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: 57
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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A SURPRISE. 57
forms, replete with life and motion, bounded in the lively dance,
or floated in the graceful waltz, in sweet accord with the spiritstirring
strains of music which the night-breeze wafted to our ears
-all made a scene that was, at the distance we viewed it, beautiful
indeed.
" Halt !-dismount !-creep up cautiously, men, and surround
the house-and when I call you, come up quickly and firmly at
the charge." McMullen loosened his pistols in his belt as he
gave this command, and strolled quite carelessly into the midst of
theastonished dancers. Our places were quickly taken, and befoM
the revellers dreamed of danger, they found their scene of
festivity suddenly surrounded with a ring of Texian rifles. Never
was a scene of rejoicing more quickly turned into one of dismay
and confusion. The women shrieked and fluttered about like a
flock of frightened doves upon the sudden appearance of a hawk;
the men shouted, in alarm, "The Americans are upon us !" and
bolted right and left, to make their escape, but on all sides they
were met by the muzzle of a gun, and a gruff voice saying,
" Stand back, or I'll shoot you down." The party was completely
entrapped; and finding no chance to escape, now gathered around
an old drunken fellow who was dancing in their midst, singing as
he danced, and occasionally crying out, "We are poor honest
people-what have.we to fear from our enemies." While this
scene was being enacted out of doors, McMullen was busily
engaged in the house, turning over tables, looking under beds,
and examining carefully every nook and corner that could possibly
conceal a fugitive. None were found, however, and after scanning
closely the members of the party out doors, we were forced
to conclude that either our information was false, or that Canales
and his friends had left the fandango before we arrived. The first
was the most reasonable presumption. We asked no questions,
for we did not expect a truthful answer.
The party, therefore, could only guess the cause of our unexpected
visit, until Lieut. McMullen told them that he was passing the
rancho with his men, when the sound of music made us stop to see
how they were enjoying themselves. They appeared perfectly
satisfied with the explanation, and insisted that we should join the
dance, and partake of the refreshments. Two or three of the best
dancers in our squad laid aside their guns, and picking out the prettiest
girls for their partners, took their places in the set; the rest
of us looked on, with our rifles in our hands. We had seen some
pretty tall dancing in our time, but we think the feats we witnessed
that night, were a little ahead of any thing in that line we ever
saw before. The men had not had an opportunity of enjoying
themselves by tripping on the " light fantastic toe" for some time
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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/m1/61/: 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.