The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker. Page: 20
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20 DESCRIPTION OF BURITA.
and so they wrapped his blanket around him, and carrying him on
a bier, they marched to a high piece of ground, where his grave
had been dug, and after firing a volley over him, a rude cross was
placed in the earth to mark the spot. Many were heard to exclaim:
", It is a pity he had not fallen on the battle-field." And yet it is
hard to say whether the poor fellow would have gained more glory.
A soldier enlists for the chances of death, though few who do so
think of it at the time. And yet just as much honour, gratitude,
and respect is due, whether he falls on the battle-field or not, so
long as he dies in the service of his country.
Having become tired of the monotony of camp life, and dissatisfied
with the commander of our regiment, we had previously
resigned our position as adjutant, and determined to proceed to
Matanioras, and join the scouting company of Captain McCulloch's
Texas Rangers, who, we were told, were kept constantly in active
service. The steamer 1" Sea" was to leave for Burita, in the afternoon;
but having a fine horse with us, we preferred going up by
land; and so, at 10, A. M., on the morning of the 20th, in company
with several other officers, we crossed the Rio Grande, and rode
along some three or four miles, through a very low country, which
the late rains had made both wet and muddy, the road in places
being covered with water, until we came to a large lake on the
left, with the river on our right. Here the country commenced
rising, until the chaparral grew quite thick. At 12, m., we arrived
at the little town of Burita, which is the first regular settlement
after you leave the mouth. It is situated on a ridge of rising
ground, on a bend of the Rio Grande. It is nothing more, in fact,
than a miserable rancho, composed of some fifty huts, made of
logs, mud, and cane. Fromits elevated position, you have a fine view
of the surrounding country, and its situation is commanding. The
place was full of volunteers, and several of the huts contained Mexican
families of the poorest class. Every thing was in the greatest
confusion, and in consequence of the camp equipage not having
arrived, the men had to sleep on the ground, while the officers
sought the deserted huts. The place was intrenched, and a
breastwork thrown up for its defence. The 5th Louisiana regiment
was encamped on the ridge, about two miles from this place,
and many of the officers came in to see us. On entering one of
the huts, we saw a Mexican woman employed cooking tortillas,
on a heated flat stone, which she used as a griddle. A couple of
naked children were playing in a corner of the hovel, the furniture
of which consisted of a rude bench, a couple of stools, a ranchero's
saddle and bridle, and a few cooking utensils,-their beds
consisting of raw hides and blankets. Here we procured a tolerable
cup of coffee and some tortillas, of which, from the strong
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Reid, Samuel C., Jr. The Scouting Expeditions of McCulloch's Texas Rangers; or, the Summer and Fall Campaign of the Army of the United States in Mexico--1846; including Skirmishes with the Mexicans, and an accurate detail of the Storming of Monterey; also the Daring Scouts at Buena Vista together with anecdotes, incidents, descriptions of country, and sketches of the lives of the celebrated partisan chiefs, Hays, McCulloch, and Walker., book, 1859; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth38096/m1/22/: accessed April 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.