The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-04-07
From the Ne,o Orleans Picayune March 27
The Kentucky Regiment,

From the Ne,o Orleans Picayune, March 27.
The Kentucky Regiment.
An incident at the Battle of Bueno Vista.
At a very critical point point of the battle
on the 23d, when it became necessary to
sustain one of our columns, which was stag
gerng under charge made by the Mexi-
cans in overwhelming numbers, Gen. Tay-
lor despatched Mr.. Crittenden to order Col.
Mckee, of the I'd Kentucky Regiment, to
bring his men into immediate action. Mr..
Crittendcn found the Regiment, men and of.
ficers, eager for the fray, delivered the or
der and rode back to the General, by whose
side it was his duty to keep. The Kentuck-
ians moved forward in gallant style, led by
Mckee and Clay, both of whom, alas fell
in subsequent part of the day. 1t so hap
pcncd that before reaching position from
which they could deliver an effective fire,
the regiment had to cross valley which
was broken by ravincs and masses of stones.
Whilst crossing this valley the heads only
Of the men could be seen from the point
which Gen. Taylor and Mr.. Crttenden oc-
cuped-and these we're bchh:ng UP and
down and cross-wise in such confusion as to
impress both with the idea that the regiment
had fallen into disorder. The Mexicans
were annoying them at the same moment
by fire, which helped to confirm the opin-
ion of the General that the Kentuckians
were thrown into dismay.
1t was one of those decisive crisis which
occur in every contested field, when the is
sue of the day depended, for the time being,
on the gallantry of particular corps.
Gen. Taylor, who, as before said, could
only see the heads of the troops, and mis-
iedby their motions in getting across gullies
and going around rocks and other obstruc-
tons, into the belief that they were about to
falter, t,rned to Mr.. Crittendcn, who is
Kentuckian, and with a countenance inii-
eating deep modification, for the General is
kentuckian too, and an eye fierce with
emotion, exclaimed "Mr. Crittenden, this
will not do-this is not the way for Kentuck-
ians to behave themselves when called up
on to make good battle-it will not an
swcr sir;" and with this he clenched his
teeth hard together. Mr.. Crittenden, who
was mistaken by the same indications that
deceived the General, could scarcely make
a reply from very chagrin and shame. In
few moments, however, the Kentuckians
had crossed the uneven places, and were
seen ascending the slope of the valley,
shoulder to shoulder, and with the firm and
regular step of veterans of hundred fields.
On they moved until they reached the crest
of the hill where they met the enemy before
the flush of a temporary advantage had sub
sided. Here they delivered their fire by
companies with such regularity and deadly
aim that the decimated phalanx of Mexico
gave way and retreated precipitously. As
the KeLtuckians emerged from the valley
the countenance of the old general, who
was regarding them with the intensest inte- Z
rest, gradually relaxed the bitterness of it's
expression. A glow Of pride supplanted
the deep modification which fixed its mus- !.
cles, and enthusiasm qualified the fierce
glances of his eye. Forward they moved
under his rivited gaze, whose feelings be-
came more and more wrought up as they ap.
preached the scene of carnage. When
they opened their fire the old General could
no longer restrain his admiration, but broke
forth with loud huzza. "Hurrah for old
Kentuck," " he exclaimed, talking as it were !.
to himself and rising in his saddle" that's
the way to do it," and the tears of exultation
rolled down his cheeks as he said it.
Having got rid of this ebullition of State
pride he went about looking after other parts
of the field.
Curious SroRY.-Many years ago the
late Earl of stair, when Mr. Dalrymple, fell
in love witha beautiful young lady. a Miss
Gordon. He eloped with her, and married
her. In ashort time they became unhappy,
ord Mr. ndtrv,,, Ala ~ a. \, - =. ..