Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-09
BIT OF ANCIENT HISTORY
COL. BEELER'S "REMINISCENCES
OF MEXICAN WAR.
Head of Veterans Association Replies
to Criticism Regarding the Re-
cent Jamestown Convention.

Col. Louis F. Beeler. president of the Ma
tional Association of Mexican War Vet
Grams, was in this city today. He formerly
lived in Washington and went from here
as a volunteer in the war with Mexico but
for number of years past he has been
citizen of Baltimore. Col. Beeler said he
desired to correct an erroneous impression
drawn from recent publication concerning
the society of which he is the head, and in
cdentaly he related some interesting rem
iniscences concerning the District of CO.
lumbia volunteers who went forth to battle
against Santa Ana and his troops in 1916
Referring to the complaint of John W.
Davis of this city, who stated that the Dis
trict veterans of the Mexican war had not
received notification of the recent meeting
of the national body at jamestown Col.
Beeler said notices of the date of the con-
venton had been sent broadcast through
out the United States and had been gen.
orally published in the newspapers 1t
might have been possible that Washington
had been overlooked, he said, but if such
was the case it was unintentional. 1t was
expected that the Was hngton veterans
would have been represented at the meet
ing.
In response to an interrOgatory he said
there Were now only about 1000 survivors
Of the American army of fully 1000 troops
volunteers and regulars, that invaded Mex
of the survivors of that conflict, he added
was about eighty-nine years.
When War Was Declared
when Congress declared that war exist
ed with Mexico" said Col. Beeler, there
was considerable excitement in this city.
lived here then, being a youth of nineteen
years. The resolution passed about
6 o'clock in the evening of May 13, 1916
The following morning l told my folks I
was going to join the American forces. 1
secured the services of a fifer and a drum
mer and borrowed a flag from the mayor Of
Washington, and all day long OF May IA We
marched up and down Pennsylvania avenue
from the Capitol to the White House. The
fifer and drummer played patriotic airs and
the flag was carried along until between
100 and 100 men had joined with US in the
demonstrations l then formed the volun-
teers into two companies of infantry and
selected our officers.
Col. Beeler was chosen as first sergeant
of one of the local companies, both of which
then united with four companies from Bal
timore, forming what was known as the
Baltimore and Washington Battalion"
This body of volunteers departed for the
scene of war on the steamer Massachusetts
and arrived at BraZos Santiago july
1916 Soon after the arrival of the Balti-
more and Washington battalion it took I'D
the march to Monterey, Mexico arriving II,
front of that city the following Saturday.
Gen. Taylor. having decided that it would
be necessary to engage in battle to gain
possession of the city, ordered that the
troops rest Sunday preparatory for the
conflict of the following day, September 81
The morning of that day the Baltimore and
Washington battalion. commanded by Col.
William H. Watson. was placed on the ex-
IRENE left of Gen. Taylor's army and II
fell to the lot of the battalion to make the
first attack oil the city of Monterey The
Baltimore and Washington troops swept
forward in an attack on Fort Tenneria
but il was found the force was not strong
enough to accomplish the capture of the
fort, and the Baltimore and Washington
battalion was then ordesed to make a d.
version upon the streets of Monterey while
the Ohio volunteers attacked the center
Gen. Taylors force was only about 5000
strong, and the Ohioans having failed in
their attempt to cross the bridge and form
a connection with the Baltimore and Wash
ington volunteers at the main plaza which
was the objective point, the latter troops
marched up the main street of Monterey
which lined with Mexican infantry on
top of the houses on both sides of the thor
oughfare The troops of the Baltimore
and Washington battalion We're under per-
feet hail of bullets, and two men who were
carrying the coors each lost an arm. Col
Watsons horse was killed under him, and
he was shot through the arm, but contin-
ued to lead his battalion.
Finally the order came from Col Gar
land who was acting for Gen. Twigg for
the brave battalion to fall back. Just after
the order had been. handed to Col. Watson
that officer was shot through the neck and
expired almost instantly. AS the battalion
was falling back, Lieut. Col. Oden Bowie
afterward Governor of Maryland, who had
assumed command. assisted by several other
men, picked up the body of Col. Watson
and carried 1t along that street three or
four blocks under a terrific musketry fire.
and then buried 1t.
Fort Captured.
To fha polf M Woc oh,