The Humors of Falconbridge: A Collection of Humorous and Every Day ScenesFalconbridge
General
The Humors of Falconbridge: A Collection of Humorous and Every Day Scenes
Falconbridge
American wit and humor
Charging up to the Plaza--the Mexicans flying--Capt. Walker dismounted,
with some thirty of his men, and advanced up a flight of steps to force
an entrance into a church or convent, where he supposed Santa Anna was
hid away. The flying lancers were pursued by the Rangers, who, very
injudiciously, of course, scattered themselves over the town.
Capt. Lewis, in the mean time, had found a large yard attached to a
temporary garrison, in which were some sixty horses, equipped ready for
immediate use, and which the Mexicans had, in their hurry to escape,
left behind them! The irregular firing of the Rangers, in pursuit of the
Mexicans, being deemed useless and unnecessary, Capt. Lewis left several
of his men, among whom was "Country McCluskey," the noted pugilist, a
volunteer in Capt. Lewis's company, to guard the horses, while he rode
forward to the convent.
"Capt. Walker," said Lewis, "I deem it, sir, not only useless, but bad
policy, to allow that firing by the men, around the town."
Capt. Walker immediately ordered the firing to cease, and being apprized
of Capt. Lewis's discovery of the horses, &c., ordered him to bring up
his command. Capt. Lewis wheeled his horse; some one fired close by, and
Capt. Walker cried out--
"Who was that? I'll shoot down the next man who fires against my
orders!"
At that moment three guns were fired from the convent--and
simultaneously a cannon was fired down the street, from a party of
Mexicans in the distance. Capt. Lewis faced about just in time to see
Capt. Walker drop down upon the steps of the convent, as he emphatically
expresses it,--
"Like a lump of lead, sir!"
The piece up the street was fired again. Capt. Lewis ordered the fallen,
gallant Walker, to be placed upon the steps close to the wall. A shot
from the piece alluded to striking off the stone and mortar, he ordered
the doors to be forced, and Capt. Walker to be taken in, which was done.
The bugle sounded, and in an instant a horde of lancers poured into the
town, rushing down upon the Americans from every avenue! Capt. Lewis had
wheeled about to collect his men, when he found McCluskey and others
leading out "the pick" of the captured horses.
"Drop--drop the horses, you fool, and mount! Mount, sir, mount!"
They mounted fast enough; Lewis formed, and met the enemy in gallant
style; and though there were ten, aye, twenty to one, possibly, he drove
them back! To quote our friend, Major Hammond's words, "Lewis, of the
Louisiana Cavalry, assumed command, struggled ably to preserve the guns
(captured), and held his position fairly, until assistance arrived."
One hundred and fifty of the enemy fell, while of the Rangers and
Cavalry some twenty-five were killed and wounded. They were engaged
nearly an hour, and the bravery displayed by Walker, Lewis, and their
men, was worthy of general admiration, and all honor.
Poor Walker! a ball struck him in the left shoulder, passed over his
heart, and came out in his right vest pocket!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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