Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-06-24


stab was the lucky man.
A moment before this the enemy press.
ed Ridgely's battery very hard, the inlan.
try covering his battery in deploying got
too far at times from his pieces, and left
! them exposed. was requested by Ridge.
" to ride back and say TO the General that
they were pressing his pieces very hard,
to send up some infantry at once did
so and met the General riding along as
though nothing was going on. dlIe replied
TO the message" Oh, never mind! he is
doing very we'll Let him aone--there is
no fear of him." returned and found
them driving the enemy.
By this time the Sd and 9TH came gal
lantIy on, deploying on the right and left,
Then came the heavy blows that kept the
wedge moving. First came a round from
the battery, then a blow on the right
from the 9Th and Sd, and then one from the
left by the Sth and 9TH; and so it was.-
The word was "Push along-keep NOV
ing!" until Ridgely placed his battery
where theirs first stood, and our men stood
on the same ground that had been held by
their infantry. and which was then cover
ed by their dead and wounded.
By this time Gen, Taylor was up in the
front rank of the fight, with Coils. Mcln.
tosh, Payne, and his staff. His attention
was riyeted on Rdgely's battery as though
wondering il il were possible Il light ar
mlery battery could do so much service,
for entire nous the General was not partcu.
Iarly an advocate of this arm before this
campaign. Very soon it appeared as tho
the enemy in retiring with their battery
across the ravine, had arranged it so as
to have the General and RIdgeley's Ibat-
terry both in their line of fire, for the grape
flew thick and fast around him. Ad'it
Gen. Bliss advised him to change his posi-
ton, but no, he ssw very well from where
he was, and did not leave it for. some
time.
AT this time the struggle was tremen-
dous, the infantry had captured one piece
OF artillery on this side of the ravlne, and
was charging across the pond of water.--
At times an interval would be left between
two Of our companies, and the Mexicans
would charge across the rayne and take
a position there. In one instance, 1t.
Deas, the gallant Adjutant of the 9th,
with ten men, asking me to rally with as
many more and follow, charged into the
bushes where party of Mexicans on our
side of the ravine were obstinately disbut-
ing inch By inch with our men, aud after
placing the men in position, we wheeled to
ride out for reinforcement, when seven
Mexicans jumped from behind us, and
fired as we charged past them without
any injury, however of consequence. -
For some time the cannonading and mus
kerry, though doing tremendous execution,
could not drive the enemy, but at last the
infantry closed the distance the enemy
had to move. Every regiment of infantry
did its duty, the fighting assumed the char.
acter OF hand to hand combat. the bayonet
was crossed and the sword used. Ridge.
Iy still piled The dash Of grape and round
shot with terrible effect, his Lieuts. Shov-
er, Fremont and French, were often en-
gagged in carrying ammunition to the guns
and loading them. Just here 1t. Duncan
came up with his battery but was unable
to bring 1t into action for some time, from
The fact that there was no room to place it |
and open on the enemy without endanger.
ing our own infantry in front.
The enemy again wayered. Gen. Tay.
or ordered Capt. May to charge their
battery, and on be started; but on reach.
ing the point Of the road where he would |
nave been discovered by the enemy, he
was stopped by Ridgely, who told him that
The enemy had just loaded all their pieces,
and if he charged then, he would be
'wept away. Stop" says Ridgey "un.
d draw their 6re!" when he deliberately
ired each gun; so terrible was the effect
If the grape, that the Mexicans poured
heir fire upon his piece, and then May
charged like bullet, drove off their can.
loniers, took La Vega prisoner and re.
reated.
Here It. Inge, a noble, gallant soldier,
.harged at the head Of the squadron, was
iilled and stripped. 1t. Sackett, than
whom there is no better officer, had his
lorse shot under him, and was pitched
lead foremost into the pond, rose again,
covered with mud and water, and escaped.
The squadron suffered very much. | am
ure Charley May feels grateful to Ridge
y for bis cool Judgement and timely ad.
nee. Had he charged on the battery,
oaded with grape as it was, do not be.
GIVE he would have saved man.
The Mexicans returned TO their guns,
md Immediately the 5thl infantry took the
natter in hand, and resolved to try the
'ayonet again. On they went, and piece
" piece fell before their determined
,rayery, until their entire battery was ia.
ten. The infantry and cannoniers fough,
land to hand between the wheels. Ridge.
j and Duncan then pushed their batteries