Indiana State Sentinel

Tough One

The Sun publishes the following, purporting to be extracts from the journal of its correspondent—a perfect Hotspur, save in his self-glorification.—N. Y. Journal of Commerce.

July 30.—I left the city of Mexico in company with a few friends at seven o'clock, A. M. We had British passports and a strong guard, ostensibly for a British officer, to see us safe through the fortifications which are going up at Pinon, a remarkable mountain pass sixteen or seventeen miles from the city of Mexico, on the road to Puebla by way of St. Martin. At Pinon the road winds around between two volcanic mountains, each commanding a point or turn in the road. Between these two hills is an extensive fortification nearly completed, and on which I found thirty-five thousand men at work. Of these, two companies were Europeans, deserters from the U. S. Army, and to their skill may be attributed the superiority displayed in the works. The guard now left us. Our party consisted of four, viz.: the British officer, two Englishmen interested in one of the mines, and myself. At about 50 miles from the Capital we overtook twenty-one straggling Mexicans, and made their acquaintance. At first we were afraid of them, but finally accepted their services as guides. The British officer, however, was suspicious. He had despatches of great importance. Every body seemed to know him, but he would give his name to no one. He exhibited a British flag, fifteen inches by eight or ten, which was at once respected by every guerilla party or public officer on the road. In two instances he received letters on the way to carry short distances. The two British miners having left us, the British officer concluded to proceed alone, leaving me with twenty-one Mexicans. It was getting late, and I put up at the next Rancho, about sixty miles from the Capital.

July 31.—At one o'clock this morning, being still awake, I heard horsemen approaching, and I saw the guerillas with drawn swords coming up to my door. I had twenty-four shots in four of Turner's New York revolvers, which stuck in my belt. Drawing one, I opened the door and fired five shots in rapid succession. Two of the riders fell, and were immediately borne off by their comrades. I now called out to the landlord and demanded an explanation, prefacing my demand with a declaration that he deserved instant death for his treachery. He denied the imputation, and accused my own men. He said, in an under tone, that my guides were professional robbers; that they were employed by their chiefs at the capital to follow us, and rob and kill all, the British officer included. Then, said I, we shall probably be attacked again, and to you I shall direct the first fatal shot. I then tied him to my door outside, and there he remained till morning. I started early, and took the arms of the twenty-one Mexicans on my own horse, and told them to follow to St. Martin's. When I got three miles east of Martin's I ordered a halt, called the ring leader up before me, reproved his treachery, and then shot him dead on the spot, in presence of his terrified companions. They commenced begging for their lives, which I spared, and they scampered off on their mules, and I put spurs to my noble horse and soon reached Puebla, where I delivered the muskets to the United States authorities. I saw numerous guerilla bands on the mountains, but met no opposition on the road. I found General Scott at the head of 15,350 men, lounging away his time in religious exercises. He is so excessively pious, and so intimate with the Bishop, the Priests and Nuns, that the populace call him "Father Scott." His officers and men, on the contrary, call him "Foolish Scott."—His men are deserting to the enemy in consequence of his inaction. I think the great battle at Pinon will be fought before September.

I left Puebla in the afternoon, in company with two or three Mexican gentlemen. They took another road. Ten or twelve miles out I overtook five U. S. soldiers, returning home by way of Vera Cruz. We dined at a hacienda, whose proprietor treated us like princes. But we had not got half a mile from his house before my spy glass revealed an assemblage of Mexican cavalry and infantry, numbering seventy or eighty men, two miles ahead.

We were chased within a league of Perote by fifty-five of them. Their horses were fresher than ours, and it was only by throwing away all our extra baggage and scattering doubloons on the road that we got rid of the villains. I threw away one hundred and fifty ounces, (doubloons,) one hundred of which I received from Santa Anna for bringing on a package of letters addressed to Mexicans at or near Vera Cruz. One of the villains who fired at my head was the owner of the Hacienda at which we had dined, who had followed us, probably to see us caught in the trap he had prepared. I shall remember him on my return to Mexico. We passed Perote a little to the left. I learned that Walker had 1400 men in the Castle, and that General Pierce had just arrived from Vera Cruz with 3500 men. Both commands would proceed at once to reinforce Scott, leaving probably four hundred men in the Castle. Thus Scott has now about twenty thousand men. We encountered no interruption until within two leagues of Jalapa, where we encamped for the night. We could see guerilla parties on all the hills, and signal fires were kept up during the night.

August 1.—The appearance of the hills during the night was unfavorable. Hostile bands surrounded us on all hands, and four of my companions resolved to abandon their horses. They took to the chaparral, and I fear never will be heard of again. Their names were Sergeant Knapp, of New York, or Boston; Corporal Hamilton, a relative of Hon. John C. Hamilton, of New York city; and private Thompson, from one of the Southern States; and Wilson, a Bugler of one of the Carolinas.

Sergeant Melton, of Mississippi, proceeded with me on horseback. This morning we employed a Mexican to show us the main road, which we had abandoned, to avoid Jalapa. His pay was to be one dollar. He had hardly gone thirty yards before he pleaded hunger, and received our permission to get food at a neighboring ranch. We accompanied him. Soon his wife came in and told us we were in great danger—five robbers were coming. We mounted, and had proceeded only a short distance when he halted again at another ranch, for a drink. My suspicions were now aroused by seeing forty or fifty robbers coming after us at full speed. I ordered him to proceed, and on gaining the road, accused him of delaying and betraying us. He freely confessed his crime, and immediately fell on his knees. After giving him time for a short prayer, I put a revolver to his head, and he fell, a corpse! We galloped off, the robbers following in hot pursuit. Only three of them could keep in sight of us. Melton remarked that we were too many for three, and, so, slacking our speed till they came near enough, we wheeled and at the first fire shot two of them—the third got off. We dismounted, and rifling the corpses of their money and clothing, put the latter upon our own persons, the better to pass for real Mexicans. I found twenty doubloons, with some small coin and silver buttons. We were now above suspicion, and encountered no obstacles until within seven miles of Santa Fe, near Vera Cruz. We now got a breathing spell, and stopped at a ranch occupied by milkmen and butchers. Three of the latter, one a Mexican negro, and two Spaniards, were killing a white calf. While refreshing ourselves, one of the Spanish butchers went towards Vera Cruz, and returned with a party, who met us on the road. We suspected trouble at once. They asked if we were friends or enemies, where we were going, and our business. I told them we were on business for Santa Anna; and passed ahead. I had hardly gone twenty paces, when they closed upon Sergeant Melton, who was a short distance behind me. I heard a fellow ask the leader of the gang what he should do, and he replied "kill them both!" At that instant I saw a sabre run through Melton, coming out some inches behind—as he fell they lassoed him, and dragged him into the chaparral. Meantime I kept them at bay by discharging my revolvers, and galloped off, pointing them and firing over my shoulder. I galloped up to the walls of Vera Cruz, turned my horse loose—one of the best ever seen in Mexico, once the property of a Mexican robber, and well worth five hundred dollars—ran to the office of Collector Dimond, said a few words to him, and jumped aboard the Great Western, as she swung off for Havana. To Captain Ward, of the bark Rapid, I tender my grateful acknowledgments for his kindness and attention on the passage to New York.