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: 61
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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THE FOURTH OF JULY. 61
preparations to celebrate the day with suitable rejoicing. Every
stray pig, or chicken that ventured to show himself in our yard
that day, was unfortunately despatched-unfortunately, I say, since
everybody said they came to their death by accident; for, as the
boys said, " if the poor things would run in the way just as they
were going to shoot off their guns in honour of the 4th, of course
they could not help it, if they were killed." And then just to
prevent them from spoiling, they were put on the fire.
Two large horse-buckets of whisky was procured, and a loaf
of white sugar grated into it, with the due allowance of water. But
to describe the scene of feasting, drinking, and revelry which ensued,
is beyond the power of our pen. Yet we would not have it
for a moment supposed, that we were unable to tell what happened
after dinner, because .
Suffice it, that the dinner went off as all other dinners go off,
with infinite satisfaction to everybody that enjoyed it. The wine
--the whisky we mean-was capital, and circulated freely, and
everybody was in such admirable spirits, and such excellent good
humour with everybody else, and the toasts that were given were
received with such prolonged, vociferous, and tumultuous applause,
that Col. Wilson, although nearly half a mile distant, was suddenly
awakened from his siesta by the noise; and despatched a
file of men to find out if the Ranger's camp had been unexpectedly
attacked by a Mexican force, or " what was the meaning of
that disturbance, anyhow."
The men were furnished with several "( horns" out of the " big
bucket," and sent back to Col. Wilson, "with the compliments
of the Rangers," and the polite request, "( that he would join us
in a drink." The message was faithfully carried, and the colonel
came up himself. But when he arrived and found no officer
about, (for McMullen was not present,) and by looking over the
fence, saw the men were ripe for any thing, he prudently concluded
not to pay us a visit. He was perceived, however, and
one of the most "far-gone" of the party reeled to his feet, and
proposed as a toast, ", the health of Col. Wilson ;" and three of
the most vociferous cheers that ever rose upon the air, burst from
the group around. The old gentleman understood the joke, and
burned off to his quarters, so that we were allowed to enjoy ourselves
for the remainder of the.evening as we pleased.
Not many days had elapsed after this jollification, when we were
ordered to pursue a party of robbers, who had been committing
depredations in the neighbourhood. We relished not overmuch
the service; as we cared very little how much the Mexicans
reed upon each other, and like the woman, when she saw her
husmad in conflict with a bear, were perfectly indifferent as to
6.
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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/m1/65/: 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.