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: 66
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66 THE INDIAN SCOUT.
CHAPTER VII
The Indian Scout-The Comanches-News of their Depredations-Ordered
to follow their Trail-The swimming of the Rio Grande-Attempt to rescue
a Drowning Man-A Ranger playing 'Possum-The City of Rio GrandePrickly
Pears-The Indian Trail-The Night Alarm-Strange ConcertThe
Deserted Ranchos-The Elephant in the Chaparral-Re-crossing of
the River-Arrival at Mier-Bathing-Scene-The Battle Ground-Return
to Comargo.
VARIOUs are the excitements of a Ranger's life; the wild foray,
the secret scout, the ambuscade, the exciting skirmish, and the hazardous
yet enticing expeditions in which we were so frequently
engaged, lent a fascination, a romance to our existence, which those
who drag out a commonplace life in a dull city can never dream of
or enjoy. Our company had been encamped at Comargo, anxiously
waiting for several days, when they received orders to march.
Being deprived at the time by illness from accompanying our corps
on this scout, we give the particulars and incidents of it as described
by the pen of our friend, the author of "the Ranger's
Song."
About 1 o'clock on the morning of the 22d of July, a runner
arrived in camp, with intelligence that a large body of Comanches,
under their celebrated chief Buffalo Hump, had been scouring the
country above us, on both sides of the Rio Grande, stealing horses,
burning ranchos, murdering the Mexican hombres, and carrying
off the most beautiful of the Mexican Senoritas. Indeed, so bold
had they become, that it was said they had actually ventured into
Capt. Gillespie's camp of Rangers, situated about three miles from
us on the opposite bank of the fiver, and stolen some of their best
horses. An order immediately came down from head-quarters
for Capt. McCulloch, who immediately went up and received
instructions from Gen. Worth to take thirty of his best men, and
give chase to the Indians forthwith, to have a parley with them,
if possible, and not engage them without absolute necessity. Preparations
were made to start before the dawn of day. A moment's
notice was all we wanted; and in half an hour after the
order was received the men were in the saddle, ready for any service
and every contingency.
"Fall in double file, men-march !" came from the head of the
line, and on we rode in silence, scarcely any knowing whither.
All we knew, and all we wanted to know, was, that there was a
prospect for a fight; and with hearts beating with excitement, m
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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/m1/70/: 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.