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: 68
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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68 CITY OF RIO GRANDE.
effort was more successful than the first, for nearly all were
bridled, and forced to swim the stream with their riders. Five or
six of the men remained on the bank to see that no renegade
returned; but their efforts were not required, as all had now
gained the opposite bank in safety. The passage was not, however,
without an alarming incident. Young T---, who had lately
joined our company, was an expert swimmer, and attempted to
cross the river alone. We watched his progress some time with
anxiety. As he neared the centre of the stream, his strength
appeared to fail him, and taking off his hat, which he had worn
to protect his head from the sun, he waved it several times above
his head, as a signal for help, and then slowly sank from sight.
Those who had remained upon the bank rushed with desperation
into an old ( dug-out," which lay a little distance up the stream,
and commenced paddling with might and main to his assistance.
Great God! what were our feelings, to see a comrade and friend
drowning before our eyes, and we not within reach to succour or
save him! The clumsy old canoe seemed to move like a snail
across the waters. T-- rose and sank again; and this time we
could hear a faint cry for help. Like madmen, they strove to
urge the canoe ahead; with their naked bodies bared to the
scorching sun, they toiled until the big-drops of perspiration rolled
down their panting sides. Again he rose and sank, and this time
they were within reach of him; and in trying to turn the canoe
round, it floated broadside down the stream, in spite of all their
efforts to prevent it. To describe their agony, and their exertions to
bring her up again-for they had nothing but poles to paddle
with-would be as unavailing as were their efforts; they were
just about to give up in hopeless despair, when young T- raised
a loud laugh, and struck out easily for the shore. He had been
playing 'possum at our expense; but to describe the severe reprimand
which he got when we all reached the shore, in the
shape of unvarnished and original cursing, would make a devil
cross himself with fear. As soon, though, as the poor fellows
had recovered from their fatigue, they all laughed as heartily
as any at the ruse which had cost us so much mental pain,
and readily forgave the trick which had caused them so much
labour.
After crossing the river, we halted for some time for the purpose
of procuring a guide, at the city of Rio Grande, being on the
east or Texas side of the river. The city-or rather the ground
on which the city is hereafter to be built-belongs to an enter.
prising young Texian by the name of Clay Davis, who acquired
his right to the land by marrying a Mexican heiress, who
property consists in large tracts of wild land. The tract rm=
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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/m1/72/: 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.