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: 26
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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26 CAMP OF THE TEXAS RANGERS.
was a great relief to us all. In the morning, we rode up to Fort
Paredes, which was now garrisoned by our troops, and crossed the
river, then taking a winding path along the banks of the opposite
shore, through cornfields, we arrived at last at the camp of the
," Rangers." Here was a scene worthy of the pencil. Men in
groups with long beards and moustaches, dressed in every variety
of garment, with one exception, the slouched hat, the unmistakable
uniform of a Texas Ranger, and a belt of pistols around their
waists, were occupied drying their blankets, cleaning and fixing
their guns, and some employed cooking at different fires, while
others were grooming their horses. A rougher looking set we
never saw. They were without tents, and a miserable shed afforded
them the only shelter. Capt. McCulloch introduced us to
his officers, and many of his men, who appeared an orderly and
well-mannered people. But from their rough exterior it was hard
to tell.who or what they were. Notwithstanding their ferocious
and outlaw look, there were among them doctors and lawyers.
and many a college graduate. While standing in the midst of a
group, talking to the captain, a young fellow came into camp with
a rifle on his shoulder, and a couple of ducks in his hand, and
addressing the captain, said, " Ben, if you hav'nt had dinner,
you'd better mess with me, for I know none of the rest have fresh
grub to-day." After an invitation to stay to dinner, we were informed
that the company would move up to Reynoso in a day or
two, and were told to prepare to go with it. So, riding back to our
quarters, we were filled with the thought of the wild exciting life
We were soon about to lead.
On the 4th of July, the day broke with all the glory and splendour
worthy of the commemoration of American liberty. A national
salute was fired at sunrise, noon, and sunset, from the different
batteries, in honour of the day; and as peal after peal of cannon
burst upon the air, the reverberation seemed to echo across the
plains of Mexico the shout of liberty. The soldiers of the late
battles felt as it were a congeniality of feeling with our forefathers,
only that they were freemen, but fighting to free the slaves and
serfs of Mexico from the hands of tyrants and oppressors, as well
as to avenge the insult to our national honour. The " stars and
stripes' waved on high from the surrounding battlements, and
the plazas of Matamoras; and the Mexicans themselves joined in
the gladness of freedom's anniversary. This was the first time
of such an occurrence in a foreign, as well as an enemy's country.
The volunteers gave a sumptuous dinner, in honour of the day.
Night closed the day of festivity with a fandango, given by the
Mexican ladies, and many an impression was made by the Ameri.
can cavaliers upon the dark-eyed daughters of Mexico.
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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/m1/29/: 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.