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: 70
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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70 OUR BIVOUACK.
beautiful murmuring stream, and after the fatigues of the day,
congratulated ourselves upon the idea of passing a pleasant night
in the wild woods. The fires were kindled, the horses staked out,
and the guard posted; it was really a relief after having been
encamped for weeks in a dusty town, to spread our blankets once
more upon the fresh-green sward, and repose our weary limbs on
this soft and dewy couch. The full-orbed moon was wending her
way, like some fair crystal chariot, across the cloudless heaven,
and the "sentinel stars," paled by her light, shone fainter and,
fainter in the deep blue vault above, till sweet refreshing slumber
shut out their blessed light, and closing our heavy lids, we forgot
in deep sleep the beauties of either earth or heaven. At midnight,
we were startled by one of the guard firing upon what he
supposed to be an Indian prowling about the camp. Whether it
really was so, or not, we could never certainly determine; though
the alarm served to increase our vigilance. Our horses were
brought closer in, and every man slept within a few paces of his
steed. We apprehended no danger from an attack, but we were
fearful that our horses might be stampeded, or silently stolen from
the lines by our crafty foe. For some time after the sentinel shot,
divers strange and unusual noises were heard in the woods around,
which we supposed to be Indian signals; as this strange race
always convey intelligence to one another, when on the war path,
by means of these sounds. A most singular and wild concert
they made that night; there was hooting of owls, and screeching
of wild cats, and yelping of wolves, growling of bears, screaming
of panthers, and in short every bird of the air and beast of the
forest seemed to have combined their musical talents to give us
the benefit of their horrid voices. Little cared we for noises, by
whomsoever made, so that our horses were safe. And after
doubling the guard, we sank to rest again, promising ourselves, as
soon as the morrow's light should give us an opportunity, to cultivate
a closer acquaintance with our strange musicians.
As soon as day dawned, the next morning, we prepared a hurried
cup of coffee, and after munching our scanty allowance of
hard bread and dried beef, set out on our journey. The signs of
moccasoned feet were thick around our camp, but the feet that
made the tracks, as our Mexican guide expressed it, were sacabo
-which means, "4 not about." The poor guide, after being paid
off here, took his leave of us, but not without many misgivings,
and with all the speed his poor mule could muster, put back for
the rancho.
We pursued our way on the trail, which led us a weary march,
over hill and valley, through thicket and prairie, occasionally
wending our way to some high hill-top, when visions of beauty
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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/m1/74/: 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.