USA > Missouri > Saline County > History of Saline County, Missouri > Part 27
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23. Gwinn, Bart.
8. Cowan, Andrew.
9. Campbell, Andrew.
10. Coffey, B. F.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
31. Henton, Andrew.
32. Harrison, Dan'l.
33. Herkins, J. H.
59. Reed, James.
34. Jackson, Alfred.
60. Robinson, Jacob.
35. Jones, John S.
61. Shannon, J. D.
36. Johnston, E. J.
62. Steele, Jas. A.
37. Kile, Joseph.
63. Sheridan, John.
38. Kile, William.
64. Sullivan, Wm.
39. Lansdell, William.
65. Strother, William.
40. Langford, Thomas.
66. Stephenson, Charles.
41. Lewis, John A.
42. Lewis, John S.
68. Smith, Bart.
43. Lyle, William.
69. Smith, Saul F.
44. Lemon, Scott.
70. Smith, Sam'l.
45. Lynch, A. W.
46. Long, J. P.
72. Smith, Fred.
47. Martin, John.
_73. Vaughn, J. P.
74. Wheeler, Thos. *
75. Whitson, Lipton.
76. Wall, John.
51. Neff, H. W.
77. Wallace, R. M.
78. Winkle, Adam.
79. Wilpley, Redman.
80. Wayne, J. T.
81. Waugh, Thomas.
56. Patterson, Geo. W.
S2. Walker, J. P.
Of these seven, J. H. Herkins, J. S. Lewis, J. P. Long, R. Wilpley, J. P. Wayne, Thos. Waugh and J. P. Walker, joined the company at Fort Leavenworth. Six, J. M. Durrett, Isaac Furguson, Bart Gwinn, H. W. Moore, S. F. Smith and Thomas Wheeler, died in the service. Six, Andrew Cowan, Warren Farris, J. C. Hays, Scott Lemon, Wm. Sullivan and Wm. Strother, were discharged because of disability-and one, John H. Herkins, was drummed out of the service. He was not from Saline county.
The regiment was fully organized at Fort Leavenworth. It was denominated the First Regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and was composed of eight nompanies. Company A was from Jackson county, Capt. Waldo commanding; company B, from Lafayette, Capt. Walton; company C, Clay, Capt. Moss; company D, Saline, Capt. Reid; company E, Franklin, Capt. Stevenson; company F, Cole, Capt. Par- sons; company G, Howard, Capt. Jackson; company H, Callaway, Capt. Rogers. The field officers were elected by the companies, and afterward duly commissioned. There were two candidates for the colonelcy of the regiment, A. W. Doniphan, of Clay county, and Col. Price, of Howard. Both candidates made speeches. Doniphan spoke first; Price replied. The latter had been a lieutenant-colonel in the Florida war, and in the
16
67. Stewart, Alex.
71. Smith, Benj. F.
48. Morris, Mathew.
49. Marshall, Joseph.
50. Moore, H. W.
52. Nichols, James.
53. Osburn, W. M.
54. Obannon, Thos. H.
55. Obeishon, B.
57. Pemberton, J. T.
58. Reese, Bradford.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
opinion of a great many, had not won very great renown, to speak mildly. When he alluded in his speech to the fact of his former service, some one in the crowd cried out, "You had better not mention that!" Doniphan was chosen colonel by a nearly unanimous vote. After an exciting contest between C. F. Ruff and Wm. T. Gilpin, for the office of lieutenant-colonel, the former was elected, and Gilpin was chosen major of the regiment.
To the First Missouri Mounted Volunteers were afterward joined Capt. Hudson's company, the Laclede Rangers, two companies of artil- lery, from St. Louis, in charge of Captains Weightman and Fisher, and under command of Major Clark, and two companies of infantry, under Captains Murphy and Augney. Besides these, were Kearney's dragoons, and these commands composed the members of the famed Doniphan's expedition.
After a prief period spent in drawing arms, drilling, and disciplining the men, the expedition prepared to set out for Santa Fe, and the other Mexican posts in New Mexico. On the 22d of June, company D, the Saline county company, and company A set out in advance of the main body of the expedition, under command of Capitain Waldo, of com- pany A.
They marched steadily on until the 4th of July, 1846, when Captain Reid, of company D, procured a keg of whisky, and each man, officer and private, drank to the republic's birth in good old Bourbon, before they broke camp that morning.
