Year: 1875




THE PANT PLAYED BY rHR ARMY IN M'NALLY 5


kESAsIoS-LErTER FROM AN ARMY OFFICER


DEscEuNG THE PURSUIT OF THE CATTLE


THIEVES.


We permitted TO make some extracts from net
ter written by prominent officer attached TO the army
n Texas 70 friend in this city. II will be seen that
the writer who has ample facilities for being familiar
with General Potters movements agoinst the Mexican
banditti the line Of the Rio Grande. covers many
points touched upon by the brief dispatches by
telegraph After referring TO the departure OF the
Ninth cavalry from Fort Brown to Ringgod Barracks
where but one company Of the Ninth cavalry and two
companies OF Twenty fourth infantry were left as
garrison, the writer says


The casual observer could easily see By the move
mens and disposition the forces that the object
the capture or pursuit into Mexico o. the


CATTLE THIEVES FRoM. Los cUEvAs.


On Wednesday the 18th, the came 20 issue.
Captain Randlett, with his company, struck some
twenty miles north OF Cuevas our side OF the river
hot pursuit and overlook the marauders at the river,
where he found the thieves the Mexican side
ing the crossing Of the cattle who in the mire
the Mexican bank Randlett opened re and gave them
taste OF his metal About four O'Clock p. NJ while
searching tor crossing for his men and 70 gain time
and cooperation from Ringgold Barracks Randlett
made demand upon the Alcalde for the surrender Of
the thieves and the cattle notifying him al the
time that ii the demand was not complied with he
would cross morning daybreak. The reply
that efforts would be made capture the thieves
and cattle, but the demand was not complied with and
none turned over


on the following morning Captain Ciendenin arrived
up, and, with and halt companies Of cavalry aud
whom he ranked and relieved Of the command. BY
this time 400 500 Mexicans, well armed,
together with portion OF the regular Mexican troops,
reinforced the thieves and


FORMED A LINZ OF RATTLE


on the soil OF the land Of God and Liberty Their dis
play Of force clearly showed the folly Of attempting
iOrCG OF the under the lire OF large
body, and General Potter, commandant OF the district
of Rio GranGe made formal demand upon the com
manding officer Maamoros for the surrender of the
thieves and the cattle. In the meantime Major Alex
ander, with two companies Of cavalry, had been
despatched on the 18th at noon from Fort Brown a
reinforcement He made the forced march OF eighty
four miles and arrived the crossing the following
day General Potter had received the usual equivoca
answer. While these negotiations were pending Cap
tain McNely, the fearless trooper, with his


TEXAS RANGERS CROSSED
and made dash in the direction of Camargo. This
bold invasion his part OF the territory OF the thiev
ing barbarans caused CONSERVATION and resulted
in the killing several Mexicans one OF whom was
deputy collector OF customs, in charge of troops.
hcNally smote them hip and thigh but the
around him became great that he wisely fell back
the river TO prevent the enemy taking him in the
mere iorty OF our men, under command OF lieuten-
ant, held crossing on American SOIL the main body
OF the federal troops being the Texas side and
posted as TO cover McNaly with their guns Once at
the river, protected by artillery and cavalry,
McNally intrenched himself and cooly awaited an at
tack, confident that in such he could safely
fall back TO our side. The situation had been tee
graphed 10 superior authority and Major Alexander at
once withdrew his force TO the north side the Rio
Grande. The iactis while pursuit OF the thieves


HOT TRAIL INTO


would be justihable, and IS even, am inclined to
think, positive order from headquarters, a subse-
qnent and deliberate march into the territory OF a
friendly nation could not be sustained at Washington.
While think Randlett acted with much good sense
and IS to be commended for his action IL is unfortunate
that he arrived at such late hour in the day the
ford that he could not cross without getting mred.
Thereby he lost the chance of dash into the thevng
hole and giving them prompt and salutary lesson.


On the 20th Major Alexander made further demands
for the thieves and cattle. Compliance promised
and part OF the stock has been already restored This
demand telegraphed to Natamoros, but in such a
and garbed that IL understood 70 be an
application of


M'SALLY SURRENDER
OF himself and his command. This impression was
strengthened by the fact that for before
McNaIly had been reported by the Mexicans as sur
rounded and certain Of capture The feeling
high both sides OF the river and as our tele-
could be obtained, grave fears felt for the little
band OF Stale troops that had taken Judgement the
south side OF the rver that not allayed until five
in the evening, when the wires again spoke and in
formed that finding that the national troops could
not assist him further Mexican SOIL he had safely
fallen back TO Texan territory Major Alexander and
hls command are still opposite the Cuevas awaiting the
return OF cattle and thieves Everybody the Mexi-
side IN that region is armed and many to escape
service crossing this side