Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 2, May 1999 Page: 97
[57] p. : ports. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Reminiscences of the Old Brigade
Fred. Trimble and three or four others, who
came ahead of the command, swam the river
and went to them to repel the enemy or die
with the little force.
About 10 o'clock that night a loud cheer
from the little garrison, and Tom Green came
dashing into the town with the mounted portion
of our brigade. Wasn't there yelling and shout-
ing, even "Old Gotch" for one time in his life
forgot to be cool, calm and deliberate, and ac-
tually pulled off his hat, threw it in the air and
whooped. The enemy now commenced to with-
draw their troops from the beleagured town,
but scarcely had the shouts that greeted Green
died away when another shout arose, and more
hats went into the air, and the enemy com-
menced getting away faster. This was caused
by the arrival of the gallant Scurry with the
foot of the brigade, who came in just in time to
see the last of the foe disappearing in the moun-
tains.
Early on the morning of the 8th, a courier
came to us from Col. Green announcing that
the enemy had taken to the mountains and might
pounce upon us, and to guard well the train.
Fulcrod with the cannon took the advance, stop-
ping at every eminence, while we pushed the
train by rolling at the wheels, but owing to the
condition of the animals, and the deep heavy
sand we had to go through, the men having to
push the wagons along, we did not get the train
into Albuquerque until late in the night on the
9th.
Here we were quartered in town. On the
1 1th Col. Green came to me and said, there
was an important movement on foot, that he
hated to put so much duty on me in my condi-
tion, (I was still very lame,) but that there was
a lot of provision and forage twenty-five miles
above there on the river and he wanted me to
take a detail and capture it and bring it in, that
we were compelled to have it. In an hour with
a detail of forty men I was off It was then late
in the evening. At sundown two companies of
97Federal cavalry passed me along the foot of the
mountains going in the direction of Albuquer-
que. Thinking this an attempt to cut me off I
sent a courier, one of company I, of the 5th,
back to Col. Green, but he was mortally
wounded and never got back. I got fourteen
wagons of corn in the shuck and started back
about eleven o'clock that night. I knew that the
Mexicans would take the news to the Federal
army and that my safety depended on the ra-
pidity with which we traveled. At daylight we
crossed a high mountain that ran to the river
some twelve miles above Albuquerque, from
this I could see about sunup a heavy dust aris-
ing far in our rear; which told me they were in
pursuit. I directed the men to hurry up the
mules, which they did, and the mules were do-
ing some pretty tall travelling, when pretty soon
I saw a heavy dust in our front. They are in
front of us was repeated all through our little
band. However, I told them to hurry along and
get as near Albuquerque as possible when we
would park the wagons, and perhaps, Col.
Green would hear the firing and come to our
relief. We went about two miles further, and I
began parking the wagons, intending to fight
from behind them. Soon after we made our ar-
rangement to resist the attack, the men from
below got close enough for us to recognize them
as our men, they proved to be Liuet. Darby, of
Co I, of the 5th, with 100 men. Col. Green had
heard that I was surrounded and had sent him
to my relief. There was some tall cheering when
Darby came up. In the meanwhile those fel-
lows in pursuit rose the top of the mountain,
but upon seeing Darby, their desire to come
further south was entirely appeased. We arrived
safely in Albuquerque, the corn was turned into
meal and issued to the brigade.
The 4th and 5th to-day began the retreat
down the river, crossing and going down the
west side of the river, many of the sick and
wounded are going, prefering to go along and
take their chances to staying here and become
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Nesbitt Memorial Library. Nesbitt Memorial Library Journal, Volume 9, Number 2, May 1999, periodical, May 1999; Columbus, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth151406/m1/49/?q=nesbitt%20memorial%20library%20journal: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nesbitt Memorial Library.