Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/394

388 Mexican boy. The court found them both guilty and sentenced them to be hung. Also two Texan Rangers, Hays' men, were tried for stealing money and blankets from the Mexicans, after which the court adjourned, and myself and several more took a walk out to the old Camp Misery, where we encamped last May. I passed the very spot where we built a ranch to sleep under.

In the evening, I returned to our quarters in this city in time for the dress parade, where orders were read to us that there would be an inspection to-morrow.

To-night, Capt. Wm. F. Binder's Co. E, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, held a dancing party and ended in a regular fight among themselves. They came clear over to our quarters, but we soon made them vamose from our place, as we don't approve of such conduct.

Saturday, November 20, 1847.—This morning, our regiment paraded in the Plaza and marched down near the Vera Cruzoras Hotel, to Gen. Patterson's headquarters, and was reviewed by him, and before we were dismissed Col. Geo. W. Hughes, U. S. A., who is now Governor of Jalapa City, ordered the following orders to be read to us: "That whenever a soldier meets an officer, to step to one side and give the sidewalk to the officer, and to take off their caps, and any soldier refusing to comply with these orders shall be arrested, put in the guardhouse and court-martialed." After the parade was dismissed we gave three groans for Gov. Hughes. It was not long before a petty regular officer came along and meeting several of our soldiers, and because these soldiers did not take off their caps or step aside, the officer drew his sword and struck the men with his sword. At this instant a half dozen mounted the officer and gave him a good beating, and had it not been for Col. Wynkoop, who happened to be near the scene, appealing to the men to forgive the officer and let him go, not for his sake but for the sake of old Pennsylvania, the State we now represent in this war. So the soldiers let him go, but at the same time telling him that if he ever attempts to strike