Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/405

Rh At Puebla we took up our quarters, about two squares from Quartel San Jose, our former headquarters, on the street leading to the main plaza.

When we arrived there, Col. Thomas Childs came to meet us, and was received with a tremendous cheering from those half starved Yankees whom he commanded during the long siege of Puebla, the men crying out "We know no surrender!"

Col. Childs took off his cap, bowed and said, "That the cheers and shouts just given, put him in mind of the many hurrahs during the siege, and particularly more so, when Gen. Santa Anna, with about eight thousand troops, appeared at the outside of the city, demanding of him, Col. Childs, to surrender up his three hundred soldiers, to his Excellency, Gen. Santa Anna. I sent word back 'No, never will I surrender my little band of brave men, we will fight it out until the last man falls.' " Cheers.

"You will also remember when myself and your Lieut. Col. Black went from one station to another announcing Gen. Santa Anna's request to surrender, and your reply was, 'No, no, never will we surrender,'" with cheers and hurrah, which made the volcanic hills shake. "Again let me tell you, Pennsylvanians, that I will never, the longest day of my life, forget the heroic conduct and patriotism you have showed during the siege of Puebla." He, then, with a wave of his cap, left in the midst of cheering and clapping of hands. During this little excitement and speech, most all the new troops and Mexicans gathered silently around Col. Childs and listened with deep interest to his remarks and mingled their cheers with ours, and at the same time commenced asking many questions about the siege of Puebla, and how it was that we could hold out so long and repulse Gen. Santa Anna's eight thousand troops. We answered, that it was the confidence we had in our officers, and a determination on our part never to yield an inch, and to hold out till the last man drops.

It will be remembered that when we were first placed under the command of Col. Childs, he was not liked by our men.