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: 16
251 p. : ill. ; 20 cm.View a full description of this book.
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16 A FALSE ALARM.
Legion, which had lately arrived. Lieut. D. immediately despatched
some five or six of his men towards the Boca Chica as a
picket-guard, for the purpose of preventing a surprise, and to
reconnoitre. In the mean time, all was bustle, excitement, and
commotion in camp; cartridges were served out to the men, and
orders issued for captains of companies to have their men ready
at a moment's warning-the signal of which was to be the beating
of the long roll of the drum. The boys were in a glorious
humour, and every one rejoiced that the prospect of a fight was
so near at hand. The guard was doubled, and a chain of sentinels
posted along the hillocks that lined the sea-shore. The
Kentucky Legion also posted a strong picket-guard about two
miles from camp, and every preparation was made to give the
enemy a warm reception. All continued quiet until 9, P. M.,
when a regular came running into our camp with the news that
the bugles of the enemy had been heard sounding the attack, and
that they were already approaching. The regular, however,
before being permitted to pass into our lines, was first hailed by
an Irish sentinel, who was posted on one of the hillocks, and
ordered to stand and give the countersign. Upon telling his
story, however, to the sentinel, Pat asked him how many the
picket-guard consisted of; and being told about fifty--t Blood and
murder !" cried Pat, "and why the divil didn't you stay and
drive 'em back ?" " But," said the regular," (I was ordered to inform
your colonel of the fact." " In wid ye, then," cried Pat,
"and see that ye's hurry out with the countersign after ye's."
On the colonel being informed of the news, the long roll was beat,
and the regiment formed in line of battle. The men were kept
under arms for three or four hours, but no farther information of
the enemy coming in, they were dismissed to their quarters.
The false alarm proceeded from some of our men, who had
been out hunting, and having crossed the Boca Chica, they saw
a large drove of cattle in the distance, which they took to be
Mexican cavalry; and the bugle notes which the regulars heard,
proceeded from an instrument played on board of one of the vessels
in the harbour, the occasional notes of which had reached the
picket-guard. After parade, next morning, the regiment was
ordered to discharge their pieces by platoons, the report of which,
at a distance, sounded like artillery. In the afternoon, an express
arrived from Burita, to ascertain the cause of the firing, as it had
produced much alarm there; and the supposition prevailed that
it must be the bombardment of Point Isabel! We, in return,
,vere seized with apprehensions, but the mystery was soon cleared
up, it being ascertained that we were the cause of the mischief,
which resulted in a hearty laugh.
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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/m1/18/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.