The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-04-28
miscreant shot him through the back.

miscreant shot him through the back
AT the battle Of Taos, i. happened seve-
raj times that while an American would be
raising his rifle to shoot one of the enemy
when they were retreating, the cowardly
wretch would fall on his knees and beg for
mercy; the American would lower his rifle;
this was no sooner done than the dastardIy
scoundrel would raise his gun and shoe.
his generous adversary. Such are the
Mexicans-they are like their county,
mean Of the meanest. At the time the
masacres took place at the Moro, there hap
pened to be in the nei hborhoud about $50
men, sent out to guard trains of provisions,
Craze horses &C., these were Immediately
concentrated by the late brave and la,nrnted
Captain Henley, (Mo. Volunterrs,) the Sc
i,or officer in that section. He was NOR
tally wounded IN an attack upon the town.
his exaspcrated men soon afterwards level
led the village to the ground and Sent in
here some ls prisoners-about Is of the
enemy were killed.
Captain Burgwin Of the Dragons, who
fell at Taos, was native Of North Carolina
he graduated a, West Point in 1889, and
at the time Of his death was high up on the
list Of Captains. He was one of the most
popular officers i'll the army, from his high
toned. gen,lemanly character. His con
duct and courage in the late battles, are the
theme Of universal praise. After beng
wounded. Col Price rode up 10 him and
told him that whether he recovered or not,
he should bear testimony of his gallantry.
Ca:tain B. replied, 81 hope. Colonel, You
will also bear witness tha, my company did
lis duty" Lieut.. Van. Valkcnburg, OF the
Infantry, died Of his wounds III ii few days
he had both jaws broken.
Captains Burgwin and Henley were bu-
rled few days since, with military honors.
Their graves occupy picturesque spot un-
der the guns of Fort Marcy.
You may inquire what are the prospects
here for peace and tranquility in future
What number and description OF troops, Sc,
SHOULD be st .tioncd here, Sc? | will state a
few facts-two days since an express came
in from Col Doniphan, at Ell Paso, Stating
that nothing had been heard OF Gen Wtops
, advance on Chihuahua-that there are ma
ny troops in chihuahua. Nc He has 900
men-he may be defeated. and If 50 we
will have the force of two departments
against us. These people caunot b. de-
pended upon-we have NOT more than 900
effective troops here. Infantry is the great
dIHl lOT tlliS country.
The winter here has been very cold, and
! about one IN ten or twelve of the Volunteers
have died here-the hill is covered with
graves.
THE GEORGIA REGIMENT find in
the Columbus Enquirer of Tuesday last,
the following from Captain Calhoun.
ALvARADo, Anr! 3rd, ls47
We arrived a, this place on Yesterday.
after most fatiguing march of four days
tanning many, and completely exhausung
others. On the End inst arrangements fer
battle were m ,de by Gen. Quitman; but
the enemy if near at the time, made it con.
venient to be where they were not seen.
This place has been garrisoned by thou
sand Mexican soldiers; but on our approach.
they, with Il large ma aori,y of the citizens.
fled to the country. The city is capable Of
good defence. They have sand forts on
both sides Of the river, and one on the west
ern side Of the city These forts are either d.
rected by piling up bags filled with sand,
or dug on, Of the banks, and answer the ends
| designed most admirably. About noon of
the End inst, information was received by
US to the effect that the city was being eva
cuated and General Qui'man, with few
dragons, hurried on and reach i, late at
night, where he found Commodore Perry,
who had preceded him some thirty minutes.
When the Brigade, consisting of the Ala
bama, South Carolina and t;~orgia Reyi-
ments, reached this point, our boastci f,g
| ttoated over the most beautiful little city we
have as yet seen in Mexico. The few riti-
zens who remained were greatly alarmed;
but their fears and apprehensions were
soon quieted. The AIcade was caIIrd upon
to furnish Quarters for our little army. which
was soon accomplished by selection of
public buildings and houses vacated by those
who had fled from the city. Those assign
ed to few of us were not quite satisfactory
to our fastidiousness--to gentlemen who
had been in the woods for ten months
Captan Shelton and myself called upon the
Alcade and desired to know whether he
! could inform US if we could. find rooms in
which we might be rendered conformabIe.
lie Immediately pointed out to us several
| a.