The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-10-14
A Eight WITH euERRlLLAs.
Incidents of a Journey to California
Through Mexico in 1S49.

Incidents of n Journey to California
Through Mexico in 1S49.
On the plaza of Jalapa the hostile1eeling
against the Yankees had its first outbreak.
A great crowd gathered about the red
shirted horsemen rs we rode into the plaza
on Sunday, and rush was made by the
mob to disnlount US and drive us from our
saddles But vigorous charge promptly
made against the mob with threatening
revolvers drove them back and gave safe
escape to the hard pressed horsemen-
Through the villages of the country parts
we were received by the senoras and seno-
ritas with kindness, but by the males with
frowns and threats, and with the signif
cant gesture of a finger drawn across tn
throat. In no place were we safe from at
tack except in groups which commanded
safety and respect To them in their ig-
norance we were still Yankees and sol
dados.
One night, a little way beyond Jalapa,
our entrance into one of their walled towns
caused great excitement; general alarm
was rung on the cathedral bells. messengers
rode out in haste to alarm the surrounding
haciendas, and natives hocked into the
town, two or three mounted on the back OF
each mule, armed with escopettes. But
we remained close inside the strong gates
of our hacienda, and, the excitement sub
siding, we were allowed TO leave without
an attack early the next day.
In camping for the night sentries were
stationed and pickets were posted, and the
animals were secured with lariats inside
the picket line, but sometimes when guer-
rillas abounded, in the center of the camp.
Once only did these ladrones make an open
demonstration. We were in a section of
country covered with low bushes, in which
jackrabbits, wild turkeys and other game
were present No towns were near, and.
feeling secure, large part of the company
was scattered in pursuit of the game hop
ing to secure enough TO fill our camp ket
ties on our next halt, for we had been some
days on short rations The Mexican WON
en- were always friendly, and presently
some were met on the trail, calling out &c
us: "Ladronesl Iadrones" and pointing
forward on orr path. At this our strag
glers were called in.
The robbers were a large band of well
mounted and well armed men, and had
filed 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 a charge from them, would have been
sure defeat. So dismounted part of my
troop, and in platoons, at double quick,
charged toward the guerrillas. Evidently
a fight with the hated Yankees in red
shirts was not what they desired, for, a
we came within short range, their leader
gave the word ''Vamos!" and away they
.galloped down the ravine heller SHELTER,
and we saw them no more. We certainly
were not handsome crowd at this time.
At National Bridge we saw the wreckagt
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
mel Harney's dismounted dragons worked
their way with the help of bushes and
props, and to which they chung in the face
of a sweeping fire from the Mexican bat |
teries on its summit, which they captured |
With rush, turning their own guns upon |
the artillerists as they ran down the oppo
site size of the hill We feared having tc
force our way over this bridge, but we-.
not molested.
Upon the heights of Cerro Gordo we
for our monday meal Upon its |
central battlefield, where Santa Anna |
made his most stubborn fight, we kindled |
our oampfres, and, dipping water from its
sunllen pools covered with Shiny green
we drank our coffee under the |
shade oE the same trees where the desper |
ately wounded lay to die, 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 rs lay scattered uncoffined bones
and CHASTITY skulls looked down upon US ,
where in 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 thu
pine trees from the roadside yet INSTRUCTED
the rational road as they had been felled
TO hinder the onward march of our soldiers,
while from point to point the Mexican
troops and batteries were rallied for an
other stand. We left the historic spot
with triumphant three times three and
with uncovered heads in honor both of our
dead and our living heroes
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