The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-07-25

bility for active service, held the posi-
ton until his death, on which Colonel
Thomas Stanford succeeded. He never
Joined and on his death three years
later he was followed by Colonel Ben
jamn f. r. Bonneville whose adven
lures were made famous by Washing
ton Irving. He retained the command
until 1851, when he retired.
The regiment was employed during
part of 1896 in watching the revolu-
ton in the Mexican province of Texas
with the idea OF extending aid. Hap
PLY. the success of the Texans at the
battle of San Jacinto obviated any fur
Their action.
In 1870 the entire regiment proceeded
by transport to Fort Brock. Tampa
bay. Florida, where for the next two
and half years 1T bore it's full share
of the hardships and arduOus duties
incident to the war with the Seminole
Indians. During it's service there the
regiment lost three men killed and
three officers and 60 men from dis
ease and hardships.
The soldiers returned to jefferson
barracks in 1S43. where, with the
school for brigade drill in prepara-
ton for the threatening trouble with
Mexico, and where they became the
nucleus of the army Of observation"
and army of occupation" aftefWard
used. gaining reputation throughout
the service which placed them In the
forefront of the army.
| In the spring of 1914 the Third regi-
ment, with others, concentrated on the
Texas border, where 1t became part
of the army of observation under
Brigadier General Zachary Taylor. its
| former major. The regiment was soon
after moved into Texas and took part
| in the actions opposite Matamoras,
/ participating in the battles of Palo
+ Alto and Resaca de la Palma. 1t ac-
companied the advance on Monterey
forming part of the assaultng column
upon Camargo. In these two engage
ments Major William Lear. regimental
commander, and five officers and pro-
portionate number of enlisted men were
killed. Following the surrender OF
Monterey the regiment was moved tc
| the vicinity of Vera Cruz, where IT
took part in the siege and capture OF
that city
First to March.
The Third infantry, as part of Gen
eral Twiggs division General Persifer
\ r. smiths brgade). was the first tc
I leave Vera Cruz on that brilliant and
remarkable march to the City Of Mex
4 leo, during which there was not even
a skirmish In which American troops
were not victorious and always against
Y greatly superior numbers posted In
4 strong works and natural defenses.
4 The Third with the Seventh and
4 First artillery formed the assaulting
/ column at Cerro Gordo. under Colonel
4 Harvey of the Second dragons. Cen
eral Scott made special mention Of this
4 charge in his report of the battle
4 Nearly the whole Of Santa Anas army
was dispersed and disorsanized BY the
pursuit which followed. Lieutenant
Bernard r.. Bee of the Third infantry
| who was severely wounded there, aft
erWards last his life at the first bat
tie Of Bull Run. as a brigadier genera
! in the confederate army
A The regiment formed part of the ad
vance on the City Of Mexico. partlci-
i
gagements that followed and at Chu
I rubusco particularly distinguished it,
self in the assault on the citadel. {
strongly fortified convent. The ever
/ gallant Buff Sticks designation by
| which the regiment was universally
known. on account of it's clean. sol
dierly appearance at all times playing
a most conspicuous part. Genera
Scott in his report, said
.At the end of a desperate conflict OF
/ two hours and half the church OF
convent yielded to Twiggs' division
I and threw out on all sides signals
/ of surrender. The white flags. how
ever. were not exhibited until the
! Third, under Captain Edmund b. Alex
ander. had cleared the way by fire and
bayonet. and had entered the works
Captains j. NJ. Smith and P. l.. Shep-
herd. both of that regiment, had the
I glory Of leading the assault. The for
! mer received the surrender and Cap
/ tain Alexander instantly hung out from
t the balcony the eolors of the gallant
Third"
Many Killed.
/ Churubusco in killed and prisoners {
number equal to the opposing army
and treble as much ordnance as the
army had.
In the final attack and capture OF
the City of Mexico a selected party
from the Third infantry formed part
of the storming column, and the entire
regiment participated in the taking OF
the various batteries along the Beler
causeway. and was among the first t.
march into the great plaza of the city
and hoisted the stars and stripes over
the halls of the Montezumas
The regiment lost in action during
this war 81 killed. including six Off
GERS and 140 wounded, including sever
officers and 1870 deaths from disease
OF the officers serving with the Thirt
infantry during the Mexican war egh
afterwards became generals during ths
civil war.
There is a drum majors baton nov
in possession of the regiment. pre-
scented by General Persfer +. Smith
its former brigadier commander Th,
wooden portion was part OF the tlas
staff of the capitol building or nationa
palace of Mexico, with Mexican dollar
entering into the metal part.
From the Mexican war on to the out
break of the civil war the regimen
| I ,,,a., ti,1oa in 'rpyaS and New Mex