Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

THE RECONNOISANCE. 143
them were strolling far down the slope toward the citadel,
which, being situated just outside the northern suburb, was
the only fortification distinctly visible. In the general desire
to see that as yet unseen biped, a Mexican soldier, they had
escaped from the camp, unarmed, and under various pretenses. The conduct of these men must have been no less
surprising to the enemy, who were perhaps prevented from
making a sally by the fear of some stratagem or ambuscade.
In the event of a sudden onset of Lancers, the rash stragglers, defenseless and on foot, would have been slaughtered
to a man."
Of course the Texan brigade was numerously represented
in such an adventurous assembly, but the Rangers, being
mounted on fleet horses, could in any emergency have
retreated safely to the camp. Like boys at play on the first
frail ice with which winter has commenced to bridge their
favorite stream, those fearless horsemen, in a spirit of boastful rivalry, vied with each other in approaching the very
edge of danger. Riding singly and rapidly, they swept
* The thoughtless rashness of these men elicited the following order from headquarters.
Orders Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation.
LNo. 121. s Camp before 1Monterey, September 20, 1853.
The commanding general finds it necessary to condemn the practice which prevails, of small, unarmed parties, and even individuals, straying from the limits of
the camp. No persons, except officers, or armed parties conducted by officers, will
be suffered to pass the exterior guards, and the several commanders will give the
necessary orders to secure an observance of this regulation. An infantry picket
will be thrown out from the 1st division upon the Monterey road, at a distance of
half a mile, whose duty it shall be to arrest all persons who may be found in that
direction violating this order.
By order of Major General TAYLOR,
W. W. S. BLISs,
Assistant Adjutant General.