The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-10-14
From The Illinois Journal.1
SCATTERING SHOTS,
ny FILE CLOSER OF rng TN ILLINOIS.

From INC Illinois Journal.
SCATTERING SHOTS,
ny A FILE CLOSER OF the TN ILLINOIS,
TMR BIvOUAC.
Tho day preceding the battle Of Ccrro
tior'lo was one Of exceeding bcanty, more
SD, thnn even many uf those sccn beneath
tr"picsl sun. A gentle breeze which
was waited across tho TERRA Calienta from
the ''Bluc Calf" unfoldcd upon the sum-
mi, Of tho Ccrro Gordo tho gay ensign Of
tho naughty Mexican, and nj The same time
hoa,cd the Star Spanelcd Banner in is
balmy embrace over handful Of Amcri.
cana, who came 10 hnttle in their conniry's
cause. Stretched along tho heights behind
strong Notifications, defended by frowninc
cannon nnd bris,line-bnyo ncts, attircd in
all the g"y parnphernnlin of splendid mr..
my. Inv tho Mexican hosts. gathered to
defend their country from the "northern
harbnrinns," who laid quietly cnca,npcd in
the small valley &c tho Plan del Rio patient
" awni,ing the order Cor hattie, when they
should rush forth upon TINT proud army
and drive them in confusion from their
strong holds.
Aiming the hitter party was myself an
humble soldier in tho cause-sented in nv
tout. thought of tho ho,nc had left be-
hind mc, md the friends had forsakcn, To
struggle amid strangers in foreign land
tho MANY chances against me in tho game
ri life and death that il forever going On
in tho midst of an ARMY. thought nv
self dreaming but could not lay that "fls,-
tcring junction To INV soul" !, WINS too
true-,he reality WINS too plain. wns n
soldier upon the eve of battle. with mn
nv chances of hcing victimizcd by a Mex
icnn bullet. Well, we'll, thought I. If nm
killed, il shall he gIorin,,slv in defence of
nv co,'ntrv's honor; nv name. among 9TH
crs, will he minded down 10 posteritv.
printed ON tho pngc "f history, and .scnro,l-
ed nron tho scroll of fame" m example to
future hclligcrcnt vo,ing gentlemen, TINT
the ''pride and p"mp of glorious war;" M
matter how imposing, docs not coun,crhsl-
ancc its circumstance" in tho scale OF
life.
] looked ont upon the camp: nv fellow
soldiers were engaged in various occnpa.
iinns. Some thinking of the approaching
contest. were preparing their arms and
ammunition tn do bloody work; others
thinking of their latter end. wcre writing
their wills md their farewell letters 10 their
friends; others, like Sergeant Dalgrity,
thinking at their prorani, wcro cooking;
others, thinking that they were brave.
were talking in loud tones Of the valorous
deeds they intended 10 perform on the NOR
row others, thinking that haiiles were dan.
gcrous things, were mn>ing on tho chan
eos oi going through safely and others still,
thinking of nothing nj oil, were whisiiing,
singing, and PLAYING cards. ] was think
ing Of all these things, when was sudden
" startled BY the sullcu lrnming Of can
non in tho direction of Ccrro Gordo, then
another and another; then tho rnpid roll of
muskc,ry and successive cracks of rifles.
Il WINS all too plain That the hattie had
commenced. Gen. Twi.gs had hccn or.
dcrcd in the morning IL take the position
assigned his division, and protect the detail
engaged in making rond for our artillery,
aud tho enemv had attempted to drive him
back. Tho tight ragged with violence for
some moments. Those ancient hills shook
with the thunder Of nr,illery-thc valleys
rc-cchoed the sound of small arms.
thought Of the mnny souls that took their
departure from earth with each discharge
of the mnngled limbs aud painful lonts aud
cries of the wounded. had been under
fire before; but somehow this seemed like
getting into closer quarters than formerly.
said not word, hut, like Paddy's owl !
kept up q ssdcvil Of thinking"
Up to this time, il had bccn tho impres-
sion that our brigade would be held in re-
serve, hence the aoa ckaIssee manifested
| By most IL the corps, but this pleasing hal.
Inclination was banished by the .long roIl,"
benten BY "Old Brown" the Drum Major
"A very PagGnini on the drum. Our
Colonel had prevailed on Gen. Scott, 10
order Ms in the advance 10 support Twiggs.
All thinking nov ceased; he who was clean
ing hrs muskct quickly shouldered il; the
letter writer closed his mm,rnfui cpistle;
the cook leii bis supper nj The mercy Of the
Ere: the easconading youth was silcn,
and hoped from thc bottom IL his heart, that
i, WINS a false alarm; the silent thinker
calmly equipped himself; the card players