USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1 > Part 47
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Dr. John McMechan died at Darrtown. Butler County, Ohio, on Sunday, March 21, 1880, of con- sumption, aged sixty-nine years and eight months, having almost renched his " three-score years and ten." He was born in Ireland in the year 1810, and came to America with his parents when he was but six months old. Being a very delicate child, and siek when he sailed from the Emerald Isle, his parents expected to bury him in the sea ; and, in order to keep him as long as possible from being swallowed by the monsters of the " briny deep," they took the precaution of bringing a coffin and shroud along with them, to be' prepared for the trial. Bat he lauundled safely with his father, mother, brother, aud sis- tors-Mrs. Margaret Gilmore, of the " Beeck." and Mrs. Dr. Winton, of Wabash, Indiana. His father, David
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
MeMechan, settled in Seven-Mile, Butler County, in 1810, and lived there the rest of his life.
At that carly day there were no schools conven- ient where he could have his children educated, and as John was the one he had chosen, of his three sons, to educate for some of the learned professions, he sent him to Hamilton when he was quite young, to go to school, and board with his aunt, Mrs. Margery MeMe- chan, who was a sister of his mother. His aunt had a son named John, and two Johns in one family made it a little awkward; but as one of the Jolms was very tall, and the other rather short, they were familiarly called "Big John" and "Little John." Dr. MeMechan was very nearly related to the late Mrs. C. K. Smith, and to Mrs. Jesse Corwin, of. Hamilton, their fathers being brothers, and their mothers sisters. His father sent him from the Hamilton school to Oxford, to the Miami University, where he was graduated in the second class. One of his class-mates was General Robert C. Schenck, and one of his room-mates was Caleb B. Smith, once Secretary of the Interior. He then went back to Ham- ilton, studying medicine with Drs. Duulevy and Rigdou, and began the practice of his profession in 1835. He graduated at the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, in 1851, and married Miss Sarah Bacon, the mother of Dr. J. C. MeMechan, of Cincinnati, who was his only child. Ilis mother died when he was but an infant. His father married for his second wife Mrs. Mary Leopold, who survives him. Dr. John McMechan was a kind and genial gentleman, always in a good humor, and making sunshine wherever he went. He was an excellent phy- sician, and had a large practice all over Butler County, and, until the last few years of his life, when his health and energy had failed, was kept very busy. He was a physician for the poor as well as for the rich.
Oxford did not become settled as early as most of the other townships. It was a grant from the general gov- ernment, and its first inhabitants were squatters, who moved there before they could get a legal title to their lands. . They were of the very poorest class, and by no means intellectual or industrious. Neither were they exempt from the common vices, such as drunkenness and horse and hog stealing. The opening of the Miami University began to have its effect, and gradually the first class of settlers began to migrate westward, and a somewhat better class to take their place. The carly physicians of the township certainly had a hard time to keep body and soul together. Just who they were can not now be told. The first of whom we can gain any positive information was Dr. James R. Hughs, whose father, the Rev. Mr. Haghe, was pastor of the Presby- terian Church, and conducted the grammarschool that preceded the university. Dr. Maghe died on the 8th of August, 1859, and a funeral sermon, which was afterward- published, was preached on the occasion by the Rev. Dr. Bishop. He had been a resident there for more than
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twenty years, and was for a long time the sole physician of the place. He took a deep interest in the neigh!xy- hood, and in every thing that could promote its inter- ests. He was twice married, by the first union having three children. Residents of Oxfordi can still recollect him, with his old appearance, curved spine, and great hump back. He was the first preceptor of Dr. R. C. Huston.
The next in order, as remembered, was Dr. James Mi. Corey, who was married three times, and graduated three sous at the Miami University, and two at the Ohio Med- ical College. Both of these latter are prominent men in their profession at San Jose, California. Dr. Corey was genial and rubicund in countenance and gentlemanly in deportment.
Then came, for a short time, Dr. Pliny M. Crume, Dr. Joel Fithian, and Dr. Edward Shiel, now mayor of the city of Portland, Oregon.
