Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
I
*
RECOLLECTIONS OF MEXICO
tljt
aitlt
BUENA
FEB. 22
AND
of
VISTA,
23, 1847.
BY AN ENGINEER OFFICER,
ON
ITS
TWENTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY.
UNPUBLISHED COPY.
BOSTON
1871.
LIBRARY
it
his
own
I.
maps made by
the
at a single
(
just
might have been procrastinated,
as repentance is too often said to be,
but for a feeling of duty towards an
association of gentlemen, each of whom
this
to the
field
ble, if
It will be
many
of these in
become the
graver page of history, except, perhaps,
as its foot-notes, as it
appeared there
might be more of life and interest to the
narrative, in the writer's being able to say
'I saw,' instead of 'I have read' or
heard.'
And all of this he may say he
saw, or had from the eye-witnesses within
a very few
after.
is from the
'
days
Nothing
own
only
fair, full
ner-table,
Recollections of Mexico
had advised the President, Polk,
recommend that Texas should be
held by us in armed neutrality, and
the December Message of 1845 was
ate,
to
written
actually
out
accordingly.
and Buena
Vista.
'
Moors
The
"
Scott,
organize his
known
columns of attack
The
Ge-n.
latter
column, as is known,
Palo Alto and Re-
speak
it
true,
war of the
rebellion),
near Matamoras, in
May,
that of Monterey, some one
and
1846,
hundred and thirty miles to the south
sacca,
of Monterey,
In
of the year 1847.
or southward
front,
six
miles
south-west
commencement
Gen.
Taylor's
Recollections of Mexico
and Bitena
Vista.
tlie organiza
another, and that the largest, of the
army of trained three batteries of artillery yet left
Mexico had ever known, with Gen. Taylor. Part of that very
he at once commenced
tion of the grandest
troops that
besides this
army
Mexico.
isolation of
among them
being, as prisoners ad
Many may
recollect the
complete
Secretary
letters of
general,
after.
for
train.
Lieut. Sturgis
taken by
There
Minon were
and
his
dragoon
At this time
part of February, 1847.
I became a personal witness of most
of the events that took place, having
landed at the Brazos in the latter part
officer,
as cap
the
teamsters
should be armed, to
five to
the
battle), of the
withdrawal
of
Recollections of Mexico
spective wagons, altogether the best
and greatly
them,
strengthening our defence. By this
arrangement, though daily warned
that we were to be attacked at night
by Urrea, we safely made the week's
position
for
and Buena
Vista.
with the
full
despatches, even
after
was es
corted by a battalion of infantry and
journey to Monterey, being the last two pieces of artillery. The previous
train or body of Americans of any knowledge of our success was given
size that passed over that route for by slips of paper only, carried by
one month or more.
bribed Mexicans, of whom five in all,
Our train-masters were, some of as reported, were started from Mon
them, the most accomplished of the terey and of these but two reached
victory, as
was necessary
still,
after
The
lan
the
line
recollect
on his
speared every man,
mule or wagon-box and then break
up the wagons, after plundering them,
they piled up the bodies with the
debris, and emptying the tar-pots on
the heads of the victims, they fired
and consumed them in one common
one of the most frightful
mass,
as he sat
dis
after our ar
with
the
Monterey,
large train
as described, as we found no troops
or escort en route to Saltillo, and we
were anxious to reach the advanced
of
episodes of that barbarous war,
aggression I must say, on our part,
rival at
Recollections of Mexico
and Buena
Vista.
We
The camp
at
four to
five
in
camps
for
many
weeks.
I reached the
Agua Nueva
at
some
head-quarter camp
in the first week of
so
much
to
my
till
own arrangements
could be made,
a courtesy of which the value can be
or
five
six
bloody battles, or
Jordan of Texas
fought
the
has Mexicans
while in January, 1847,
fully known only by one who
reached an army in the field with Majors Gains and Borland, of our
:
forces,
as it proved,
battle of
this
1847,
February,
Buena Vista, the crowning contest
of them all, was fought five miles
^
south of
Saltillo.
Recollections of Mexico
The Hacienda
of
Encarnacion,
the
many
thousands
of
the
by
wells,
dams
and Buena
Vista.
is
divided
many thousands
of cattle
some
and
collected
ceeding year.
This Encarnacion was an isolated
farm- fortress in fact
for its high
;
corral
walls, as
well
as
a masonry
and
villages for
one
Don Jacobo
appearance.
Cornanches,
who
from Spain.
first revolts
times saw in
tribes.
