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: 47
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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A HOT DAY IN JUNE. 47
gaged in recruiting rancheros, not far from us on the Monterey
road. To strike the " chaparral fox" in his own hills-slaughter
his band, and take " reynard" himself captive, was a thing above
all others McCulloch most desired to do. So, having accomplished
his commands, in regard to the information above mentioned,
he determined to strike suddenly across to the Monterey road, and
endeavour to obtain a fight, or a foot-race, out of the ranchero
general.
On the morning of the 21st, then, our course was changed, and
we rode off at a right angle from our former route. A Mexican
shepherd whom we forced to accompany. us as a guide, warned
us, that in the direction we were going we would find no water,
and advised us to follow another course, which he said would lead
to the same point, and that though the way was longer, still it was
plentifully supplied with water-holes. The road he pointed out
did not lead in exactly the direction we thought we ought to travel,
and not having implicit confidence in the honesty of his intentions,
he was ordered peremptorily to lead us on the first-named course.
On we vamosed over high rocky hills and immense level plains,
through thicket and brake, over dingle and dell; sometimes passing
along hill sides thickly covered with wesatchee bushes, (the acacia,)
which were all in full bloom, and the modest little yellow flowers
gave to the morning air a fragrance which was delightful to inhale.
Sometimes we followed the trail of innumerable droves of wild
horses that roamed in freedom over this immense range of waste
country. Sometimes we travelled for miles, without a single sign
to guide us over the untrodden hills, but the -position of the sun
in the heavens, and a knowledge of the course we wished to pursue.
The 21st of June, we shall long remember as a day of great
suffering and fatigue. It was the longest day in the year, and by
far the hottest we ever experienced; to add, too, to our misery,
there was not a single breath of air to fan our burning brows, or
cool our fevered cheeks. A vertical sun poured down his fiery
rays upon us the live-long day, without even once veiling his fierce
glare by the shadow of a passing cloud. "Hot! hot! hot !" would
ejaculate some half-fainting one.
" You had better say, ' scorching and roasting,'" retorted his
file-leader.
By the forge of Vulcan," drawled a classical youth, whose
love of the romantic had led him to join the Rangers--( By the
forge of Vulcan, the weather is intensely warm."
"I don't know what blacksmith you are talking about, youngster,"
growled an old Ranger at his side; 6" but if you'd say that
a volcano was an ice-house to this place, you'd come nigher the
mark, I reckon."
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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/m1/51/: 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.