The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-10-27
THROUGH MEXICO IN '49.
A Fight With Guerrillas in a Journey
to California.
A VERY EXCITING INCIDENT.
Something About the shape Of the Moon
Ilow students arc Punished In the
'"s Naval Academy Why
PhysIciansd Not Garry Coutagiop.

On the plaza or Jalapa the hostile feeling
lganst the Yankees bad It's first outbreak.
4 great crowd gathered about the red
,hirted horsemen rs we rode into the plaza
IN Sunday, and rush was made by the
mob 10 dismount us and drive us from our
adde's. But a vigorous charge promptly
made against tie mob with threatening
evolvers drove them back and gave safe
scape % the hard pressed horsemen.
Through the villages Of the country pnrts
SO were received by the seuoras aud seno-
itas with kindness, but by the males with
rowus and threats, and with the sgnih-
SAINT gesture of finger drawn across the
throat. I'm no place were we safe from at-
ack except in groups which commanded
ufety and respect. To them In their g.
iorance we were still Yankees and sol
iados.
One night, little way beyond Jalapa,
jur entrance into one of their walled towns
aused great excitement, a general alarm
vas rung on the cathedral bells, messengers
oue out In haste 90 alarm the surrounding
laciendas, and natives flocked into the
own, two or three mounted on the back OF
zach mule, armed with escopettes But
sc remained close inside the strong gates
VI our hacienda, and, the excitement sub
"
IN attacl, early the next day
In camping for the night sentries were
stationed and pickets were posted and tho
mimals were secured with lariats inside
he picket line, but sometimes, when guer-
illas abounded, in the center Of the camp.
Once only did these ladrones make an open
demonstration. We were in section of
country covered with low bushes, in which
ackrabbits, wild turkeys and other game
we're present. No towns were near, and,
feeling secure, a large part of the company
was scattered In pursuit of the game, hop
ng to secure enough 10 I'LL our camp ket-
les on our next halt, for we had been some
lays on short rations The Mexican wom-
en- were always friendly, and presently
some were met on the trail, calling out TO
us: "I.adronesl ladrones" and pointing
forward on our path. AT this our strag-
glers were called in.
The robbers were n large band OF well
mounted and well armed men, aud had
led across our road In the bed OF an ar
roya or dry stream. To fight as troop of
cavalry, with camp equipage and cooking
Utensils dangling from our saddles, or to
wait charge from them, would have been
sure defeat. So dsmounted part of my
troop. and in platoons, at double quick,
suaFEeQ IOWdEu
fight with the hated Yankees in red
shirts was not what they desired, for. as
we came within short range, their leader
gave the word "Vamosl' and away they
galloped down the ravine helter skelter,
and we saw them no more. We certainly
we're not n handsome crowd at this time.
At National Bridge we saw the wreckage
and the unburied bones Of that battlefield,
and looked with wonder upon the fortified
height that guarded the entrance OF the al
most perpendicular heights up which Colo
nel Harney's dismounted dragons worked
their way with the help of bushes and
props, and 10 which they chung in the face
OF a sweeping fire from the Mexican bat
series on its summit, which they captured
with "A rush, turning their own guns upon
the artillerists as they ran down the oppo-
site size OF the hill. We feared having TO
force our way over this bridge, but were
not molested.
Upon the heights Of Cerro Gordo we
:amped for our MONDAY meal. Upon its
central battlefield, where Santa Anna
made his most stubborn fight, we kindled
our camphres, and, dipping water from its
sunken pools covered with Shiny green
vegetation, we drank our coffee under the
shade Of the same trees where the desper-
ately wounded lay 10 Ole, glad OF the lux
ury OF that stagnant pool TO quench their
thirst. 1t was the best those heights af-
forded amid that deathly struggle. All
around us lay scattered uncoffined bones,
and ghastly skulls looked down upon us
where i'm mockery they had been secured
among the branches Of the trees, and every
where earth and trees and broken arma-
ment gave silent witness OF the awful
struggles of our little army.
All the way up the heights for miles the
pine trees from the roadside yet obstructed
the rational road rs they had been feled
20 hinder the onward march of our soldiers,
while from point 10 point the Mexican
troops and batteries were rallied for an
other stand We left the historic spot
with n triumphant three times three and
with uncovered heads in honor both Of our
dead and our living heroes.-Colonel A. &.
Ferris in Century.