The Twelve Months' Volunteer; or, Journal of a Private in the Tennessee Regiment of Cavalry, in the campaign in Mexico, 1846-7 ... Including a complete history of the war with Mexico. Embellished with ... engravings, from drawings by the author

Front matter

VIEW OF THE MAIN CANAL IN THE CASTLE OF ST. JUAN DE ULLOA THE HILLS OF CERRO GORDO AND TELEGRAFO THE TWELVE MONTHS VOLUNTEER; OR, JOURNAL OF A PRIVATE, IN THE TENNESSEE REGIMENT OF CAVALRY, IN THE CAMPAIGN, IN MEXICO, 1846-7; COMPRISING FOUR GENERAL SUBJECTS " I. A SOLDIER'S LIFE LN CAMP ; AMUSEMENTS ; DUTIES; HARDSHIPS; II. A DESCRIPTION OF TEXAS AND MEXICO, AS SEEN ON THE MARCH; III. MANNERS; CUSTOMS; RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES OF THE MEXICANS; IV. THE OPERATIONS OF ALL THE TWELVE MONTHS VOLUNTEERS: INCLUDING A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE WAR WITH MEXICO. EMBELLISHED WITH CORRECT ENGRAVINGS, FROM DRAWINGS BY THE AUTHOR. BY GEORGE C. FURBER, OF COMPANY G. CINCINNATI: PUBLISHED BY U. P. JAMES. 167 WALNUT STREET, 1857. Extered, according to Act of Congress, m the year 1847, by GEORGE C. FURBER, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Ohio. TO THE -.OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE TWELVE MONTHS VOLUNTEERS, THIS WORK IS' RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED.

Preface

To Major General Patterson and Colonel Abercrombie, his aid, the author gratefully acknowledges his obligations, for the information given him of the army movements from time to time, and more especially for the revisal of his journals during the stay of the army at Jalapa, — thus enabling him, with confidence, to present them to the public. To Colonel Thomas, Lieu tenant Colonel Allison, Major Waterhouse, and Captain Sneed, of the Ten nessee cavalry, he takes pleasure in declaring his indebtedness, for the con tinued opportunities and indulgence granted, in allowing him time and leave of absence from the regular duties of camp, while near the Mexican cities ana towns, in order to procure the information herein contained. To the gen tlemanly adjutants of the 1st and 2d Tennessee, and 3d Ohio regiments, he is indebted for much information, more particularly in their power to give.

To most of the officers in his own regiment, and many of those in the Is' and 2d Tennessee, he returns his thanks, for the relation of many items and facts which came under their more immediate observation ; and for their strong interest manifested, while yet on the scene of operations, for the character and success of this work. To Dr. Woodworth, now of Cincinnati, but resident in the interior of Mexico for the past eight years, the author is much indebted, for the complete revisal and approval of his proof-sheets, as they came from the press, in all things relating to Mexican manners, customs, laws, and religious ceremonies, — thus, in these respects, enabling him to present them to the pub lic, fully confident that nothing therein will convey the slightest impression of anything save facts, as they exist. — In giving these accounts, he ac knowledges the assistance of no work whatever on Mexico or Mexicans ; being entirely original, and he not willing to endorse the errors or care lessness of others.

To his numerous fellow-soldiers, who, at Victoria, Mex., Tampico, Vera Cruz, Plan del Rio and Jalapa, subscribed to the work, upon hearing the details of the manuscripts and examining the drawings of places, — on the promise, too, on his part, that it should be issued from the press by the 1st of November, 1847, — the author owes an apology, for his failure to produce

PREFACE.

. VI it in that specified time ; and he trusts that they will receive his excuse, as he found it wholly impossible to finish the book and engravings within that period, and as they will see that he has furnished a larger and more com plete work than that contracted for, but with no increase of price. A description of the country ; the transactions in camp and on the march ; the battles fought by the immediate division to which the Tennessee cavalry was attached ; the manners and customs of the Mexicans, &c, was prom ised ; but he has taken a wider range, and worked in with those an account of all the actions of the twelve months' volunteers, and a complete history of the war. — Five hundred and fifty pages was the proposed extent ; he has given six hundred and twenty-four; — six engravings weie to be in the work ; he has placed in twenty-three, and added a map of the whole scene of operations.

He trusts, on these accounts, that his failure in time in issuing the book, will be passed over. To the general reader, the author would remark, that in this work 'here has not been the slightest opportunity, even had he been so disposed, for the flight of imagination, or any departure from truth : for thousands witnessed the scenes here described. The errors would have been instantly detected by them ; and especially condemned by those whose aid and support has been freely given to the work only on account of its faithful details, whether of important operations, or of lighter scenes in camp. The author has aimed at no excellence of style ; he has endeavored to use the more familiar words and every day expressions of life, conscious that the relation of facts would be the main object with the reader, rather than the language in which they might be dressed.

