Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-02-24

We were beginning to think that the fight
was over for the day, when our videtts at the
lower ford brught us the somewhat unpleasant
intelligence that large masses of infantry were
approaching the river and would soon be in
sight The words were hardly uttered when
the roll of the drums and shrll squeeks ortAe
flies became audible, and in few minutes the
head of the column of infantry, having crossed
the ford, ascended the sloping banks aud def
led in the prairie opposite the island ofmuskeet
trees. As company after company appeare'',
we were able 10 form pretty correct estimale
of their numbers There were two battalion,
together about a thousand men; and they
brought field piece with them.
These were certainly rather odd TO be sppo-
sed to sevcn,y-two men and three officers; for
it must be remembered that we had left twen-
ty of our people at the mission, and in the island
of trees Two batalions OF infantry, and six
squadrors of dragoons-the latter, TO be sure.
disheagtened and diminished by the loss of some
fifty men, but nevertheless, formidable oppo-
nents, now they were supported by the foot SOL
diers. About twenty Mexicans to each of us.
1t was getting past joke. We were all capi-
tai shots, and most Of us besides our rifles had
brace of pistols but what were seventy five
| rifles, and five or six score Of pistols against
| thousand muskets and bayonots, two hundred
and fifty Dragons, and a field piece loaded with
canister! Ifthe Mcxicans had spark Of cou-
rage or soldiership about them, our fate was sea-
/ led But it was exactly this courage and
soldicrshp which we made sure would be wan
ting.
Nevertheless we, the officers, could not re-
press a feeling of anxiety and self reproach,
when we reflected that we had brought our
comrades into such a hazardous preGicanent.
But on looking around us our apprehensons va
nished. Nothing could exceed the perfect COOL
ness and confidence with which the men were
cleaning and preparing their rifles for the ap-
preaching conflict; no bravado-no boasting.
talking, or laughing, but calm decision Of
manner which at once told us, that if it were
possible to overcome such odds as were brought
against US, those were the men 10 do it.
Our arrangement for the approaching strug-
gle were soon completed. Tanning and Whar-
ton were to make head against the infantry and
cavalry. | was to capture the field piece
and eight FOUNDER.
The gun was placed by the Mexicans upou.
their extreme left, close to the river the shoSs
of which it commanded for considerable dis
tance. The bank on which we were posted
was, as before mentioned, indented by caves and
holows, and covered with thick tapestry of
vines, and other plants, which was now very
useful in conceallng Us from the artillery men.
; The latte: made pretty good guess at our po-
stion however, and at the first discharge, the
canister, whizzed past us at very short dis
) tance. There was not moment to lose, for
one we'll directed shot might exterminate half
OF us. Followed by u dozen men, worked nv
way as well as could through the labyrinth Of
, vines and bushes, and was not more than fifty
yards from the gun, when it was again fired.
No one was hurt, although the shot was eyr-
IDENTIFY intended for my party. The enemy
as we passed through them, had betrayed our
! where eabou.; so perceiying that we were disco
veIed, sprang up the bank into the prairie, tol-
lowed by my men, to whom | shouted, above
, all to aim at the artilIerymen.
4 had raised my own rifle 10 my shoulder;
\ when let it fall again in astonishment at an
5 appartion that presented itself to my view.
: This was tall, lean, wild figure, with a face
y overgrown by a long beard that hung down up
on his breast, and dressed in leather cap, Jack
/ ct, and moccasins. Where this man had sprung
. from was perfect riddle. He was unknown
5 to any of US, although had some vague reco!-
: lection of having seen him before, but where
e or when, could not call to mind. He had a
/ long rifle in his hands, which he must have fired
5 once already, for one of the artIllerymen lay
4 dead by the gun. At the moment first caught
e sight of him, he shot down another, and then
T began reloading with a rapid deXter,y, that
proved HIM to be well used to the thing, My
# men were as much asonshed as was by this
strange apparition, which appeared to have star.
/. ted out of the earth; and for few seconds they
h forgu; to fire. and stood gazing at the stranger.
5 The latter did not seem TO approve Of their IN
= action.
"D--y yer eyes, We starin" shouted he in n
: rough hoarse voice, don't ye them artillery
a men Why don't ye knock 'em on the head!'