My Recollections: A Trumpeter's Notes 1852-58
By William Drown, Chief Bugler Second Dragoons.
Albuquerque, N.M.
- The whole town resembles an old, dilapidated brickyard, with streets and lanes laid out with just about as much accuracy. In the steeple of the church hang three old bells, which are rung by pounding on them with stones. There are twenty-four "Grog-shops", some which sell dry-goods also; one watch-maker's shop; ten fandango-rooms; one jail; and about seven or eight hundred inhabitants.
This town is the oldest in New Mexico, and was first settled by the Jesuits about the year 1514, two years before the town of Santa Fe'. It is situated on the Rio Grande and about on a level with it; the wood that supplies the town must be hauled or packed on jackasses the distance of about twenty miles. It is about 75 miles below Santa Fe', and 285 miles above El Paso.
A Soldier's Day's Work - February 1, 1854
I commenced the day this morning by being orderly bugler for the commanding officer, and at half-past eight in the morning attended guard-mounting, and immediately after saddled up and rode two miles, and assisted in digging a grave; returned at half-past twelve, and started again at one with the funeral procession, after which was marched home, dressed myself for evening parade, marched back again to the corral or stable, assisted in flogging a deserter, came home, ate supper, and here I am scratching it down in the old journal. Some people surmise that a soldier's life is a lazy one, but soldiers themselves think otherwise.
Recruits on a Campaign (Cooke's Mescalero Expedition) - April 23, 1854
I must allow that we had a most delightful time of it last night (over the left). About dark it commenced snowing with full vengeance, but we having no tents, our only plan was to spread our blankets and lie down and take it as coolly as possible. A recruit would first run for his overcoat and then the fire; in such a case let everything get wet. But not so with an old campaigner. His first object is to keep his horse-blanket dry, and in fact everything else except his own bed-blanket. When on a march of this kind, we generally take two blankets apiece under our saddles, and our overcoat on the pommel of the saddle, and two men generally sleep together. Our method of making down in such a case as this is to first spread down one of our bed-blankets, with the saddles for a pillow; next spread down the two overcoats, and then two horse-blankets, and then top off with the other bed-blankets, and by this means we have dry blankets to put next the horses' backs the next morning, and the wet ones next the saddle. My bunk-mate and myself turned in immediately as soon as the snow commenced to fall, and tucked in all around, and sang out, "Let it rip!". I fell asleep directly, and woke up about eleven o'clock, and found myself buried to the depth of about a foot, to say nothing of what had melted off. I also found some of my comrades, who were less lucky than myself - that is to say, not as many blankets - had a roaring fire going just at my feet, and I began to feel the snow stealing in upon me, and I concluded to get up and prepare some coffee, which I did, it still snowing all the while; our saddles, which we left out, and in fact everything that was not protected, completely buried in snow, and our horses were nearly frozen to death, and the grass, what little there was of it, completely buried and out of sight; and what was worse, we had no forage for them. I felt worse for poor Boston than I did for myself. We built on some bursting fires, and brought our horses up around them, and made ourselves as contented as possible, sitting in the snow, spinning long yarns and admiring the beautiful prospect before us. After breakfast we moved up to the top of a hill close to us in the cedar bushes, and put up some shelter for ourselves, as good as the bushes would afford, and built fires before them, and took our horses up with us and tied them in the most sheltering places we could find, and left them stand to starve and freeze to suit themselves. The snow continued falling until about five o'clock in the evening, when it stopped for a short time, and we took our horses back in the valley to feed in the snow and find what they could to eat; and we felt around and made out to get something to eat for ourselves the snow lying on the ground at this time to the depth of a little more than a foot on the level; but, the ground being very soft and warm, more than that had probably melted away. We could not have guard-mounting to-day until after four P.M. After our horses were put out, we were ordered to fire off our arms, and try and put them in as good firing order as possible for inspection at retreat. We are endeavoring to pull off bushes enough now to keep us out of the mud to-night, as we do not expect to sleep any; for nearly everything we have is wringing wet. One thing that pleases nearly everybody is that, as long as the snow lasts, our spies, with all their sagacity, can-not follow the trail of the Indians; and if we are able to travel at all to-morrow, I think we will start towards home. Our men are all in good-humor, as when any-thing in the shape of excitement happens, soldiers always are. If we can manage to-morrow to get down this beautiful mountain, we shall be clear of the snow and can get forage for the animals, which will set us all right again. The place where we are encamped is called Arroyo del Carjelos, or Horn Creek.
