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: 56
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56 ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE CANALES.
the three weeks that we occupied it, we passed, perhaps, the most
easy period of our term of service.
We had been encamped in the old " cotton-gin shed" about two
weeks, when Lieut. McMullen told us, one evening, about sundown,
that he wanted twenty men to saddle up for special and
secret service. The horses were ready in a twinkling, and we were
all eager to learn what the object of this night expedition could be.
All was anxiety and expectation until about 8 o'clock, when we
were ordered to move in silence. Not a word was spoken as we'
filed out of the yard, and took our position in the line. (" Fall into
double file-keep strict silence, and follow me," said our lieutenant,
in a low voice, as he rode on in the advance. We followed without
uttering a word. When we had rode on in this manner for
about a mile, and were entirely clear of all the houses of the town,
we were halted, and Lieut. McMullen explained to us the nature
of the duty he wished us to perform. " It is reported, boys,"
said he, " that Canales, with some of his officers, are at this moment
at a fandango, which is held at a rancho, about six miles
from town. My object is to capture them, if possible. To insure
success, silence and caution are necessary. When we approach
the rancho, it will be necessary for some of you to dismount, and
hold the horses of the others while the rest surround the house.
Commence counting there in front!-every fifth man will be
detailed to take care of the horses !" As soon as the names of
the men upon whom this duty devolved were made known, we
moved on again in silence. It was now necessary to procure a
guide, as none of us knew the rancho at which the fandango was
held, except by name. Fortunately, we picked up a little Mexican
boy on the road, who agreed to be our pilot for the consideration
of one dollar, paid in hand. The money was given to him,
and he jumped up behind one of the men, to direct us in the
route we wished to pursue.
Splashing onward through mud and water, for five miles farther,
we came in sight of the lights of the rancho. The boy here
requested to be put down, as he did not wish his people to know
that he had guided their enemies upon them. The little fellow
slipped off in the darkness of the night, and we hastened on to the
place of the merry-making.
The scene which presented itself as we approached was unique
and beautiful. The dance was held in the open air; and the
bright fires kindled at different points, the candles and torches
moving to and fro, the animated groups of revellers clustered on
every side, the white robes of the girls prettily contrasting in the
fire-light with the dusky apparel of their partners; while gay
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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/m1/60/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.