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

232 MURDER OF FATHER REY.
enactment of the lex talioenis, under which the innocent probably suffered equally with the guilty. These scandalous
affairs seem to be inseparable from war, and are to be universally deplored and condemned. But considering the hacts,
that no contributions were levied upon the natives, and that
many sacrifices were made to secure their confidence and
good-will, it is not strange that these bloody deeds should
have irritated to retaliation. Indeed, it may be considered
somewhat remarkable, in view of the relative position and
character of the two races, that these unfortunate occurrences
were not more frequent. Though the ears of General Taylor, ever open to the complaints of the people, were often
assailed with accusations of the volunteers, yet I can recall
but one outrage of that foul dye, which was not provoked by
similar conduct on the part of Mexicans. To the lasting
honor of my own regiment be it recorded, that while several
of its number were treacherously murdered, it never sought
fcr blood save upon the battle-field.
The assassination of the learned and pious Father Rey,
which occurred about this time, illustrates the indiscriminate
and implacable hatred of our enemies. One of the soldiers
of the 1st Ohio regiment, who, at the request of the worthy
priest, had been relieved from military duty for temporary
service with him, was killed at the same time. Of course,
the heathen who could thus " give the flesh of a saint to the
beasts of the field," would have no mercy for a layman.
The murderers, perpetrating the deed in the face of open day,
and on the high road, certainly knew the holy calling of
their principal victim; but to be an American was a crime