Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-07

vailed on Gen Scott to order US in the
advance to support Twiggs. All think
ing now ceased f; he who was cleaning
his musket quickly shouldered it ; The
letter writer closed his mournul epstle /;
the cook left his supper at the mercy OF
the fire the gasconading youth was ST.
lent, and hoped from the bottom of his
heart that it was false alarm the ST.
lent thinker calmly equipped himself I;
the musician halted in the middle o: a
tune the card players threw down their
hands, and, instead of shutting the pa
pers, thought Of shu0ling off this mortal
coil.
The drums beat merry tune as the
companies marched into their places. -
The words, "Aitenton shoulder arms
from our Adjutsnt made every man IA
soldier and the regiment was formed
-as fine body of men as ever took the
field. Our gallant Colonel drew his
good sword, and, glanced proudly upon
us, gave the command, "By the right
iank right face-forward-march ~
And away we went. AS we reached the
road, | glanced behind me upon our
camp. The fires burned with lurid flick
ering fame the mp.kettles, brm =
mng full of good "bean soup" sung a
mournful sony our poor invalids, una
bic TO follow us to the field of glory,
gazed with fearful eyes upon their de-
parting comrades, and mourned not so
much because they could not 60 as be-
cause ws were going. On we went at Il
smashing pace, and, having three miles
to 20, Just as we were ascending the
first hill between our camp and the enc
nv we met Sergeant Scott, General
Twiggs's orderly, coming at forced
galop with a prisoner seated upon the
crupper Of his horse. Scott was giant
in comparison with the diminitive form
of the Mexican, who grasped him about
the waist and held on, as you have seen
dirty faced urchin while riding behind
his daddy, his ear glued to SCOTS back,
as if osculaling his spine. AT every
bound OF the horse his body flew out in IA
direct line from that Of the sergeant's,
and when he struck the horse again
Oh, awful, awful, indeed, was the shock
Thus had Scott ridden with him for three
miles, and guess the Mexican did not
much admire that kind Of transportation.
This is the way that Sergeant Scott takes
prisoners 1t is said that he has taken a
prisoner in every fight in which his Cen
eral has participated.
Immediately after Scott, followed a
wounded soldier leaning upon his com
rade. Never shall | forget the look Of
that man, his arm had been shattered by
shot and hung powerless, while a
stream Of blood poured from a severed
artery, flooding his whole side ; yet not
look betrayed the least emotion Of pain.
He had sacrificed his good right arm in
his counlry's cause, and he rejoiced in
the sacrifice.
About five o'clock, p. Nj. we reached
the vicinity Of Twiggs as we approach
wounded returned from the field, and
edlately in his neishborhood we
came upon the surgeons at their bloody
work. To hear the groans Of some and
even 10 witness the ioritude Of others
of the mangIed soldiers was truly heart
rendiDg there lay men in the agonies
of death, and there lay lIfeless bodies,
which but few moments before had
moved in the full enjoyment cl all their
faculties, now wrapped forever in the
cold embrace Of death.
We found that the enemy had retired
behind his batteries with great loss, leav-
log Twiggs to biyouac upon his hard
earned field. We imme diately re-
ported TO the old veteran, and directed
to pile arms and await for further orders,
which soon came for detail OF one hun
dred men from each regiment 1--WE hav-
lng brigaded with the 81 Illinois and lst
New York regiments for the purpose of
placing in battery "A FOUNDER upon
summit of an immense hill lying between
US and the Cerro Gordo. The gun was
Of immense weight the hill steep and
rugged but The Suckers" were hitch.
ed on and up that dreadful engine went,
tearing down trees and crushing huge
rocks IN It's course.
| This work occupied a great portion
Of the night and when the piece was
placed IN battery, the men who played
horses had the satisfaction Of rejecting
that the feat they had performed excel
led any thing in the annals Of warfare.
This tremendous task performed, pick
cts were placed, and the army sunk up
on the blood stained rocks TO slumber,
only to awake on the morrow in order to
| imbrue their hands once more in the
blood of the degenerate sons Of the
Azlecs. Having no musket, went in
search Of one, and upon the bloody bat
tie field | found it. 1t was formerly the
property Of regular its once bright
barrel and gittering bayonet were DIM
med with human gore. Oh, how 10th
was to touch it (; but seli-preservation
said stake it - and graspng it, sought
spot clear Of rocks on which 10 stretch
my weary limbs. Ii was hard to find =,
and | made no choice, but laid myself
cautiously down with my head upon a
stone and my gun by my side. | tried
to sleep but sleep seemed forever ban