Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1847-06-16

The following exlrac, from The Railway
/ (N.J.) Register, contains some particulars
oflhat terrible conflict by one who was
a party init, which will be read with in
Eterest. *, 3 -. Il; u. III Z.
was our officer 10 command. As soon as
we had 'takenou places aud all lain down,
Col. Harney gave his orders us:-"As
soon as you hear the word charge, rush
right down The bill as fast as you can and
up The olber--it is rather steep, but that's
all the better for us-yell like devils as
soon as you reach The raviue, and then up
The hill 10 their breastworks as soon as you
can, and for Coils sake, don't fire unless
you shoe, Mexican!" An orderly now
came from Gen. Twisgs-''The General
says if you don't want him to go crazy, for
Heavens sake fire !" They fired for
few minutes, when force was observed
coming down the Jalapa road, and the
rinemen were ordered 10 the bow Of the
mountain to engage them.
To getting out Of the hollow they had
10 pass just in range of the enemy's guns,
and the grape shot took awful effect. Such
a scene may never witness again. As
each successive shower came, shouts of
"Oh God !' and cries Of the most painful
description came from their ranks, while
the blood spatlered and dus, few in every
direction. Capt. Mason's leg was shot
entirely away but he took it very coolly,
simply looking al il, and observing, swell
there's my leg gone!' BY the strenuous
exertions of their officers The ranks were
kept closed. keep in The ranks men |!
don'l fall out-sland firu, J" while at every
shower death strode among them. The
word was now "the third forward" and our
bugles sounded the ''charge." Worose and
pi:ched for the bow of the hill, and COM
menced the almost perpendicular decent.
And now The scene became scene indeed,
for the whole fire of which the enemy was
capable, was directed against US. All
their infantry were at work, and constant
roll Of musketry, with now and then the
louder and more startling report Of artillery
from all the enemy's forts, which were
cross. firing US, was awful. Still cheering
we rushed on, cheered by our leader the
intrepid Harney. A graat many were
shot, while we could not FIRE gun our
selves, and even our artillery had now to
bc silent as we were in the range Of it.
We reactied the bottom of our hill in
showers of bullets, almost exhausted, but
again we gave three hearty cheers, and
commenced 10 climb the enemy's height
and storm their breaslworks aud battery.
Thousands upon thousands of bullets
whizzed past our ears, now and then
laying one of my comrades low. Here |
saw many Of my brave comrades, fall;
men who had, like myself, fought in all
the battles in Mexico, and l thought for
certain that my time had come. But no,
my dear sister, the recorded prayers OF
those whom | love best on earth were still
around me Then as ever, and the thoughts
Heightened my heart as rushed on. Col.
Harney was at the head Of US all, cheering
us on, and in few minutes we gained
The top and were just outside the breast.
works. They fought like devils-be'ler
Than Mexicans have fought before in hi.
war. Col. Harney was almost the hrsl
man on their breaslworks. Capt. Alex
ander, in command of our regiment, wa:
the third man, and he shot three or foul
before he got in nnd two afterwards with
a. revolver. Lieut.. Ewell, of the rifles
was The first officer on the breastworks
aud was cheering with his cap off wher
Z. I. Y y