Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-08-14
COL. HUMPHREY ,MARSHALL'S
SPEECH,

At q barbecue given TO the Kentucky
volunteers, near Jefersontown, on the 10Th
ult., Col Humphrey Marshall was called
upon to respond to the complimentary ad
dress from Gen. Pitcher. This he did in an
eloquent and noble manner. He svaled
himselfof the occasionto speak of Gen.
Taylor, as he appeared to him, at the head
of the army, on the field of battle, and in
social life. The picture is charming one,
and will be read with interest by all ad-
mirers of the old Hero.
After abiding, in terms of commenda.
ton, to the conduct of his own regiment,
he made touching reference to the Ken
lucky regiment which had been deprived of
its field officers in the battle Of Buena
Vista, and then said: .au -....,- 4.:,,
But there is man who has taken part in this
Mexican war, and who has been constantly en-.
gagged where there was found a post Of danger,
for whom, to day, no festive board is spread, and
around whom cluster none OF the sweets Of home
the smiles Of family and friends. To that brave
man, amidst all these congratulations, the heart
OF every volunteer will turn as does the needle to
the pole, because, in the hours when fesvy
and mirth excite the finer feelings Of the heart,
we naturally recur to the absent friends whose
presence would fill the measure OF our happiness
He is western mana western pioneer
reared in this country and TO all ntens a true
Kentuckan. might, said Col. NJ, draw his
T picture TO your minds eye, as, in the prime OF
youth, he stood among the burning timbers OF
Fort Harrison, ioiling his savage and incendiary
foe by the exertion Of genius whose facility oil
J resource amidst dangers most appalling first at.
tracted the attention OF the Government or, as he
appeared before the blazing hammocks Of Oko.
chobee, the very impresoraton Of intrepid daring
and personal CALAMITY; or as the hero around
whose furrowed brow are encircled the aures OF
PaIo Alto, Resaco, Monterey, and Buena VISTA
but it was not in the light Of military chieftain
merely that be most attracted my attention. or
{ won upon my admiration. Exhibitions Of daz>
cling personal adventure and brilliant military
exploits may be furnished from The history Of hun.
dreds Of the officers Of our gallant army. could
, sketch the lamented Rdgeley as bravey he drew
The fire Of La Vegas bsttery-McC as
sternly he led through the deadly embrazures a,
Monterey-or Mckee and Hardin and Clay as
CALAMITY they charged the enemy on the field Of
Buena Vista, and their illustrations OF personal
head OF his bold Dragons forcing the heights oil
Cerro Gorda and boldly dsshing up the prccipit
Gus steep, sword in hand, until the work Of the
sabre overcomes the fire or artillery and the ef
feet Of position, completely fills our idea OF chval
ry. Woolthc gallant Wool--riding in the
front and cheering on the columns, catching
with eagle eye the first indication Of an advan.
tnge to be gained or reverse to be avoided, ant
8 all the while exhibiting on his features the calm
, ness OF the courage and the devotion Of patriot
ism, IS, on the field OF Buena Vista. he proved
that, with the SHOWS OF half a century on his head
the fires Of youth yet gowed with undiminished
, ardor realizes all have conceived Of the hero
Indeed | might consume the day in specifying in
stances, suggested by my own recollection, o
officers and men who have illustrated by their
actions all our conceptions Of courage, personal
daring, or chivalric adventure.
could sketch the person to whom have allu
ded so as to present him in the light Of marc
, military chieftan on the field OF Buena Vista
q and he will equal, if not surpass, any OF the in
stances we have suggested. Fancy man turnet
: on the downward path Of life, mounted upon
white war horse, whose arching neck seems t.
r spurn the earth over which his feet proudly tired
!, and behold around him, gallant staff, in whic
is centered genius Of the highest order, with de
meanor the most gentlemanly, and modesy tn
G most attractive. See him as he calmly oontem
!. plates the approach Of an enemy more than lou
times ounumbering his own untried army Of vol
unteer sodiery.
c His adversary, the President or the Republic
d OF Mexico, is recognised as a actician OF consum
mate skill-the hope OF his country in the day O
her extremity. He brings TO the field an arm.
is disciplined under his own eye, and declared b
| him 10 be the best equipped and most complet
. that Mexico has held in service since the era o
} Independence. Onward they moved in sole
d masses, and it would seem the madness OF inlau
e alton to essay resistance to their progress.
10 What are the means in the hands Of the Amer
- can leader? Here and there, judiciously posted
u are few regiments Of ragged volunteers, withou
!. uniforms and without music TO enliven or chez
them on. They have now before them for tn
Is first time the field OF battle, and, when they OF
:. serve the odds to which they are exposed, hop
is scarcely whispers Of success, though their tongue
are ready with the shout OF victory or death,
= But will they, who are now so eager for the onse
= withstand the furious charge and the deadly en-
Is counter with superior force? This is the prot
:. lem TO be solved. If the American leader shall
withdraw his forces, his country would Justify tn
'e movement, and his own reputation may be save
10 from the blight Of single defeat in arms! Bu
no. He throws all upon the hazard OF the die
and determines to repose upon the valor Of tn
IS youths who come from the same great Yves
i which nurtured his own boyhood, and amorg,
whose forests his own character was formed. TIL
a fight begins. His staff fly over the field almo
l. with the rspidity Of thought Sword in hand h
commands column after column into action, an