Page:The War with Mexico, Vol 2.djvu/477

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37. ''The Puebla district. Flag of Freedom,'' i, nos. 1, 5. Lawton, Artillery Officer, 272. 270Moore, diary. 95Childs, proclam., Nov. 11, 1847 (placard). Oswandel, Notes, 345, 390. 95Ayuntamiento archives (proceedings, correspondence with Worth, orders of Worth, etc.). 95Fúrlong, proclam., Oct. 14, 1847. 95Childs, proclam., Oct. 25, 1847. 95The bishop to Scott, Dec. 1, 1847. 95Fúrlong to Scott, Dec. 1, 1847. 95Ayunt. to prefect, Oct. 26, 1847. 304Worth, orders, May 16, 1847. Brackett, Lane's Brigade, 121, 125, 131, 136, 165, 210. 356Whitcomb, diary. Republicano, June 13, 14, 21 (El Nacional), 24, 1847. 69Fúrlong to Am. gov., Aug. 10, 1847. 69Prefect to Childs, Oct. 14; Nov. 2, 8; Dec. 20, 1847; Feb. 8, 1848. 69Childs's official papers. 61Scott, gen. orders 187, 1847. Nacional, Dec. 18, etc, 1847. 95Report of the committee appointed to confer with Scott, Jan. 4, 1848. 75Jefe político Tlaxcala to Scott, Nov. 23, 1847. Negrete, Invasión, iii, app., 122-3. Donnavan, Adventures, 100. Colección de Documentos (Childs, orders, Oct. 16). Ho. 60; 30, 1, p. 1030 (Childs).

There was special feeling about churches. The bishop of Puebla complained to Scott that our soldiers desecrated a church at Tlaxcala, and stole some priests' robes. But the soldiers had found that the church was the base of the guerillas they were pursuing, and discovered the robes on the floor. Our officers made great efforts to prevent outrages here and to restore the stolen property (Brackett, Lane's Brigade, 211; Zirckel, Tagebuch, 123; etc.). It seems to have been true that no church was desecrated by Americans that had not been desecrated by Mexicans, and used for hostile purposes.

38. The lépero dared not attack a sober American soldier. The scheme was to get the soldiers intoxicated, and, when they staggered and fell, knife them. . After a time our men invented a trick to meet it. They would pretend to be intoxicated, fall to the ground, and make ready for the would be assassin; and finally the léperos feared a drunken soldier even more than a sober one. Carrying concealed weapons was forbidden; suspected persons were searched; and any one found guilty was given twenty lashes on the bare back. This had an excellent effect.

39. A specimen case was that of private Gahagiun of the Seventh Infantry (65gen. orders 378). For breaking into a house and taking some ladies' clothing he was sentenced to receive fifty lashes on his bare back "well laid on with a rawhide," to be confined at hard labor during the rest of his term, to be then dishonorably discharged and drummed out — $250 of his pay to go to the person robbed and the rest to be confiscated. Mexicans as well as Americans were publicly flogged. In extreme cases hanging was the punishment.

Scott made the following daily details in order to ensure order and discipline (65gen. orders 298, September 24, 1847): "41. A general officer of the day to report to me; to superintend the good order and discipline of the garrison, visit the guards and outposts, organize patrols, and receive reports regarding order and discipline. 2. A field officer of the day of each division and of the cavalry brigade to superintend the troops in quarters, be present at the mounting and dismounting of the guards, have control of the in-lying pickets, etc. 3. One third of each regiment not on other duty will constitute its portion of the in-lying guard. 4. A captain or subaltern of the day of each regiment will superintend the quarters, attend the parading of regimental guards, have the roll called frequently and at unexpected times, visit company kitchens and messes, etc." The