Rangers and sovereignty Page: 93 of 188

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RANGERS AND SOVEREIGNTY.

ceeded to Laredo, where my old company was stationed,
and took command of the Company.
Captain Neal Coldwell, who was Captain of Company
"A" had the command of Company "D" until
I arrived. He had camped both companies near old
Fort McIntosh, which was garrisoned by the United
States soldiers. We talked to Captain Coldwell as
to what his opinion was regarding the situation; and
his keen observance led me to believe that there would
be no fight with Mexico.
Pardon a little "yarn;" two negro boys were discussing
the rank of army officers, as they walked down
the street, according to their shoulder straps and epauletts,
and noticing an orderly sergeant, as file closer,
who had more stripes than any of them, one boy said
to the other" Dat's mor'n any Cap'n." So it was with
Captain Coldwell, he was more than any captain in
ability, and one of the best officers in the service. We
worked with him or rather under his orders, until
we could learn what he knew regarding the situation
on the Rio Grande. By his suggestion, we moved both
companies down the Rio Grande. I stopped my company
at Carrizo, just opposite the town of Guerrero,
in Mexico. Captain Coldwell took station at Ringgold
barracks, some sixty miles below me. We had sort of
a "grape vine" line to headquarters at Austin, by
courier from his camp to mine, thence to Laredo, where
we could reach the wires. After I had been at Carrizo
a short time I ventured to go over to the town of