The Abbeville banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, May 12, 1847, Image 2
at a distance, stood the squares of the Old
Guard, and nearer by, a silent group of
chieftains,and over all lay the moonlight
Those brave soldiers, filltuJ with grief to
sec their beloved chief borne down with
such sorrow, stood for a long time silent
and tearful. At length, to break the mournful
silence, and to express the sympathy
they might not speak, the bands struck up
a requiem for the dying marshal. The
mnlflnclliili' ctrnine n f..ll ? ?
AIIVIMMWW.J MIUCU UIIU 1CII 111 JIIU- |
longed echocs over the field, and swept in i
softened cadences on the car of the (aiming :
warrior?but still Napoleon moved not.? |
They then changed the measure to a tri- |
umphnnt strain, and the thrilling trumpets
"breathed forth their most joyful notes, till j
the heavens rung with the melody. Such]
bursts of music had welcomed Napoleon as j
lie returned flushed with victory, till his eye I
kindled in exultation ; but now they fell
on a dull and listless ear. It ceased, and :
again the mournful requiem filled all the j
air. But nothing could arouse him from
liis agonizing reflections?his friend lay ;
dying, and the heart lie loved more than his j
life was throbbing its last pulsations.
What a theme for a painter, and what j
a eulogy on Napoleon was that scene.?
That noble heart which the enmity of the j
world could not shake?nor the terrors of a j
battle-field move from its calm repose?nor :
even the hatred and insults of his, at last, '
victorious enemies humble; here sunk in .
the moment of victory before the tide of \
affection. What military chieftain ever !
mourned that on the field of victory, and !
what soldiers ever loved a leader so? j
The next morning, a little after sunrise,
Duroc died. When the mournful news
was brought to Napoleon, he did not utter
a word, but put into the hands of Berthier a
paper, directing a monument to be raised
on the spot where he fell, with this inscription:
' Here the general Duroc, Duke of
Friuli, Grand Marshal of the palace of the !
Emperor Napolean, gloriously fell, and died j
in the arms of the Empeior his friend."?j
He left two hundred napoleons in the hands j
of the owner of the house and the clergy- i
man of the parish, to defray the expenses- i
But the monument was never erected, for !
after the defeats which soon followed, the
allies, with a meanness unparalleled in the
history of civilized warfare, claimed this
money as a part of the spoils of war. For
the paltry sum of eight hundred dollars
they could prevent a monument from being j
raised to geniusand true worth, and insult
a noble heart by denying it this last tribute
of affection to a dear friend. What a contrast
does this present to the conduct of
Marshal Soult at Corunna, who ordered a
monument to be reared to Sir John Moore
on the spot where he fell. Napoleon was
as much above his enemies in magnanimity
as he was in genius.
I
From the New Orleans Delta.
From Monterey.
General Taylor?Station of Troops?Assrtssillation
of 24 Mexicans?Endeavors to
ascertain the Guilty?General Taylors
determination to have them Hung? Urred's
attack on our Tram?Massacre of Team- j
sters?Inhumanity of the M e x ican s? I
Movement of troops, |
Monterey, April 4.?Editors Delta:?
Since the arrival of General Taylor here,
all has remained quiet. For four weeks
prior we had at least one stampede in every
24 hours. All the troops and everything
of value were removed into the Citidel
Fort, strong picket guards constantly posted,
and the Fort put in a complete state ol defence.
There seems to be something in
the presence of the old hero which inspires
every cne with the belief that no harm can
come where he is about. With May's
squad of dragoons, and the 1st Mississippi
Regiment, he has encamped on his old
ground at Walnut Springs, apparently in
as much security as when hi3 whole army
was with him. The first Ohio"*- Regiment
is at the Citadel Fort, and the first Kentucky
in the town. The citizens are returning to
their dwellings, and the market, which has
been a long time deserted, affords quite a
variety of Mexican edibles.
Tlire'e days ago the Alcalde and Priest
of a small town some 20 miles distant, on
the road to China, came in and reported to
Gen. Taylor the murder of 24 Mexicans, at
Gualopa, a small ranch about six miles
from Ramus. The murder was committed,
thoy say, by a party of American numv
bering about 20, and was done in the night.
