Charles S. Taylor Letter, August 10, 1861

              Fort Bliss  August the 10th 1861
Dear Pa
I have just got back off of a long Scout.  We started from here the night of the 23 for fort fillmore we march all night and the next day ontel (sic) 10 o'clock and stay up ontil (sic) night and started again and we got withen (sic) six hundred yards of the fort about 12 o'clock placed out our picket and was waiting ontill (sic) next morning at day break to storm the fort by surprise our plan would have been a complete success but one of our pickets deserted and went up to the fort and gave the alarm and in a few minutes the fort was alive we moved down the river then about a half mile and stoped (sic) ontil (sic) 10 o'clock and then marched across the river to Santa Tomas two companys (sic) said sign of US. troops had been stationed there but the birds had flown in great hast (sic) leaving behind gold watches pistoles (sic) amunition (sic) cloathing (sic) provisions in fact everything a man could mention and we took nine prisoners and after being sworn not to fight against the South was discharged.
            We then went to Mesilia there we heard that Capt Lain had just left the day before with two companys (sic) we started on after them and got out about two miles from town and stoped (sic) to get dinner when the news came that the enemy was crossing the river we went back to Mesilia and waited for them about 4 o clock they come in sight