Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-05-01

| VIC ACCCAVcu WuEu that odHtd AnIld \tHc
old man said Sanity Anna) was returning
with his famous battalion of lancers.
Captain Walker was standing on the
church steps directing the placing of some
of the cannon which he had taken in the
first engagement. And without note of
warning he was shot in the back and fell
dead.
THE shot came from the upper window
of house near by. which flew the white
flag, house which had been left unmo-
Tested. Santa Anna came in with his 800
lancers, to say nothing of the other troops.
and attacked u.s.
That's the way with the Mexicans," old
Oliver Watkins said. and his hands clench-
ed the stick he was holding. They won't
come in and fight you unless they have
from 20 or 80 to l. That's the kind of
bravery they have. They're much Drawer
at distance, and when the Americans
would rush at them with yell and make
lot Of noise as though there were great
many soldiers they would turn their backs
and run. They don't like a hand -to-hand
fight for anything" he continued ami
matedly.
We'll" he went on. though Captain
Walker was killed we put the enemy to
flight, though they captured half of our
men as they ran. That was the time, you
know" he said, and twinkle came into
his eye. "that old Sanity Anna left his
wooden leg behind him.
SANITY Anna was a real general" he
said with sarcasm. HE travelled in car
rage. Well, our boys made for that car
rage and the General hoped away and
left his leg behind him. There was one
thing about Sanity Anna he never went
into battle until he made all arrange
ments to get away safely If he was whipped.
After Huamantla we were assigned to
Captain Ruff company and were sent on
to relieve General Childs at Puebla. where
Sanity Anna and General Reera were plan
ming to attack him.
"Reera was a fierce man, a bandit
straight from the mountains. He fought
like savage Just as he and Sanity Anna
had planned to attack Puebla they started
to scrap among themselves and Santa
Anna retreated and that engagement never
came off.
THE Mexicans weren't very good fight
ere in those days. but they're better now, !
guess" Mr.. Watkins added humorously.
They've had great deal of practice fight
ing among themselves and they ought to
be in trim.
There's one thing I'm mighty grateful
for now. though. the old man added sweet
ly, land that is that in all that fighting
don't know Of one man that killed. Not
that didn't try hard enough" he added
vigorously; they were trying to kill me
and had right to get them first. But
didn't, and now I'm glad
81 don't believe in war, but I've seen
this thing coming for a long time. | be-
lieve Wilson has done the right thing. but,
gracious me. why didn't he send the troops
down there long ago You can't fool with
the Mexicans. They don't know how to
settle their own scraps. What they need
is few big men. outsiders. to 90 in there
and show them how to run their country
There was great man, he said, point
ing to an old chrome Of Gen. Robert f.
Lee, which. together with the numerous
calendars, constituted the mural decora-
tons; he wasn't defeated, you know; he
was simply Overpowered.'
He looked belligerently around to see If
there was anyone who would dispute this
fine point and then went on:
Il didn't enlist in the Civil War. because
| didn't believe in that kind of fighting
brothers and fathers and cousins and I'M
cles going after each other. But my sym
pathies were always with the South.
How could Lee win when his men we're
hungryH he asked. His was a lost cause
from the beginning. He was poor and his
men were hungry. You cant win many
battles II your soldiers are hungry.
mot that ! believe in overeating," he
fastened on reassuringly. more people
have been killed by overeatine than in
any war. Temperance in everything is
my motto. and am heartily certain that
the reason that | am 81 years old, with
never sick day to have TO own up to. is
because I've never eaten as much as |
really want"
The entrance of the boy" with his arms
filed with wood set the indoor barnyard
agog once more. Jessie" hoped out of
her cage. satisfied that the martial tale
was over and resumed her perch on her
masters shoulder.
Don't touch her. the old soldier warned
his visitor. 'She is very jealous and she
bites II anybody comes near. Human com
panionsY No. I've been leading a solitary
existence for a long time now. and I'm
used to It. have the dogs and the chick
ems and Jessie"
Despite the fact that Oliver Pitt Watkins
left the Brookeville Academy at the age OF
II in order to 90 to war in Mexico. his
conversation proves without doubt that
his education did not stop there. His
vocabulary is wide and well chosen. Once.
in moment Of excitement, he said "ain't."
but quick corrected his error.
He is bachelor and seems to be re-
cluse from choice. but throughout his many
years Of almost comparative solitude he
has not allowed himself to become the
embittered and anti-social Diogenes sort
Of individual that one usually thinks of in
connection with self-imposed hermitage.
lie is. instead. sweet old man and an
exceedingly hospitable and gracious host.
The newspapers and magazines. Of which
he is an inveterate reader. and chance
visitor now and then are his sole connec-
tons with the outer world. IL one except