In the list of killed and wounded there may be errors in the letters of the names; — probably there are such: as it is next to impossible for so many proper names to be all correctly spelled ; — there may also be some omissions. In either case, the author would be happy to receive communi cations from the friends of the fallen, or from the wounded themselves, ad dressed to him, care of the publishers, post-paid, and such errors shall be corrected in the next edition; — or if he has inadvertently neglected, in any particular, to do full and even justice to any regiment, command, or officer, he would be thankful for communications, in like manner, upon the subject : for this, too, may be the case, especially in the operations of other divisions of the army than that to which he was attached, notwithstanding his un wearied endeavors, to procure all published information and personal accounts from individuals who bore distinguished parts in those scenes, and the full confidence which, consequently, he feels in their correctness.

Cincinnati, January, 1848. CONTENTS. Causes and Commencement of the War — Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma — Bombardment of Fort Brown — War Bill — Call for Volunteers — List of the Regiment of Twelve Months Volunteers from page 13 to 44

Chapter I

The Twelve Months' Volunteer — Tennessee Regiment of Cavalry — March to Little Rock — Drumming out of Camp — Little Rock — Encampment at Sabine River — Magnet Cove — Camp at Caddo River — Soldiers Cooking — Squatter 'drirl — Camp at Little Missouri — Washington, Ark. — Fulton — Line of Texas — Sulphur Fork — Alligators — Sickness in Camp — The Philosopher — Upshur county from p. 45 to 66

Chapter II

Branton's— " The Rainy Day "—Crockett— Old Bell— Petrified Timber— Robbins' Ferry, Trinity River — Beautiful Prairie — Grimes County — Landscapes —Washington, Texas — Soldier's Burial — Riding a Rail — Independence- Brave Boy — Picturesque Basin — Alligators from p. 67 to 94

Chapter III

Operations of Gen. Taylor — March of the Army — Situation of the City of Monterey — Attack on Monterey — Storming of Fort Tannerio — Charge of Lancers upon 1st Ohio Regiment — Worth's Movements on 21st September — Bragg's Artillery — Worth's Attack on 22d — Quitman's Operations on 23d September — Worth's Operations on do. — Ampudia's Proposal— Cessation of Hostilities — Capitulation of Monterey — List of Killed and Wounded of 1st Tennessee, 1st Mississippi, 1st Ohio and 1st Kentucky Regiments, Baltimore Battalion, Texas Rangers, and Louisianians from p. 95 to 119

Chapter IV

Return to the Tennessee Regiment Cavalry, on the March at La Grange, Texas — Fine Natural Scenery — Singular Water Holes — Report of Sickness ahead — Mexican Gourds — Chase on the Prairie — Lands on the Guadaloupe — David Crockett's Rifle " Betsy " — Rough Houses — Hog-wallow Prairie — Comanche TABLE OF CONTENTS. Depredations — Victoria, Texas— Camp Placedor — Port Lavacca — Emigrants — Feigning Sickness — Tarantulas — Centipedes — Scorpions — Express from Gen. Taylor — Col. Fannin's Entrenchments — San Antonio River — Ruins of Goliad — Massacre of Fannin's Command — Santa Anna's Duplicity — Hunter's Escape — Soldier on Guard — Effect of Liquor — Prickly Pear — Neuces River — Corpus Christi — Gen. Taylor's old camp — Musquit Trees — Chapparal — Alarm of Enemy ahead — " Battle of the Mustangs " — Signs of Indians — Scattering Comanches — Mexican Traders — Wild Horses: Capture of one — Wolves — Human Skeletons — Lost Hunters — Salt Marshes — Want of Water — Briny Lake — Charge on Whisky Barrels — Sal Colorado — Arrival on the Rio Grande from p. 120 to 187

Chapter V

Buildings of Matamoras — Gardens — Dress of Mexicans — Appearance on Horseback — Fort Brown — Women of Matamoras — Horsemanship — Copper Balls — Skeletons on Battle-Fields — Camp Ringgold — Agua Dulce Lake — Mexican Servants in Camp — Ranchos — Cultivated Fields — Canales' Men — Ranchos and Haciendas — System of Peonage or Servitude from p. 188 to 212

Chapter VI

Parade on Plaza — Scene at Pay-table — Scene at Alcalde's Court — Mexican Plows and Carts — Mexican Priest — Funeral Processions — City Prison — Stores in the City — Breaking a Wild Horse — Skill with the Lasso — Dress Parade — Arrival of Gen. Patterson — Gambling Scenes in Camp — Reports of Contemplated Attacks — Vigilance of the Regiments — Picket Guards — Mexican Fandango — Officers caught without the Countersign — The Sentinel on Picket — False Alarm — Review of Gen. Patterson's Division . from p. 213 to 241