This brings up the list to the year 1840. From that time. and up to 1850, there was the accession of Dr. Thomas Boude, Dr. Waters, Dr. Joseph Waterman, and Messrs. A. McAlister, Benjamin F. Corey, A. MacDili, James Garver, Alexander Porter, C. G. Goodrich, J. H. Morrison, and R. L. Rhea, the latter being now the pro- fessor in the Rush College, at Chicago, Illinois.
From 1850 to 1860 there appeared Dr. K. C. Hustou, Dr. Henry Saunders, Dr. H. Bodman, Dr. E. L. Hill, Dr. A. Barnett, Dr. R. Brooks, and Dr. John Parks. In the deeade from 1860 to 1870 Messrs. Hugh Gilchrist, Judah Hinkley, Dan Trimbley, John Garver, George Munns, and Pinkerton and Smith This closes the list of members of the regular profession in the village of Oxford up to 1870, since which time may be added Dr. James M. Saunders, Dr. J B. Porter, and Dr. H. Hinkley.
Outside of the village of Oxford there have, for a long time, been physicians settled at College Correr About the year 1836 Dr. W. IL. Scobey, row of Hamil- ton, was located there, although s rod or two out of the limits of Butler County. Dr. Brice Pareill was once a Thompsonian, but. after a time, discarded that theory, and used mercury freely, and was no novice in the use of the lanect. In 1841 Dr. Huston first went to the Corner, and in 1842 took in as a partner R. D. Herron, who, at the end of a year, removal to Millville, after- wards going to Montgomery County. After Dr. Herron came Dr. J. B. Kerr and Dr. Campbell. and, in 1851, Dr. A. D. Hawley, to whon: Dr. Huston soll his property, leaving him an unincumbered field. But he soon ind company. Dr. Pureill, who, a few years before, had re- moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, returned to College Corner. Then came. one after the other, two of the Chitwoods, John and George. Song Followed De. Hours Garver, and, lately, br. 2 Hastings.
Of the gratiemes whose names are recorded in the . two places of Oxford and College Corner, the following
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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
are dead : James R. Hughs, James M. Corey, A. McAl- ister, Pliny M. Crume, G. C. Goodrich, Brice Pureill, Hugh Gilchrist, Judah Hinkley, Dr. Smith, H. Bod- man, D. Trimbley, Joseph Waterman, Henry Saunders, and Joseph Kerr. Drs. Waterman and Waters were both clergymen, in addition.
Among those of later date who practiced in Hamil- ton, we find the advertisements, in 1848, of Dr. Andrew Campbell, of Middletown, whose office here_ was in Campbell's building, . south-west corner, and residence Hamilton Hotel; Dr. J. M. Williamson, in Basin Street, in 1846; Francisco Ciolina, M. D., " formerly private physician to Prince Louis Napoleon," in the residence of Mr. S. Suively, in Rossville, in 1847; S. Braden, in Rossville, in 1846, over Mr. J. Curtis's store; Dr. Mc- Farland, one door west of Millikin & Bebb's law office, in 1839; Dr. Riddell, in Rossville, in 1838; Dr. H. Symmes, over Dr. Latta's drug-store, in Rossville, in 1837; Rigdon & Going, in 1852; and Dr. Eli Vance, at the head of the basin, at his drug-store, in 1847.
BUTLER COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
The first medical society of Butler County was organ- ized January 1, 1836, Dr. Daniel Millikin being presi- dent and Dr. J. Fithian vice-president. Dr. G. W. Riddell was secretary.
After a long interval, in which no meetings were held, the physicians of Hamilton and Rossville met in the office of Dr. Falconer on the 26th of December, 1848, for the purpose of reorganizing. The constitution and by-laws were adopted and signed by Drs. D. Milli- kin, L. Rigdon, J. Hittell, C. Faleener, W. H. Scobey, William Huber, J. M. Williamson, S. Braden, L. J. Smith, and S. Millikin. The society was entitled the Hamilton Medical Society, and the following were made the officers: President, L. Rigdon ; vice-president, J. Hittell; secretary, S. Braden ; treasurer, W. H. Scobey; librarian, L. J. Smith ; censors, C. Falconer, A. Camp- bell, and William Huber.