Early in September the regiment reached Santa Fe, their objective point, after suffering a good many hardships. After they had remained in Santa Fe a week or two, company D, with two other companies, under Lieut .- Col. Jackson, were sent out against the Navajo Indians, upon which expedition they set out on the 21st of September, 1846. On this expedition Bart Gwinn, of Saline county, died. After scouting around among the Navajos, and finally forming a treaty of peace with them, Col. Doniphan rendezvoused his forces for his famous march to Chihuahua, December 12, 1846.
BATTLE OF THE BRACITO.
On the 25th day of December, 1846, Christmas day, Col. Doniphan's regiment met a Mexican army, drawn up at the Bracito, near El Paso. The following account of this battle is taken from the journal of Mr. Edwards:
Capt. Reid was away from camp when the scene commenced, water- ing his horse. He galloped up to camp, and heard the order was to fall in on foot; but he despises the infantry service, so he ordered those of his men who had their horses convenient, to mount them. No sooner said than done, and sixteen well-mounted men soon appeared by his side, behind our line of infantry. Accidentally, I found my mare close at hand, and mounted her.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
The enemy's long, bold front soon hove in sight, and was formed a little over a half mile off, while they rid themselves of every burdensome article.
Now an officer appeared from their ranks, upon a foaming steed, bear- ing in his hand a black flag, with a skull and cross-bones on it, such as is used by pirates, and indicates death or victory, or "no quarters." He was met by our interpreter, Caldwell, about half way, who demanded of him his business. He replied that his commander demanded an interview with ours. Caldwell told him that our commander would meet his half way. "No," says the Spaniard, "he must come to our camp;" to which Caldwell replied in the negative. "Carajo!" said the Mexican; "we will then come and bring him." "Come on," replied Caldwell, "they are ready for you." Then the Mexican shook his black flag, and, pointing to it, said: "See! that is our motto; we ask no quarter, and will give none; there is no mercy for you, and you will receive none." Then waiving his little flag, he galloped off to join his command.
Seemingly it was enough to make our commander's blood run chill when he saw the long, bold and beautiful front of the enemy, forming a striking contrast to our single rank of footmen, when he heard their menace and listened to the martial tones of their music. But quite the contrary. Coolness and self-confidence pervaded all our ranks. Laughing, talking and jesting, each seeming to vie with his neighbor in telling the best varns or using the most witty expressions.
Balls soon flew thick and fast, and as they would whistle by a fellow's ear he would involuntarily dodge his head after the danger was past. Col. Mitchell once halted behind our squad of cavalry, at which time I thought balls passed a little thicker than I had ever before heard them. The Colonel was mounted on a fine white horse, with gay trappings, so that he made a fine military appearance, and, I have no doubt, was the target for many shots.
Our line was numbered off "one-two," with orders that number two should reserve his fire until number one fired, and then fire while number one was reloading-and thus alternately until otherwise ordered. The Mexicans continued advancing and firing with their piece of ordnance and with small arms. Our orders were "reserve your fire," which were again and again repeated, but it was with great difficulty that the men were restrained from firing too soon, each declaring that he had killed buffalo further than that.
The Mexican cannon was supported on either side by a line of skir- mishers, who were lying in the grass, and kept up a constant fire. We had now received three successive volleys from the main body of the Mexicans without returning a shot, and several of our men were already wounded. The footmen were ordered to kneel as a better protection for them and as a better position for firing.
The Vera Cruz dragoons, the old veterans of the nation, who had served in all the wars with the Texans, and with Armijo as his life guard, were now seen advancing rapidly on our left. Colonel Doniphan ordered an elbow to be formed for their better reception, and doing this, the left wing fell back a short distance, seeing which, and supposing our men to be retreating, the Mexican dragoons increased their speed, and shouted " Buena! Buena!"-(Good! good!)-so distinctly that we could hear them plainly. The bugles sounded the charge-and their appearance was
244
HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
beautiful as they came on abreast-their steeds, the best of the Spanish stock, prancing and tossing their heads to the sound of the bugles, the riders erect and firm in their seats, their red coats, brazen helmets tipped with bearskin, and each armed with a carbine, a lance, holstsrs and sabre, they looked admirable and formidable. They had been maneuvering to get into our rear-but when the elbow was formed they saw this was hopeless, and made a direct charge at the left wing. As soon as they got over the sand hillocks, and got in steady order and under good way, the order was given, "fire!" and immediately the whole of the left wing, and for some distance up the elbow concentrated their fire upon the charg- ing dragoons-our men had forgotten the order to reserve half their fire.
