The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-03-02
From The St. Louis Reveille.
THRILLING DESCRIPTION
Of Sergeant M,Iton's share in


Saturday last to Sergeant Milton's descrp-
ton Of Capt. Mays charge upon The Mexican
battery, AID his own share in that glorious
Struggle. Each man engaged in it was a
hero, & perhaps none or those who survived
passed througha greater share of peril than
the brave veteran in question.-His modest,
nnassumIng manner, and plain relation of
facts, stamp them with the seal oftruth. and
the wounds on his person bare ample Iesli-
mony to every word he uttered.
Al Palo Alto said he, i took nv rank in
the troop as Second Sergeant. and " bile up
on The field my horse was wounded in the
Jaw by grape shot, which disabled him for
service. While he was plunglng in agony /
dlsmounIed, and the quick eye Of Capt May
observed me as alighted from my horse.
tie eDqui-ed ii was hurt. | answered no
that my horse was the sufferer. i am clad
II is not YOURSELF replied he; there is an
other (pointing at the same time 10 a sleed
without a rider, which was standing with
dIlaied eye gazing at the strife, mount him.
approached the horse, and he stood still
until put my hand upon the rein and pat
tee his neck, when he rubbed his head along
side ofme as if pleased that some human be
ing was about TO become his companion in
the atiray. lie was noble bay, which had
with lumber of others, been purchased
tor the troop in St. Louis. Ibestrode him.
and we passed through the first day IN
harmed.
'on the second day, at Resca DC la Pal
ma our troop stood anxiously waiting for
the signal 10 be given; aud never had
looked upon men upon whose counrenances
were more CLEARLY expressed with n fixed de-
termination TO win. The lips Of some were
pale with excitement, aud their eyes wore
that fixed expression which betokens mis-
chief; others with shut teeth would quietly
laugh and catch tighter grip of the rein, or
seat themselves with care and firmness in the
saddle, while quite words of confidence and
encouragement were passed from each to his
neislibor All at once Capt Nav rode to the
'front.' oil DIS troop-every rein and sabre was
tightly grasped. Raising himself and point
ing at the battery, be shouted, Men, fouOu p
There was now Gathering Of hoofs and
rattlirg of sabre sheaihes-the fire of the
enemys guns was partly drawn by Lieut..
Rideley, and the next moment we we're
sweeping like the wind up the ravine. ]
was IN squad Of about nine men, " no we're
separated by shower of grape from the
battery. and we were in advance, May lead
ing He turned his horse opposite the
breastwork, in front OF the guns, and with
another shout TO follow leaping over them
Several OF the horses did follow, bur mine
5eiLs new aud not well trained. refused; Two
others baked, and their riders started down
the ravine TO turn the breastw ork where the
rest OF the troop had entered. made an-
other attempt to clear the the guns with nv
horse, turning him -ouud-feelns all the
time secure al thinking the guns discharged
Il put his head towards them and gave him
spur, but he again baked so. turning his
head down The ravine, too started 10 ride
round The breastwork.
As Came down, lancer dashed at me
with lance in rest. With my sabre parried
his thrust. only receiving slight flesh wound
from lis point in the arm which at the
time felt like the prick Of pin. The lancer
turued aud fec; at thai moment ball "a ssed
through my horse on the left side and SHAT
tered my right leg. The shot killed the
horse instantly, aud he fell upon nv left leg
fastening me ny his weight to the earrh.-
There lay. right in the midst Of the action.
where carnage was riding riot, and every
moment the shot, from our own and the
@"Sf h~"''b3 UP tdIlu dlOhDu
me. tried 10 raise my horse so as TO ex-
tricate my leg, but had already grown so
weak vi b my wound that was unable. and.
from the mere attempt fell back exhausted.
To add 10 my horror, d horse. who was ca
reeriDg about, riderless, within a few yards Of
me, received wound. aud be commenced
struggling and rearing with pain. Two or
three times he came near falling on me, but
at length, with scream of agony and a
hound, he fell dead-his body touching my
own fallen steed. What had been in mo-
mentary dread Of, now occurred-my woun-
ded limb, " hich was lying across the horse,
received another ball in the ankle.
u now felt disposed TO give up, and, ex
haused through pain and excitement, film
gathered over my ewes, which thought was
the precursor Of dissolution. From this
hopeless state, was aroused nv a wounded
Mexican. crying out TO me, 'Bueno America
no. and turning my eyes towards the spot,
saw that he was holding certificate and
calling 10 me.* The tide of action now
rolled away from me, and hope again sprung
up. The Mexican uniforms began to disap-
pear from The chAppareI. and squadrons OF
our troops passed i'll sight, apparently in
pursuii.-While was thus nursing the pros
pect of escape beheld, not far from me. a
villanous looking Ranchero. armed with an
American seargeant's short sword. despatch
ing a wounded American soldier, whose
body he robbed-ibe next lie came 10 was
Mexican, whom he served the same way.
and thus looked on while he murdeously,
slew four. ! drew an nndscharged pisto
from my holsters, and. laying myself along
my horses neck. watched him, expecting 10
he the next victim; but something fightned |
him from bis vulture-lke business. and he |
fled in another direction. need not say
that had he visited me | should have taken
one more shot at the enemy. and would have
died content had | succeeded in making
such an assassin bite The dust. Two hours /
after. had the pleasure Of shaking some of
my comrades by the hand. who were pick
ing up the wounded. They lifted my Next
can friend. too. and am pleased to say he,
rs well as myself, lived to fight over again /
the sauguiue frey oil Resaca de Ia Palma