Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/313

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��at Camargo, and undertook to build a fort, and, what gave it such notoriety, we had the trench or ditch dug on the inside of the fort. I have been in it and seen it often when there. We had charge of that point (Camargo), which at that time was a very important post, as it was near the moutli of the San Juan River, and at the head of steamboat navigation, and where our supplies of provisions, ammunition, ord- nance, etc., were stored, and right in the heart of the enemy's country — so that it kept us on the alert day and night. We remained at Camargo until near the time of the battle of Buena Vista, when we received marching orders on Sunday afternoon ; and, expecting rough times and a good deal of hard fighting, I went to the ordnance department and bought a large Prussian saber, had it ground up sharp, then left my light-infantr}' sword with my trunk and extra clothing and camp equipage under a large commissar}' tent, and we started that same night (Sunda}-) for Monterey and Buena Vista. All the important moves or marches we made, beginning from the time we left Camp Wash- ington at Cincinnati to New Orleans, then across the (lulf to Brazos, thence to Rio Grande and so on from one point to another until we reached Buena Vista, and thence from there, when we left for home at expiration of our term of service, were made on Sunday. The enemy under Gens. Urea and Connallis were between us and Monterey, and we had to fight and drive them before us until we got up to Seraloo and Marino when they found themselves between two fires, and turned off through the mountain passes to their headquarters at Catanta. We followed them to that place, and they retreated into the mountains. We made a requisition on the Alcalde of that city of corn and mules to the amount of the trains that Urea and Connallis' forces had destroyed, and informed them that if they did not comply we would lilow up the city. They agreed to furnish them. We then marched through the citv.

��across the San Juan River and on to Monterey. Gen. Zach Taylor on "old whitey" was with us on this expedition.

" Let me sa}- here that Catanta, the last-named city or town, was one of the most beautiful places I saw in Mexico. It was located on the banks of the San Juan River, in a beautiful valle}', surrounded by mountains, and well sup- plied with clear spring water from the mount- ains, running through everj^ street and garden in the city. The streets were all paved with pebble-stones taken from the river bed and laid in waves. The gardens were full of orange, lemon, citron pomegTanate and other tropical fruit trees, which were laden with green and ripe fruit and blossoms. This was in the month of March, 1847. When we entered the valley through a narrow mountain pass, and came in view, or, rather, where the city was located, it appeared to be a large grove of orange, lemon and citron trees. We could not see the houses for the trees, as they were so thick and grew up above the tops of the buildings. We marched on from there to Monterey, and camped at what was called Walnut Springs, about four miles from the city. These were large springs of cool, clear water, and surrounded by black and English walnut trees. We remained but a short time at the Springs and Monterey (which is quite an important place, located in a valley surrounded by mountains. Gen. Arista's pri- vate residence was located here and was a beau- tiful place, and had one of the most beautiful gardens attached to it I ever saw), and then marched on up through the narrow valle}' and mountain passes via Molino del Rey (dead man's pass), Saltillo and Buena Vista (pleasant view), where we remained in camp on the battle gi'ound, after the battle was fought, until the expiration of our term of service, in the month of June, 1847. We then returned by the same route by which we came. William Johnston, the son of Preacher Johnston, died at Buena Vista, and we brouo;ht his remains ])ack with

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