{ '
tT'Or HMwtoffl# jUa nnr.v.
" liberty and my native soil."
VOL. 4. " ABBEVILLE C. II., S. C., MAY 12, 1847. NO. 11,
Published every Wednesday, by
CHARLES H. ALLEN,
Editor and Proprietor.
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* ma?mm????^
From the Constitutionalist Extra.
Glorious Victory.
6000 Mexicans taken prisoners.
r,on /I m< /.*>//-?//
i WW -CJL//CO/ C UlA/fLO 'ItCrCC/wK/ U//CIV COl/CWiU t'U .
General La Vega again Prisoner.
0^7" By this evening's mail \ve have the
following " ^' 'OUS ?lo\vg \vhic'< WC hngton tr?
- DO ~~
lay before our readers. It appears that the
Palmetto Regiment was not in the battle,
being detained at Vera Cruz.
By the New Orleans boat this morning,
we have uews of another battle, and of course
another brilliant victory. We are indebted
to our friends of the Picayune for the
following brief account furnished at the mo
jnent of the departure of the mail boat:
We have only time to say belore the
mail leaves that Gen. Scott encountered
.Santa Anna on the 18th of April at Cerro
.Gordo, and entirely defeated him. We
have taken five Mcxican generals prisoners
,(and among others La Vega,) and six
thousand soldiers. Santa Anna made litis
escape on a mule.
His army is completely routed, and would
.aii have been taken or destroyed, if we had
had a sufficient force of cavalry.
The loss on both sides has been heavy.
iGen. Shields was severely, and it is feared
?? 11 j._,l r?:ii i
jiiui iau_y wuuiiuuu. vjcij, 1 I1J.UW WUS U.ISO
wounded, but slightly.
Col. Haskell's volunteers,the 1st Artillery
the 6th Infantry, and Captain WMmms'
company of Kentucky volunteers have suffered
most.
Mr. Kendall thinks that 500 will cover
the entire loss, but he had not been able to
obtain even a list of the officers,Uillcd when
Jie sent off his expess.
Santa Anna and Canalizo fled in the
pnost shameful manner before the battle was
lost.
Gen. Scott advances at once upon the
/city of Mexico.
f ! 1 in> ATP 1 I) T*r I V r?T.T i
x iu<ij iviU) r
April 18?4 o'clock, P. M. $
The American arms have achieved another
glorious and most brilliant victory.
Outnumberiug General Scott's force materially,
and occupying positions which looked
impregnable as Gibralter, one after another
of their works have been taken torday,
S five Generals, Colonels enough to command
ten such armies as ours, and other officers
innumerable, have been taken prisoners,
together with 6000 men, and the rest
of the arm}* driven and routed with the loss
of every thing, ammunition, cannon, baggage
tr^-in, all. Nothing but the impossi
bility of finding a road for the dragoons to |
the rear of the enemy's works saved any
part of Santa Anna's grand army, including
his own illustrious person.
Among the prisoners is our old friend La
; Vega, who fought with his acc'^toined gallantry*
The other Generals are Jose Maria
Jareno, Luis Pinson, Manuel Uoriaga, and
v Jpge Obando. The names of the Colonels
aiave not been able to gather. Nothing
d Santa Anna but the want of dragoons
ae other side of their lines. As it is,
ravelling coach, together with all his
- ^v?* 'oiuoures, tvuu even ms VOOOOCH leg,
fallen into our hands, together with all
V" the money of his army. No one anticipated,
when they arose from their hard bivouack
fhis rooming, such a complete victory.
' The loss on both sides has been heavy?
how could it have been otherwise ? The
i jrough rocky road, cut through rugged defiles
&nd dense chapparal by our troops, is now
. Hhed with our wounded. The Rifles, Col.
:? Haskell's Tennessee volunteers, the 1st Artjllery.
the '7th Infantry, and'Captain Wil
i/uiiipimjr ui xveiuucKjr vuiunicers,
t have perhaps suffered most. Gen. Shields
Was severely, and I aiti fearful, mortally
'f ^ rtvpurtded, whilegallantly leading his brig,
^de to storm one of the enemy s farthest
works. Gen. Pillow was also wounded,althoujgh-alightl^,
while storming a fortification
this side commanded hy La Vega.
All the field officers of Col. Haskell's ftegi:
" : >" ' - :
-Wp-g y. ; - ' .
v.
