186

ment,
I
I

Gen. Lane's Brigade in

hope
I shall

not be accused of bragging, a8

speak of others, not of myself. I have forgotten to mention in

its

proper order,

that,

a day or two after the fight at Atlixco, Lieu-

tenant Sears, 2d artillery, started from Puebla as bearer of dispatches from Gen. Lane to the United
States'

Government.

He had

as his escort a Mexiser-

can spy-company of contra-guerrillas in our

vice,

under command of Col. Dominguez, and was attacked, a short distance from the city, by a large Mexican force under General Torrijon. Having beaten them off, he again proceeded on his way to

Yera Cruz, and was again attacked by another Mexican force under Colonel Yamos, and was
obliged to return toward Puebla, having lost fifteen
killed

and wounded
to Perote,

in the

two

fights.

He met
its
it

Col.

Wynkoop
down

with his regiment, which was on

way
Yera

and was

safely escorted

by

as far

as Plan del Rio, after which Sears reached

Cruz in

safety.

Lieutenant Sears had been General Lane's adju-

and after his departure Lieutenant Henderson Ridgely of the 4:th infantry, was appointtant-general,

ed acting-assistant adjutant-general in his place. The contra-guerrillas under Dominguez were a rascally set of fellows, and I never could look upon

them with any degree

their

of sympathy.

Traitors

to

own country

in the darkest hour of stern trial,

they aided the Americans against their

own

country-

men, and covered themselves with lasting infamy. There is an old saying ''we love the treason but despise the traitor," which did not hold good with us.

Central Mexico.

187

We loatlied the treason and cursed the traitor.

man
I

in the

company was a

"jail bird,"

Every and a worse

body of men could not have been

collected together.

once rode from the National Bridge to

I

En

Cerro

with a squadron of these chaps, and was the only

American with them.

down from En Cerro to the They rode along return.

discharging
their

had been carrying an order Bridge, and was on my

singing ribald
songs,

escopettes

every

few

minutes,

and behaving in the most unsoldier-like manner. They had a few women along with them who seemed to be as thoroughly steeped in vice as the men. Each man carried a lance and wore a wide red band around his hat. Mexican treachery is proverbial, and these contra-guerrillas were a complete embodiment of it. On first seeing them, I thought very much, as one of our Irish soldiers did, "may the devil fly away wid'em for a set of ragamuffins." It was originally the intention of Government to arm our company with rifles, but from some cause or other, we never received them. Our men were mostly young and sprightly fellows, ranging from eighteen to twenty-four years of age, though there were some middle-aged men with us. In the Ohio
regiment there were a great

many Germans who

One old captain in who commanded

made
upon

fine

soldiers,

and prided themselves much

Fries,

their

military bearing.

that regiment,

named John
age,

by his fine and his previous military history. He was a Bavarian by birth, and when he entered our army was sixty-four years of age. The old man had served as a non-commiBsioned
attracted attention

company K, always
his

appearance,

Central Mexico.

223

army, and fought on nearly every bloody field durlie was provided with everything ing the war. necessary to render liim comfortable, and after a time was released from captivity, upon giving his word of honor that he would not again fight against
larly exchanged.

Americans during the war, unless he was reguHe retired to San Martins, where had his home, and rigorously kept his word. he General Gaona was a tall, straight old fellow, and looked considerably like General Butler. He
the

commanded a
bla.

brigade, I believe, at the battle of

San Jacinto, and was afterward Governor of Pue-

Upon being brought

burst into tears, and
replied:

into the palace, the old

man

on being questioned as

to the cause

"1 respect the Americans, they are a brave and magnanimous nation. I could have been taken prisoner by them without a murmur, but I have been captured by that man, (pointing to Dominguez,)

who is a thief and a robber had publicly whipped in that plaza for robljery. My honor is gone I am an old man and shall soon die, and I weep to think that my last days will be imbittered by the reflection that I have been captured in this war by that infamous scoundrel and traitor, Dominguez." I pitied him, as he seemed to be filled wnth the
and

whom

most poignant grief. He was subsequently released by Col. Childs, and the circumstances which led to
it will

be given hereafter. Dr. Elisha K. Kane, since become world -renowned

his efibrts in the Arctic explorations,

by

was

at that

time a surgeon in the United States xsayy, and as

just

mentioned, came up as bearer of dispatches.

262

Gen. Lane's Brigade

ball,

with a musket
fallen.

and sent him home rather chop-

In the latter part of February, 1848, Gen. Lane

had another

fight

with the guerrillas, and not being

it,

in the skirmish myself I will give his account of

as reported to the

commander

of our forces,

who was

at that time Major-General William O. Butler, be

having taken command of the American forces by the express desire of Major-General Scott, on the
19th of February, 1848,
" Mexico,

March

2d, 1848.

"Sir I have the honor to submit for the information and consideration of the commander-in-chief,
the following report of the late expedition of the

mounted troops under

of this city.

my command

against the

guerrillas infesting the country north

and northeast

" In obedience to my instructions, I left this city on the 17th of February, with 250 Texan rangers under command of Col. Hays; 130 men of the 3d dragoons and rifles, commanded by Maj. Polk; and
the

company

of contra-guerrillas of Col.

Dominguez,

for the

purpose of scouring the mountainous country

I followed the

north of Eio Frio.

to

Yera Cruz,

as far as the hacienda of

main road leading San Felipe

and returning from thence several miles, I deflected Tnlancingo in which place, from reliable information, I had reason to believe I should find General Faredes, as also Almonte, and the famous guemlla chief Padre Jarauta, with a considerable force. I arrived at Tulancingo on the morning of the 22d, and attempted,
to the right in the direction of