Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-03-19


down the bank to reload When the whole Of
the thirty men had discharged their rifles, Wharton
and myself, with the reserve Of six and thirty MORE
took their places; but the dragons had almost had
enough already, and we had scarcely fred ten shots,
when they executed right about turn, with an
uniformity and rapidily which did infinite credit to \
their drill aud went off at pace that soon carried
them out ofreach Of our bullets They probably |
had not expected so warm reception. We saw
their officers doing every thing they could check
their flight, mploring, threatening, even cutting at
them with their ssbres, but it use; if they
to be killed 1t must be in their own way, and
they prlerred being cut down by their officers to
encounter the deadly precision frHes in the hands
of men, who being sure 10 hit squirrel at hum
bred yards, were not likely to miss Durango dragoon
at any point within range.
Oar object in ordering the men TO FIRE slowly
was, always TO have thirty or forty rifles loaded
wheIewith to receive the enemy should he attempt
charge masse But our FIRST greeting had
been a sickener. and it appeared almost doubtful
whether he would venture TO attack again, al
though the officers did every thing in their power
TO induce their men to advance For long lime,
neither threats entTeaties, nor reproaches produc-
ed any effect We saw the officers gescula,ing
furiously, pointing to US with their sabres, and
impatiently squirting their horses till the fiery ami
mails plunged and reared, and sprang with all four
feet from the ground. II is only just to say that
the officers exhibited degree Of courage far be-
yond anything we had expected from them. Of
the two squadrons that charged us, two-ihirds Of
the officers had fallen; but those who remained,
instead Of being in,imidated by their comrades
fate, redoubled their efforts to bring their men
forward
At last there appeared some probability Of their
accomplishing this, after most curious and truly
Mexican fashion Posting themselves in front OF
their squadrons. they rode on alone for hundred
yards or So halted, looked round, as much 10
say-"You see there is no danger as far as this
and then gallopng back led their men on. Each
time that they executed this manoeuYre the drag
oons would advance slowly some thirty or forty
PAGES, and then halt as simultaneously as il the
word Of command had been given. OF went the
officers again. some distance to the 'front.' and then
back again to their men, and got them little
further In this manner these heroes were invegl-
ed once more to within hundred aud fifty yards of
our position.
OF course, at each of,he numerous has which
they made during their advance, they favored US
with general, but most, innocuous discharge Of
their earbines; and at last, gaining confidence
suppose, from our passveness, and from the noise
and smoke they themselves had been making three
squadrons which had not vet been under fire. form
ed open column and advanced at trot. Without
giving them time to halt or rehect-"Forward !
Chargel" shouted the officers urging their own
horses to thesr utmost speed; and following the
impulse thus given, the three squadrons came
charging furiously along.
Up sprang thirty OF our men to receive them
Their orders were TO FIRE slowly and not throw
away shot, but the cleaning sabres aud rapid
approach Of the dragons furried some Of them
and firing hasiy volley, they jumped down the
bank again. This precipitation had nearly been
fatal 10 Several of the dragons fell, and there
Nag confusion and
amongst the others; but they still came on. AT
this critical moment, Wharton and myself, with
the reserve, showed ourselves on the bank "Slow
and sure-mark your menl" shouted we both
Wharton on the right and | on the left The COM
mand obeyed rifle after rifle cracked off,
always aimed at the foremost Of the dragons, and
at every report saddle was emptied Before we
had all fired, Tanning and dozen of his sharpest
men had again loaded, and were by our side For
nearly a minute the Mexicans remained, as if
stupefed by our murderous fire. and uncertain
whether to advance retire; but as those who
attempted the former, were invariably shot down,
they al last began a retreat which soon converted
into rout. We gave them a farewell volley,
which eased few more horses Of their riders, and
then got under cover again, TO wait what might next
occur
But the Mexican cabalIeres had no notion of
coming up TO the scratch third time They kept
] pdUpluR dDoult solne lNItt OF lOuT uunuTtu laFus
of, and firing volleys at us, which they were able
to do with perfect IMMUNITY, as at that distance we
did not think proper TO return shot
The skrmsh had lasted nearly three quarters Of
an hour. Strange to say, we had not had a single
man wounded, although at times the bullets had
fallen about thick as hail We could not
account for this. Many Of US had been hit by the
balls, but bruze or Craze ofthe skin was the
worst consequence that had ensued We were in
fair way to deem ourselves nyulnerable.
We were beginning to think that the fight was
over for the day, when our yideltes at the lower
ford brought US the somewhat unpleasant inte-
gence that large of infantry were Iapproach
ing the river and would soon be in sight The
words were hardly uttered, when the roll Of the
drums, and shr squeak ofthe flies became audible;
and IN a few minutes the head of the column OF in
fanry having crossed the ford ascended the slopnQ-
bank and de6led in the prairie opposite the island
of muskeet trees As company after company ap-
penred, were able to form pretty exact estimate
of their numbers There were two battaons
together about thousand men; and they brought
feld-piece with them
These were certainly rather long odds to be op-
posed TO seventy-two men aud three officers for il
must be remembered that we had left twenty of
people at the mission and in the island Of trees
Two batalions OF infantry, and six squadrons of
dragoons--the latter to be sure disheartened and
diminished by the loss of some fifty men, but new
ertheless formidable opponents, now they were
supported by the foot soldiers. About twenty Mexi-
cans to each ofus. 1t was getting past joke
We were all capital shots, and most Of u.s. besides
our rifles, had brace of pistols in BELTS but
what were seyenty.fve rifles. and five or six score
of pistols against thousand muskets and bayonets,
4 n II -