At the next meeting, February 17, 1849, the names of Drs. A. Campbell, William Miller, George Graham, George Wyman, and C. W. Prather were added, and Dr. Van Derveer was elected an honorary member. At this meeting the code of ethics of the National Medical Association was adopted as the code of the society, to- gethier with a fee-bill reported by Drs. Falconer and S. Millikin. The president read an inaugural address on the " Races of Men and their Geographical Distribution."
On the 3d of October, 1849, it was agreed to make the meetings quarterly instead of monthly. At the yearly meeting, held in January, 1850. David Christy, of Oxford, was elected an honorary member. and tir olt officers were' re-elected, with the exception that G. Wyman took the place of J. Hlittell as vice-president ; William Theber as sceretary, instead of S. Braden ; and J. M. Williamson, J. G. Marshall, and S. Millikin as
ceusors, instead of C. Falconer, A. Campbell, and Will- iam Huber.
On the 3d of April Drs. Falconer and Millikin were appointed delegates to the National Medical Association.
January 1, 1851, Dr. Rigdon was re-elected president, and Dr. Scobey was elected vice-president. Dr. Fal- coner was made treasurer. In September of that year Drs. Huber, Wyman, and Millikin were appointed a committee to draft a petition to the Legislature, praying for the erection of two additional lunatic asylums, one to be located on the lake shore and the other at Hamilton, and at a subsequent meeting Dr. Falconer was added. Drs. Scobey, Huber, and Rigdon were appointed a com- mittee to prepare a report on the influence of the damis in the Big Miami River on the health of the two towns. This was afterwards read.
At the meeting in July, 1853, resolutions were adopted by the society, looking for their security against persons who never paid. Members were requested to prepare lists of those who would not pay, and a list of incorri- gible cases was to be left with the secretary. Transient people were to pay cash.
At this mecting a constitution was adopted, and or- dered to be printed. It is there declared to be the But- ler County Medical Society, instead of an assemblage of the physicians of Hamilton and Rossville.
At the meeting in January, 1857, the following changes in the fee-bills were adopted : Fifty cents per mile in all cases where twenty-five cents had previously been charged; one dollar per hour for detention in the day-time, in lien of fifty cents, and making the addition of fifty per cent to the ordinary day charges for night- work imperative, instead of optional. The fee-bill, as amended, was for the first visit, with advice, $1.25; sub- sequent visits, $1; additional visits on the same day, fifty cents ; medicines being included in these charges when only small amounts were given.
No meeting appears to have been held between Jan- uary, 1861, and April, 1863.
In 1865 the society suffered a serious loss in the death of Dr. Loammi Rigdon, its presilent. AAppropriate res- olutions were passed, deploring the calamity, and reciting his virtues. At the next meeting Dr. J. A. Coons was elected president. In 1867 Dr. Faleoner was chosen to that office.
The society during these years seems to have done its duty in investigations of the county buildings, and in advice to the City Council of Hamilton respecting chol- era, the yellow fever, malarious diseases, etc. One report was taken in high dudgeon by the directors of the infirmary.
In July. 1867, the society received an invitation from the Union Medied Society, inviting the Batler County | Medical Society to meet with the societies of Proble - County, Ohio, and Fayette and Union commies, Indiana, at Oxford, in October. This was accepted ; and Des.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
MeNeeley, Scobey, and Dudley were appointed to make all necessary arrangements. This meeting was held, and similar ones have continued down to the present time, with great advantage to the members.
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Dr. Coons, at the next meeting, introduced resolu- tions in which were set forth the gross incivility with which this society had been treated by the Ohio Medical Society, in defiance of its own rules and of all courtesy, and declaring that the Butler County Society was, there- fore, obliged to withdraw, which were adopted. The State society afterwards reversed its plan of action, and the society again joined.
A called meeting in December, 1871, passed resolu- tions in honor of Dr. John W. Gale, who had died. In 1876 the meetings were changed from quarterly to monthly.
The following is a list of the presidents from the beginning :
1848. Loammi Rigdon. 1874. William Huber.
1866. Israel A. Coons. 1876. F. W. Major.
1867. Cyrus Falconer. 1877. Cyrus Falconer.
1869. W. W. Caldwell. 1878. II. Saunders.
1870 .. John Corson. 1879. James Macready.