? j ^ - '
. jl jitj uiutucicu iiicn were nrsi maoe priso
'iiners, tied! and afterwards all shot through
their heads. The murder is said to have
>^;been committed on the 28th ult. On that
Mft^EjtVirain of loaded wagons, escorted by
rind about the same n um^
Suspicion resti upon some part of this corps,
though' f^o clu^ has as yet been found to
^disCOV^ip^flA crtll! Mr"' 'T'Vio nfflooro in
j; | ft , , V"
rigid disciplinarians
y;:~-are using every; means ja their power to
manv w?ffdn^/ miArfafti-Pf! nn th? ooA nf
| that they wore engaged in the Qualopa
I murder.
I passed over the place of the massacre
of the 22d February a few days airo. and
the scene is truly the most horrid and revolting
that I have ever witnessed. The
remains of the murdered men, yet unburied,
stripped of every particle of clothing, lay
upon the plains, their fl.'sh devoured by
Mexicans wolves and buzzards, and their
bones bleaching in the sun. The train
was a very large and valuable one, and
stretched out from three to lour miles in
length. The attack was made upon the
cscort, who were in the advance, by a large
body ol Lancers. The cscort, 40 men, tinder,Lieut.
Barbour ol the Kentucky Legion,
wore all taken prisoners, and are now in
possession of Urrea. The Lancers charged
down the train, and lanced without mercy
the wagoners as they ran for their lives to
me cnapiirai. more than tlinie-tourths ol
them, it is thought, wore killed?and their
bodies shockingly mutilated and disfigured.
Those who passed the scene a few days after,
say that some had their hearts cut out
and suspended upon the bushes, or thurst
into iheir mouths ; the eyes of others were
dug from their sockets, and inserted in
wounds made in other parts of their bodies;
and other mutilations were performed that
would make even a North American savnge
blush to look at. Yet these acts were committed
by Urrea's men?the regular soldiers
of the Mexican Army!
Urrea by last accounts, was at Linares,
uxpecung reiniorcemenis. it is rumored,
that he had four pieces of artillery with him
j Marin, Ceralvo, Mier and China, will all
j soon be garrisoned by our troops, which will
I render our communication with Camargo
i entirely sale. The troops here are in ex!
cellent health and condition.
The Kentucky Legion leave on Monday
I for Carmargo, as an escort to a train ?
! These troops have but six weeks to serve,
and as it is Gen. Taylor's intention, I hear,
to discharge them at New Orleans, I pre
sume tney will not return again. The
Ohio troops hive about eight weeks to serve
?their turn will probably come next. The
number of regiments whose year will expire
in May or June, now in Gen Taylor's
column is thirteen. How their places are
to be filled L cannot devise?perhaps you
can inform us.
We are looking with great anxiety for
news from General Scott. Nothing of in;
terest from Saltillo or Agua Nueva. The
! surgeons report our wounded doing remarkI
ably well. Of the whole number wounded
! in the 1st Mississinm Reprimnnt. nnlv nno
rr # o 3 J
amputation was required. The wounds,
generally, are from musket balls, and of
course slighly compared to those made by
cannon, grape and canister at the battle
fought here. The position of our troops at
the battle of Buena Vista rendered the artillery
of the enemy almost entirely ineffectual
; not more than eight of our men were
injured by cannon shot.
The Battle of Cerro Gordo?Further Details.
In an extra of the Vera Cruz ' American
Eagle" is published some details relative to
the great bat.le o( Cerro Gordo which will
be found interesting.
The positions occupied by the enemy
were as strong as nature, combined with
art, could make them, and could you but
see them whilst reading these lines, you
would wonder at their surrender. The
Cerro Gordo, the most prominent of the defences,
commands the Julapa road for two
or three miles, and a heavy battery here,
in the hands of skilful men, would keep an
army in check for many a day, if not entirely
its passage. The importance of this
point was soon made apparent to all, and
last night, about twelve o'clock, a piece of
cannon was hauled upon a neighboring
eminence, which, after sending sundry shot
upon the enemy, was found of little avail;
and in the morning the Cerro Gordo was
stormed and carried?not. however, before
the commander-in-chiel of the Mexicans had
secured himself a safe retreat, by falling
back, with his body-guard, several miles
upon the Jalapa road.
