The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 356: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

350 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. we en ee el SSS eee “This was quickly repaired with logs and under- brush, and just as the first dawn of morning topped the trees, the whole command was safely on the south bank, and cautiously: picking their way, for they were still in the enemy’s lines, and at the most difficult stage of the journey, being gradually ap- proaching their encampments, “The main body followed a by-path through the | woods, but scouts were sent out ahead, and on the flanks, ‘© Who goes there?’ and a shot was the almost instant challenge, “ Our scouts rapidly fell back to the main body as directed, and as the Imperial mounted outposts pursued, were in the midst of us, and secured. “This occurred on several occasions, but, by good fortune and daring, the whole command reached the main road, and, utterly exhausted, halted on the outskirts of our lines, the enemy being within a mile,.and in full force. “Excitement had strung both man and beast since their start. : “But now that all were safely through the ad- venture, and passed on their way to camp, their appearance was most jaded, care-worn and dusty, having been many hours in the saddle without dis- mounting or drawing rein. : “The fruits of this excursion were several hun- dred head of horses and mules, more than a hundred prisoners, a perfect knowledge of Mejia’s position, force, and resources, and the destruction of property to the value of several millions. “The enemy were signally defeated on several occasions in combats with an inferior force. “We killed. and wounded many, remounted all that required it, furnished the command with fine weapons, saddles, harness, and clothes, and lost but one man in the last combat, ‘“Many of the prisoners took the affair good- humouredly, mounted on mules as they were, but several doctors were apostrophizing Jupiter and all the gods about the cruelty of placing them on sad- dleless animals with sharp vertebrz, and swore roundly against riding sixty miles without rest or food ! ‘‘ Grumbling was of no use, “ Ride they must, and the chop-fallen, wretched appearance of these sons of Galen was ludicrous in the extreme, and their horsemanship wonderful under the circumstances, “The appearance of this gallant band was cer- tainly very unprepossessing, for the men were dusty, dirty, and looked more like negroes than whites, ‘‘ Their horses could scarcely move, and riders had overweighted them by hanging .on saddle-bows, strings of shoes, bundles of blankets, new weapons of various kinds, the horse and entire outfit being not unfrequently Imperial property, “ Several of them were scarred or cut, but man- fully sat their saddle, and took no heed of hurts, and marched along through our lines as gaily as possible, saying ‘they would not have missed the trip for anything.’ ‘Such an adventure was worthy of remembrance, and those who participated had right: to feel proud; for here was a small band, commanded bya dashing horseman, who had been for more than sixty hours within the enemy’s lines, capturing and destroying as they went, and though engaged in several com- bats, with superior force, had returned with the loss of but one man. * —_—_——— err eS ‘‘ Mejia felt humbled; as any general would have been, but resorted to his old practice of telling: but half the truth ; and in his despatches, spoke of it as a trivial affair, and scarcely worthy of mention. ‘In retaliation, the French cavalry made frequent incursions into counties within the limits of their own lines, though never attempting to cross owrs, and spoke of each exploit as wonderful affairs, ‘Had they crossed our line, and committed half the havoc acknowledged to have been done within their own, their achievements might have been worthy of mention; but they knew too well the character of our men to attempt any such adven- ture, ‘“‘ However, from those constantly arriving in camp, it was ascertained beyond a doubt that Mejia was strongly fortifying on the river, so as to serve asa safe base of operations, whence supplies could be easily transported into the interior by their extensive waggon trains, boats, &c. Pontsville was held by a French colonel, Burgos, and a strong force, was strongly fortified, and being on high ground com- manded all approaches from the interior, the river being open for the transit of any number of troops, “ Juarez determined to march forward and attack it, but was informed that large bands of outlaws and others were devastating the whole country on his left, and threatened to get in his rear, “Suddenly diverging from his proper. route, Juarez sent an’ officer up in that direction with a small force of hardened determined men, and so secretly was the expedition conducted that they unexpectedly came upon the renegade Mexicans at a creek called La Palma, and after a confused fight of some hours, drove the enemy from the field, pushed forward to their head-quartets, and captured it, with everything left intact. ‘ Joining the column under Juarez again, our army of 5,000 effectives and five guns pushed for- ward again towards Pontsyville, and arrived in the vicinity, ‘“‘ Our ‘ irregular’? horse, Yankee Sam’s (for I can call them nothing else) did good service in scouring the country for supplies, and keeping the enemy within the lines of the town, and although fre- quently inviting combats, the nobie Imperislists remained quietly within their chain of breast- works, and refused every offer. “By the 18th our ammunition waggons and artillery had arrived, infantry were rested, and Juarez broke up encampment at the Fair Grounds, two miles from town, and advanced against the city. “The Fair Grounds was an admirable position for us had the enemy ventured to attack, for it was surmised that upon hearing of us at Pontsville, Marshal Bazaine would have collected his available force, and coming up in boats, reinforced Colonel Burgos, and chased us out of the country, “His genius was befogged, “We did nothing of the kind, but quietly re- mained where he was, enjoying serenades, balls, parties, &c., in the blissful state of vice-reeal pomp and parade, being quite oblivious of everything save waltzes, bands, and perfecting the trappings of his renegade ‘ incapables,”’ ‘Driving in the enemy’s outposts round the out- skirts, Juarez was fully aware of the strength of the place, and made dispositions accordingly. ‘“‘He knew that there were several boats under the bluff, which keep open communicn with the Gomicbookseco