The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-06-16

pass Just in range OF the enemy guns, and
the grape shot took awful effect. Such
scene may never witness again, AS each
successive shower came, shouts of ooh
God |" and cries of the most painful descrip-
ton came from their ranks, while the blood
spattered and dust flew in every direction.
Capt. Mason's leg was shot away but he
took it very coolly, simply lool1iog at it, and
observing, swell, there's my leg gonc~ BY
the strenuous cxcrtions Of their officers the
ranks were kept closed "Kccp in the
ranks men don't fall out-stand firm !"
while at every shower death strobe among
them. The word was now ''thc third for
ward" and our bugles sounded the ''charge
We rose and pitched for the bow of the hill,
and commenced the almost perpendicular
descent. And now the scene became a
scene indeed, for the whole fire of which
the enemy was capable, was directed a.
gainst us. All their infantry were at work,
and the constant roll of musLctry, with now
and then the louder and more startling re-
port of artillery from all the enemy's forts,
which were cross-iripgs ls, was awful
Still cheering, we ruskaddSen, cheercd by
our leader, the intrepid Harney. A great
many were shot, while we could not fire a
gun ourselves, and even our artillery had
now to be silent as we were in the range Of
il.
We rcaccd the bottom Of our hill in show
ers Of bullets, mitch exhausted, but again
we gave three hearty cheers, and commen-
ced to climb the encmys height and storm
their breastworks and battery. Thousands
upon thousands of bullets whzzcd past our
ears, now and then laying one of my COM
rades low. Here saw many of my brave
comrades fall men who had, like myself,
fought in all the battles in Mexico, and
thought for certain that my time bad come.
But no, my dear sister: the recorded pray
crs of those whom | love best on earth were
stillaroundmc then as ever, and the thoughts
lightened my heart as | rushed on. Col.
Harney was at the head of us all, cheering
us on, and in few minutes we gained the
top and were just outside the brcastworks
They fought like dcvils-bcttcr than Mexi-
cans have fought before In this war. Col.
Harvey WAS almost the first man on their
brcastworks. Capt. Alexander, in COM
mand Of our regiment, was the third man,
and he shot three or four before he got in
and two afterwards with revolver. Lieut..
Ewell, Of tho rifles, was the the first officer
on the brcastworks, and was cheering with
his cap off when he received an escopet ball
tarough the heart The Sd infantry was a.
mong the first over, and the enemy COM
menced running, but too latc-thcy were
shot down in their tracks many of them. as
we turned their own artillery upon them,
and the I'd infantry, which had by this time
got round, met them near the foot Of the
mountain.
Our flag was instantly hoisted on their
fort, and their route was complete: for the
enemy seeing that their main dependence
was wrestcd from them. took the panic, and
abandoned themselves to flight. Some 2 or
5000 got away,in spite of the efforts of our
Dragons, who followed in chase ten miles,
killed many on the road, but could not leave
the road for the bushes. Santa Anne made
a timely escape; the first man who rode
from the field was the great Santa Anna |!
We killed and wounded i'll this fort over 200
| Mexicans. Gen. Pillow with his command
got early in the fight on the opposite side of
them. and simultaneously with our charge,
blazcd away among them. killing crowds,
until they hcisledthe white flag, and their ar
my surrendered Immediately. We found
Gen. La Vega here, Gen. Herrera, EXPIRE
sidcnt, and several others, besides an old
General whose name forget, who was next
in command to Santa Anna. | was present
at the marching Of these troops down the
road and surrendcring their arms. They
were mostly young and healthy men, some
ofthem having their young wives with them
Gen Scott was more than leased with the
conduct Of our troops on this great day -
The number of dead Mexicans lying about
was almost without parallel, mostly shot
in the head, some of their heads shot entire
ly away.
Adios, mi mucho amanda Hermono!
Your affectionate brother,
THEODORE X. ECKERSON.
Santa Anna Stoned at the Capitol.
From La Patria, of yesterday, we learn