1871. W. H. Scobey. 1880. R. C. Huston.
1872. A. Hancock. 1881. Dan Millikin.
1873. H. Beauchamp. 1882. T. A. Dickey.
MEMBERS OF BUTLER COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
1848. Loamini Rigdon, died May, 1865.
1848. Daniel Millikin, died November, 18-19.
1848. Cyrus Falconer.
1848. William Huber.
1849. William Miller, removed.
1849. George Wyman, removed.
1849. Thomas Graham, expelled.
1849. Andrew Campbell, dead.
1849. S. Braden, expelled.
1849. L. J. Smith, removed.
1849. C. W. Prather, removed.
1849. J. M. Williamson, removed.
18-19. S. Millikin, removed.
1849. William H. Scobey. 1849. J. G. Marshal!, dead.
1850. W. T. Going, removed.
1850. A. H. Landis, removed.
1851. A. B. Nixon, removed.
1851. Joseph Richardson, removed.
1853. A. Hancock.
1853. John Corson. 1853. C. G. Goodrich, removed.
1853. S. Hanbury Smith.
1853. I. C. Woolley, removed.
1:53. Joseph Braden, removed. 1854. A. A. Barnett, removed. 1854. R. L. Rhea, removed. 1854. F. D. Morris, died September 28, 1864.
1854. A. B. Luse, removed.
1855. H. Beauchamp, dead.
1857. R. B. Millikin, honorary member, dead.
1857. J. E. Patterson, removed.
1857. Mason Haines. 1857. J. T. Ellsworth, removed.
1858. W. W. Callwell.
1858. R. P. Lamb, dead.
1864. J. S. MeNeeley.
1864. George W. Garver, removed.
1864. Israel A. Coons, removed.
1864. John F. Brown, expelled.
1864. J. B. Owsley.
1865. F. W. Major, removed.
1865. John W. Gale, dead.
1865. Max Scheller, removed.
1865. B. K. Morris, expelled.
1865. Chris. Forster, expelled. 1866. J. B. McDill, removed.
1866. A. B. Luse, JJr., removed.
1806. B. W. Dudley, Jr., removed.
1866. J. Macready.
1866. W. E. Scobey, removed.
1867. S. E. Hyndman, removed.
1867. F. E. Morris, removed.
1868. H. A. Bodman, removed.
1868. R. C. Huston.
1868. Il. D. Hinckley, removed.
1869. Edward L. Hill.
1869. Henry Saunders, dead.
1869. J. C. Patchell, removed.
1869. S. S. Beeler.
1869. Alfred Ayres, dead.
1870. George F. Thomin, removed.
1871. Anton Schreibenzuber, removed. 1874. Jeremiah M. Hunt, removed.
1875. Dan Millikin.
1876. Lee Corbin, removed.
1876. G. F. Cook.
1876. H. B. Stevens, removed.
1877. T. A. Dickey.
1877. A. Myers.
1877. Joseph Intzi, removed.
1878. J. V. Fitzpatrick.
1878. Johu Cass.
1878. Charles C. Hoover.
1878. R. E. I'ryor. 1879. George Silver.
1879. George B. Evans, removed.
1870. George C. Skinner.
1880. C. A. L. Reed.
1880. J. J. Strecker.
1880. John G. Reed, removed.
1881. A. N. Ellis. 1881. C. H. Von Klein. 1882. R. C. S. Rerd.
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THE MEXICAN WAR.
PRACTICING PHYSICIANS IN BUTLER COUNTY AT PRESENT.
HAMILTON .- C. Faleoner, W. Huber, W. H. Seobey, W. W. Caldwell, S. H. Potter, J. S. MeNeeley, H. Mal- lory, C. Markt, John R. Brown, S. D. Beeler, druggist ; Dan Millikin, A. Myers, druggist; W. C. Miller, drug- gist; Jolin Cass, J. L. Kirkpatrick, C. E. Walton, J. . B. Seott, T. B. Talbot, G. C. Skinner, J. J. Strecker, C. A. L. Reed, A. N. Ellis, C. H. Von Klein, C. S. Vigus. BETHANY .-- Rush Early, M. H. Honsworth.
BLUE BALL. - A. W. Iler.
COLLEGE CORNER .- George R. Chitwood, A. D. Hawley, John McChristie, J. F. MeClean, H. F. Garver.
