The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1846-12-19
The Mississippians at Monterey.

The vicksburg Sentinel of the 18th instant
gives a sketch of the speech made by Colonel
Davis at the late collation. given to him and the
returned volunteers. We make from it the
following vivid extract;
"When our forces were advancing under the
deadly fire of the forts-when the havoc OF
battle ragged hotties. and fercest-when the dy-
ing and the dead lay around us, and balls were
Kissing through our ranks at every step, saw
an opening allowed by movement Of the
regiments in our neighborhood, and determin-
ed to seize the opportunity to place the Mis-
sissppians at once in the post of most efficient
action. BY manguvre and flank movem mt
by companies, which shall not attempt to ex-
plain, we could take the place desired. The
words of command were given and re-echoed
The trial movement had come. With anxiety,
with confidence, watched the result. Cool
ly, silently, firmly and bravely that regiment
of volunteer Missssippians went through the
complicated evolutions, in the midst of the
roar of cannon and the crashing of dcath-shot
around them, with the sef-command of vete-
rams and as quietly and perfectly as if on
peaceful parade feld
Others, who have been more successful in
writing their valor on paper with pen, than
on the bodies of our enemies with lead and
steel, may have beaten the Mississppans in
blazoning their deeds to the country. But of
one thing we can boast, none of them beat the
Mississippians in storming the enemy's ram
parts; and we shall be content that deliberate.
and sometimes slow moving truth, shall travel
behind these lmpetuous rumors, and finally set
all things right. 1t is true, we have not so
many reported killed and wounded as others.
The reason is, that zoe pere so far in adranre
that the e,seny's shot aimed at the body Of the ar
my, passed ouer our heads. A true reckless SOL
der in our regiment, whom we all know, re-
marked in the midst of the fight. that with
plenty of powder he could never get out of
ammunition-he could hold up his cap, and
catch it full of bullets in minute.
After we had taken this front position, cover
ing the fort, the sharp crack of our rifles with
in point blank distance, soon made it no holi-
guns. Their fire grew slack, and panic and
dread of our deadly aim were evidently COM
ing over them. The favorable moment was
seen and though without ba.onets-without
any expectation Of 80 doing when we entered
on the attack-i determined on charge
looked on the right and left to see who of our
boys were ready to follow, and gave the word
At the very moment, our 1t. Colonel-the glo-
rious McClung-with the quick decision and
military judgement that mark him made by
heaven for the soldier-also came to the same
conclusion. Without hearing, as have been
assured, the word given by me at the other
end of the line, he gave the same order to
those around him: and taking advantage of the
authority he held over the Tombigbee volun-
teers on account of having once commanded
them as Captain, he called particularly upon
them, and dashed forward in the impetuous
race for victory. The advance was now a
mere question of speed. The Mexcans-poor
fellows-did not stay to look-did not remain
to raise the question whether we had bayonets
or not-but rushed pell-mell out of the fort
and the game form of our Lit. Colonel, stand
ing upon the ramparts, and waving his sword
in triumph, proclaimed the victory"