The
his
lived
in
princely
style,
with
his
This
vineyard hacienda of Parras.
Parras was owned by a noble-spirited
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
gentleman, Don Manuel Ibarro, the
master of two thousand peons. He
had been at school in the United
States, at Bardstovvn Ky., with the
son
of
Clay, a
Henry
lieut. -colonel
the actual
and
tillers
The
Parras, en
true and cor
Spanish-Mexican
embrace was
route to
dial
Vista.
Saltillo..
Their masters
always furnished them their few pur
chasable necessaries " on account,"
for which they were almost'always too
these
forty
their service,
to him.
As instances
mand of these
com
pay,
was compromised.
If at
were
made
to
evade
tempts
payment
liberty,
would
of the wealth at
by escaping
It
may
their lives.
In
broader valley of
the
Nueva, well
Agua
under him, to direct all the lesser hundred men and quite near, in a
and lower servants.
And separate camp, were the troops that
such mayor-domos were generally in Gen. Wool had brought from Mon-
ler,
details
charge
"
of
the
smaller
haciendas,
clova
at
The double
north-east, of nearly
of Gen. Taylor's
all
were under his
though
next
forces
ers,
command.
Indian blood of
all
the
the
;
number
Recollections of Mexico
wild rumor in these camps as to the
designs, position, and numbers of the
him
successfully
and Buena
Vista.
command we
had,
was
stated,
and
as I believe cor
rectly,
rection,
this
number
of the
Gen. Taylor,
pieces of our artillery.
with his avowed belief in the impos
sibility -of
reason to believe
tion,
such as we had
full
force,
many moun
reconnoitring parties,
tle,
some of
them
"
after
thirty-six
with wild
driven
in,
incorrect
sent out
Sturgis,
lost,
picket-officer
(now Gen.)
hours'
absence,
though a
by him,
and one
Lieut,
general.
in him
Upon
this
that point.
struck,
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
in
line,
and
in
officers
Vista.
" until
McCullough himself returned."
ward by the
He came
reported
left,
We
sight."
side of
nacion,
We
rear,
towards
some
fifteen
Buena
Vista,
Saltillo, for
pass,
with any
encampment
smaller special
to
near
Saltillo,
it
as
The
halted
us.
proceeded
where
it
on
went into
camp on
the
to
minutes previously.
squadron of dragoons
(as
May had
his
That
camp, towards Encarnacion.
will
as
be
seen
we
were
saved,
journey
for starting from camp from half-past
seven to eight, A.M., Major Mansfield
and myself rode leisurely along, recon
and
were
five
it came upon
camp where our trains
miles farther
still
loading
eleven o'clock, P.M.
up with
grain, at
The wheat-stacks
Recollections of Mexico
10
certainly
why
a scout or re
this information
was
and Buena
cross valleys
Vista.
arid
with recent
deep
gullies,
or
"
battle-field,
or
by the
"providence of God."
For if that very cavalry we saw, in
stead of halting, and slowly forming
a cross-line towards the mountain on
their right, at a distance, as we saw
within one mile of where Gen.
or
the
hundred
feet, just
bej^ond
On
double
were passable in
all
directions,
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
though with difficulty in the steepest
by both men, and the small
Mexican horses, as were these moun
tain spurs also, for the most part.
parts,
At
the
action
as represented
witli
under
of Capt.
Wash
these
that
the
surface was
other
air
was
so clear.
But
to
position
we had
that
to return
the
for
reconnoissance
above mentioned.
Major Mansfield
me his
gave
little
to his
finger.
these
He
by the
At sunset on the 23d,
of
Col.
Our outlook
11
Vista.
two last-named spurs were all that rear to assist in organizing and ar
was left to us and the Mexicans had ranging the troops to meet the attack,
a large battery, protected by a heavy which was hourly expected during the
regiment drawn up in position at the whole of that day. I remained at
wrist, or mountain foot, to enfilade the that position till night-fall, with a
whole of the main field of the contest, small infantry picket, and counted the
if they had charged down, as we at
regiments as they came up as far as
the time expected.
possible, and the pieces of artillery,
It is proper to mention here one or &c., and sent the news in by dragoons
two peculiarities of this high region, from a mounted squad under cover of
which greatly affected, if they were the spur in my rear.
Some forty
not the main cause of, our greatest dis
pieces of artillery were reported, with
some eighteen to twenty bodies of in
the massacre of near
aster that day,
men
at
the
close
of
hundred
the
two
fantry, mostly regiments, and sixteen
ly
;
contest.