In the mean time, the other defences
were being stormed by our troops. Three
forts, situated nearer to our camp, and upon
three heights adjacent to each other?each
commanding the other?were the objects
of attack; and the carrying of them was
I tKn foel/ r\ f tUn ir/^1 * *
I tins iuoii ui vuiu niUCIOi X 1JU UflllFP ono
of these forts runs further in than the others,
and this being the object of storm, the advance
of the stormers had to undergo the
fire of the right and left, and the centre?
the latter of which prudently with held its
I fire until our meu had advanced within
| forty yards of the guns, and then the dogs
of war were let loose with such furry, that
our men were driven from their nosition.
with great slaughter?the 2d Tennesseeans,
who were in advance, having a large number
of killed and wounded. Before the
volunteers had to renew the attack, the enemy
had surrendered?driven as they had
been, from their their favorite pasition on
Cerro Gordo.
Taking all things into consideration, this
has been a great fight, and a great victory,
one calculated to shine brilliantly in the
chapter of those achieved in Mexico by our
arms.
The Mexican forces on the height of Cerro
Gordo were the 3rd and 4th Light Infantry,
tko Qo/l anA K.tU C -
hiv vi vb ?.iu vi.u ui me line, and
six pieces of artillery, with the requisite
numbei of cavalry. Col. Obando, chief of
dititlery, was killed, .and Gen. Vasquez.
general of division. Many of our officers
were of the opinion that this general was nb
other tha a Gov. Morales.
Our force consisted Of the 2d, 3d, and 7th
- ^
Infantry, and Mounted Riflemen, and
Steptoe's battery. Captain Mason; of the
Rifles, was severely wounded, having lost
his left leg. Lieut Ewell of the 7th lnfan;
try, was severely wounded. Capt. Patten,
of the 2d, lefied hand shot ofT.
On the 18th, Lieut. Jarvis, of the 2d Infantry,
was wounded in ascending tho first
hill.*
On the top of the Cerro Gordo, the scene
4....U- i. :i,i~ 41? T~ 1 1
! wcia ii in y uvuiuii;. i IUIII uiv luau,
; dead bodies of the enemy could be seen on
| every spot where the eye was directed, until
! they literally covered the ascent to the
| height. There is about half an acr 5 of
I level ground on the top of the mountain, and
; here was collected together the wounded of
| both armies, and the dead of our own.
j Side by side were lying the disabled Ainer!
iean and the Mexican, and our surgeons
wen* busily amputating and dressing the
| wounds of each?lotting them in turns, uni
less the acute pain of some sufferer further
| along caused him to cry out, when he would
be immediately attended to.
TUi tMPin* nrirtiou /?(' nm< mon
| - 1'*" 1" |
picking up the wounded and bringing them
! in from every part of the ascent to the
i height. From the side towards the river,
j where the storming party of Gen. Twigg's
i division made the charge, most of our men
guflered, and many of the enemy also, for
they made a desperate stand ; but when they
I gave way, and started in confusion down
I the hill, was the time they most suffered,
: many of them receiving the balls of our
i men in their backs.
; The charge on Ccrro Ciordo was one of
! those cool yet determined ones so characteristic
of the American soldier. From the
; time our troops left the hill nearest that
! ! i 1 .! I il <-?
: prominent noigni mo nrc was mccssant,
i and tlicy had to fight their way foot by foot,
till they gained the summit, from which
place the enemy gave way after a short re
sistance.
Our victory is complete. Those of the
enemy were driven in all directions by their
; pursuers, and many of them cut down on
! the road.
General Twiggs, who followed them after
aking Cerro Gordo, approached within
: three miles of Jalapa, and linding no force
of the enemy, encamped for the night. He
\ isl ih tnr* tAum Unfnm
C ?ptain Merrill, of the 2d Dragoons, returned
from Twiggs' camp last night, and is
of opinion that nothing but a small body
guard is with Santa Anna.
