Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-20
SOUTHPORT WISCONSIN: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 90 1874

officers; for it must be remembe red that we
had left twenty of our people at the mission;
and In the island of trees. Two battaions
OF infantry, and six squa1rons Of dragons
the latter, to be sure, dishearlened and
diminished by the loss Of some fifty men,
but nevertheless Formidable opponents, no W
they were supported by the foot soldiers.
About twenty Mexicans to each Of US. |,
was getting past a joke. We were all
capital shots, and most Of us, besides our
rifles, had brace of pistols in our belts;
but what were seventy five rifles, and five
GA SIX score of pistols against thousand
muskcts and bayonets, two hundred and
fifty Dragons, and field piece loaded with
canister? If the Mexlcans had a spark OF
courage or soldership aboutthem, our fate
was sealed. But it was exactly this
courage and soldership we made sure
would be wanting.
Nevertheless we, the officers, could not
repress feeling of air&ie,y and selfre-
proach, when we reflected that we had
brought our comrades into such hazard
Gus predlcament. But on ,oking around
us. our apprehensions vanished. Nothing
could exceed the perfect GOODNESS and con-
idence with which the men were cleaning
and preparing their rifles for the approach
ing conflict; ma bravado-no boas,ing,
talking, or laughing, but calm decision
of manner, which at once told US, that il
it were possible to overcome such odds as
wee br"ugh. against US, those were the
men to do it.
ON arrangements for the approaching
struggle were soon completed. Tanning
and Wharton were to make head against
the infantry and cavalry. Twas 10 capture
the fieldplece-an eight-pounder.
This gun was placed by the Mexicans
upon their extreme left, close 10 the river,
the shores Of which it commanded for q
considerable distance. The bank on which
we were posted was, as before mentioned
indented by caves aud hollows, and covered
with thich tapestry Of vines and other
plants. which was now very usefu. in con-
ceallng us from the artillery-men. The
latter made a pretty good guess at our
position however, and al the first discharge,
the canister whizzed past US at a very
short distance. There was not moment
to lose, for one well-directed shot might ex-
terminate half ofus. Followed by dozen
men, worked my way as well as could
through the labyrinth Of vines and bushes,
and was no more than fifty yards from
the gun, when it was again fired. No one
was hurt, although the shot was evidently
intended for my party. The enemy could
no: see US; but the motion Of the vines, as
we passed through them, had betrayed our
whereabout: SO, perceiving that we were
discovered, sprang up the bank into the
prairie. followed by my men. to whom
'Sncatcd, above all 10 aim at the artillery
men.
| had raised my own rifle to my shoulder,
when | let it fall again in astonishment AT
an apparaton that presented itself TO my
view. This was tall, lean wild figure,
with face overgrown by long beard
that hung down upon his breast, and dress
ed in leather cap, jacket, and mocassins.
Where this man had sprung from was a
perfect riddle. He was unknown to any
of US, although had some vague recollec-
ton Of having seen him before, but where
or when, could not call to mind. He
had long rifle in his hands, which he
must have fired once already, for one OF
the artIlerymen lay dead by the gun. At
the moment first caught sight of him, he
shot down another, and then began reload
ing with a rapid dexterity, that proved him
to be we'll used to the thing. My men
were as much astonished as | was by this
strange apparaiion, which appeared to
have started out Of the earth; and for a
few seconds they forgot to fire, and stood
gazing at the stranger. The latter id no,
seem to approve Of their inac;ion.
"D-yer eyes, ye starin' FOOLS y
shouted he in rough hoarse voice, "don'l
we see them ari'lerymenl Why don't We
knock 'em on the head?'
1t certainly was not the moment to re-
main idle. We fred; but our astonish.
msnt had thrown US off our balance, and
we nearly all missed. We sprang down
the bank again TO load, just as the men
serving the gun were slew ing it round, SO
as to bring 1t to bear upon us. Before
this was accomplished, we were under
cover, and the stranger had the benefit oil
the discharge, of which he took no more
notice than if he had borne a charmed life
Again we heard the crack OF his rifle, and
when, having reloaded, we once more
assembled the bank, he was taking aim al
the last artilleryman, who fell, as his com.
panions had done.
"D-ye, Tor laggn' fellers!' growled
The stranger. "Why, dot We take tina,
ere Big gun?"
Our small numbers, the bad direction OF
our first volley, but. above all, the precipi,
tation with which we had jumped down the
bank after firing it, had so encouraged the
enemy, that company OF infantry, drawn
up some distance in ear Of the field piece,
fired voliey and advanced at double-quick
time, part of them making small detour
with the intention of cutting US off from
our friends. AT this moment we saw
Tanning and thirty men coming along the
river bank 10 our assistance; so wiihou,
mindng the Mexicans who were getting
behind US, we rushed forward at within
twenty PAGES of those in our front, and
taking steady aim, brought down every
man his bird. The sort of desperate COOL
ness with which this was done. produced
the greater effect on our opponents, as
being something quite out of their way
Thew would. perhaps, have stood firm