The
rarified
atmosphere
slight
exertions
to- it,
but
regiments
cavalry,
of
brilliantly uniformed
in two lines on
drawn up
I recol
dress-parade that afternoon.
now the music of their
lect distinctly
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
12
Vista.
were their
veterans
best
and
best-officered
and fifteen companies (some eight cisely the same thing occurred at
hundred men) of poorty disciplined this lookout on the afternoon of the
volunteer cavalry from Kentucky and 22d. For an hour or more the muz
Arkansas, to a great extent mounted zles of three guns bore upon us from
on mules, as they had sold their an opposite ridge some four hundred
horses to the artillery in the expecta
yards distant and the men were cau
tion of an early muster-out, and re
tioned to keep down, and to watch
turn home.
We had also some six and take cover, to which they paid no
;
indifferent,
as
to
discipline.
about
two-thirds
only stood
their
down,"
power
An
to our
As
lor,
connoissance shows the difficulty of for the security of Saltillo, and learned
controlling new troops till fairly un
by the courier we had seen of the
der fire as it also illustrates the lit
near approach of the enemy, had ar
;
by his second
in
for previously
troops,
Recollections of Mexico
tected our
left,
mountain-range.
arrangements were
being made, about two, P.M., on the
While these
enemy had
when
the troops
and formed
in our front, a flag was
arrived,
in large force
sent in by the
President-General
Towards the
latter
part
of
the
and Buena
more such
trials
down
"
hill
Vista.
in learning to fire
accurate firing being
down a mountain
known to hunters and
almost impossible
side, as is well
marksmen.
With
mountain
only attempt
At the earliest dark, our pickets were
thrown out well in advance even of
the lookout position of the day ; for
a small knoll was seized within some
umns
made by an
who knew the ground,
through Gen. Wool to Gen. Taylor,
men
along the
" after
road,
midnight and the setting
" but he
of the moon ;
declined, from
of musketry, almost
among
the clouds,
mies.
engineer
guide
it
proposition was
officer
from our
with the
offer to
front,
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
14
CHAPTER
EARLY
Vista.
II.
hairbrained
daring,
reconnoissance
By 7, A.M.,
head-quarter position.
or a little later, a large and brilliant
group of officers, who, as we afterwards
of the afternoon.
fire fronl
the
fled
hill.
under our
He was
forbade the
fire
Major Washington
brave a fellow."
On
left
distance of
some
between the
first
hundred yards,
and second ridges
five
in advance, or just in
The horse of
lookout spur.
Ana was
killed
Santa
under him in this
as they
Saltillo,
We
when
Capt.
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
Bragg rode up with the exclamation,
"
"
they are six pieces to my two
Up
on this Gen. Taylor authorized him
still
her
to
withdraw
to a safer place.
As he
among
fame
the brightest on
glitter
rolls of
15
Vista.
the.
very
was,
briefly,
as
follows
the
the
enemy
was
felt to
dead."
with his pistol to our fieldhospital under the edge of the plain,
My
carried
for
it
safety.
Upon
returning
some
a part of
Illinoisians,
and save
tJiis
battery."
In the storm of musketry that then
rained down upon them, one ball
struck
him
in the waist,
another en
and droop
he
was
ing slowly forward,
caught by
a captain of the charging regiment,
who passed him into the arms of his
orderly; and he was laid upon the
ground, without a groan or a word.
After waiting several weeks, I sent a
tered the back of his head
race
names
of whose heroes
of
Massachusetts, the
and statesmen
at
The bulk
were at
regiments
rear of
in
five
companies
of
Kentucky volun
regular cavalry.
The storm of
fire under
which
had fallen came upon us
from the main and partly successful
column of attack against our centre
on the plain, pushed forward by the
Mexicans immediately after their
Lincoln
It
was
pieces,
at first repelled
by O'Brien's
Recollections of Mexico
16
of this ridge.
Having cleared the
on
his
space
front, O'Brien ordered
and Buena
Vista.
Up
call,
up
you
your
State wants
one
first
and by companies
fairly in
ilight to
retreat,
when
became a
it
part
By
staff,
moved,
"What
State
are
you from?"
at the very
moment
of his intended
ceeded.
The enemy in heavy force
an organization. The bitter shame then gained the plain, and the whole
and burning disgrace of this unneces front, as also that left half of the battle
sary rout, caused by the blunder of field, near the mountain, which they
this ignorant colonel, was deeply felt held through
the
whole contest.
for months and years.