Santa Anna's private carrige was captui
red, and amongst his eflects was found the
j sum ol 18,000, which is now in the hands
! of the quartemaster, and an additional leg
I of cork for his Excellency's use in case of
i emergency.
1 noticed one officer of the enemy shot
! through the head on Cerro Gordo, who was
j a conspicuous man at Vera Cruz.
! General La Vega, who is again in our
! clutches, looked as dashing and line as ever.
! He did not seem the least disconcerted, but
! rode in from the battle field, by the side of
! *jten. Scott, laughing and talking as though
he was once more 011 his way to New Orleans.
Gen. Shields was mortally wounded, and
I hear this morning that he is dead. He bei
haved most gallantly, and his mishap is
deeply deplored.
Gen. Pillow was wounded in the arm,
! but slightly.
Major Sumner, of the 2d Dragoons, was
shot in the head, but is considered out of
danger.
The force of the Mexicans, at the lowest,
is set down at 12,000. The officers of the
Mexicans army are being paroled whilst I
write this, and with their soldiers are being
sent aboout their business?our commander
being of opinion that he can whip them
easier than feed them. The generals will
be sent to Np.lV Orlpnns nmnnrr thom
, -..." jj v..v-??l JUU
will have the second appearance of La Vega,
he having refused again to be paroled.
The second in command to Santa Anna
is a man as black as the ace of spades, with
a name something like Stinton.
All Santa Anna's plate was taken, and
his dinner, cooked for yesterday, eaten by
our own officers.
1 am sorry to say that Gens. Patterson
and Smith were boih confined to their beds
by sickness, and were unable to go into the
fight with their commands.
From the North Carolina Standard.
Flying Artillery.
Mr. Editor: Allow me as soon as the rejoicing
of the country a little subsides, and
the people have time for cool reflection, to
call your attention to the remote but direct
cause of all our most astonishing victories.
The study of cause and effect, is one on
which a philosophic mind always dwells
with pleasure. What intelligent mind ever
witnesses the majestic movements of a
steamboat, or the lightning-like rapidity of
a rail-road tram, without reverting back to
Walts, Fitch, and Fulton; and so of the
thousands of improvements which distinguish
the nineteenth century. It is not my
intention to write an essay, but merely to
call the attention of yourself and your readers
to an imnortant fact in historv. where
r - -? J 1 f
the prime mover, although one of the brightest
ornaments of our nation, has, so far as I
have observed, been entirely overlooked.
Every body who reads the accounts, so
modestly given by General Taylor, of the
glorious days of the eight and ninth of May,
and tViA still mnrfl nwfiillvrlftstniotivA Kattloa
and victories of the twenty-third of February,
is struck with astonishment at the results.
It will not do. to say our enemies are
weak Or cowardly, for it is not true. The
obstinate Britton or the Chivalric Frenchman,
could not have shown mors courage
v r- 'Av
than the Mexicans in those battles ; and the
result must necessarily have been the same i
had our enemies been either French, Eng.
lish or Prussian. The true cause of victory
in each case has been in the superior
management of our light, or more appropriately,
Flying Artillery.
This arm of ofTence was first introduced
by the celei)rated Marshal Murat, was con
sidercd as effecting wonders. The rapidity
of their movements and firing, was a matter
of perfect astonishment to the Austrians,and
contributed immensely to their overthrow.
Now if you will look up some old army
work on the subject, you will find the Jurat's
Flying artillery have the same relation
to Washington's and Duncan's batteries
that Mr. Fitch's Steamboat did to the Empire
or Oregon. This too is a subject I do
not intend to dilate on. We see the effects,
and historians will fill pages on the subject.
But to the subject of this communication,
viz: their introduction iuto the army. I
will only mention the facts, and I trust to
some more industrious wrier to fill out its
interesting history in detail.