Chapter VII

Central Army, under Gen. Wool — List of his Corps — Movements of his Army — Northern Army, under Gen. Kearney — Capture of Santa Fe — Departure for California — March of 1st Missouri Cavalry, Col. Doniphan — Expedition against the Navajos — Scenes at Council with the Navajos — Dress of the Chiefs and Warriors — Dress of the Navajo Women — Conclusion of the Council — Col. Doniphan's March — Scenes on Christmas-Day — Battle of Brazito — Capture of El Paso — Recapitulation of Army Movements — Operations of the Navy — Gulf Squadron, Commodore Conner — Pacific Squadron, Commodore Sloat — Expedition against San Diego — Gen. Kearney's Arrival in California — Change in Mexican Government — Santa Anna's Return to Mexico- Positions of American and Mexican Armies, at the close of 1846. from p. 242 to 274

Chapter VIII

March of Gen. Patterson's Division — Excitement in Matamoras— Want of Water — Christmas-Day and Dinner — The " Long Day's March " — Contention for Water, at Night — Valley of San Fernando — Cemetery, or Campo Santo Hypocrisy of Alcaldes— Meeting of Alcaldes— Method of Justice before them — Mexican Officers of Justice — Manner of Riding Double — Rough Scenery TABLE OF CONTENTS. IX — Cactus Gigantea — Other Cacti — Removing Obstacles on the March Changes of Scenery — Beautiful Valley— A ppetite of the Soldiers for Coffee— Extensive Plains — Ancient Dam — Old Palace at Santander — The New Year — Excellent Well at Rancho — Mexican Bridges, Aqueducts, and Wells — Crossing the San Antonio River — Padilla River — Town of Padilla — Sketch of the Life of the Emperor Iturliide — Spirituous Liquor, Muscal — Barren Hills — Rio Corona — Capilla, Church at Hacienda — Priests at a Capilla — Ceremony of "Nuestra Senor Esta Patente" — Arrival at Victoria — Scenes in City of Victoria — Houses of Peones — Mountains — Personal Appearance of Gen. Taylor — Swapping Horses with Generals — Gen. Twiggs' Personal Appearance — Sudden Norther — Mass at Parochia — Burial of " Angels'' — Rifa de Almas — Reception of Letters — March of Capt. Haynes's Detachment — Dispatches from Gen. Scott — Consequent Movements — " El Nacimiento," from p. 215 to 341

Chapter IX

March of Generals Patterson, Twiggs, Pillow, and Quitman — Camp at Rio de Floris — Mishap to Gen. Patterson — Search for a Bottle of Brandy — Parties of Lancers — Mesas or Table-Lands — Sports of the Infantry — Crosses over the Murdered — Rio Follon — La Palma Bendit* — Different Plants and Trees — Guanos — Hacienda of Alomiter — Extent of Hacienda — Slight Attack by Lancers — Hacienda of Chocoi — Don Ramon Prieto — Old Spanish Carriage— Mountain of Bernal — Lechugas — Atajcs, Arrieros, and Custom-House Officers in Mexico — Lake Carpentero — Dignity of Officers — Impudence of a Private — Rancho — The Mustang Cavalry — Town of Altamira — Agave Americana, or Maguey — La Encarnacion — Company G sent on Scout — Beauty of Country South of the Panuco — Banana Plants — Ancient Mexican Idol — March into Tampico — Extensive Prospects — Encampment at Tampico — Monopoly of Tobacco by Mexican Government from p. 342 to 393

Chapter X

City of Tampico — Fort Andonega — Plaza de Comercia — Signs over the Stores — Puros and Cigarros — Mexican Liquors, and Method of Distillation— Politeness of Mexicans — Markets of Tampico — Lanchas — Sea Turtles — Style of Building — Streets — Senoritas — Aguadores — Plaza de Armas — Hospital — Pandaderia — Rosca de los Muertos, or Loaves for the Dead — Parades and Drills — Camp Scenes — Liquor, in Camp— Scenes in the Tents — Absence of Care with Soldiers — The Wrecked Louisianians — Sickness — The Philosopher and his Horse, Rosinante — Beef for Gen. Cos — Criminal Court of Tampico — Search of the new Sheriff for " Locks "— " Locks " and " Cogle "—Mexican Taxes — Tomales Calientes — Regular Soldiers — Arrival of Gen. Scott — Troops Embark for Vera Cruz — Mexican Ceremonies of Marriage . .from p. 394 to 436