COLLINSVILLE. - George Silver.
JONES STATION .- R. C. S. Reed.
DARRTOWN. - Richard Applegate, - Twitchell.
MCGONIGLE'S STATION .- James Roll.
MIDDLETOWN .- John Corson, T. A. Diekey, John T. Sutphin, Thomas Reed, S. R. Evans, George Evans, S. L. Stewart, A. Wannewieh.
MILLVILLE .- W. B. Hair, A. Haneock, W. D. Han- cock.
MONROE .- James Macready.
OXFORD .- R. C. Huston, E. L. Hill, H. V. Hink- ley, H. M. Lages, H. Sanders, James Sanders, J. N. Brady, J. B. Porter.
Ross POST-OFFICE .- S. K. Homer, Chas. E. Hoover. JACKSONBURG. - J. B. Owsley.
SEVEN-MILE .- M. Haines, R. E. Pryor.
PRINCETON .- W. V. Shaefer.
SOMERVILLE .- G. F. Cook.
TRENTON .- O. M. Corson, A. Eckert, J. Hunt.
REILY .- J. R. Robinson, James Bell, --- Berger. SYMMES'S CORNERS .- Elbert Armstrong.
WESTCHESTER. -- A. S. Stevens, Jnc. Reed, P. Bishop.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
Ix no part of the United States did the people spring to arms more willingly, in the Mexican war, than Butler County. The county was Democratic, and the war was a Democratic war. But, although many prominent Whigs held aloof, the masses of the people, uninformed as to the reasons that should iuduee them to fight or re- frain from fighting, only knew that Mexico was in con- fiet with us, and that cur flag must be sustained.
In the month of May, 1846, President Polk called upon the State of Ohio to furnish three regiments of colliers as its quota of the forces thought necessary to attle the question then in dispute between the United States and the Mexican Government. As soon as the news reached Hamilton the excitement beeame intense. A public meeting was called in the court-honse square
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for that night, and Judge Vance made an eloquent and successful appeal for volunteers, announcing that John B. Weller, a young and eloquent lawyer, was ready to organize a company at once. That night and the next day the names were handed in, until the company was full. As soon as formed, the company --- afterwards des- ignated as Company I, Second Rifles-went into tempo- ravy eamp in the old sycamore grove, then standing a half mile below the river bridge. But little drilling was performed, as nearly all the officers were inexperi- enced, and none more so than Captain Weller, who was elected to that position during the rendezvous in the grove. James George, then county recorder, was elected first lieutenant, and Oliver S. Witherby second lieuten- ant. George was colonel of the Second Minnesota Reg- iment in the late rebellion, dying ouly a few months ago, and Witherby afterwards became United States judge at San Diego, California, where he yet resides.
Company I went from the sycamore grove to Camp Washington, near Cincinnati, embarking on a canal-boat moored near the head of the basin, which, in those days, reached nearly as far as Third Street. The embarkation was witnessed by nearly every man, woman, and child in Butler County, and the. cries of the women mingled with the shouts of the men made a strange mixture of grief and jollity. On reaching Camp Washingion the new troops were assigned to the First Ohio Regiment, of which I. M. Mitchell was elected colonel, and Jolm B. Weller lieutenant-colonel. George became captain and Witherby first lieutenant. William Wilson, a brother of John K. Wilson, of this city, was elected second lieuten- ant, and Jonathan Richmond third lieutenant. Ferdi- nand Van Derveer, who rose to the rank of brigadier- general in our late war for the Union, was appointed orderly sergeant. Company I contained about thirteen young lawyers of this city, and it was said, by a local wag, that, during their absence, Hamilton was more peaceable than it had ever been before.
When the First Regiment ras fully organized and equipped, it was ordered to New Orleans, the troops embarking on two steamboats, leaving on the 24 of July for the Southern metropolis, where they encampes cu the battle-ground where Old Hickory defeated the British in 1815. Here the men rested for three days, at the end of which they were embarked for the sea shore, and thence upon a steanier for the land of conflict, landing at Brazos Santiago, a small picee of land almost sur- rounded by water, lying at the mouth of the Rio Grande. They laid in eamp at Camp Belknap, fifteen miles distant, for a month, drilling. The regiment then joined General Zachary Taylor in the advance, ou his march to Monterey. On the way the regimeet endured great privations. Water was scarce, and at times the troops marched a whole day without a drop of that liquid. At Camargo, on the San Juan River, the troops halted to rest. . Here they found Lientenant Witherby, who was
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
acting as quartermaster, and who had preceded them on a small river-steamer.
