Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-07-08


The fUIiowing extract from the Railway On. J.)
Register contains some particulars of that terrible
conflict By orc who party in IT, which will be
read with interest
Colonel W. S. Harvey, % Dragons, was officer in
command As soon as we had taken places and
all lain down, Col. Harvey gave his orders thus AS
soon as you hear The word charge rush right down
the mill as fast you can, and up the other- Is ra-
Their steep, that's all the better for us-ye like devils
you reach the ravine and then up the hill
10 their breasworks YOU can, aud for Gods
sake, don't fire unless you shoot a Mexican." An
orderly now came from Gen. Twiggs-"The General
says if you don't want him 10 90 crazy for Heavens
sake fre!" The guns were soon ready and our side
began. They fired for few minutes, when force
was observed coming down the Jalapa road and lie
riemen were ordered to the bow of the mountain to
|engage them.
In getting out of the hollow they had 10 pass just
in range of the enemys guns, and the grape shot took
awful effect. Such scene may never witness again.
As each successive shower came, shouts OF ~ God!'
and cries of the most painful description came from
their ranks, while tire blood spattercd and the dust
few in every direction. Capt Mason's leg was shot
entirely away, but he took it very cooy, simply look
ing at it, and observing swell, there's my leg gone!'
BY the strenuous exertons Of their officers the ranks
were kept closed. keep in the ranks men don't
fall out-stand firm !" while at every shower death
strobe among them. The word was now Z" the third
forward" and bugles sounded the charge"
We and pitched for the bow of the bill, and COM
menced the almost perpendicular descent And now
the scene became a indeed for the whole fire Of
which the enemy capable was directed against us.
All their infantry at work, and the constant roll
Of musketry, with now and then the louder and more
startling report of artillery from all the eneys forts,
which were cross firing us, was awful. Sui cheer
ing, rushed cheered by leader, tie intrepid
Harvey. great many were shot, while could
not fire gun ourselves, and even our artillery had
now 10 be silent as we were in the range of il.
We reached the bottom of our hill in showers of
bullets, almost exhausted but again we gave three
hearty cheers, and commenced TO climb the enemy
height and storm their breastworks and battery
Thousands upon thousands Of bullets whizzed past
our cars. and then laying of my comrades
low. Here I many of my brave comrades fall
men who had Ike mysef fought IN all the battles in
Mexico, and / thought for certain that my time had
come But no, my dear sister, the recorded prayers
Of those whom love best Garth were still around
me then ever, and the thoughts ighoned my heart
as rushed on. Colonel Harvey was at the head OF
us ALL cheering US on, and in few minutes gain
ed the top and were just outside the breastworks.-
They fought like devils-beter than Mexicans have
fought before in this war; Colonel Harvey was al
most the first man their breastworks. Capt Alex
ander, in command Of our company, was the third
man. and he shot three or four before he got in and
two afterwards with revolver Lieut.. Eyell, Of the
rifles was the first officer the brcastworks, and was
cheering with his cap off when he received an escOpei
ball through the heart. The Sd infantry among
the first oyer and the enemy commenced running, but
too late-they were shot down in their tracks many
of them, as we turned their artillery upon them
and the I'd infantry which had by this time got round
met them the foot of the mountain.
Our flag was instantly hOisted on their fort, and
the route was complete; for the enemy seeing that
their main dependence was wrested from them took
the panic, and abandoned themselves to flight.