The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-28
A FIGHT WITH eUERRIELAs.
Incidents of Journey to Californi
Thrpurh Mexicn I'm 1aAQ.


On the plaza Of Jalapa the hostile feeling
against the Yankees had its first outbreak.
A great crowd gathered about the red
shirted horsemen as VIC rode into the plaza
on Sunday, and rush was made by the
mob to dismount 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 finger drawn across the
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, 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 flocked 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 wom-
en- were always friendly, and presently
some were met on the trail, calling oVt to
us: "Ladronesl ladronesp and pullrting
forward on our path. At this our s:Tag-
glers were called in.
The robbers were large band of we'll
mounted and we'll 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 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
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 "Vamosi" and away they
galloped down the ravine heller skelter,
and we saw them no more. We certainly
were not 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
mel Harney's dismounted Dragons worked
their way with the help of bushes and
props, and to which they clung in the face
of a sweeping fire from the Mexican bat.
teries 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
camped 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 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 us lay scattered uncoffined bones,
and ghastly 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 the
pine trees from the roadside yet obstructed
the national 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.-Colonel A. c.
Ferris in Century.