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: 60
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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60 THE CHICKEN RACE.
which led about two miles round town, to our camp. If he reached
camp in safety, the chicken was his prize; but if he were intercepted,
or overtaken by any of the Mexicans who were going to
take short cuts through the town for the purpose, and the bird
taken away from him, why then he was to be laughed at, and suffer
the mortification of defeat. A wild young Texian, by the name
of Clinton Dewit, volunteered to bear the chicken to camp; and
seizing the bird by the legs, dashed off at a break-neck pace.
After he had got a fair start, about one-half of the Mexicans rushed
after him, yelling like a legion of devils; the remainder ran by a
shorter route to intercept him at different points of the road. We
galloped out of town to see the sport. They had purposely chosen
a road for him to follow, that was covered with loose rocks, and full
of holes, in hopes that his, horse would either stumble over the
one, or fall into the other. But "Clint Dewit" was too good a
horseman to suffer either of these mishaps, and picked his course
over the uneven ground as coolly as if he were gallanting a lady to
church. The speed of his horse was so much greater than that
of his pursuers, that he was soon able to leave them far behind;
but those who had run across and got before him, annoyed him
exceedingly, so that he was frequently obliged to ride right over
them, (which he always did when he had a chance,) or task
his horse's powers to the utmost to ride around and avoid them.
When he had nearly reached the camp, a big, stout fellow, mounted
on a strong horse, rushed out from behind a house which he was
obliged to pass, and grasped the prize; and so eager was he to
secure the chicken, that he momentarily released his hold of the
bridle, while both horses were dashingalong at full speed. " Clint"
immediately perceived his advantage, and grappling him by the
throat, suddeply reined his horse up. The consequence was, that
the greaser's horse passed from under him, and left the rider in
Clint's grasp. Dashing him to the ground, the young Texian
clutched the prize, and raising a yell of triumph, bore it easily to
the camp.
Another was brought out, and another chase succeeded, terminating
like the first. Another, and another, and still with the
same success. Until at last, we found ourselves pretty well supplied
with stock in the poultry line, and the Mexicanos ruefully
acknowledged that there were "4 no mas Gallenas in Reynoso,"'no
more chickens in Reynoso.
Our time in this place was spent pleasantly enough, for we had
little or nothing to do, and when the rainy season was over, we
occupied ourselves with hunting, horse-racing, and every other
kind of sport that our ingenuity could devise.
The morning of the 4th of July found us busily employed in
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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/m1/64/: 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.