Now, how changed the aspect of the Mexican chargers! How altered their appearance! But a moment before, so beautiful and imposing-now could be seen riders falling from their seats, and war horses bounding high in the air and falling never to rise again. They faltered, turned to the right as if to make a descent upon our wagons, but meeting with the same warm reception from the wagoners, and from one little squadron of cavalry, which had now charged to within a few rods of them, they turned and made a precipitate retreat, but were followed fast by our party, who overhauled and killed several with the sabre. I saw Captain Reid rush, with his sword drawn, upon a Mexican, whose horse had been killed. As he drew near, I saw the Mexican raise his gun, as I supposed, to ward off the sabre blow, but, instead of this he fired directly at Reid's head, and was so close that the powder burned his whiskers, but the ball passed on without effect. Another jump of his horse and Reid brought him to his knees with his sabre-though his sabre was so light and tri- fling that it did the fellow but little damage, and he raised with his lance, but there were now so many around him, that he was quickly dis- patched.
After following the dragoons several hundred yards, when we found G company bringing in their only piece of cannon, which was a little how- itzer, drawn by one mule, and as near of;no account as anything could well be. From it they shot slugs made of many different metals, chiefly copper.
The Chihuahua grenadiers had attempted to charge upon the right wing that rested on the bank of the Bracito, or small arm of the river, but were driven back with considerable loss. It seems to have been their object to surround us.
The Mexicans had now retreated beyond their original position, where they were hid from our sight by some sand hillocks, and where we sup- posed them to be rallyingto make another and more determined charge -so Col. Doniphan ordered Capt. Reid with the Saline horsemen, to pro- ceed to the left and reconnoitre. When we came to the place we supposed they would be found, we saw them in full retreat, some distance beyond, towards a mountain gap about ten miles to the east. Our party, which had now increased to sixty horsemen, followed them about eight miles. Their trail was marked with blood. from the wounded which they were carrying off. We returned with many mlles packed with ammunition, provisions, etc. They have no wagons, but use mules instead. We found a quantity of wine, fine bread, cigaritos, etc., and after all ended, our Christmas much better than we had expected.
Two horses belonging to the mounted squad were disabled, one belong- ing to Bradford of Lafayette and one to R. P. Payne of our company
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
John Martin was mounted on a very skittish mare. She ran over a mule and threw him sky high! He was with me at the time, and I thought his horse had been hit, and he himself killed.
So ended the battle of the Bracito. It was ended in thirty minutes after the first gun was fired. Our loss was seven wounded, none mor- tally. The Mexican loss was sixty killed, one hundred and seventy-two (including the commander) wounded, and three hundred and twenty-five missing-total, five hundred and twenty-five. This is their own report, and Mexican reports are always exaggerated in favor of themselves. Their commander, Col. Ponce De Leon, was wounded by two balls at the distance of half a mile. Our strength actually engaged was four hundred and fifty, and the Mexicans reported a strength of twelve hundred.
About a month after the battle of Bracito, Doniphan, with his whole command, now numbering a thousand men and six pieces of artillery, pushed on to Chihuahau. At Sacramento, in Chihuahua, he again encountered the Mexicans, and there was fought one of the most splendid little battles of the Mexican war.
BATTLE OF SACRAMENTO.
The account of this battle of Sacramento, which was by far the grandest achievement of Doniphan's expedition, is also taken from Edwards' journal, almost word for word. The battle was fought on Sunday, February 28, 1847.