' ' ' ... w"- '% ' , ' "*?<
"' "v.- V^;.; *V; t ,'~'7-'s? : V ' 1
mcnt were wounded at the same time, save
himself. Of the Rifles, Capt. Mason has
lost a leg, Lieutenant Ewall has been badly
wounded, Lieut. McLane slightly. I
have already mentioned the gallant Major
Sumner and other officers wounded yestcrday.
1 have specified some regiments above
| which signalized themselves; it happened to
be their fortune in the dispositon of the bailie,
to (all upon what all good soldiers may
term pleasant places-the most difficult works
to storm?and bravely and without faltering
did they execute the perilous duly assigned
them. At one o'clock this afternoon, Gen.
Tu'iffOS IvllfKP lllficinn l.nn.. 1
_ .. .. v.. ? 1U1UII liuo IIUCII III lilt" 11UIUestof
it, was pursuing the flying em'my to
wards Jnlapa. Pierson, who commanded the
forts nearest Plan del Rio, asked leave of
Gen Worth time to consider before he capitulated.
Desirous to come to terms, Gen.
Worth gave him fifty minutes, and he surrendered
unconditionally! Had he notdone
so, the slaughter would have been terrible.
I write in great haste, and have no time for
particulars. The names of the killed and
wounded I will ascertain as soon as possible.
I think that five hundred will cover our entire
loss. Had it not have been for the positive
cowardice of Santa Anna and Canalizo,
who ran, before the battle?at least in brave
men's hands?was lost, it would have been
r.,? ? "vt -
mi jjiuuiui. i\?j unu, ui present, can estimate
the loss of the ^Mexicans?they are
scattered o# the hills, in the roads, everywhere.
*
What disposition Gen. Scott is to make
of the prisoners is yet unknown. He may
set them all at liberty on their paroles, from
the difficulty of feeding them, and to accelerate
his own advance movements. We
shall hear by to-morrow. I wish he could
send the officers at ieast to the United
States, for there is a fine string of them.
It is now impossible to name officers who
have distinguished themselves. I cannot
however omit lo mention Cols. Harney,
Riley and Childs of the regulars; Cols,
T?^ I n ? I_ 11 r . 1
uunei, jt uiiiiixii uuu nasKen, or me volunteers,
as every one is talking of them.
I write this in great haste>and with noise,
confusion and every thing else around me.
You cannot appreciate the victory. To describe
the ground and fortifications cf the
enemy, the difficulty of turning their outer
works, and the toil and peril undergone by
the troops were impossible.
No time to say another word. I send
this off by an express. It is Gen. Scott's
intention, I know, to push on to-wards the
city of Mexico with all haste. To-morrow
I will write more fully, and send by Gen.
Scott's express. Yours, G. W, K.
The list of killed and wounded officers
in Coionol Haskell's command yesterdny
I have been ablo to obtain. It should there
be stated that Captain William's company
of Kentucky, and Capt. Chas. Naylor's
company of Pensylvania volunteers were
attached temporarily to this regiment.?
Here is the list:?
Killed.? 1st Lieut. Fred. B. Nelson,
commanding company; 2J Limit. C. G.
Gill company E. Both these officers were
from Memphis
Wounded.?Lirut. Col. D. H. Curnming,
slightly; Mnjor Robert Farquharson, (of
the 1st Texas volunteers, assigned to this
regiment for the day) severely ; 1st Lieut.
Wiley P. Hoile adjutants, severely; 1st
Lieut. Wm. Yeardood, mortally ; 2d Lieut.
James Forrest, slightly; Captain A. H.
Murrely severely; 2d Lieut. George T.
Southerland, Kentucky volunteers, severely.
The regiment, which in action, numbered
less than 500 men, and its loss was
79 killed and wounded.
La Vega was in command of the Cerro
Gordo on the first day of the fight, but a
deserter from our dragoon?, a German, going
into their camp at night, and informing
them that the main attack was to be on the
.u-;- i:..~ .v-? ? ? c 1
ui men line?uic wuii\o du uerc^jy
attacked by Gen. Pillow, he changed, places
with Gen. Vasque? The latter as I have
already stated was killed?^La Vega defended
his post until the lines of the enemy
were completely turned. Several Mexican
colonels have been killed, but their names I
have been unable to learn. A brother of
Gen. La Vega, is colonel of artillery was
severely, and as is supposed, mortally
wounded.
Hundreds of cases of individual gallantry,
in storming the different heights, are mentioned
on the first day until he had only
some forty or fifty men with him. It is ajso
said thut Captain Magrqder followed up a |
charge until he hud but nine soldiers left.
