Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-04-13
rae KENTUCKY RgGINgNT,
Incident at The Battle of Bnsaa Tlsta,

nj very critical OF point of the battle
on the 23d, when it became necessary to
sustain one of our columns, which was
staggering under a charge made by the
Me1icans in overwhelming Numbers.
Gen. Taylor despatched Mr.. Crittendon to
order Col. Mckee, Of the Kentucky regi.
ment, to bring his men into immediate
action. Mr.. Crittenden found the reci
Iment' men and officers, eager for the fray,
delivered the order and rode back to the
GeEernl, by whose side il was his duty to
keep. The Kentuckians moved forward
IN gallant style, led by Mckee and Clay.
both of whom, alas ! fell in a subsequent
part of the day. 1t SO happened that, be.
fore reaching position from which they
could deliver an effective fire, the regi.
mcnt bad to cross a valley which was
broken up by rsvines and masses of stone.
Whilst crossing the valley, the heads only
OF tie men could be seen from the point
which Gen. Taylor and MIR. Crit,enden
occupied-and these were bobbing I'D and
down and cTosswise in such confusion, as
to impress both with the idea that the regi.
rnent had fallen into disorder. The Mex
leans were annoying them at the same
time by fire, which helped to confirm
the opinion of the general, that the Ken
tuckians were thrown into dismay.
1t was one ofthose decisive crisis which
occur in every contested field, when the
issue oil day depends, for the time being,
upon the galIantTy ola particular corps.
Gen. Taylor, who, as before said, could
only see The heads of the troops, and mis-.
led by their motions in getting across
Rullies and going round rocks and other
distractions, into the beleftbat they were
about to falter, turned to Mr.. Crittenden,
who is Kentuckian, and with counter
ance indicating deep modification, for the
general is Kentuckian too, an eye fierce
with emotion, by Cd, Mr.. Crittenden,
this will not do--1ais is not the way for
KCntuckisRs to behave themselves when
called upon to make good battle-it will
not answer, sir" and with this he clench-
ed his teeth ard knit his brow and set his
teeth hard together. Mr.. Crittenden, who
was mistaken by the same indications that
deceived the general, could scarcely make
q reply from very chagrin and shame. In
few moments, however, the Kenhlckians
had crossed the uneven places and were
seen ascending the slope of the valley,
shoulder to shoulder, and with firm and
regular step ofveteraAs ola hundred fields.
On they moved until they reached the
crest Of the hill, where they met the enc
my before the flush of temporary ad-
vantage had subsidized. Here they deliv.
cred their fire by companies with such
regularity and deadly aim, hat The decimat-
cd plalanz of Mexico gave way, and re-
treated precipiuteIy.
AS the Kentuckians emerged from the
valley, the couEtenance of the old Gener-
al who was regarding them with intense
interest, gradually relaxed the bitterness
OF its expression. A glow of pride sup.
planted the deep modification which fixed
its muscles, atd enthusiasm qualified the
fierce glances ofhis eye. Forward they
moved under his riveted gaze, whose feel.
.Ings became more wrought up as they
approached the scene of carnage. When
they opened their fire the old general cod
no longer restrain his admiration, but
broke forth with loud huzza. "Hurrah
for old Ken:uck," he exclaimed, talking
as it were to himself and rising in his sad
die-"That's the way TO do it: give them
h-ll, d--n them" and the tears Of exul-
iation rolled down his cheeks as be said
it.
Having got rid Of this ebullition ofState
pride. he went about looking after other
parts, Of the field.
Some of our readers may regard this
incident, which we derive from one of the
parties concerned, as savoring more of
profanity than generalship; but it must
be borne in mind that under the excite
ment Of such terrible scenes of havoc and
bloodshed, those engaged in them use the
name of the God of Battles with some de-
gree OF familiarity.
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