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The Rangers at Monterey.

that he did not know whether he had buck or ball in, as he drew up his musket, but that he had better kill them both, than to miss the Mexican, fired and saved the Ranger! Fielding Alston, and J. F. Minter, also of our company, while fighting gallantly received two lance wounds. Young Musson of New Orleans, who had joined our corps, was engaged at the same time, with a captain of cavalry, hand to hand in a sword fight, and at one time became very nearly overpowered; when asked why he did not shoot his foe, replied, with true southern chivalry, that "the Mexican had no pistol, and it would have been taking an advantage over him!" As another of our men was being overcome by a Mexican, the gallant Captain Cheshire, a private in the Rangers, dashed up to his rescue, and having no fire, seized a holster pistol, and with the butt end of it, felled the Mexican to the ground.

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CAPTAIN SAMUEL H. WALKER.

APTAIN WALKER entered the American service with a reputation early established by his services in the cause of the gallant state of Texas. A native of Maryland, he left his residence in Washington city to serve in the Creek

war, after which he passed a campaign against the Indians in Florida, and was for awhile superintendent of a railroad. In 1842 he emigrated to Texas and served in her operations against Mexico with honour. He was one of Colonel Fisher's company of three hundred men in the famous Mier expedition. He was captured while on a scout before the Texan army reached that place, and after his comrades were defeated, they were all marched together to Matamoras, thence to Perote castle, on their way to the capital. As they proceeded, their

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Escapes from Ferote.

treatment became daily more and more cruel, and at Salado they determined to revolt and escape. Headed by Walker and Cameron, a Scotchman, each of whom seized and overpowered one of the sentinels, at the inner door of the prison yard, they rushed into the outer court where a hundred and fifty Mexican infantry were guarding the arms and cartridge boxes. These were soon driven out, and the Texans armed themselves while the Mexican cavalry and infantry formed at the gate. The brave band of prisoners charged through them, killing ten, wounding more of them, losing ten of their own men, five killed and five wounded. They escaped but lost their way, became involved in the mountains by false information, starved almost to death, and were finally recaptured. They were taken to Salado, where Santa Anna ordered every tenth man to be shot. Among those thus murdered was the gallant Scotchman, Cameron. Walker afterwards made his escape from Tacubaya, Santa Anna's residence, and after suffering hardships enough to have killed almost any one else, he arrived safe at New Orleans. In one month he returned to Texas, and served in Hays's command, until General Taylor went to the Rio Grande, when he went thither to offer the services of Captain Gillespie's company in which he was a private. He found there some thirty of the old Rangers who had followed the army from Corpus Christi, in hopes to see a little 'fun,' and they urged him to form a company. General Taylor gave him permission to do so, after the murder of Colonel Cross, and the company of Texas Rangers was speedily organized. The services of this brave band are too well known and appreciated to require recounting here. There are

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