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: 38
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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38 McCULLOCH'S RANGERS.
As soon as the intelligence of the critical situation of the American
army on the Rio Grande reached Texas, and Gen. Taylor's
call for volunteers was heard throughout the boundaries of the
new state, the spirit of patriotism and martial glory which had
burned so brightly and so long during the darkest periods of the
6" Star Republic's" history, burst forth anew to gleam as brightly
as in the days of its infant liberty.
On the western frontier-that portion of the state nearest the
seat of war-preparations for the campaign were most active and'
most earnest. No mock show of the pomp and pageantry of
war was seen-no tap of spirit-stirring drum, or note of piercing
fife-no trumpet-call, or bugle sound, was heard on the border
side. But there was wiping of rifles and moulding of bullets
-cleaning of pistols and grinding of knives-packing of wallets
and saddling of steeds; in short, every step of preparation made,
amid the encouraging smiles of mothers, wives, and sisters, who
cheerfully came forth to lend their aid, making wallets, and
moulding leaden messengers of death, giving evidence that the
frontier men knew full well the importance of the duty which they
had to perform; and every movement which they made was an
earnest that that duty would be gallantly done.
In thirty-six hours after the express arrived, Capt. Ben McCulloch
had raised a choice company on the banks of the Guadaloupe,
and set out for the seat of hostilities. This company was perhaps
the best mounted, armed, equipped, and appointed corps that was
out in the ranging service; and from the time of its arrival at
head-quarters until after its disbandment at Monterey, enjoyed
more of the trust and confidence of the commanding general than
any other volunteer company of the invading army. To this
company we had the honour to belong; and in venturing to give
a detail of some of the expeditions in which it was engaged, we
shall make the account most faithful and true.
On the 13th of May we arrived at San Patricio, and received
the news, much to our chagrin and disappointment, of the engagements
of the Sth and 9th. We had hoped to have reached the
army before a battle would be fought, but the distance we had to
ride, although making forced marches, rendered it impossible for
us to have done so. But although we were not able to participate
in and share the glories of the 8th and 9th, we joyed to learn that
Walker and his men had won imperishable renown. With the
hope of still being in time to join in the pursuit of the defeated
army, we hurried on to Corpus Christi, and the next day took up
the line of march down Padre's Island to Point Isabel. Our way,
after leaving Corpus Christi, lay along the sea-shore of the man
land, until we came to the ford, which we were compelled to crw
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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/m1/42/: 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.