Here a laughable incident occurred. Witherby bad his tent up and in order, and under his hammock, where it could be kept under his eye, was a barrel of whisky, Orderly Sergeant Van Derveer soon discovered it, and came to the conclusion that Company I needed the stimu- lant more than the quartermaster did. Calling Clem Mur- phy, an original character, who came from Rossville, to his aid, the two concocted a plot to possess themselves of the desired luxury. Clem, taking with him a gimlet and sev- eral buckets and camp-kettles, crawled under Witherby's tent, inserted the gimlet in the barrel, and ran every drop of the precious fluid into the vessels he had brought with him, without attracting attention. At daylight Sergeant Van Derveer made the rounds, invited each member of the company to come to his tent, and then gave each one a tincupful of the stolen whisky. At daylight the quarter- master awoke from a dreamless sleep, and concluded to take an appetizer before breakfast. He tapped his bar- rel, opened the bung to allow the air to work, and found nothing. It need not be said that he was angry. The joke leaked ont, as Company I was drunk from its cap- tain down to the privates. Witherby soon after resigned, and came home. Sergeant Van Derveer was unani- mously elected to fill his position, and thus became a first lieutenant.
From Camargo the troops marched through Ceralso and Marin to the Walnut Springs, three miles out of Monterey. The regiment was brigaded with the First Kentucky, and was commanded by General Thomas L. Hamer. An immediato attsek was then made upon the city of Monterey, garrisoned though it was by eleven thou- sand Mexican soldiers, under command of General Am- pudia, and the United States forces consisted of but three thousand men, all told. Zachary Taylor was in command, and General Worth next. The battle lasted three days, September 19, 20, and 21, 1846. At the end of this time the garrison capitulated, the Mexican soldiers marching out with their arms, leaving their artillery and stores for their vanquishers. The United States troops lost about fifteen per cent of their number in killed and wounded. Of Company I, about a dozen were wounded, including Captain George, who resigned and went home, his place being filled by the election of Lieutenant Van Derveer. Juhn Pearson, of Darrtown, Oscar Boehne and Samuel Freeman, of Hamilton, were killed. After the company was mustered out, Captain Var Derveer exhumed the bodies of the three soldiers, and brought them home for burial. The funeral services were held in the court-house square, which was thronged with peo- ple, the services being preached by the Rev. Wilson Thompson, a Baptist preacher, who was very eloquent. The three bodies were buried in one grave in Greenwood Cemetery, and shortly after the interment Robert E. Duffield, a relative of Freeman's, erected a monument
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to their memory, which still marks their resting-place. Freeman and Boehne were killed by the Mexican lancers, who were on the plains outside the city during the at- tack on Monterey.
On the 1st of March Captain Van Derveer wrote to his father that they had had some rare diversion. Lieu- tenant-colonel Irvin,-of the Second Ohio Regiment, was stationed at Marin, thirty miles ou the Camargo road, with three companies. The Mexicans, to the number of fourteen hundred, surrounded him, and he sent up for relief. As soon as Van Derveer heard of it, he volun- teered to go out and aid them, as did also Captain Brad- ley, of the same regiment. Together with a similar de- tachment from the Kentucky regiment, and two four- pounders, they started at two o'clock on the afternoon of the 25th of February, and at one o'clock at night arrived at Marin. As they approached the town the enemy's piekets fired upon them, a body forming in the chaparral ready for a charge. The Americans immediately un- limbered one of the caunon, and gave them a round of canister, which speedily sent them off. They then en- tered the town without opposition, though the garrison, mistaking their advance for that of a detachment of the eneiny, fired upon them, and wounded one man, though not severely. The garrison were overjoyed to see this re-enforcement, as the enemy were all around, and mist have taken them in a short time. The best honses were selected for quarters, a number of hogs were slaughtered, and the men took whatever they could find in the drink- ing way. This done, they slept till daylight, which was only an hour or two later.
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