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Show TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 29 Having buried their dead the Americans saddled their horses and began the return trip to Santa Fé. Having traveled all day and night, at noon the day following they reached Pecos, where they were met by the father of the youngest of the two ladies, accompanied by a great crowd of Mexicans. The old man was transported almost to frenzy when he saw his daughter. Remaining here during resigned their lives in the preservation of hers. The other expressed herself willing to remain with her, and manifested the same confidence and gratitude. The enraged officer and his men set off on their return to Santa Fé.’’ Davis, W. W. H., in El Gringo, pp. 217-218, does not agree with young Pattie as to the courage of the Mexican of the times. Davis could see but very little commendable in the Mexican and still says: ‘‘I believe the Mexicans have been unjustly accused of cowardice as a race, and denied the attributes of personal courage that belong to every other people. In looking at the source whence they sprung, we see no reason why they should not possess all the physical virtues that belong to the human race. In former times the Spaniard was justly celebrated for his gallantry and courage, for proof of which we need only cite his conquest of a large portion of the two Americas, in which he encountered every hardship that falls to the lot of a soldier. In those days the Spanish infantry was among the best soldiery in the world. The history of the Moorish battlefields establishes the courage of that race beyond a doubt; and the manner in which the American Indians have ever resisted the approach of white settlers settles the question as to them. Hence we find the blood of three brave races uniting in their veins, and Should possess United States the ordinary and Mexico, there amount of courage. the rank and file of is every reason why they In the late war between the the Mexican army, in many Instances, exhibited a bravery that would have done honor to any troops in the world; and upon the frontiers of New Mexico, in their conflicts with the Indians, the peasantry have frequently behaved in the most gallant manner. That which has given appearance in the field of cowardice has been a lack of confidence in their officers, which begat a lack of reliance in themselves. The great body of the population have ever been an oppressed and down-trodden people, and have never received from their superiors that kind of treatment which fosters courage. At home, their manhood has been almost crushed out of them; and when led to the field, they had no interest in the contest, and nothing to fight for. They had been so long taught to believe themselves an inferior race, and destitute of manly attributes, that they came to believe this their condition, and ceased to have confidence in themselves. With American officers to lead them, they will make excellent troops; and they possess a power of endurance under fatigue which excels most other people. _ An evidence both of their patriotism and courage came under my observa- Ze In the month of January, 1855, the governor of the Territory called or a battalion of mounted volunteers to assist the regulars in chastising the Indian tribes who were in hostile array, and in a very few days more com- panies offered their services than could be accepted. They served for a period . Six months; and it is the unanimous testimony of the United States officers Mike on duty with them, that in all the conflicts with the enemy they ex- rie a courage equal to, and power of endurance greater than the troops of co They ee ve the country sent them ng to lose from Indian i oor were order and ever among discipline; the foremost and I am in the fight, and justified in saying were that noted depredations. ’’ for a desire into the field, since the greater part of them had |