Chapter XI

Operations elsewhere during the Winter — Gen. Kearney's Battles — Insurrection in California — Insurrection in New Mexico — Battle of Canada — Battle of El Emboda— Battle of Puebla de Taos — Killed and Wounded— Col. Doniphan's Movements — Intercepted Letters — Doniphan's March for Chihuahua — X TABLE OF CONTENTS. h_» Passage of Jornada — Battle of Sacramento — Loss of the Enemy — Chihuahua taken — Treaty of Chihuahua — Gen. Taylor's Operations — Surprise and Capture of Detachment of Kentucky and Arkansas Cavalry at Encamacion — Battle of Buena Vista — Disposition of Troops on first day of Battle — Summons of Santa Anna— Taylor's Reply— Battle of Feb. 22d— Repulse of Ampudia's Column — Attack by Gen. Pacheco — Retreat of 2d Indiana Regiment — Plain Statement of Causes, and Defence of the same — Resistance of Gen. Pacheco's Attack — Conduct of 2d Illinois Regiment — Action of the Mississippi Regiment — Attack on the Hacienda — Conduct of Kentucky and Arkansas Cavalry — Repulse of Gen. Pacheco — Repulse of Gen. Minon's Lancers — Final and Concentrated Attack of the whole Mexican Army, under Gen. Perez — The gallant Repulse — Conduct of 2d Kentucky Regiment — Of 3d Indiana Regiment — Of 1st Illinois Regiment — Result of the Battle— Killed and Wounded of Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Texas Troops, and Regulars — Retreat of Santa Anna — Capture of Train by Urrea and Canales — Urrea's Attack on 2d Ohio Regiment, Lieut. Col. Irvin — His Attack on the same Regiment, Col. Morgan — Attack on Major Giddings' Command — Approach of 3d Ohio, Col. Curtis — Retreat of Gen. Urrea . . . from p. 437 to 490

Chapter XII

Return to Gen. Scott's Army — Embarkation of Tennessee Cavalry — Scenes on board the Ship — Sea Sickness — Getting "Under Weigh" — Amusements at Sea — Flying Fish — Sharks, Porpoises, &c. — Gale — Sight of Land — Renewal of Storm — Sight of Vera Cruz — Anchorage at Sacrificios Island— Heavy Cannonading from Castle — Visit from Harbor master — Wrecks during Norther — Grand Scenes — Landing of the Regiment — Appearance of the Beach — Summons from Gen. Scott to Gen. Morales to Surrender the City — Reply of Gen. Morales — Cannon — Mortars — Shells — Sand Hills — Opening of Bombardments — Scenes by Night — " Musquito Fleet" — Camp at Malibran — Slackening Fire of Batteries — City on Fire after Night — Naval Battery — Mexican Forts — Force of Shells— Their Effect — Ruins of Malibran — Dead from Batteries — Grand Scene at Night — Petition of Foreign Consuls- -Answer of Gen. Scott — Increased Vigor of the Bombardment — Battle of " Madeline Bridge " — Offer of Surrender — Meeting of Commissioners — Cemetery — Scenes within — Scenes in Batteries — Scene of Surrender of the City of Vera Cruz Killed and Wounded — Desolated Appearance of the city — Expedition against Alvarado City of Vera Cruz — Castle of San Juan de Ulloa from p. 491 to 570

Chapter XIII

Energetic Movements of Santa Anna— His vast Estate — His Haciendas National Bridge — His position at Cerro Gordo — March of the American Army from Vera Cruz — Battle-ground of Cerro Gordo — Gen. Twiggs' Movements — His action on 17th April— Movement of Gen. Shields' Brigade— Disposition of Mexican Troops and Artillery — Gen. Scott's Orders for Battle — Col. Harney's Attack— Col. Riley's do.— Gen. Shields' do. — Gen. Pillow's do. Charge of 2d Tennessee Regiment — Killed and Wounded of 1st and 2d Tennessee, 1st and 2d Pennsylvania, 3d and 4th Illinois, and New York Regi- TABLE OF CONTENTS. • ments, Kentucky Company and Regulars— Fruits of Victory— Surrender of Jalapa, Perote, and Puebla— Remarks on the Battle— Appearance of Ground after the Battle— Blowing up Magazines, burning Arms, spiking Cannon, •fee— March towards Jalapa— Hacienda of Encerro— Beauty of Country- Mountain of Orizaba— Scenes in Jalapa— Market place— Variety of Climate- Abundance of Fruits— Beauty of Ladies— Procession of the HosU- Mexican Schools— Festival of Corpus Christi, or "Holy Week"— Property of the Government— Public Washing-places — Fountains— Order for discharge of Twelve Months Volunteers— Commencement of Return March— Arrival at New Orleans — Regiments disbanded from p. 571 to 614