I cannot now recollect one-ter)tb part of the
instances of almost reckless daring displayed,
but shall endeavor to pick them up. I
shall also send you one full return of jhe
killed and wounded if I oaq obtain it, bat at
present it is almost impossible to get hold of
anything. The. ^wounded are still along
the roads for iqiles, although tfcey are bringing
tbeiq iq as fast as possible.
The army is to advance towards Mexico
iiqmediaiefy. Gen. Worth's division marched
this morning?Gfcn. Scott is to march
- . V'.' S - ' * .
* ?* :'
at noon. Santa Anna's coach is to be harnessed
up for purpose of carrying on Major
Sumter?better use than it was ever put to
before.
The officers and men of. the Mexican
army?I mean such as are prisoners?are
to be turned loose on their parole not again
to take up arms during the war. Perhaps
it is the best disposition that could bo made
of them, as any other course would delay
Gen. Scott's forward movement. Fifteen
of their officers have refused to sign, but
. u?:_ 1_ -r i
iuvc iin.-11 puiun; ui minor 10 report
themselves without delay to Gen. Wilson at
Vera Cruz, as prisoners of war. Among
these are Gens. La Vega and Jarero, the
latter Governor of Perote during the time
the Texan prisoners were there, and I believe
distinguished for his good treatment
of them. These officers will either be kept
in the Castle of San Juan de Ullua, or else
proceed to the United States.
Gen. Shields is still alive, but it is considered
impossible for him to survive. The
ball went through his lungs as he was leading
his men to storm the farthest work of
the enemy.
# # # # # #
I shall start on for Jalapa this afternoon
and will write by the way every opportunity.
I send some Mexican nanp.rs n?s wlsn
Santa Anna's last proclamation. It is rich.
G. W. Iv.
P. S. I have just learned that there is
some hopes for Gen. Shields. God grant
he may live.
Col. Baker, who charged on the last fort,
los forty-five men in killed and wounded
out of only a portion of his regiment. Lieut.
Cowandin, killed, Lieut. Murphy supposed
to be mortally wounded; Lieut. Johnson
wounded in three places, and thigh amputated
: Lieuts. Scott, Freman and Maliby,
wounded. G. W. K.
Montezuma's Treasure.
The following thrilling legend by the
late M. C. Field, we publish, hoping it may
assist the reader in ' murdering time" and
contribute to his or her amusement:?
j-iiKe tne aDoae* or like the spirit itseir of
some fabled genii enchanted among the
rocky hills, appears that enormous black
pile known as the mountain of Toas. A
perpetual gloom hangs round it through
day and night, and even when the sun is
brightest it assumes no livelier appearance,
but seems ever to be enveloped in shadows.
When a storm gathers, the lofty peak of this
mountain is soon hidden, and the heavyladen
clouds roll down its summit. The
voice of the storm seems to rumble within
its breast, the inhabitants of the valley peep
from their dwellings at the black mountain,
with fear, curiosity and wonder. From
the valley the snow upon this mountain is
not only visible in the Winter time ; in the
iyi i/l/l I a r\ r A ? ^ *
MIIUIIII, ui nu^uci, wncii ciuoailiy <1 lew
miles distant, amongst its most Northern
cliffs and crags' we saw the snow, glittering
like molten silver beneath the beams of the
mid-day sun. The appeaiance of this? truly
gigantic bl ?ck pile is eminently calculated
to rivet attention and excite wonder, and
therefore it is not surprising that the super
stition concerning it should exist among
the simple-minded people of the valley.?
Many, very many years ago, it is said the
loJty summit was accessible, but all
who achieved the ascent became lunatics,
and ci.uld never tell what they had seen.
This fact spread great alarm among the
people, and the opinion was soon prevalent
that the black mountain was the place
chosen by Montezuma, for his re-appearance.
. After this no more attempts were
made to scale the summit, which was now
held to be a sacred spot, until a wealthy
young Spaniard in the city of Mexico laugh'
ed at the popular snperstition, and declared
that he dared to rn;?ke the ascent of the sacred
mountain. He was carousing when
the boast was made, and one of his compa*
nions proposed him a princely wager upon
the adventure, which was accepted, and a
few days after, in spite of the warnings of
priest, the prayers of his relative, the entreaties
of his friends, and the earnest per-I
suasions of the young men with whom he
had laid the wager, and who now offered to
relinquish it, the resolute adventurer bade
good-bye lo all and started for Santa Fe.
