The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-06-27
RECALLS HOW WAR
WITH MEXICO BEGAN
Caused Hostahescs seventy
Years Ago
FLED AT BAroNET CHARGE
General Santa Ana's Troops Wouldn't
Fight Onsiauxhta of the Americans,
How Flag of Truce Worked Trick.


leans on last Wednesday upon the de-
tachment of General PsrshinG's forces
st was recalled yesterday by a
veteran Of the fret Mexican war. Col.
Charles J. Murphy. who Is the young
est SURVIVOR of that conflict Colonel
Murphy also was a staff officer In the
Csv1i War On June he was 81
years old. At his home in West Nine
ty-third Street Colonel Murphy. COM
1nenAnx on the fight at CarriGal on
WecnesdSg morning, in which Captain
Charles T. Boyd and Lieutenant Henry
r. Adair Of Troop II. Tenth Cavalry.
were among the killed. said;
The news Of the first battle In
Mexico reminds me that the war with
Mexico in 1855 commenced in sim
liar way on April -, ls46, although
there was not formal declaration Of
war between the two countries. Lake
the night OF two days ago ii was An
buscaae for the Americans, and SINH
larry tho Americans were attacked by
superior forces OF probably four 10
one,
Captain Thornton. L s. Army,
marching al the head Of aeventy men
OF the Second Dragons in Texas, fell
into an anbuscade OF Mexican regu-
lar troops on Aprll "a, lS46, number
ing between 500 and 400. After a
gallant resistance he was killed with
sixteen mem bers OF his command. and
thirty eight We're wounded The re-
mainder OF the force were taken pri-
oners. In this fight. as in that Of
Two days ago. Il may be noted that
apparently the approximate numbers
~ the slain and wounded were the
same on both sides"
II was SIX DAYS later when the Mex
leans attacked Fort Brown. and were
repuYsed said Colonel Murphy. On
May s. General Taylor defeated the
Mexican Army Of Generals Ampudia
and Arista at Palo Alto.
at is a noteworthy fact that these
battles were fought without "A declar-
alton o. war on either side" continu-
ed the Colonel. Indeed. no declara-
ton Of was was ever made by either
OF The two contesting republics -
These conflicts were followed by a
call for 30, GOO volunteers by Presi-
dent Polk More than $4,000 volun-
seegs responded promptly. As COM
parison OF the quotas furnished by
zach STATE with the present mobiliza-
ton Of the militia on President Will
= sons cali-these figures are given by
Colonel Murphy:
Ala bama 2sS1; Maryland and Dis
tritt OF Columbia. 1.372; Arkansas, L.
274, Florida. 2se; Missouri, e,44l;
George t8sT, North Carolina, s86;
Illinois. s.7el; South Carolina, f,120;
New York 1870. Virginia. 1900; In
diana 4 32g. Ohio. 5,ss4: Iowa. 229;
New Jersey, 42o; Kentucky. 4.094:
Louisiana BAL; Pennsylvania. 2,1t7;
Michigan ,QT2, Tennessee. 5,394i
Massachusetts, $50; Texas, 1894 Mis-
slssippi 2.235. and Wisconsin, 14s
At that sine Mexico had regular
army OF $4,000. and had called into
the field an additional force. chiefly
volunteers OF nearly 200, 900 men.
Colonel Murphy reviewed the details
OF Some OF the later battles to show,
he said. the tricky act OF General San
Ia Ana in using a flag OF truce and a
messenger to General Taylor for tho
$50 Of giving his army time To
escape the Americans. nj the Rancho
Buena Vista General scott, too
later found that Santa Ana had vio-
lated an aFmistice OF twenty days. for
tifyinE hts position and reinforcing
his army Speaking Of the final bat
ties Of that war and the taking Of the
City of Mexico, Colonel Murphy re-
called these impressions made upon
him AT the time:
ut was no holiday war. II was re
p1ete with toilsorne marches with
tltstering and bleeding feet. through
hot sands under a tropical sun. over
Jagged rocks and snowy mountain
ranges where horses and riders per-
i%hed with cold and exposure II
abounded with nameless tragedies,
both In bloody nelds near many a
smoking gun. and in the deep gloom
of fever -stricked hospitals
In the memorable war of two
years We fought seventy battles and
engagements without the nnAl loss OF
single gun or an American ensign.
Engaged always against heavy odds.
we bore the honor OF our great Re
public triumphantly on our ever-ad-
vancing swords and bayonets
Il must not forget to mention that
the soldiers of the Mexican armies.
throughout the whole war. we're never
known TO stand . single charge of
bayonet.
blended with patrtoesc reflections,
We proudly recall thu fact that we
marched nearly a,0o0 miles through
the country of an enemy alien to us
in racA and language. and performed
no act TO wound tho nnodesty Of wofn-
Homestead hghted up cur line OF
march and no nsatin hynn or vsspes
bells were Elenesd by our coming
What has been the result of that
y5eeDstrns wsrt n AGgatred for ia
ths vAst tsrrisorsas Of california, Ne
VIA, Colorado. New Maxioo, Idaho,
Arizona and Utah. thus adding IL 00.-
eco square miles, Of $4,000, 0os acres
TO the { nited States nearly doubling
its area
Colonel Murphy enlisted for the
Mexican War when - years Of ago.
and served Ia Company y. Seventh
Regiment lie was one or the only
three STAFF officers OF his rank who re-
ceived the Congressiona Medal or
Honor for services In the Civil War.
In 1880 Colonel Murphy was Il spe-
Clad oocnrnisx,oner In Europe on the
United States Department OF Agrioul-
tMre. He organized the American Re-
lief movement at the time OF the Rus
sian famine In 1881. and at the re-
quest OF the Cxar he was sent by the
AMERICAN Government 70 Russia 70
show the various usss Of Indian corn.
For this and other services he was
dscosated by RussaA-
x.Am