Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/66

60 Wednesday, February 24, 1847.—This morning the regular United States officer that died on ship last evening was buried with all the honors of war. He was accompanied to his grave by nearly all the regular officers on the island, besides a full brass band playing the funeral march.

The report of the capture of Second Lieut. J. A. Richey, of the Fifth United States Infantry, and his gallant little band is confirmed. They were lassoed and afterwards brutally massacred in cold blood near the town of Villa Grand, on or about the 12th or 13th of January last. Lieut. Richey was the bearer of dispatches to Gen. Zach. Taylor. Thus all the dispatches and plans of Gen. Scott's campaign in Mexico were captured with poor Lieut. Richey, and the Mexican government by this time are as fully posted as to his movements as Gen. Scott himself This evening there was an election in Company D, of our regiment, for captaincy. Adjt. Alexander Brown and Lieut. J. C. Kretschmar were the candidates. After the polls were closed and the votes counted it resulted in favor of Lieut. Kretschmar for captain almost by a unanimous vote, which caused much rejoicing and hand-shaking among the boys. Lieut. Kretschmar made a little speech thanking the members for electing him to the captaincy of the company and promising them that he would stand by them as long as he lived. Capt. Kretschmar is quite a young man; in fact, he looks in the face like a lady—smooth face and good looking. To-night we can hear most all the soldiers talking about the capturing and murdering of Lieut. Richey, saying that his blood shall and will be yet avenged the first opportunity.

Thursday, February 25,1847.—This morning after breakfast we went out on parade, and drilled for over one hour, after which orders were read to us for to pack up and strike our tents.

At 11 o'clock,, we again got into the surf-boats, which took us on board of our bully ship "Statesman," singing the National song, We are all Bound for Mexico.