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: 94
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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94 THE RANGERS AT A FANDANGO.
ing their attention. As the music ceased, on looking up, they
were struck with terror and astonishment, at beholding themselves
surrounded on all sides, by fierce and savage-looking men with
rifles in their hands, pointing from every direction towards them.
The women shrieked aloud, and ran towards the houses which
lined one side of the square. We told them that the first man
who attempted to move would be shot, but that the women
might go where they pleased. Canales and Rameres were then
demanded. But they protested most solemnly that they were
not there, declaring that the dignitaries had both left at sundown.
They then attempted to put out the lights, which was
prevented by threatening them with death. It was known that
Rameres had a house there, and they were requested to point
it out, which being done, we were ordered by Capt. Duncan to
proceed with two men, to search it. As we rode off, we called
the attention of our commander to a movement making in one corner
of the square. On reaching the house of Rameres, our
entrance was strenuously opposed at first by an old woman, who,
at last was forced to give way, while one of us entered, the other
two guarding the door; a strict search was made throughout the
house, but no one was discovered. On returning, we heard the
report of two rifles in quick succession, and thought that the dance
had now indeed opened in earnest. As we galloped up, we
found that two men had attempted to make their escape, and were
shot at; killing one, who proved to be a captain of Mexican infantry,
and wounding another in the arm, who was supposed to
be a soldier. The latter was caught and brought back, and,
while our surgeon was occupied in setting the man's arm, which
had been broken, the music was ordered to strike up, and the
young girls again joined in the dance, having assured them of our
friendship. As soon as the dance had recommenced, Corporal
Bawk, one of Duncan's men, a tall, good-looking young fellow,
jumped the enclosure, and the music playing to our astonishment an
old Virginia reel, the corporal led off a very pretty girl, to the great
amusement of the lookers on, surprising the girls with his activity
in the dance. This was too much for us, and as the reel ended,
they next struck up a waltz, and we followed suit by jumping the
enclosure, and approaching a girl of pretty figure and feature,
who was hanging languishingly on the arm of a well-dressed
greaser, we bid them buenas noches, and asked the Mexican in
our best Spanish, if we might dance with his fair partner. The
young girl gave her assent, but the Mexican replied he did not
understand us, at the same time shaking his fore-finger significantly.
We then asked him if he understood Spanish, giving
him an unmistakeable look, and carelessly placing our kand on a
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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/m1/99/: 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.