American Republican And Baltimore Daily Clipper

[Correspondence of the Baltimore Clipper.]

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP

OF

THE RINGGOLD COMMITTEE.

Departure from New Orleans—The Gulf in a "Norther,"—Two Baltimoreans saving their Onions—Brazos—Rio Grande—Matamoras—Fort Brown—The Battle Field—Point Isabel—Ringgold and Cochrane's Exhumation.

BRAZOS SAN JAGO, NOV. 25, 1846.

As the old iron tongue of that venerable and once Spanish Cathedral, at Orleans, was striking the hour of 10 o'clock, on the night of the 14th inst., our boat, the steamer McKim, might be seen unshipping her moorings, and gently taking the stream downwards. Before, however, we had gone far, the fog, so prevalent on these rivers, compelled us to drop our anchor. By fortune's favor, we cleared the mouth of the river about 5 o'clock next evening, with a fair and stiff breeze, and flattering prospects of a happy and speedy passage across the Mexican waters.

We kept on our course, with everything bright and cheering, until the fifth day of our voyage, when we were suddenly struck, by what is here called "a Norther." It was one of the most terrific, as we were afterwards informed, by the old sea-dogs, that have been felt in these regions for years. Our passengers were tossed about, like bags of chaff—sometimes on their heads, and sometimes with no point to stand on, but floating, as it were, in mid-air—not between Heaven and earth, but between a single plank and eternity! Men a moment before boasting of their own strength, had now become worse than babes. As the night approached, the storm increased. The terrors of night added to the fearful ragings of the storm, and our anxieties grew apace. Many, nay, most of us, had given up all for lost, and the very few capable of moving, were singularly helpless. Fear had taken deep root in our souls, and yet, do not smile at us for want of courage, for I am satisfied, there were amongst us, many of undoubted valor, but yet untried by the powerful arm of God. One poor fellow was seen doubled up in a corner, with tears streaming down his pale cheeks, trembling for his life, and awaiting, with awful forebodings, the great teacher—Death. "Why do you cry so?" said an inquirer, whose experience of sea perils gave him an apparent excess of confidence.—"Suppose," said he, "you had been in the street fight at Monterey, what would you have done then?" "Why," answered the sufferer, with the tone of a man, "that was nothing;—there you might escape from the aim of man, but here the finger of God is pointed at us, and his will be done."

The midnight bell tolled that solemn hour, as if warning us to prepare for the land of spirits. And some were preparing, with rather a dangerous earnestness, for moving about. I fell in with two Baltimoreans on the weather-stern of our ship, who were locked in each other's hands. They had exchanged a vow—a vow of fidelity upon leaving, (falsely, however,) that the machinery of our ship was out of order. They had pledged themselves, in the event of the ship's wrecking, to take possession of the two chicken coops, with knives drawn ready to cut down any one attempting to cling on to save himself from a watery grave. Sober second thought soon satisfied one of them, (rather an old traveller, by the way,) that if our ship could not transport him safely, a chicken coop would be but a poor substitute. With feelings of awe, we awaited the dawn of morn! Many prayers were offered up, that our good God would bid the storm cease; and I believe our prayers were heard.—At 8 o'clock next morning, after laying to for twenty hours, the gale was broken. Our passengers were now busily engaged in discovering, not each other, but themselves—denying each other from the simple fact of their having given way to exhausted nature in various parts of the ship. All now had become mirth and congratulation. Every one moving about to see his particular friend, and I among the many was busy exchanging congratulations, and accidentally fell in with our two heroes of the chicken coops, who, having just aroused themselves from a heavy slumber, were in the act, (and much hurried too,) of discharging their cargo of Onions, which they had taken aboard of their frail craft for their intended chicken-coop voyage; I mean, they had filled their pockets with that delicious vegetable, which would have supported them for at least three weeks, God sparing their lives. I could not but admire their precaution, however puerile in itself, and I am satisfied, although men vary in hope as they do in mind, that the anchor of their hope had taken all fastenings of the outward boundaries of Heaven.

