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: 59
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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THE FESTIVAL OF ST. JUAN. 69
nist from the saddle to the ground. Wo to the awkward or unskilful
rider who places his foot in the stirrup on the festival of
St. Juan!
Well knowing the manner in which the Mexicans observed this
day, we determined to have our share of the fun. So carefully
grooming our horses early in the morning, plaiting their manes,
and expending upon their appearance all the finery we could muster,
we mounted, and rode in a body to the main plaza. The exercises
of the day were much interrupted by the plaza being occupied
by our artillery, and the streets barricaded by piles of stones,
but cramped as we were in our movements, we determined with
the Mexicans to make the most of the occasion. By 10 o'clock,
the streets were filled with mounted Mexicans, whooping and
charging upon each other. Gradually they all formed into one great
party, and rode by us in a bantering style. We were fewer in
number, but possessed an immense advantage over them in the
size, weight, strength, and speed of our horses. Thinking that
we did not accept or understand their first challenge, they formed
to charge upon us. We were clustered in the mouth of one of
the main streets that led to the plaza, and as we found them rushing
down like a whirlwind upon our ranks, we suddenly opened to the
right and left, and allowed the whole body to pass to the rear.
With a jeer of triumph they passed by, when we wheeled like lightning
on their rear, and using freely our spurs, charged the whole
body at full speed. The weight of twenty large American horses is
enough to overthrow all the ponies in Mexico, and as we had no
arms to carry, our whole attention was devoted to the management
of our horses. We rode right full upon them, and at the first
shock more than twenty men and horses were rolling in the dust,
and our triumph was achieved, for the rest of the party scattered
in every direction, up alleys and into yards, in short, perfectly
satisfied that los cavallos rnmericanos son mucho buenos, y mucho
grandes." It was our turn now to ride in triumph up and down
the streets, bowing to the senoras, and kissing our hands to the
sefioritas, who lined the streets and windows, and who returned
our salutations most graciously. The Mexican gallants followed
after us, but kept at a most respectful distance. At length, one
of them who spoke a little English rode up, and inquired if we
would like to engage in a " chicken race." We expressed our
willingness to do so, and two or three of them dashed off to procure
a chicken. The conditions of the race were these-the
chicken was to be given to some man mounted on a good horse;
the rest of the party, both Mexicans and Americans, were to remain
in the plaza, while the man was to have about a hundred
yands start; at a given signal he was to run, by a designated course
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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/m1/63/: 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.