The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

EEE eee eee ee eee eee THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S “Such were their acclamations as we passed on in our circuit of the country. “As the whole rear of Mejia’s army was by this time fully alarmed by fugitives flying in all direc- tions, it would have been madneas in us to have followed the usual roads in its vicinity, we there- fore pushed towards the routes of their depdts and intercepted large waggon trains approaching, laden Bat stores of every description, and destroyed em. “The horses and mules were entrusted to the rear-guard, and so proceedings continued, ‘‘Waggon trains were seized on all the roads Jeading to depdts and head-quarters, and burned ; their guards and}drivers accommodated with spare horses, and sent to ourrear.. Approaching villages, all French and Imperial property was burned, and prisoners seized. ‘Several army surgeons, captains,’ quarter-mas- ters, commissaries, &c., were obliged to’ mount mules and follow, much to their astonishment and chagrin. ‘Approaching the river railroad the command was divided to scour all the roads, and appointed to meet at a designated rendezvous, ‘Several schooners espied at anchor were seized and burnt, together with valuable cargoes of cloth- ing, stores, &c,, but several slipped cables and escaped. “Some half-dozen waggon yards, with scores of vehicles of all kinds, were fired, and ‘teamsters added to our list of prisoners, when plans were laid for capturing the afternoon train then due. “As the locomotive was heard approaching, and not sufficient time to tear up any portion of the track, troopers lined the sides of the road, and were ordered to take dead aim at the engineer. _ “Such of our men commenced firing when the engine was fully a hundred yards distant, and as the driver suspected foul play of some kind he turned on steam, rushed past the station, and shoved off several logs placed on the rails, “Many of the passengers, to escape the hailstorm of shot, jumped off the train and were crippled. “Some few ran to the woods, but were picked up by our men, together with many who ran from the station on our first approach. “ All were taken, but the train escaped, although many on it were killed or wounded; the cars being, for the most part, uncovered, or freight trucks, | “The gallant fellow who drove the engine was also killed by an accurate shot, but his bravery and foresight deserved a better fate, “ Continuing our raid inall directions, our parties destroyed property to the amount of several million dollars, but always secured whatever arms, horses, or prisoners, fell in our way, until, wearied with labour, the gallant troopers made for the appointed rendezvous, which was not far from a small village where several main roads joined. “ The first party that arrived found that the place contained several finely furnished sutlers’ stores, and depots-of goods deposited thus far. in the rear of thearmy, to be conveyed up to the front, as circumstances demanded, «-— . “They were, in fact, central or wholesale estab- lishments, to furnish regimental -sutlers, and elegantly stocked with everything necessity might require ; having tasteful bar-rooms attached, in . = <a\~ QE EOS = YOUNG CAPTAIN. 349 which were sold champagne, and all sorts of ex- pensive wines and liquors, _ When a party of our fatigued and dusty men hitched horses and entered, they were so unpre- possessing and unpresentable, that all present rose, including several officers who had trotted to the rear ‘to spend the day’ convivially. “Brandy, gentlemen?’ inquired the fat proprie- tor, urbanely. \ ‘Certainly !’ _And, presenting decanters, our men began to im- bibe freely. \ “* Might IT enquire to what cavalry you belong, gentlemen?’ asked the proprietor, acutely survey- ing our dusty figures from head to foot. ‘“* We?’ answered one, laying violent hands on a box of havannas, and emptying the decanter. ‘ Oh, we are Imperial cavalry, just arrived ; a new regi- ment raised in! Tampico, just returned on a scouting party after the rebel leader, Yankee Sam.’ “Yankee Sam, eh’? You don’t mean to say that he is in our lines, do you? Well, let him come, that’s all, and although I’m not in the army, I’ll show him a thing or two, just’see if I don’t.’ “And as his eye glanced over a fine case of revol- vers exposed for sale, he seemed as valiant as Ajax. “The rest of the company Were ‘dressed too finely to shake hands with our dusty fellows, and smoked and talked apart in dignified reserve. “Hearing the approach ‘of a squadron, our troopers went to) the door, and the landlord prepared bottles and glasses for his éxpected visitors, “«“t Are these some of your party, gentlemen?’ «“( Yes,’ was the reply, ‘and as ’tis no use of fool- ing any more—ice are Yankee Sam’s cavalry !’ ““yvery one present was struck dumb with astonishment, but soon disarmed and made prisoners, being seated on mules and delivered to the rear-guard approaching, ‘As there were four or five larze establishments of this kind in the neighbourhood, our commander paid attention to all, providing them with shoes, clothes, new weapons, and literally ‘ate out’ the establishments, until not a box of sardines or can of oysters or preserves remained on the premises, “ Such a feast our men had not enjoyed for many months. « All took whatever articles were needed, and the rest destroyed. “ Fruits, preserves, sardines, oysters, bread, fine biscuits, crackers, champagne, brandy, whisky, and ale, &c, &c., were all consumed ; but none of our men forgot their perilous situation, and remained sober. ‘Horses were fed, and about midnight, all pre- pared for the start home. “Twas foolish to attempt to return by the same route, so, aS he had entered on the right of Mejia’s lines, Yankee Sam determined to make the grand tour, and make his way out by the left. « The whole army was aroused, and cavalry patrolled:all the roads ;" but none knew the country half so well as Sam, so that he rapidly and quietly pushed forward’ by: unfrequented lanes and paths, and safely arrived on the banks of the San Juan. “No bridges being near, Sam swam his horse across, and all followed save the artillery. “ An old farmer had witnessed the crossing, and showed the way to a broken bridge a little way up stream, COMMIiCMoool CO