April 24, 1854 - We left camp this morning about eight o'clock, knee-deep in mud and snow. It snowed all night without cessation, but we were obliged to make a start or stand and see our animals starve to death. All our blankets and packs were soaking wet, which made them very heavy for the mules. Some of the men threw away their things to save the mules, and other piled them on, and the consequence was, the mules died on the road, and thus lost blankets, mules, and all. We had not a very hilly road, as we were all day on top of the mountain. Some of the mules that gave out were loaded with flour and other provisions, which packs were cut loose and the contents left on the ground; the mules, being unable to proceed further, were left to stand and starve or get along the best way they could. I believe there were but three or four horses left, and I do not know how many mules.
Escorting a Bishop - Santa Fe', November 18, 1854 - We have had a splendid turn-out today. We received orders from the Adjutant-General's office yesterday to be in readiness to start to-day at twelve M. on the road to Fort union to meet the Bishop (Lama) who has just arrived from Rome, where he has to report himself in person every three years. We all drew new horse equipments yesterday, and were therby able to make quite an imposing appearance. We started at twelve M., accompanied by all the bigbugs of the city and about 3,000 of the poorer class of Mexicans, who met the Bishop about five miles out of the city, where we were all wheeled into line - the dragoons one side of the road and the citizens another, and the mob most anywhere were they could get a good sight at their "dear Bishop". The dragoons were the first to salute, with presented sabres and flourishing of trumpets. The Bishop halted opposite our centre, and very gracefully returned the salute by taking off his sombrero - which exhibited the dollar-spot on the summit of his cranium - and thanked us for our kindness towards him. He then proceeded on a few yards further, and proceeded to pay his respects to the citizens of the city - about 100 of which were Americans and Europeans - for their uniform kindness and attention. Our company was then desired by him to move in front, and he would be very happy to follow us into the city; and he wished to enter by the road that passed his church, where he presided before leaving the country. We accordingly started off at a full gallop, and the Mexicans crowded in upon the Bishop so close to get a good sight of him that we could not see him at all. He at last sent an express to us, desiring us, if we pleased, not to ride so fast, as he was at least a mile behind us, and the crowd that was so close upon our heels were nothing more than the Mexican people, who had run in between him and us. We then pulled down to a walk, and allowed about fifty ugly faces to pass us. At last we spotted the Bishop again, and made another break. As we neared the city, the whole population was standing in crowds on both sides of the road - men, woman, children, dogs, burros, and in fact every living thing that composes a Mexican family; but they, all being on foot, were no annoyance to us. We proceeded on into the city by the very road we had gone out about an hour before, and then say nothing more than common; but now it was most beautifully ornamented. Arches of beautifully-colored silks, gold crosses, artificial flowers, mirrors, etc., were thrown over the streets in all directions. I noticed that none of the Mexicans dared or did not pass under the arches until the Bishop had passed; but not so with us; we had the honor of being No. 1 and the Bishop No. 2. When we arrived in front of his church, we were again wheeled into line and gave him another salute, after the return of which he dismounted. The officer commanding this place, who belonged to the Third Infantry, offered to take his horse, but was refused by the Bishop when he saw who it was, and handed the horse to a little Mexican who was on his narrow-bones before him. The Lieutenant saw immediately he would much rather one of the dragoons had performed the service, so he told me I had better take him. I of course dismounted and took the horse from the little fellow, which seemed to hurt his feelings very much. I had hard work to keep him after I got him, as there were at least fifty who wished to hold him, among which number, one was a woman. I told them there was no use to talk, as none of them could hold him. (I commenced to feel rather monkish myself.) After the space of about half an hour, the crowd commenced rushing out of the church, and presently the Bishop made his appearance in full robes, which are truly rich and beautiful. Old Boston did not much like his appearance, but his motto is "never back out"; and even his own horse which he was riding began to rear and pitch, but I managed to pacify him until the Bishop got mounted upon his back. He then thanked me very kindly for my assistance, and we all again moved on to the grand church in the Plaza. After wheeling again into line and giving him another salute, he entered the church and remained about another half an hour. He again made his appearance, and we escorted him to his residence, which had been put up here for his reception. His house is two stories high and built American fashion, with a steep shingle roof. It is the only two-story building, and the only one which is roofed with shingles in the city, but stands in a very narrow street - so much so that we were obliged to charge upon the Mexicans in order to enable him to get at his own house. But he soon saved us any trouble; for as soon as he spoke to the Mexicans himself, they broke like quarter-horses, nearly breaking one another's necks to see who should have the honor of getting our of his way first. When we arrived in front of his gate, we were again wheeled into line to give him a farewell salute for this day, which he returned with many bows and thanks, and we were then dismissed. The Bishop is a man of about five feet ten inches high; has a very free, open countenance; is about forty-five years of age; of very prepossessing appearance; speaks English well , and is by birth a Frenchman.