He travelled to Chihuahua, crossed the
prairies and sand-plains that lay "between it
and Santa Fe, and arrived at the base of the
black mountain in Toas. He told the in*
habitants what he meant to do; and here,
agaip he was entreated and warned, but in
vain. After resting a few (Jays he comrrienced
the ascent followed by a crowd of
the most daring spirits of the valley, The
extreme summit of the mountain wa* reach
ed by cfiiqbing a splintered,crag, and pro
peeked for some distance along the edge of
fl dangerous cleft, which was always filled
with snow, and known to be very deep, as
a man once fell into it, and his body never
was seen again ;??H(ere (lie people paused,
and the youn? Spaniard laughingly proceeded
tp climb the fearful and difficult
ascent. With undaunted resolution and
iron nerves he toiled op the splintered pin
V V' '0$.
nacle, reached the narrow ledge, and with
his small axe, working holes in the ice to
cling to, he disappeared, slowly, on his
hands and knees, over the high summit of
the mountain. He had been gone but n
few minutes, when he returned to the sight
of the people, and called to them to ascend,
for he had discovered n wonder to the astonished
world?a magnificent cavern through
which ran inexhaustible veins of gold, and
light as the blaze of day with the precious
stones ; the whole interior of the mountain,
he declared, was one immense cavern;
down from the entrances ran winding galleries
of easy decent, leading to various apartments.
He entreated some one to follow
him up, and confirm his story; for, when
he returned, no one would believe his words.
He had hardly finished his announcement,
when a whirl-wind came shrieking around
the mountain peak, an 1 the young man was
seen to fall upon his face, and cling lo the
edge of the rock, to preserve himself from being
blown over the precipice. The terrified
people called upon him to descend instantly:
but the sky darkened, and a thunder-bolt
suddenly struck the pinnacle by which he
had ascpndfirl. which fir* II with n frirrl-iifnl
, -roar
into the deep cleft and His retreat was
cut ofT forever ! Filled with consternation
and terror, the people fled down the mountain-side,
abandoning- the wretched victim
to his fate, and shutting their ears against
his screams for assistance. From rock to
rock, and down the deep ravines?along
brinks beneath which headlong torrer?ts
roared?over chasms crossed by fallen tree6
?struggling through thickets of brush and
shrubbery,and sometimes treadingthe water
courses of the mountain, awe-stricken the
people hurried, until, when night had closed
over peak and plain,they reached the valley.
The reckless young Spaniard was never
heard of more ; and this is the legend told
and believed by the simple people of the
valley of the black mountain of Taos, and ,
the lar-famed, mysterious and appalling
cavern of Montezuma's treasure.
Hindoo Fable.?There is a fable., among J
the Hindoos, that a thief, having been detected
and condemned to die, bought upon
an expedient by which he might be rescued
from death. He sent for the jailer, and
toidhim he had a secret to disclose to the
king' and when he had done so he would be
ready to die. The king sent for him to
know what thfi sprrpt was T-Tn tnlil him
he knew the art of producing trees that
should boar gold. The king,accompanied
by his prime minister, courtiers, and priests,
with the thief, came to a certain spot, where
they began their incanta ions. The thief \
then produced a piece of gold, declaring J
that if sown it would produce a tree, every
branch of which should bear gold : "but," ^
added he, " this must be put into the ground
by a person perfectly honest. I am not so, 1
and therefore pass it to your majesty."? I
The king replied, ' when I was a boy, I ''
remember takingsomething from my father, '
which, although a trifle, prevents my being 1
nrnnur nnrenn f n:iss it thf>.rr?fnrp In '
v.... _ 1
my prime minister." The latter said,li I I
receive the taxes of the people, and, as I am
exposed to many temptations, how is it possi- 5
hie for me to be perfectly honest ? There- 1
fore. I pass it to the priest." The priest .j
pleaded the same as to his conduct in re- ]
reiving the sacrifices. At length the thief 1
exclaimed u 1 know not why you should I
not all four of you be hanged, since not one |
of us is honest." The king was so pleased '
with the thief's ingenuity, that he pardoned 1
him. !
i
"Lo! the Poor Indian!"?The Delta ?
says:?A family of Choctaw Indians, whose '
ancestors have lived immemornbly in our '
vicinity, says a Baton Rogue paper, 3rd ult, 1
and who, from a more powerful body, have ''
now dwindled down to some half-a-dozen
degraded beings, engaged themselves last '
weelc in the solemn office of capital punish- 1
ment. It had been long known that one
of the family,'in a drunken brawl, Killed 1
another, and that punishment must follow,
but the murderer and the friends of the
murdered, have for months visited and encamped
together upon equal terms, appa- '
rently enjoying the most perfect"social intPrf?nitr?A
D n Rnlnrrlnir Inct tho nnnr
wretches, covered with rags, and scarcely
provided with food to keep their souls ond
bodies together, camped in a beautiful piece
of woods near our town, and commenced
the solemn ceremonials for a funeral, the
victim taking part in them. Towards night-,
fall the preparations were finished, and the
poor Indian exposed his naked breast?a
load of buck-shot fired by his nearest relative,
pierced his heart, and be fell a corpse.