After marching ten miles we came in sight of the enemy, whose lines were drawn up in advance of their fortifications, fronting us, and divided into sections and companies, with a view, do doubt, to deceive us as to their numbers, as they unsheathed their sabers and waved them in the sun, over their heads. We were yet two miles distant, and halted until the command and wagons came up, during which halt, Col. Mitchell again applied his eye to his glass, and informed us that they had five batteries in sight. The cavalry now advanced to almost within range of their bat- teries, while the wagons turned to the right to gain an eminence almost as high as theirs. This was done to confuse the Mexicans, and as soon as our army had advanced some distance, the whole also turned to the right for the eminence. As soon as they saw our whole force making for this point they dispatched their cavalry to cut us off. But we reached the point while the Mexicans were yet nine hundred yards distant. Here we formed our line and battery, and awaited the actions of the enemy, whose intention we supposed was to charge us, but seeing they remained inactive, our artillery bugle sounded a few quick, welcome notes-the match was applied to the howitzer on the left-a thick flame and smoke arose from the muzzle-a glistening bomb whistled through the air, and leaving only a faint glimmer behind, exploded in the enemy's ranks. This was followed by another and another, until the whole six had fired. Our ranks cheered loudly, but death and consternation were in the Mexican ranks. They did not await the result of the whole round, before they scampered off pell-mell toward their camp. Our first shot, as I have since been told, killed and wounded seventeen men and seven horses. We had fired but a few rounds, when their infantry and artillery advanced a few hundred yards nearer, and the cannonading for a short time became general on both sides.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
The cheering in our ranks had ceased, and the men were intently gaz- ing and dodging at every ball that came. The Mexican powder was of an inferior quality ; therefore the balls would bound and rebound several times before reaching us, and by watching carefully the points at which they struck the ground, a pretty good guess where they would strike our line, and in time to avoid them. The balls would pass through an open- ing, made for the purpose, in our ranks, or bound high over our heads, with a roaring or howling noise. Our corral was formed just behind our lines, so that it received the same fire we did. Their firing, however, did but little damage-wounding one man and killing a horse and a mule. Through some mistake our bombs of the right kind were misplaced, and nearly all that were thrown burst half way. Some of them, and most of the round shot took effect.
The firing now ceased on both sides, and the Mexicans retired to their intrenchments, while we advanced upon the right of their position. Now came DeCoursey, our adjutant, with " prepare for a charge," directed to the two horse companies. Through some mistake Capt. Parsons did not understand the order, and only Capt. Reid's company with Capt. Wight- man's two twelve-pound howitzers, made the charge. The rest of the . regiment advanced along the line of a ridge to attack them in their strong- hold.
Capt. Reid, with his company at a brisk trot, advanced to the right of their position. We had just reached a deep gully at the ascent of a steep hill, upon which was a battery, supported by a redoubt, besides the line of their intrenchments. This battery on the hill, and the small arms above, with the battery on the opposite side of the valley from Sacra- mento fort, had just opened upon us, when Doniphan perceived that Capt. Parsons was not with us, and sent the adjutant, ordering us to halt, leav- ing us exposed to three different fires. It was certainly imprudent of De Coursey, even supposing he had orders, to halt us here, he could see to what we were exposed, and that we might have taken cover under the hill, but probably there was no time for a second thought; and thanks to the miserable management of the Mexicans, none of us were killed here. Capt. Reid, who either had not heard the adjutant's order, being in advance of his company and half way up the hill, or not choosing to obey, continued on, calling to his men to follow, and not turning to see if they were behind him, when in fact he was only followed by Maj. Owens of the volunteer traders' hands, and Maj. Campbell, of Lafayette, who did not belong to the army; he approached the very ditch of the battery which seemed lit with flame and smoke. It was here that the career of the unfortunate Owens was cut short, having received two shots and two lance wounds. Capt. Reid's horse got two shots, which dis- abled him. The company perceiving this, broke away for their captain, regardless of orders, and were soon at the top of the hill. Here they halted, about seventy-five yards from the breastworks, but being some- what under the hill, the Mexican bullets whistled high overhead. Here the lieutenant tried to form the men again, which was useless, for a line is not kept longer than an attack is commenced. Here we were, no one knowing what to do. The main body of the army were just reaching the gully, and there being no place where cavalry would be of service, we remained inactive, only firing when we could get an opportunity. Here several of our men were wounded, among whom was Corporal McClean,
.
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
in the left arm, (since adjutant-general of Gen. Price's army of M. S. G). One howitzer was rushed up with a great deal of expedition and fired by Lieut. Chouteau and the driver, and it succeeded in dispersing the Mexican cavalry, that seemed to be preparing to charge us. The other was soon up, and begun to fire into the ditches and rallying cavalry.
The infantry now came rushing up the hill with a shout. The Mexi- cans feared to poke their heads above the parapets, so they would level their guns above, and fire without aim. The attack became general and warm. Men rushed upon the ditches and fired into them, and on the Mexicans, as they were leaving them. Others discharged their pieces, and, not taking time to reload, used their guns as cudgels. The horsemen were now engaged in pursuit of a large body of cavalry through the val- ley of mesquite, or chapparal, where they got completely scattered. The Mexicans were utterly routed, with heavy loss.
