico.
Before the siege of Vera Cruz he was
detailed as an orderly at the headquar-
ters of Gen. Scott. When the siege
commenced he rejoined his company
and was in charge of three mortars
planted about mile from the city. The
landing was made in March, from the
9th to the 18th, and the little band OF
l2, 800 men opened trenches, threw up
breastworks and planted the mortars.
Upon the city's refusal to surrender fire
was opened, and ON the 10Th the garri-
son surrendered and the American
troops entered the walls. According
to Sergt. Walters, Gen. Scott seemed
disappointed that the force promised
him, 25,OOO men, had not been sent,
but nevertheless on April II he started
out for the City of Mexico.
At the battle of Cerro Gcrdo, April
II. Sergt. Walters says that his com.
pany-Company II, Second artillery
were on the point of tianking the Mexi-
cans when they spied the coach of
Santa Anna in a gulch not far off.
The coach had been left behind and
the Mexican chief and some half dozen
of his suite were seen nearly a mile dis
tant riding rapidly on American horses.
Duncan's battery opened fire on them.
but the Mexicans made good their es-
cape. 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 a number Of boxes of
gold and silver coin. This capture,
says Sergt. Walters, was the founda-
ton of the Soldiers hone. 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 it belonged to the
army. Consequently he turned it over
to the quartermaster's department to
be spent in providing a home in which
old and wounded soldiers could spend
the latter part of their days. To this
sum was added the amount levied on
the inhabitants of the City of Mexico
on its surrender.
Mr.. Walters says that when Gen.
Scott returned 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 the various sections of the
grounds. "As far as know" said the
old sergeant, 81 am the only man alive
who participated in the capture of that
coach. There may be others who were
in the battle, but of company II, Sec
ond artillery, l do not know single
survivor" Washington Star.