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

round, as to bring it to bear upon us. Be-
fore this wac accomplished, we were under CO.
yer, and the stranger had the benefit of the
discharge, of which he took no more notice than
ifhe had borne charmed life. Again we heard
the crack of his rife, and when, having reloa.
ded, VIC once more ascendcd the bank, he was
taking aim at the last artllerymen, who fell,
as his companions had done.
"Bess ye, for lagein' fellers !" grow'cd the
stranger. "Wby don't ye take that ere big
gun ?"
Our small numbers, the bad direction of our
first voley, but above all, the precipitation with
which we had jumped down the bank after f.
ring il. had so encouraged the enemy, that
company of infantry, drawn up some distance in
rear of the field piece, fired volcy and ad.
vanced at double quick time, part Of them ma
king a small detour with the intention of cut
ting us from our friends At this moment, we
saw Tanning snd thirty men coming along the
river bank to our assistance; so without mind
ing the Mcxicans who were getting behind us,
we rushed forward within twenty PAGES Of those
down every man his bird.
The sort of desperate coolness with which
this was done, produced the greater effect on
our opponents, as being something quite out Of
their way. They would, perhaps, have stood
firm against volley from five times our num-
Der, at greater distance but they did not
like having their mustaches singed by our pow
der and after moments wavering and hesi.
tation, they shouted out "Diabolos ! Dabolos!"
and throwing away their muskets, broke into
precipitate flight.
Fauning and Wharton now came up with
all the men. Under cover of the infan'ry's
advance the gun had been remained, but,
luckily for US, only by infantry soldiers for
had there been artillerymeu to seize the mo-
ment when we were all standing exposed on
the prairie, they might have diminished our
numbers not little. The fuse was already
burning, and we had Just time to get under
the bank when the gun went off. Up we jun
ped again and looked about US TO see what was
next 10 be done.
Although hitherto all the advantages had
been on our side, our situation was still very
perlous one. The company we had put to
fight had rejoined its battalion, which was
now beginning TO advance by ecf,etom of com2a
nes. The second battalion, which was rather
farther from us, was moving forward in like
manner, and in parallel drection.-We
should probably, therefore, have to resist the
-, ,hn
ther and it was to be feared that the Mexi.
cans would finish by getting over their panic
terror OF our rifles, and exchange their distant
and efiectual platoon-frng for a charge with
the bayonet, in which their superior numbers
would tell. We observed, also, that the caval-
ry, which had been keeping itself at a safe dis.
tance, was now put in motion, and farmed up
close to the island ofmuskeet trees, 10 which the
right flank of the infantry WAS also extending
itself Thence they had clear ground for a
charge down upon us.
Meanwhile, what had become of the twelve
men whom we had left ii the island Were
they still there, or had they fallen back upon
the mission in dismay at the overwhelming
lOTCc Oi lUc IL ldllci IL was u
bad business for u.s. for they were all capita
shots, and well armed with rifles and pistols
We heartily wished we had brought them viii
us, as well as the eight men at the mission
Cut off from us as they were, whut could they
do against the whole of the cavalry and two
companies of infantry which were now approa
ching the island
TO add to our difficulties, our ammunition was
beginning to run short. Many of us had only
enough powder and ball for fifteen or siXteer
charges, which were now reduced - six or sc
ven 1t was no use despondng, however, ant
after n hurried consultation, it was agreed tha
flaming and Wharton should open fire uPoi
the enemy's centre, while made dash at tn
field piece before any more infantry had tim
TO come up for its protection.
The infantry men who had renamed III
gun were by this time shot down, and as non
had come to replace them, it was served b
an officer alone. Just as | gave the order I
advance to the twenty men who were to follow
me, this officer fell. simultaneously with hi
fall, heard a sort of yell behind me, and, turn
ing round, saw that il proceeded from the vii
spectre-lookng stranger, whom had lost slsl
OF during the last few minutes. ball ha
struck him, and he fell heavily To the groun
his rifle which had just been discharged, at