Monterey.
Monterey.

                        LEGITIMATE BARBARITIES OF THE WAR.                 127

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    Monterey. The attack on this place had the character of a battle, a siege, and an assault, and combined the horrors of all. Let us call the witnesses, remembering that they are war-men, and observing that their stories have internal marks of genuineness and authenticity.
    Young Wynkoop, of Zanesville, Ohio, writes, "During the fight of the second day, a flag of cessation was sent to the Mexicans, requesting a few hours to bury the dead which were strewed in frightful piles over the field. This was refused, and the wounded and dead lay where they fell, beneath the rays of a scorching sun till the battle was ended. It was then almost impossible for our men to endure the

128                  LEGITIMATE BARBARITIES OF THE WAR.

stench, while they heaped dirt over the poor fellows where they lay. The bodies of the dead were as black as coals. Many of them were stripped of their clothing by the Mexicans during the night. Several of those who were wounded during the first day's fight, crawled into ditches and holes to avoid the balls which were rolling like hail-stones over the field, whence, exhausted by the loss of blood, they were unable to crawl, or give signs of distress. As a consequence, many perished, though some who were found in this condition were removed, and are recovering.
    "I am satisfied with glory, if it is to be obtained only by butchering my fellow-men; and I wish some of our valorous friends at the North could see a little more of the realities of war, and they would not be so anxious to rush into one on every trivial occasion. It makes me sick now, when I think of the scenes I witnessed. They were perfectly horrid. On the night of the 23d, as our shells exploded in the city, they were followed by the most terrific cries, perhaps from women and children, which did not cease till morning. Thank God! I only threw two shells that night, on account of being told the Texans were on the roofs of the houses immediately in my line of fire, and as I was about to open in the morning upon the principal plaza, which was filled with four thousand troops, I was stopped by the appearance of a flag of truce, and the result was the capitulation of the city, and a suspension of arms for two months, which I hope may terminate in a general peace, and that we may be permitted again to see our families."
    But what heart, though it be of stone, is not pierced and thrilled with the following tragedy of real life! To think that an humble, disinterested heroine like this woman should perish in her work of humanity! Hers was the true glory. The warrior's fame is a sham and a cheat. She shall live in the eternal memory of history. We may say, without irreverence, of her, as was said of the woman of the new Tes-

                        LEGITIMATE BARBARITIES OF THE WAR.                 129

tament, that wheresoever this battle shall be spoken of "in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done be told for a memorial of her."
    The following is an extract of a letter addressed to the "Louisville Courier," dated Monterey, Oct. 17, 1847:--"While I was stationed with our left wing in one of the forts, on the evening of the 21st., I saw a Mexican woman busily engaged in carrying bread and water to the wounded men of both armies. I saw the ministering angel raise the head of a wounded man, give him water and food, and then bind up his ghastly wound with a handkerchief she took from her own head. After having exhausted her supplies, she went back to her house to get more bread and water for others. As she was returning on her mission of mercy, to comfort other wounded persons, I heard the report of a gun, and saw the poor innocent creature fall dead! I think it was an accidental shot that struck her. I would not be willing to believe otherwise. It made me sick at heart, and, turning from the scene, I involuntarily raised my eyes toward heaven, and thought, Great God! is this war? Passing the spot the next day, I saw her body still lying there, with the bread by her side, and the broken gourd, with a few drops of water still in it,--the emblems of her errand. We buried her, and while we were digging her grave, cannon balls flew around us like hail."

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Source:

Livermore, Abiel Abbot, "Monterey," The War with Mexico Reviewed, Boston, American Peace Society, 1850, pp. 127-129.


Notes:

    A part of this story was excerpted in an article that appeared in the New-York Daily Tribune, dated Tuesday, 8 December, 1846. It can be found elsewhere under the title of Horrors of Monterey.

    "Young Wynkoop, of Zanesville, Ohio" mentioned in the first part of the article above, is Private James M. Wynkoop of the 1st Regiment Ohio Volunteers and later the editor of a book entitled Anecdotes and Incidents: Comprising Daring Exploits, Personal and Amusing Adventures of the Officers and Privates of the Army, and Thrilling Incidents of the Mexican War, Pittsburgh, 1848.

    Richard Wynkoop, in the 1904 edition of the Wynkoop Genealogy in the United States of America, has this to say about him on pages 136-137:

    667. Gerardus Wynkoop, (Matthew 373, Gerardus 153, Gerrit 45, Gerret 5, Cornelius 1:) died in July, 1860, in Zanesville, Ohio: married Nancy Farrell, of Hagerstown, Md., who died in 1868, in Zanesville.
    Children of Gerardus and Nancy Wynkoop:
1119. Mary Anne. She died in infancy.
1120. James M.: d. in 1868, in Zanesville. He lived in the South, and served in the Rebel army, and was in the engagements at Pensacola and Pittsburg Landing; and, at Murfreesboro, he was taken prisoner.
    He had been a member of the 1st Reg. Ohio Vol., in the war against Mexico.
1121. John B.: d. in his 18th year, in Raymond, Miss. He was for a short time, editor of the Zanesville Aurora, and he contributed leading articles to the Louisville Courier, and essays and poems, to several other journals.
1122. Matthew Bennett: b. Feb. 16, 1830: m. Susie V. Hanlin.
1123. Gerardus. He died in infancy.
1124. William N. He also died in infancy.
1125. Henry W.: b. Dec. 31, 1837: m. Mary C. Wilson.

    All my best,

    Chris.

Created November 20, 2006; Revised November 20, 2006
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