The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

374 foreign country, as both General Binot and Maxi- . milian crept upon us during night, and took up commanding positions, from which the latter was driven with much difficulty, and not until after an obstinate and bloody fight. ‘We ought to thank our stars that things turned out so favourably to us, as the most sanguine could never have anticipated such a complete over- throw. “Tt had great effect among thousands off‘ waver- ing’ minds, and many rushed to our camps from all quarters, so much so, indeed, that Escobedo knew not what to do with them. ‘He had already thousands around him without arms, but as other forces in the south-east were daily augmenting, it was thought that arms in plenty would be forthcoming for all, though none had any idea whence. “We were not like other armies. “Our arsenals did not contain a single musket save several hundred muskets captured at this pre- sent battle ground, which is called Silver Hills. ‘‘ Escobedo’s men had nothing but what they had originally brought from home with them, having no regular cartridges, and nothing in which to keep those they made in camp, “Many had to put ammunition ‘in their hats or pockets, to protect it from the weather, a proceed- ing extremely wasteful and unsafe, but which could not be avoided. ‘This late battle, however, had brought us many useful things, and among others, a few tents, which gave our encampments some little appearance of military habitations. “But they were so few, that nine-tenths of us slept under the bare canopy of heaven, in all weathers, which, though very romantic in ideal illustrations of wars, is a very uncomfortable state of affairs in ‘ real’ life, “But, worse than all, there seemed to be a jealousy growing up between commanders, and division in their councils. ‘Mexicans were daily flocking to Escobedo, and his name seemed a talisman among them, while Lopez was scarcely mentioned except among his own immediate friends. ‘““Nor was his capacity as commander looked upon so confidently as that of Escobedo, whose de- sire seemed to be to ‘push a-head,’ and not give the enemy breathing time, but follow up every success, and strike terror into them by rapidity of move- ment, and invincible energy. “Lopez did not seem to me to be the whole- souled patriot that Hscobedo did, “For his quibbling about precedence of com- mand, and his flat refusal to advance without it was ccuferred upon him, leaked out among the men, and his own troops saw selfish ambition at the. bottom of all, with no record of educated talent to sustain it, ‘‘ Hscobedo, however, has acquired historic fame by his deeds in Mexico, and has learned the art of war from experience. ‘' His recent acts and clear-sightedness gives evi- dence that nothing was lost from age, but that increase of years had only added greater coolness and circumspection to all his acts, ‘When our troops had fully rested themselves, therefore, and various departments reduced to a better system of daily routine, Escobedo desired the whole army should move towards Queretero, seize the enemy’s stores, supply the unarmed with THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. weapons, and, if need be, procure them upon the battle field, ere the foe could recover from late defeats, and mature plans. “For information was constantly reaching us that Maximilian now was actively engaged in form- ing a large army near Queretero, and, having funds and supplies, was determined to put his forces into the field in a style of imposing grandeur and por- tentous strength, “Lopez did not approve advancing to meet the enemy, but wished to fall back on the frontier, and allow the enemy to weary themselves in hunt- ing for him, ‘Here was a difference of opinion, and no una- nimity of sentiment or action. ‘Escobedo now was amazed and annoyed. “He collected all the men and arms he could, indeed, nearly all we had, and left and pushed forward alone towards Queretero, being hailed everywhere as the chief and father of all. ‘You never saw such patriotism as was displayed on every hand. “And although, at least, we were a poor undrilled body of adventurers living upon the public, and trusting to heaven for supplies, our regiments and brigades were animated with a burning enthusiasm for action, and an unbounded confidence in our leader, which were enough to carry us through any enterprize. ‘“Everywhere we went, however, signs were numerous of the wanton waste and wicked reck- lessness of Dutch dastards and fanatics in the pay of Maximilian, “Truly the barbarities of our foes are beyond al description. “All law, save military law, is suspended. _ “Banks robbed of specie, wealthy men ‘com- pelled’ to contribute largely for the wholesale destruction of friends, relatives, and rights, “ Prisons full in every city where their rule is paramount. “ All law is laughed at, dwellings seized, property confiscated, sold, and carried away. “Farms destroyed, cattle driven off, barns, houses, &c., burned before their owner’s eyes. “While mothers, wives, sisters, or daughters are insulted and disgraced, and oftentimes murdered, “ All this is true. “And I do not exaggerate, for things are bad enough. “They could not be worse, with all the colouring in the world. - “Our whole march has presented harrowing sights. “Widows, wives, children, and the aged, stand- ing houseless by the wayside, their homes in flames and ruins, ‘because the Republicans are coming, and it is a military necessity.’ . “ Are these men who do all this? “You know their character too well to sup- pose it, ‘Tt is those valiant Belgian and Dutch heroes of Maximilian, runaways from battle-fields, who show their paltry spite to helpless little ones, whose fathers and brothers are fighting for freedom, “These are the worthies—the offscourings of Germany and Holland—who, in uniform, dog the heels of Maximilian ; who are thus brave and fero- cious to women and children, and dare not stand before half their own number of men on the battle- field ! ‘ GEomicboo S (©) 2) i eee > ai