The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-04-28

horse, pccring through his spy glass at the
| long lines of Mexican troops that could be
seen at great distance on the march,
The persuasion Of his aids could not induce
him to abandon his favorable point for OBJ
serva.ion, nor to give up his old white horse.
10 the suggestion Of his staff that old Whitley
was rather too cospicuous n charger for the
commander, he replied "that the old fellow
had missed the fun at Monterey, on account
of sore foot, and he was determined he
should have his share this time"
At sunrise on tho 22d February. the bat
tie began in earnest. The Mcxicans were
drawn out in immense numbers. The
dark columns Of infantry extended as far
as the eye could reach, and the cavalry
seemed to cover the whole view with their
intcrminable lines. At intervals between
the infantry and cavalry, their big guns.
strongly protected by IL large artillery force,
kept up an inccssant cannonade against
our lines. Their forces were soon in mo-
ton. Our artillery was thrown forward to
meet them, protected by the Volunteers
Gen. Wool led the main body in person,
and was seen everywhere. rallying and en-
courageing the volunteers. The two ar
mics were soon engaged in hot conflict
The broken nature of the ground divided
the forces, SO that instead of one general
engagement the regiments were compelled
in great measure to fight on their own
hook. Our officers were always in the
advance, lending their troops-hence the
great mortality among them. In this gene
raj melse, one Of our small regiments, of 400
men, would be attacked by whole Mexl-
can brigade Of several thousand. Thus
the keatucl1y infantry was attacked at the
foot of hill, in deep ravinc, by an i'm
mcnsc force of the enemy. A large num-
bcr of the officers were killed here--among @
them was Col. Mckee, who fell badly
wounded, and was immediately despatched
by the enemy, who pierced him with their
bayoncts rs he lay on the ground. 5.icut
Col. Clay was shot through the thigh, and
being unable to walk, was taken up and
carried some distance by some of his men,
but owing to the stcepness of the hill, the
men finding it very difficult to carry him,
and the enemy in great numbers pressing
upon them, the gallant Lieut.. Colonel beg
ged them to leave him and take care Of
themselves. Forced to leave him on the
field, the last that was seen of this noble
young officer he was lying on his back,
fighting with his sword the enemy who were
stabbing him with their bayonets The
veteran Capt. VIM. S. Willis, of the same
regiment, at the head of his company, with
three stalwart sons who fought at his side,
was badly wounded, but still continued the
fight, until he was overcome with the loss
Of blood
In the meantime, the Indiana brigade,
who were drawn out and ordered to charge
the enemy, were seized with a panic, and
displayed some hesitation, Assistant Ad'it
Gen. Lincoln rushed to their front and whilst
upbraiding them for their cowardce, was
shot, several balls passing through his body.
In justice to this brigade it should be stated
that they subsequently rallied, and fully re-
deemed their reputation by the most gallant
and e1eceee fighting,
Col. Hardin led the llinoisians in very
handsome style, and the sturdy "suckers'
fought like lions. Their intrepid Colonel
fell wounded, and experienced the fate of
Coils. Mckee and Clay, and was killed by
the encmy-not however before he had
killed one ofthe cowardly miscreants with
a pistol. which he fired whilst lying on the
ground.
Col. Yell led, the foremos, man, a charge
-of his mounted volunteers against large
body Of Iancers, and was kill by lance,
which entered his mouth and tore off one
side of his face.
The Mississippians, the heroes of Monte
rey, after doing hard duty as skirmshers,
were ordered into line to receive a charge
Of cavalry, which they did with their rifles,
delivering at the some time most destruc-
tive fire among the crowded columns of
cavalry. The enemy were completely re-
pulsed; The distinguished comm nl3lder Of
this gallant regiment, Col JeffersoR Davis,
was badly wounded, an escope,te ball ha-
wing entered his foot and passed out of his
leg. :, He was, however, doing we'll when
last heard from. The chivalrous Lisut.
Col. McClung was prevented from doing
his share ofalhe brave deeds Of this brilliant
fight, by the grievous wound received at the
battle Of Monterey, which still confines him
to his bed. and from which it is much feared
l by his best friends he will never recover.
\ Col Aumnhru MarshalPs snlnndid repi