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: 73
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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A BATHING SCENE. 73
only trouble, and if we were certain that they were securely
guarded, we cared not for the foe who might venture to assault us.
The next day, we learned from some rancheros who had seen
the light of our fires on the night previous, and who had come over
to visit us, by day-break in the morning, that the Indians had
crossed the river, some few miles above, early on the morning of
the preceding day, and were supposed to be now lurking somewhere
in the neighbourhood of Mier. In order to pursue them, we again
were compelled to swim the river, which was not accomplished without
a vast deal of trouble and fatigue. At length, after a repetition
of some of the scenes we witnessed at the first crossing, we all
passed over in safety, and shaped our course directly for the town
of Mier. As we approached the place it presented a beautiful appearance,
with its snowy walls and turrets gleaming in the reflected
light of the sun; and its good citizens were not a little surprised
to find a company of los Texanos so unexpectedly at their doors.
Just before entering the town, we had to ford a beautiful stream
which danced merrily along, and rippled over its rocky bed, pure,
cool, and as limpid as a mountain rivulet. As we rode up, still
being concealed behind a high bank, a rare sight was presented
to our view. Some fifty or sixty young Mexican girls were bathing
in the lovely stream, making the air ring with their merry
laughter, and the water foam and splash with their sportive agile
movements. Occasionally, their unveiled charms were exposed to
our gaze as we peeped cautiously over the high bank at the lovely
nymphs, who continued their joyous sports, totally unconscious of
our presence. Every form of maiden loveliness stood before us, from
the girl of eighteen to the budding beauty of the laughing child.
How long we might have gazed entranced upon this fair original
scene, we cannot pretend to say; for, unfortunately for us, one of the
young girls happened to glance above, and descried a long line of
strange, bearded, and moustached faces peering earnestly over the
bank at them. The sight we now witnessed afforded us the highest
merriment. The alarm had been quickly given, and the girls, in
confusion and dismay, paddling and splashing, quickly made for
the shore, with screams and shrieks; and scampering towards their
garments, rebosas, mantillas, and gowns, picked up in all directions,
were put on in a hurry, and then running-such a foot-race
for home, half-dressed as they were, made one of the most amusing
and laughable scenes that we ever saw. It was soon spread that
a large American troop of horse had arrived, and the whole population
swarmed out to see us. We rode into town, in double file,
and proceeded directly to the alcalde's apartments, to make a requisition
for meat and bread.
The order was quickly complied with, and the desired articles
7
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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/m1/77/: 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.