At 6 o'clock, P. M., we made the Brazos, and came to anchor some two miles outside of the bar about 7 o'clock, where we remained until mid-day of the 21st, when a small steamer came for the passengers and the mail. The bar is very difficult to cross, having some three to six feet of water only, and always in a very disturbed, dangerous state. Inside, there are a great many of the smaller class of vessels, waiting, of course, the orders of the Quartermaster at this station. The whole surrounding country at this point is sandy, low and flat, with straggling huts, government stores, &c. We remained here in going, about one hour, took a small steamboat and went round, distance nine miles, to the mouth of the Rio Grande. On the northwest side is the government depot, a few straggling huts, and some 200 or 300 volunteers, who look disgustingly dirty—a fatal error among this class of our soldiery. The opposite side of the river is the acknowledged territory of Mexico, where there are some few native Mexicans.

This island is called "Santa Anna Island," having taken that name from the fact of Santa Anna concentrating his forces there at one time. The government is busily swimming some 400 mules across the river to the Mexican side, in order to take wagons on to Matamoras, with a view to facilitate a descent upon Tampico, which we learn has just been taken. Sunday, 12 o'clock, noon, and just ordered on board for Matamoras, a distance of some 75 miles, which is about three times farther than by land. Such is the everlasting twisting and winding of this river, that almost every part of Mexico, within the range of fifty miles, at all events, is accommodated by its water. A great convenience, if this useless people but knew it.

Some twelve miles from the mouth is a small village, called Burita, containing about thirty houses, made of course, after the style peculiar to country dwellings here, with an embankment, breast high all round it. The town was surrendered to the volunteers. At night we laid to at a distance of some 25 miles from Matamoras: and of course I availed myself of the opportunity to go ashore and visit the Rancheros. They are very poor, and have miserable houses to live in. However, I learn that they can pretty nearly all read and write, and have some little knowledge of geography. At day break we started on our journey and landed at Matamoras about 10 o'clock, Monday morning. The whole river, from point to point, on either side, is low, with large prairie and chapparral countries, miserably cultivated; but, so far as I can see, the raising of cattle must be their principal source of support. The river is narrow, not over 100 or 150 yards wide, but extending considerably in front of Matamoras, and in it there are millions of geese, ducks, &c. What a treat would it be for some of our Baltimore gunners, if they were out here. Immediately on our arrival in Matamoras, we reported ourselves to the Quarter Master, who at once gave orders that, as soon as dinner was over, horses should be furnished us to go to the Resaca battle field to disinter the remains of Lieut. Cochran. In the meantime I strolled about the city, which has, so far as I can learn, a population of some 5000 or 6000 souls, all told. The houses are low blocks of buildings forming open squares on the inside, with a well in the centre, out of which they are supplied with water—rather salt, though, and not fit to drink. The streets are tolerably wide, but mostly without any pavement. As a public building, the old unfinished Cathedral—the design of which is the only thing worth mentioning—but owing to so much having been said about this and other objects in connection with the war, I will forbear saying anything, save what may appear to me strange. Around and in every part of the city are to be seen myriads of black birds—or rather, I should say, Jack-daws. They are favorite birds, beliked by everybody and despised by none.

After dinner we made our second appearance at the Quarter Master's Department, where our horses and all were ready to start, the Quarter Master accompanying us. Unfortunately for me, I had selected for myself a broken down warrior, who, as I was endeavoring to outflank my companions, stumbled, I raised him up twice, but the villain had made up his mind either accidentally or wilfully to unhorse me, and he did, giving me time only to throw myself out of the saddle, which I did, head over heels, much to the astonishment and mirth of my party. We were, however, both up again in a few seconds, when all difficulties were amicably and honorably settled. We arrived on the ground about 4 o'clock, and after giving the necessary directions to the workmen, we went to the battle field of the 9th of May, and with pleasure stood on the very spot where poor Ridgely and May distinguished themselves, also the field where Arista had taken up his quarters, &c. There is nothing to be seen on the field, save any quantity of old uniforms.