Nearly three days were consumed in weep-:;
ingover his grave, and then the reiributm^
of justice wended their way off tovto6/ i
swamps. ,
i." i . '"is
From Napoleon and his. Marshals*
break the enemy's ranks, and rode again to
the advanced posts to direct the movements
of his army, ono of his escort was stiuck
dead by liis side. Turning to Duroc, he
said, " Duroc, fato is determined to have one
of us this day." Soon after as he was ri*;
ding with his suit in a rapid trot along the
road, a cannon ball smote a tree beside him,
and glancing,struck General Kirgenerdead,
and tore out the entrals of Duroc. Napoleon
was ahead at the time, and his suite,
four . Veast, behind him. The cloud of
dust rapid movement raised around
them, t ted him from knowing at first
who \v ick. But when it was told him
that K, bciier was killed and Duroc woun
tied, he dismounted, and gazed long and
sternly on the battery flrom which the shot
had been fired ; then turned towards the cottage
into which the wounded Marshal had
been carried.
Duroc was Grand Marshal of the Palace,
and a bosom friend of .the Emperor. Of a
noble and generous character, of unshaken
integrity and patriotism, and firm as steel in
the hour of danger, he was beloved by all
who knew him. There was a gentleness
about him and a purity of feeling, the life
of a camp could never destroy. Napoleon
loved him?for through all the changes of
his tumultuous life he had ever found his af
fectlon and the same?and it was with anxious
heart and sad countenance he entered
the lowly cottage where he lay. His eyes
were filled with tears, as he asked if there
was hope. When told there was none, he
advanced to the bedside without saying a
word. The dying marshal seized him by
the hand and said, " my whole life has been
consecrated to your service, and now my only
regret is, that I can no longer be useful to
you." Duroc !" replied Napoleon, with a
voice choked wiih grief, {< there is another
life?there you will await vie, and we shall
7n el again." " Yes, sir," replied the fainting
sufferer, "but thirty years shall first
pass away, when you will have trimuphed
over your enemies, and realized all tho
hopes of our country. I have endeavored
to be an honest man ; I have nothing with
which to reproach myself." He then added,
with faltering voice, " Jhave a daughter;??
your Majesty will be a father to her." Na.
poleon grasped his right hand, and sitting
down beside, and leaning his head on his
left hand; remained with closed eyes, a
quarter of an hour, in profound silence. Du
roc hrst spoke. Seeing how deeply tfonaparte
was moved, he exclaimed, " -Ah /
sire, leave m? ; this sppctaclr. pains you /"
The stricken Emperor rose, and leaning on
the arms of his equerry and Marshal Soult,
Ijft the apartment, saying in heart-breaking
tones, as he went, 11 Farewell, then, my
fririul!"
The hot pursuit he had directed a moment
before was forgotten?victory,trophies,
prisoners and all, sunk into worthlessuess,
md, as at the battle of Aspern, when Lan.
nes was brought to him mortally wounded,
10 forgot even his army, and the great interest
at stake. He ordered his tent to bo
pucnca near u*o coitage in which his friend
ivas dying, and, entering it< passed the night
ill alone in inconsolable grief. The imperial
Guard formed their protecting squares,
is usual, around him, and the firce tumult of
battle gave way to one of the most touching
scenes in history. Twilight was deepening
over the field, and the heavy tread of
the ranks going on to their bivouacs, the
low rumbling of artillery wagons in the dis*
tance, and all the subdued, yet contused '
sounds of a mighty host about sinking to
repose, rose on the evening air, imparting
still greater solemnity to the hour. Napo?
leon, with his grey great coat wrapped
[ibout him, his elbows on his knees, and his
forehead resting on his hands, sat apart from
all, burned in tup proioundest melancholy,
His most intimate friends dare not approach
liim, and his favorite officers stood in groups
at a distance, gazing anxiously and sadly on
that silent tent. But immense consequences
were hanging on the movements of tho
next morning-?a powerful enemy was near, '
with their array yet unbroken~rrand they t*.t
length ventured to approach and ask for on
ders. But tho brokenhearted chieftain only
shook his head? exclaiming, Every thing'
timdp.
sv!#r ?x
9&M