Among their They soon afterwards brought up a
blackest, saddest days maybe counted heavy battery, whose fire covered and
that of their departure for home when commanded nearly the whole of this
relieved by the hew troops,
a day to plateau. For two hours after this the
all the other regiments there so
gay fire on either side raged with unabated
and joyous. For, as all the other violence. During this time a large
regiments filed by in succession, the body of Mexican cavalry, some three
thousand or more, succeeded in pass
battalions of the new columns, con
of
some
six
thousand
sisting
men, ing over this plain at our left, along
turned out on parade, with presented the mountain foot, apparently with the
arms, 'and saluted as it passed with design of attacking our camps and the
martial music and loud cheers. But the trains in the rear.
Davis's regiment,
Second Indiana Regiment marched with Sherman and one piece of artil
by in the sadness and silence of their lery, and May's squadron, were sent
own grieved hearts, while the men to watch the movements of the enemy,
of all these battalions remained in and guard our trains while Marshall
This is perhaps among with his volunteer cavalry was 01their tents.
the most sorrowful memories of the dered to move in this ravine, a short
;
war.
When
they will
our
Recollections of Mexico
the contest, in a good position to re
we were routed and neither
tire if
made
and Buena
ported
ley
was shortly
after this
Mexican
we
felt
that
it
of these three
thousand
cavalry as
little,
teau.
white
flag,
and was
still
more sur
to
wanted."
Taylor
Honest Gen. Taylor, with
or any wile in
an}'' punctilio
himself, and without suspicion of this
in others, at once replied " His sur
" which was called out
to them
render,
by others in French. While Gen.
out
continued to
field again.
It
to
17
Vista.
still
Mexicans
upon him after
but, as the
fire
strange
selves,
to their
own
lines.
Wool returned with these men towards gave his first military prestige to Davis,
the line for a parley, Gen. Taylor who was offered a general's position in
at once stopped the firing in our front, our army soon after. He was wounded
and sent similar orders to our left and
rear, where otir reserves were engaged
with that verj cavalry; and thus, on
enty.
fire,
those three
and in the
hundred
and sev
Recollections of Mexico
IS
and Buena
Vista.
charge.
bitter, biting
held back, he
plain
staff
time, as
we
balls,
other.
The
firing
down
hill
Yell's adjutant
tenant-colonel
This
col
umn
at
somewhat
as
front.
They
they passed,
their flank at
the
moment
We
a battery
made
to
Twiggs
re
It
fire,
Recollections of Mexico
and capture that battery and, grasp
ing his hand warmly with the excla
" I
" You are our
mation,
regulars
;
and Buena
19
Vista.
and
the General
his
that
felt
request.
it
him his success rain poured down upon us, and closed
Mi^n^f^f
the contest while a slighter shower
would have beenA lw less.
Towards noon, and during the rage had fallen on the night of the twentyof the battle upon the plain, when second, just after the lesser battle
in the mountain.
orders were sent to the rear for as
Now, as not a drop
sistance from the reserves, I met of rain had fallen there for many
Lieut, (now Gen.) Kilburn, as he was months previously, and none fell
again,
least
two
battle, I
think we
instances to be
may
consider these
conclusive
evidence
firing of cannon
in dry seasons.
produces
Recollections of Mexico
20
and Buena
message even of
Vista.
false hope, as I
must
by which the
might have been
changed.
After the
having
for
take
of
had
sergeant,
towards the
started
rear.
to
for
ders
ordered
Bliss (Taylor's
down, and
up, to be pre
of Gen. Taylor.
minutes
Major
adjutant-general) came
ordered them " to limber
after,
very few
"
and when
pared to go to the front
"I
thought we
Washington said,
were defeated, from the order just
;
now received,"
On
the
known
He
to
come up
close to
hours
after,
in our rear,
which,
to
the volunteer
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
21
Vista.
had
day.
(I will not say how, in this re
I could not
gion of the Maine law.)
but think sadly of the occurrence thir
Upon
of Major Webster,
redoubt
this,
an
officer
who commanded
overlooking
the
Lieut,
Saltillo,
out
this
large
And
thus closed
all
still
all stragglers,
me
at
the hill-foot
soon
after,
seeing
beyond in considerable
in case and remounted
tion, in rear of
his shoulder.
upon
path.
star
this plain,
Among others,
me by Garnet,
Washington's battery,
or
ameter of
lost it
by a quarter
wager -was
of
an inch.
faithfully paid
and
were
still
uncertain or un
and the
;
though
the next
attack
on our
side,
probably in the
22
Recollections of Mexico
and Buena
Vista.