In, as I believe, 1816, Congress passed
a law authorizing the Secretary of War to
r C _ r ni -
| irom lour companies 01 r lying Artillery,
J taking them from the four Regiments of the
I standing army Artillery. This law appears
to have been forgotten, at least, not acted on,
for more than twenty years. When Joel
R. Poinsett became Secretary of War. in
j his anxiety for the improvement of our na!
tional defences, he, acting under this old
j law, brought to his counsels the ever to be
; lamented Ringgold,and with him concocted
i the system as it now works. Ringgold had
the orders from Poinsett to carry out his
design, and gloriously did he do it. It is j
said by some that Washington's Battery j
nYPolk Rin rrnrn i/l'o n nrl t V* ? Tit* I
w?x/w. O U4IU bilUV L/U 11*^(1. II OClJUt/15
either. This may be ; and I have no doubt
Ringgold rejoiced in it, as it was the success
of the pupils of a noble teacher. Few
men have hid more obloquy and abuse
heaped on them than Joel R. Poinsett, and j
no man ever with less .cause. Had his
whole system of national defence been
carried out, the writer of this fully believes
it would have had the happiest effect upon
our country; and the rapidity with which
our volunteer militia, ready drilled, could
nave been carried to the field, would have
terminated the war as speedily, in comparison,
as his Flying Artillery, worked by a
Washington, a Duncan, or our own Bragg
and Bryan, ends a battle. In hopes this
slight notsce may call out some abler pen,
I conclude, wishing for nothing but
JUSTICE.
Goldsboro', Wayne County, N. C.
? <T> <? 8 7i N Op 11.
ABBEVILLE C. H., S. C.
Wednesday, may 12, 1817.
Cotton Market.
Charleston May 7th from 10 to 12 1-4
cis. Hamburg,May 7th, from 10 1-4 to 12.
0^7" Mrs. Dr. I. Branch will acccpt our
thanks for a mess of Irish potatoes, the largest
by far we have seen this season.
fdr" Mr. Webstek and his Lady arrived
in Charleston on the 7th inst.
p- Tlie Palmetto Regiment.
By letters received in this place from
Vera Cruz as late as the 17th ultimo, we
learn that our Regiment had n< t left that
place, but were expecting every moment to
receive marching orders. Some two hundred
of the Regiment will be left behind
among them several of our company, none
.i -
oi inose nowever liom the village. There
is upwards of a thousand men sick in the
hospital at Vera Cruz according to the latest
accounts and the mortality considerable. ^
Tbe Battle of Cerro Gordo.
Another glorious victory has beon added
to the" list of our triumphs at the bloody
pass of Cerro Gordo. "* It seems superior
numbers and rugged steeps are alike disregarded
by our gallant soldiers, whose watchword
is onward, victory. Although the dis
parity of numbers was not so great in this
battle, when we consider the advantageous
position of the enemy, and the bravery
with which they defended it, it will rank
among the most brilliant of the war. We
have seen no estimate of the real loss of the
enemy in killed and wounded at the battle,
but from accounts received, the loss must
be very great. The loss upon the American
side is supposed to be about five hundred
killed and wounded. General Scott's
force was about 8000, General Quitman's
t '-'4brigade
not having arrived in time to take
part in the engagement. The Mexican officers
taken, admitted Santa Anna, had
8000 men in the lines, and 6000 including ,
3000 lances outside the entrenchment S i*
thousand of these troops fell into our hands,
and nothing *?v?d &AXTA Awna himself,
; . *>> > v> %
A?>" ft'" ' li'' ' ' 'A*f? "ir ?
f< ' '/&" jr**4 - v f
but his inglorious flight. Tho choicest "*1
troops of tho Re public wore at this battle,
all tho regular artillerists and the Infantry
that fought so well at Buena Vista. Some
of the oflicers General Scott released at
4i . i . ^ ?
me capuuiauon oi vera Uruz without extorting
the parole were found among tho
killed and wounded.
General Shields who was wounded in
this battle was still alive at the last accounts.
The Mexican officers taken, were sent to
the castle of San Juan and were in fine 4
spirits.
