El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-12

/ Anthony on the north side Of the
read, east OF the river.
Battle a Sort Of Burlesque.
MY father" continued Judge Cold
we'll never discussed the battle
much He looked upon it. except for
its consequences and the slaughter Of
a good many hale armed, unframed
MeNieans, more as a burlesQue of a
battle than anything else The con
slant amusement Of the Americans in
those days was rifle shooting and ali
Of DOniphau's men were good rifle
shots. Most Of the Missourians had
been froutierEmen. These men were
pitted against poorly armed, undrilled
AeXicans. There was one scouting
regiment Of Mexican regular cavalry
but the rest Of the Mexicans were
badly armed and poorly organized
Ny father always spoke very highly
Of the fighting qualities Of Donl-
phan's men, and Of their ability to
use the rifle.
Judge ColdWell is the only man of
pure American blood living in this
section today who is a direct descen-
dant from any OF the men who par
ticipated in the activities in this sec
ton Of the country in the stirring
times attendant upon the activities
Of the Doniphan expedition.
Arrival at FL PasO.
The Hughes account Of the inci-
dents following the battle Of Bra
tito and the march TO FL Paso says
that on the 27th OF December the
column reached FL Paso. passing
through q great pass or gorge in the
mountains. This was. OF course. the
pass where the FL Paso smelter and
the Southwestern Portland cemen.
plants are now located In crossing
the river to FL PasO" (noW Juarez)
the expedition crossed northwest Of
the FL Paso Of today. In after years
judge ColdweIrs father pointed out
to him the point at which the expe-
ditiOn crossed and this was indicated
as just below the dam Opposite the
present Hart mill viaduct).
The Hughes account Of the incl
dents following the battle Of Bra
tito. including the march TO Ell Paso.
follows
On the following morning the
dead were buried. and the wounded
Mexican prisoners comfortably pro-
Eided with means Of conveyance TO
~ Faso- livery need1ul attention was
also given our own wounded BY the
surgeons The column now, in per-
rect order. with the baggage. pr0vi-
sion, hospital ammunition. and mer-
chant trains in the rear. and a strong
rear and front guard, and a party OF
Ilankers on the right and left,
moved cautiously In the direction of
FL Paso, experimenting another at
tack After an advance OF Is miles
camp was selected near a small salt
lake. where there was n moderate
supply Of natural forage such as
grass and rushes. From this point
Col Doniphan sent back an express
Tor the artillery TO hasten forward.
for he anticipated strenuous opposl-
ton at FL Paso-
While encamped here one OF the
picket guard, discovering a party tof
Mezicans passing along the base OF
the mountains toward the east, in
which they had taken shelter during
the day, endeavoring TO make good
their retreat 10 Ell Paso under cover
OF the night. fired upon them. This
produced an alarm in camp The men
were cooking their suppers; some Of
them had spread their beds for re-
pose Col Doniphan ordered the
fires 10 be extinguished. Whatever
was in the vessels, on the fire. cook
ingi was now turned topsyturvy in
the effort TO put out the light Tor
q moment all was confusion Quickly.
however, Col. D0niphan drew up his
men IN line OF battle, and awaited the
approach Of the enemy. Lieut.. Col.
Jackson, in the hurry TO parade his
men mounted his mule bareback.
with his sword and shotgun. Many
or the men were in ranks barefoot.
and only half clad; for they had been