The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

362 THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. Juarez blames Escobedo extravagantly for allowing himself to be driven to any such necessity. “T doubt this report. “ We had:scarcely arrived at Monterey ere it was known that fleets were approaching, to unite in silencing the batteries at Bagdad—the only town on the river which blockaded navigation to the enemy —and as it was thought a land force would co- operate with the gunboats, our brigade was sent to assist in its defence. ‘‘T was appointed to command the post, and did everything in my power to place the Bagdad a good posture for defence. ‘Bagdad is situated on the south bank of the river, and did good service as a depot during the war, being the only safe crossing upon the river. “ Thousands of men, supplies, and materials were continually passing to and fro. ‘‘Much of our provisions, &c., for the armies jn the east and west being derived from Texas and other parts. “So that, could the enemy silence our batteries and seize that town, all the agricultural products of the north and west would pass down to them un- molested to the Gulf. “Tt would give them free access to the whole river front, supply them abundantly with all things, and, having us fairly on the flanks, they could operate with impunity upon numberless points, divide our forces, and subjugate us piecemeal, “The north bank of the river, for several miles above Bagdad, gradually rises higher than the com- mon level. ‘“So that immediately aboye Bagdad there are high bluffs, which command the riyer, north and south, cover the town, and can sweep the peninsula across the stream, formed as it is by windings of the river, and which is much lower land than the east side, and subject to overflows. “The Rio Grande, above Bagdad, runs north to south, and suddenly bends. “So that the point of this peninsula came imme- diately under our guns at the bluffs, and few boats could pass or repass without receiving damage, since the stream at that point was not one half mile across, and the usual channel immediately under our batteries. ‘As will be seen at a glance, Bagdad was an all- important point to the enemy, who, aside from military ends, desired free navigation for their com- merce. “It was a vital position to us for the same rea- sons, independent of the fact that its occupation would throw that country into the hands of the enemy, and cut us off from regular and large re- ceipts of stores. “As the enemy had swept everything before them on the river, except at Bagdad, it was con- sidered we could make but feeble resistance, as the country around was nought but a district, short of agricultural supplies, and connected with the in- terior and main army at Monterey by a single road much overworked and unsound, “When June advanced, and rivers began to rise, _ the smoke of numerous boats below the city, _ reconnoitring, was daily observed to be slowly ap- _ proaching, “Our foundries and other shops were busy night and day, ‘Timber was hewn on every side for breastworks, magazines, and hospitals, “ Within a few days, formidable breastworks, earthworks, and rifle-pits were dug on eyery hand, and the river bank lined with marksmen to sweep the decks, should an enemy appear, a eee “The streets running parallel with, and at right angles to, the stream, were cleared of all combustible material, and orders given for women and children to leave immediately. ‘Women, for the most part, refused to go, and many dug holes in the ground, made them bomb- proof and comfortable, so that, if forced by the boats, they could seek refuce therein. ‘‘The whole town was burning with patriotism, and the women were more fierce, if possible, than the men. “ Everything was prepared for a bombardment. ‘‘Yet business progressed as of old, to some extent. ‘There was nothing of that flurry and excite- ment visible among the people which thoughts of a cannonade might naturally create. ‘‘ Batteries on the bluff were manned night and day, but so concealed it was impossible to discover the position or number of pieces. * In truth, we had not more than twenty guns and the artillerists perfect novices. “They were eager for the ‘fun,’ however, and ably supported by some splendid troops, who would ‘rather fight than eat.’ “The women seemed to have changed their feminine natures, ‘‘They wished every building crushed to powder rather than give up. * And if any of the French soldiery could have seen them, young and old, arming for the worst, and bent on mischief, it would not have given them pleasing ideas of the warm reception prepared for an Imperial landing, “ Everything ingenuity could devise was resorted to by dames to facilitate military preparations, ‘Expense, loss, fatigue, -and danger were despised, ** All were in rivalry to make sacrifices for the common cause, and even stripped sheets and blankets from beds for the use of the sick. More than this. **Tt was announced the commandant of the town needed flannel for ammunition, and none could be obtained, ‘In less than an hour several hundred flannel petticoats were sent to him, with compiiments of the late wearers. ‘‘ While on picket duty one morning at the river bank, south of the town, a gunboat was seen coming up round the bend, with a white flag flying, and much speculation ensued as to the cause, ‘A boat soon landed at the wharf, and commu- nicated with the commandant, asking for the surrender of Bagdad, in the name of Maximilian, “The answer was instant— ‘‘¢ We never surrender !’ “The gunboat departed. ‘All now knew what was in store, and began cleaning arms, preparing for the combined attack of both fleets, which none could doubt would attempt to unite and destroy us, | " ‘The following day, from bluffs above town and on high grounds, a few miles from Bagdad, we could plainly see the fleet of gunboats and trans- ports steaming towards us, and at evening saw smoke ascending from ther funnels, while anchoring west of the peninsula before described, ‘From the character of the river’s winding, this peninsula faces—or, as. the sailors would gay, ‘lies broadside to’— Bagdad, being about one half-mile across, ‘So that were it not for woods a vessel would be in sight for twenty miles. or more ere rounding the point and passing under the bluffs, GEomichsoo S (E@)