Having possession of the hill, there now remained another position to force-the hill on the opposite side of the valley, called Fort Sacramento. The ascent was steep and rugged, and the position a very strong one, and very hard to carry by storm. Maj. Clark planted his battery of four guns on the point of the hill stormed by Capt. Reid, and began to fire with round shot and shell, while the first battalion advanced to the attack. Maj. Clark's first shot dismounted one of their pieces, and every shell, knowing its appointed place, the Mexicans did not await our arrival. When we reached the foot of the hill, the howitzers were run up with the greatest difficulty. The place was defended by a body of infantry who had not been previously engaged, but when we arrived at the top of the hill they were already making their way to the mountains. We fol- lowed several miles, killing and capturing many of them, until night ended our pursuit.
When we returned we found the regiment camped on the hill that the Mexican army had occupied the night before, and settled down in quiet and peace. None were killed on the field, save Major Owens, Sergeant Kirkpatrick, of company B, mortally wounded, and nine others, more or less severely. The loss of the Mexicans in this engagement is not posi- tively certain, and has been variously estimated at from 700 to 1,000, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Their loss, altogether, may be safely estimated at 1,000. We captured thirteen guns, eleven of which were mounted-two nine-pounders, the rest sixes, and all made of refined cop- per; also, nine rampart pieces, and a large amount of ammunition, bag- gage, provisions, &c. The Mexican army was 4,000 strong, commanded by Gen. Heredia, fully four to one with Doniphan's regiment. And thus ended the battle of Sacramento, one of the most signal successes ever achieved by American arms.
Of this action and the connection of the Missouri volunteers therewith, Gen. Taylor was pleased to say:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF OCCUPATION, - Camp near Monterey, April 14, 1847. 5
General Order, No. 32. * %
* *
II. The commanding general would at the same time announce another signal success won by the gallantry of our troops, on the 28th of February, near the city of Chihuahua. A column of Missouri volun-
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HISTORY OF SALINE COUNTY.
teers, less than a thousand strong, with a light field battery, attacked a Mexican force, many times their superior in numbers, in an entrenched position, captured its artillery and baggage, and defeated it with great loss. * * * By command of
MAJOR GENERAL TAYLOR.
The vast superiority of the Anglo Saxon race, though only one to four, carried all before them, and the battle was decided, though not finished, in an hour after it began. The battle of Sacramento was fought on the 28th of February, 1847. After the battle, Doniphan took possession of the city of Chihuahua, and capital of the state, containing a population of 25,000 souls.
On the 24th of April, 1847, after remaining in Chihuahua two months, the regiment was ordered home, which news was received joyfully, and the men began their march for Missouri on the 26th of April, 1847, mov- ing down into Mexico, to Gen. Wool's headquarters, where they were dis- charged, their year of service having expired. Upon being mustered out and receiving their pay, they marched to the seaboard.
On the 5th of June, 1847, Doniphan's regiment left Mexico for the United States, arriving at New Orleans on the 15th. £ Before it left Mex- ico it received the following very complimentary mention from Brig. Gen. Wool, commanding division :
HEADQUARTERS AT BUENA VISTA, May 22, 1847. - Special Orders, No. 273.
I. The general commanding takes great pleasure in expressing the gratification he has received this afternoon in meeting the Missouri volun- teers. They are about to close their present term of military service, after having rendered, in the course of the arduous duties they have been called upon to perform, a series of highly important services, crowned by decisive and glorious victories. No troops can point to a more brilliant career than those commanded by Col. Doniphan, and none will ever hear of the battles of Bracito and Sacramento without a feeling of admiration for the men who gained them. The state of Missouri has just cause to be proud of the achievements of the men who represented her in the army against Mexico, and she will no doubt receive them on their return with all the joy and satisfaction to which a due appreciation of their merits and services so justly entitles them. In bidding them adieu, the general wishes to Col. Doniphan, his officers and men, a happy return to their families and homes. By command of
BRIG. GEN. JOHN E. WOOL.
IRVIN MCDOWELL,* A. A. Gen.
The members of the Saline county company did not all return to their homes at the same time. Each man came in when and as he pleased. All of the survivors were at home, however, by the 4th of July, 1847.
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