Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1847-01-06

"'i~" '"N "Ptaih oCiioeTalely turned up
gourd of water to his mouth, and drank
beautifully of IFS contents; not forgetting
at this critical period 20 conclude with the
usual hearty "hem!n Col. Davis soon
took different position to the left of the
mortar, at the same time ordering us to
lie down, an order which we executed with
great promptness, not having any great
fancy for the strange whz with which the
cannon balls so Familiarity courted our
ears. This novel position was somewhat
amusing to some of the boys, though they
were not offended, as was evinced by the
aforesaid promptness. Others thought
they knew they were not TO lie there al.
ways, and though the position was not
agreeable, the prospect of leaving it pre-
Guided laugh. To add to our comfort,
occasionally random shot would come
whlslling over our heads, and phizzing as
if heated red hot And now burst forth
to our left the laundering of artillery and
the Simultaneous report of thousands of
musketry, giving note that the aflray had
commenced in earnest. Il had continued
but few moments when the Ohio and
Kentucky regiments on the left flank were
called up and marched off in the direction
of the firing, and then came almost in
simultaneously the word we were waiting
for-( eagerly shall | say? eagerly we had
been, but now during this time of suspense
there was monitor within which told the
boldest Of us there might be omehing ia
field not 10 be longed for,)-" Rifemen, to
your feet! FORWARD! in double quick time
-marchr' OFF we started at a march in
deed! giving our uncurbed legs the rein,
and " streaISing it" with all our might for
mile and half, exposed, the greater por-
ton of the time, to most CALLING cross
fire from the enemy's cannon, one ball
from which, at one fell swoop, moved
down 10 Oh l2 Of the Tennessee men I'M
mediatIy before US. We were at length
drawn up in line of battle before the first
of line of Notifications which were de-
signed to prot ect the eastern and north
eastern sides Of the town-Our position
in very low chapparral, about $50 or zoo
yards from the redoubts, the Tennesseans
to our left, he Ohioians to our right, our
selves Immediately in front of the embra-
sure of the fort. Here the enemy open
ed upon US a most deadly and destructive
fire of artillery and musketry, literally
sweeping through our line and crushing
many a brave fellows bright anticlpatIons
of glory. Our rihemen were Hot to be re
pulsed. They fired slow y and stea Oily
each man taking good aim at the cope
faces, ere he pulled the fatal trigger II
the language OF a spectator, the whole
front of the line exhibited one continuous
blaze. The men were collected and de
termined, advancing 10 the line from whlcl
we fired with firm step. These shots di'
great execution. Not 50 with the Mex
| can musketeors in the fort; they wer'
, evidently not very good marksmen, am
/ generally oversho!,-the destruction II
our ranks being caused by the deadly rake
: of their round shot, grape and canister. =
Here it was that Dr. Ramsey met his pre-
mature fate, and here may be permitte
+ to remark that he suffered and died as
soldier and a brave man. His death wa
universally regretted by the Regiment, i
which he was well known from his medici
services rendered in a time Of extrem
sickness and fatality.
After firing for some minutes, dnrin
/, which our men were gradually advancin
q at every round, Col. Davis, discovering th;
4 we were destined 10 certain destruction
! we remained under the fire of the for
(. ordered charge. Our Rlflemen rallie'
or rather started a, the instant and follow
. ed their leader with great spirit and an
y nation, and with a shout OF defiance
/ Our men now entered the fort, Lieut.. Co
d McCIung, with his accustomed gallan'r
: first mounting the rampant, waving h
y sword over his head-Col. Davis clos
;. behind him, cheering his men, and hlmse
l. cheered by successt This charge W
g. --s
i'd tit NAV be proper to st;.te that there