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: 93

                                
A ARPRISE AT PUNTA AGUDA.               93
a young man who had been living some years in Mexico, trading
He was dressed like a Mexican, and spoke the language very
well, and was now employed in the quarter-master's department
as interpreter and contractor. He was so well known throughout
that part of the country, that he was generally allowed to travel
unmolested. He afterwards joined our company, as the army
moved on, and fought with the Texians at the storming of Monterey.
After several questions, Everitt told us that he had left
Punta Aguda that morning, and the night previous he was at a
large fandango there, and another was to be given that night to
Gen. Canales, and Col. Christoval Rameres, who were expected
to attend it. It was immediately determined to visit the scene of
festivity, as it lay on our route; Capt. Duncan giving us a carte
blanche to attend the dance, and the boys brightened up at the prospect
of the frolic. We pushed on then, for that place, thinking
to make two distinguished prisoners. At about 6, P. x., we met
two Mexicans going towards Mier, one of whom was Canales's
brother. He carried in his hand a common straw hat, besides
the one he had on, and as we had nothing but a cloth cap to shelter
ourself from the sun, we asked him what he would take for
it ? He replied he did not wish to sell it, and as it was no time
for making bargains, we took the hat from him, and giving him a
dollar, bade him .Adios. At dark, the command was formed into
single file, and Capt. Duncan had his charger saddled, giving the
mule he had ridden to one of his men to lead. We now proceeded
on at a rapid rate until about 10, p. M., when we arrived
within a short distance of Punta Aguda, and a halt was called, for
the purpose of reconnoitering before going into the place. We
were delayed some twenty minutes, when all the arrangements
having been made, and a guard stationed at a bridge, which we
crossed to get into the place, we marched on, sure of our game.
As we neared the town, we could hear the music, among which was
a bass drum, which seemed to drown all other sounds. On we galloped
in order to take them by surprise, and to prevent escape.
We had now gained the avenues, where sentinels were again
posted with orders to shoot any man trying to escape, when the
dogs set up such a barking as almost deafened our ears; still we
were not discovered, and we kept on until we reached the large
square, which was most brilliantly lighted up, and which contained
some two hundred men and women, engaged in dancing.
We immediately surrounded the square, while their music kept
up such a din that they had not even heard our approach, notwithstanding
the barking of the dogs. And not until we had
completely surrounded them, and our interpreter cried out several
tim  at the top of his voice, Sencio! did we succeed in attract