El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-04
This Man Helped to
Capture Chihuahua
Interesting "reminiscences of a Vet
eran of the Mexican War.

Special to The Herald.
CHIHUAHUA, Mex, March 3-"1es,
have seen the old battle ground again
and I am contented." So spoke Isaac
George. a veteran of the campaign OF
46-4S. For ten years it has been my
one wish and l am happy now. But
everything is so changed that, had
gone alone. | should not have found
the place
Mr.. George came TO Chihuahua in
company with his grandson, Homer
George. of Pittsburgh, Pa The OLD
gentleman is in feeble health. and last
October celebrated his 18th birthday.
The trip was a difficult one for him to
undertake. but SO great was his desire
to revisit Sacramento that he was will
ing to brave the hardships OF jour-
ney which, 81 years ago. under differ
ont conditions. was considered sport.
| Mr.. George retold the story of the
taking of Chihuahua after the battle
of Sacramento. which led up to it.
| .It was in the month of June, 1886.
over the plains to Santa Fe, n. Nj. 1t
was made up of volunteers from the
upper counties of Missouri bordering
upon the state of Kansas. We gather
ed together at Leavenworth, Kansas,
selected our officers and started upon
our first tramp. We captured Santa
Fe on the 18th of August while we
were still under the command OF Cen
eral Carney. who, after the battle took
the 300 regulars who accompanied our
join General Fremont. Colonel Doni-
pnan an ONO Oii..eI Succeeded to the
command and it was under him that
we fought in Mexico.
I'VE were ordered to report to Gen
Ieral Wool in Chihuahua and in Novem-
ber started for this city from Santa
Fe. We engaged the enemy at Brazito,
and took Ell Paso on Christmas day,
1S46
1t was understood when we started
from Ell Paso that Chihuahua would
| be in the hands of General Wool, and
that we should simply have to report
to him for orders. Imagine our chag-
rim. therefore. when within 100 miles
of this city we learned that Wool had
been ordered from Parral, this state,
to join General Taylor, who was being
close pressed by Santa Ana with 2O,OOO
men. The united forces of the Amer1-
cans gave him battle at Buena Vista
Leaving Ell Paso We followed the Rlo
Grande for two days, about SO miles,
and then struck out for the interior
of Old Mexico. Upon hearing OF the
change of program and of General
woors departure for Buena Vista, a
council of war was held. 1t was known
that an army of about 5000 men were
awaiting our arrival near Chlhuanua.
Onr force consisted of $50 men of our
original regiment, (the First Missouri
cavalry 100 artillery, and a company
of 100 men under Colonel Mitchell
which was a part of Prices regiment.
and who wished to accompany u.s. Inc
problem of attacking 5000 men upon
their own ground was considered. but
not for a moment was the idea OF re-
treating entertained although the ad-
visibility of returning to Santa Fe was
once suggested. We had taken Ell Paso
without the loss of single man. and
the officers in charge concluded that
this was not the time to turn back. So
we advanced. The muster roll which
our colonel captured showed that we
had fought 1924 men.
I'VE had anticipated no opposition
until we reached Chihuahua which we
believed we would be forced to take
or attempt to take by storm. This was
not the case. We were met by the en-
tire force at Sacramento. north of this
city. where We were obliged to march
through a pass between two high
mountains. This had been fortified
strongly by the enemy from noun
tain to mountain. | saw the field on
Friday last. but il was so changed. The
rife pits have almost been swept away.
the redoubts which held the cannon are
no more. and the bitches which gave
shelter are almost washed to the level
of the surrounding country.
Upon the surrounding hills 1000 peo-
pie. consisting of ladies and hacenda-
dos who were not in the battle watch