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: 53
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
POPULATION OF REYNOSO. 53
hardened wretches, entirely too old to be either harassed or annoyed
by crediting false stories, or believing false alarms. We
afterwards learned that they had been playing the same game on
Col. Wilson, and for some time previous to our arrival the colonel
had had his command on double duty, fearful, from the information
he daily received from the friendly town-people, that
there was a large Mexican force in his immediate neighbourhood,
only waiting a favourable moment to sweep down on him like an
avalanche.
So deep and inveterate was the hatred cherished by the people
of this place against the Americans, that they resorted to these
means as a plan to harass and annoy our troops, when they found
no other mode left them to gratify their spite and ill-will. From
all we could learn of its history, its population, and its reputation,
we were disposed to consider the town of Reynoso as the most
rascally place in all Mexico. The town itself is well enough, but
the inhabitants are a set of the most irreclaimable scoundrels that
are to be found anywhere in the valley of the Rio Grande-a race
of brigands, whose avowed occupation is rapine and murder. It
was here that the Mier prisoners were treated so inhumanly, as
they were marched through on their way to the Castle of Perote;
the men cursing and stoning them, as they moved through the
streets, and the women spitting on them, with all the malice of
she-wolves. It was this place, too, that many of the robbing parties
which ravaged the Texian frontier acknowledged as their
head-quarters. And some of the scoundrels who were engaged
in the " Rogers' massacre," lived here in peace and security. Yes!
some of the incarnate fiends, who had committed the most horrible
outrages and atrocities upon the members of that most unfortunate
family, boldly walked the streets of Reynoso, and with the most
consummate impudence, seemed fond of parading themselves directly
before our very eyes. Yet, such was the mild forbearance,
and gentle conciliatory policy of our government towards this people,
that we were not allowed to apprehend and punish these villains
as they deserved, or visit upon them the speedy and terrible vengeance
they so richly merited from Texian hands.
Our orders were most strict not to molest any unarmed Mexican,
and if some of the most notorious of these villains were found shot,
or hung up in the chaparral, during our visit to Reynoso, the government
was charitably bound to suppose, that during some fit of
remorse and desperation, tortured by conscience for the many evil
deeds they had committed, they had recklessly laid violent hands
upon their own lives ! " Quien sabe ?"
The steamboat "Aid" having arrived, and discharged her cargo
6*
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
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/m1/57/: 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.