The Knoxville (Tenn.) standardly
Many of the preachers in the New England
States are preaching against the war. One
of them just before the Connecticut elections
called the devil "the Rough and Ready of
hell."?Such pulpit elequeuce was too powerful,
and the democracy were beaten in the
late Connecticut election. Whiggery rai.
ses a shout over this victory. Democracy /
cares out little lor it. Wc are consoled with '
the result of the battles of Buena Vista and
Vera Cruz.
The New Orleans Bulletin of the 29th
ult sr?ys?Yesterday Col. Nicholas introduced
into the Senate gpsolutions favourable
to the election of Gen. Taylor as President
of the United States. We were unable to
procure a copy of the resolutions, but they_
also embrace a vote of thanks to tho army,
and the persontation of a <rold mp.flnl nn ?Uo
a *J "" ,uu
part of the State to Gen. Taylor.
This is the first Legislative movement in
favour of the hero of Buena Vista, but will
by no means be the last. It is the more
magnificent, and carries the greater weight,
in consequence of coming from a gentleman
occupying so high and distinguished a position
in the Democratic party. The resolutions
came up to day.
The New Orleans Courier, of the 23d ult.
says?A letter from Lexington, Ky., published
in the N. Y. Express, contains, most
revolting and ridiculous charges against Mr.
? o o ??Polk,
holding him accountable for the death
of Liet. Col. Henry Clay. This kind of
invective is an insult to the memory of the - ,
dead. Col. Clay was a gallant man, who
sought glory and fame in the field of battle
?anxious, too, to chastisc the insolencc of
the Mexicans, and uphold the rights and.
honor of his country. He was offered the office
of Lieuienaui Colonel by the Governor
of Kentucky, and freely accepted it. He
fought bravely at the head of his regiment,
in the bloody battle of Buena Vista, and
met a soldier's death. His fate is far preferable
to that of hundreds who were sorelywounded
and crippled for life. In Sparta, the
friends, parents children, and other relatives
of men who fell honourably in battle, rejoiced
at the lot which had befallen them. It
is singular that these people never think of j
blaming the Mexicans, whose insults and
outrages upon the United States brought
on the war. Their ire is kindled only against
the government of their country, be- ? 1
cause they have not found out a mode of
fighting, without spilling blood and loosing
life. We are persuaded, that Col. Clay, if ^
he were living, would be among the first to
express his disgust at such an ignominous j
sentiment.
Treasury of History, New York : Daniel
Adee.?107 Fulton street,?Price 25 . ;
cts. per number. ^
We have received the 10th number of
il! 11 1 ' ' - 1 *
mis vaiuaoie puDiicauon, ana nave so orten
spoken of its merits we deem a repetition 'i
unnecessary now. It is published in
monthly numbers containing about 28 pa*
ges each, and when completed will make a
valuable addition to any library.
American Phrenological Journal, By O. S. 1
Fowler, Editor.?Price, $1 per annum.
rpi. _ T\4 1 r- .1 .
? lit? may uuiuuur 01 mis interesting work '1
is before us, filled with useful and instruc- '
live matter. In the present number wo find " "
an engraving of the head of that mosfibftA^^^^ * j
traordinary man Tuos. H. Benton, biphh |
his phrenological developements set fo^^L * 1
(for the \
Tcmperance Notice.
A meeting of the Executive Committee
of the District Temperance Society was j
held to-day in the Court H&ise, for the transaction
of business. At this meeting it was
unanimously agreed to celebrate the anni. *
: _ i* r v . - . ^- - _
versary meeting on mo OU1 oi JUiy HCBj U '(v- ..'vM
Abbeville C. H. with appropriate speeches, , > "SB
and by a public pic nic dinner. The fcl-^ ( i
lowing Rov. Gentlemen wore appointed or- 7
ators for the occasion, D M. Turner, W TJ
Caper*, W R. Hemphill and-JTWrnA
ifcrt at 23?s*
WMOU ?|f^V?U?VU ?VMW ** W vr???: >. ,.Y\. j
roittee on report* Pr. I Branch, T Thomson.; K' j
.. .. ' / < - v ' ' . . , vij. i '
. .* ' . .*vCc .v V-1 - ' v:**. vv *fef, ** ? v * - Wx ^Aii.; "t +Trs~