On our return to the grave, we found the men had progressed but very little, the ground being cement-like hard, and were obliged to desist, the sun fast setting over western Mexico, and make for the city. During the evening I had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of Dr. McPhail, of Baltimore, of whom, and of whose gentlemanly treatment I cannot say too much. The heat here is about 80 deg. with a falling off at night of some 20 or 25 degrees.

The next morning we got under way as soon as practicable, and in passing Fort Brown, I called in and took a bird's eye view of the interior. It is much larger than we were led to believe by common reading. It would take at least some 2,000 men to man this fort properly. Our means of transportation being now at hand, I was compelled, after a few shakes of the hand with those who had shown me the civility of the fort, to take a seat in our carriage—a common four horse wagon—where, bag, baggage and coffin were to be huddled together. When we arrived at the grave, the body was exposed, having been wrapped in a common coarse matting. The flesh had entirely disappeared, but the bones were perfect and dry. The body being taken out and boxed up, we started on our journey through a chapparral country. We arrived at what is called the half-way house, some two miles (Point Isabel side) this side of the Palo Alto, which is an immense plain, with grass knee high, about half-past 1 o'clock, where we took a sort of a dinner. Immediately on our arrival, I and my friend despatched a man to the Palo Alto battle field to procure us some Mexican skulls—a few of which we have with us.

At 8 o'clock, P. M., we reached Point Isabel, which is fortified and garrisoned, within which we entered, leaving the remains of Lt. Cochran under guard. Early next morning, our business being well known to the commander of this point, Major Gardner, the men were at work in taking up the remains of Major Ringgold, &c., also the railing with which the grave was surrounded, all of which we bring with us. After taking up the coffin, we commenced the solemn tread of marching to the time measured us by the drum and fife, with an escort of some 50 men, divided into two platoons—the first covering the corpse, with the committee, the doctor of this post, and the Major in command, in the centre, and the second platoon bringing up the rear. It was certainly done very handsomely; and as soon as we reached the store, the coffin was taken inside. On opening it, we found the coffin had an outside rough box, yet with all this, no vestige of our favorite Major could be traced—scarcely any thing but the bones were left. All solidity of the flesh had disappeared. Such was the decomposed state of the body, that we were necessarily compelled to remove him to our own prepared coffin with the least possible delay, and seal or solder him up. At 3 o'clock, P. M., we started for the Brazos, having, of course, in charge not only the remains of those men who had fallen in the defence of their much beloved and common country, but also one of Major Ringgold's favorite teamsters; and unfortunately for this poor fellow, called Kelly, his time had expired a few days before the battle of the 8th. Major R. remarked to him on the eve of the battle, "Kelly, I cannot go to battle without you, for you are the best driver I have," "Very well," said poor Kelly, "you shall not go without me." On he went as a volunteer, and, to his great misfortune, lost his right arm near the shoulder. Here he is with us, an object to be pitied, and yet not entitled to a pension, owing to the fact of his being simply a volunteer. Surely Congress will do something for him! Baltimore is always ready, and is in fact the first, as is acknowledged by all out here, to respond to our country's call, and to aid the distressed.

We had scarcely arrived here, before a Norther struck us, without giving us the least notice, save that of the howling wind, carrying everything before it, making this Island not much unlike the desert of Arabia. If time and the circumstances permitted me to continue my remarks, I should feel happy; but you well know what a sea life is—no time for correction, and compelled to keep motion with the ship. However, I leave all, imperfect as it is, to the indulgence of my friends; and in conclusion I must say that most of these Mexicans are as far behind the age as the North Pole is from that of the South.

Remaining yours, respectfully,

One of the Ringgold Committee.