Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-04-09
From the N. o. Picayuus.
THE KENTUCKY REGIMENT.

AN INCIDENT AT THE BATTLE OF EUENA VISTA.
At very critical point Of the battle on the
23d, when it became necessary to sustain one
OF our columns, which was staggering under
charge made by the Mexicans in overwhel-
Crittenden TO order COL Mckee, of the I'd
Kentucky Reg iment. to bring his men into
immediate action. Mr. Crittenden found the
delivered the order and rode back to the Gen
eral, by whose side it was his duty to keep.
The Kentuckians moved forward in gallant
style, led by Mckee and Clay, both of whom,
alas fell in subsequent part of the day. 1t
so happened that before reaching a position
from which they could deliver an effective fire,
the regiment had to cross valley which was
broken up by ravines and masses of stone
Whilst crossing this valley the heads only of
the men could be seen from the point which
Gen. Taylor and Mr.. Crittenden occupied->
and these were bobbing up and down and
crosswise 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 opinion of the General that the
Kentuckians were thrown into dismay.
1t was one of those decisive crises which
occur in every contested field, when the issue
of the day depended, for the time being, upon
the gallantry of particular corps
Gen. Taylor, who, as before said, could on
ly see the heads of the troops, and misIed by
their motions in getting across gullies and 60
ing around rocks and other distractions into
the belief that they were about to falter, turn
ed to Mr. Crittenden, who is a Kentuckian,
md with a ind;
tifcation, for the General is Kentuckian too,
and an eye fierce with emotion, exclaimed,
" BY Cd, Mr.. Crittenden, this will not do -
this is not the way for Kentuckians to behave
themselves when called upon to make good a
battle-it will not answer, sir :" and with this
he clenched his teeth and 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
a reply from very chagrin and shame. In a
crossed the uneven places and were seen as.
cendng the slope OF the valley, shoulder to
shoulder, and with the fierce and regular step
of veterans of a hundred fields. On they mo-
we'd until they reached the crest of the hill
where they met the enemy before the flush OF
temporary advantage had subsidized. Here
they delivered their fire by companies with
such regularity and deadly aim that the de-
cimated phalanx of Mexico gave way and re.
treated precipitously. AS the Kentuckian.
emerged from the valley the countenance oil
the old General who was regarding them with
the intensest interest, gradually relaxed tn.
bitterness of its expression. A glow of pride
soon planted the deep modification which fix
ed its morcels, and enthusiasm qualified tn,
fierce glances Of his eyes. Forward they mo
we'd under his riyited 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 lon
ger restrain his admiration, but broke fortf
with loud huzza. 'sHurrah for old Ken
tuck" he exclaimed, talking as it were t.
himself and rising up in his saddle &c That
the way to do it; give them hell, d-n them,
and the tears of exaltation rolled down hi
cheeks as he said it.
Having got rid of this ebulition Of Stat
pride he went about looking after other part
of the field.
Some of our readers may regard this Incl
dent, which we derive from one of the partie
concerned, as savoring more of profanity thai
generalship; but it must be borne in mind tina
under the excitement of such terrible scenes o
havoc and bloodshed, those engaged in then
use the name of the God of Battles with SOM
degree of familiarity.
i The Kentuckians that day did their duty a
others did. They paid toll in travelling tn
high roads to glory