belief of this withdrawal, was ordered he took to that for safety, at the same
and made by the three regiments that time calling to McKee and Clay, re
held the heads of the two main val
treating on the hillside to his right,
to
take that cover also. Bissell kept
Harden's
and
Bissell's
Illinois,
leys.
and McKee's Kentucky regiments, this shelter till near the road, when a
some fifteen hundred men in all, run of one hundred yards brought
which were supported in rear by three him under the cover of Washington's
guns under Lieut. O'Brien, one of the guns. Col. McKee continued on the
most noble, gallant men on that field. exposed hillside, and was killed. Lieut.These men moved forward in an Col. Clay, at first wounded, was car
echelon line towards the next valley, ried off by three of his men, whom he
just above referred to the existence begged would leave him and save
;
themselves
were slaughtered
on,
in cold blood.
Col. Harden had all
but escaped, when he was seen at the
very top and end of the next spur, in
front of his own men, then under
bore
him
still
till all
He
bowing
sixty dollars in
Recollections of Mexico
and afterwards saved his life. The
rnen had been paid but a few days
before the fight; and many of them
and Buena
23
Vista.
had hundreds of dollars even on their Bragg alone in the official report. I
persons, which made it impossible for say unjustly but it is the only injus
the wounded to escape, as is often tice that I am aware of that the good
;
for this
deceived.
The
eral
wants you
too late
"
Both
Sherman had
to follow in rear
but he
charge;
orders,
and Buena
Recollections of Mexico
24
Vista.
the
adjutant-general of Lee)."
whatever peculiarities
might have, was a
man of undoubted gallantry and truth
and he sacredly vouched to Major
This
officer,
of character he
list
to
an order
effects of another blunder,
given by our other old general, Wool.
moment
pos
mind
most
earnestly
Bissell
to join
length,
still
Cols.
upon
urging
McKee
and
him
in
these officers
doubtful,
assenting,
also
This
last
bloody
strife,
again stilled
by another
if
eral
day
two
me
at our
The gen
it.
This
a
own mess
after.
ceipt.
two
after, or
set,
we saw
heavy battery at
me
he carried
state
to
it
wounded
infantry,
it.
after
'
Recollections of Mexico
takes ever incident to these contests
have ever since then charac
so that I
ders,
to blun
They show,
what
hung
strife.
No
further
made by
and
and Buena
Vista.
enemy
could
down
midnight, I lay
in the bitter
arms,
with
the
older
ants
them from
the
field.
Saltillo to re-enforce
The
satisfaction
us on
was
in
we found we had
As daylight approached,
Col.
Whiting,
these
"My
exclamation,
Harden.
battery;
rected
me
to refresh the
men and
horses,
di
down
and be
miles, to
Encantada, when
if
to
it
the
Agua
the dead
stragglers,
Recollections of Mexico
26
two hundred
to three
hundred strag
Ty"e
glers.
men
and Buena
Vista.
up most
wagons loaded
this route.
The
hatred,
horror
with
even,
their attack
regi
which these people had been taught murdered them in cold blood.
to think of us, was well shown by a
The cavalry squadrons under Capt.
in this scout.
little incident
As Albert Pike (since too well known to
McCullough and myself were working our country), with the companies of
our way through the chapparal (or regular dragoons under Lieuts. R/uckscrub-oak brush) some five or six er and Carleton,(the latter subsequent
miles in advance to our left of Encan- ly on the staff of Gen. Wool, and the
found
historian of this
tada, we came across a poor, exhaust
battlejjas they
ed Mexican woman, lost in the retreat no prospect of reaching the enemy by
She was sitting under a successful pursuit, soon returned
of their army.
and our
a bush, by her pony, whose saddle from their reconnoissai ce
she had removed from its severely main efforts were at once directed to
I have her in my mind's the care of the wounded, and the gath
galled back.
eye now, a most beautiful woman, of ering in of our heroic dead. Of less
some twenty-five years, with large, than three thousand noble men who
liquid hazel eyes, and full round stood their ground, over one-fourth,
cheeks, with but the faintest tint of or seven hundred and fifty, had fallen
the Indian shade. She was neatly and of these, over one-third, or more
and modestly dressed, wearing kid than two hundred and seventy, were
;
off.
to us
and
it
to
still
my
it
she seized
was
it,
'cafe,'
only
at a
tell
their
own
'cafe,'
held,
and the
and
capital,
field
my canteen,
ing her
dead
officers of
27
the
States.
tithomounf
Binder
Gaylord Bros
Makers
Stockton, Calif.
WN 21. 1908