Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-02-20

miliar with the detailed history OF
the whole war are aware of the
fact that the tide of battle swept
west till it dashed it's red spray on
the foothills Of the Rocky Noun
tains. In the summer of 1862, the
confederate general, Sibley, with
some 10000 men, invaded New
Mexico from Texas. The Second
California and the Second New
Mexico Cavalry (of the latter reg
iment the famous frontiersman,
Kit Carson, was the c6lonel), with
a few hundred regulars, were our
main reliance to hold the invasion
in check till the Colorado troops
could come to our assistance.
The lieutenant-colonel of Car
sons regiment was a Hollander,
named Pfeiffer, and he was GER
tainly one OF the most kindly
hearted as well as the most gal
lant men 1 ever met. Enamored
of frontier life, Pfeiffer, the son of
a wealthy father, sailed from Hol-
land and came to the far west
soon after leaving college, and, at
this time he had been Kit Carson's
constant companion for more than
twenty five years.
! About a week before the battle
of Val Verde L was then cap
tain--I was ordered to report with
my troop to Lieutenant-Colone
Pfieffer, for scouting duty in the
direction of the enemy.
I was young at that time and
inclined to be a dandy, a1d Pfief-
fer's rather plain exterior and in
difference to military etiquette, as
well as his brusqueness of man
ner, did not progresses me in his
favor, but my opinion was destin-
ed to be suddenly changed.
We had been out for three days
without seeing trace of the enc
my, and when we went into camp
the third evening our Mexican
scouts, very skillful, but for from
reliable, as | soon learned, report
ed that there was no armed enemy
within a days march. OF course
we took all the guard precautions,
but the most timld did not dream
of an attack. l should say here
that all of Carson's enlisted men
and many OF the officers were ma
tive New Mexicans.
There was a hint Of day in the
east the next morning when the
pickets fred and came rushing
into camp, shouting at the top of
their voices, clos Texicanosl Los
Texicanos" and many leaped
on their horses without waiting to
saddle and dashed away.
Fortunately our camp was sur
rounded by masses of volcanic
rock that made an excellent nat
ural defense, and hurrying behind
these we opened such fire on the
Texans as arrested the onset and
,, forced them TO fall back to the
protection of similar rocks about
; 300 yards away; our camp had
been in the intervening space.
, A number of our men had been
3 killed or wounded before we could
: get under cover, and among the
: latter was a bugler of Pfieffer's
q regiment, a handsome lad of l6
( The day that followed was blister,
! ing hot, and the bugler, sho'
= through the lungs, began abou
! noon to call pitiously for water
Z The poor lads appeals were heart
! rending, but to go TO his rescue
0 meant death.
/ "My Godl / can't stand Pedro'l
i cries any longerl" This ! heard
4 from Pfieffer, and the next instant
he had leaped over the rocks and
was hurryiHg to where the bugler
; lay.
! The enemy fired and l expected
: to see the gallant officer fall every
moment. He reached the bugler
stopped and took him up in hii
arms. The instant his purpose
became known, and he turned back
the enemy ceased firing. Not only
that, but as soon as the daring man
; reached our lines the Texans sent
up an approving cheer, showing
that even in the heart Of battle
they could appreciate an act Of
self-sacrilicing heroism.
Small Brother I should think
sister would a good deal rather