Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-04-29
ILLINOIS TR0UPs---AFFEcTIN IN
Cff1ESTS.

The following from Inc 81 LOUIS Revetlie,
shows that the brave volunteers from Illinois,
who behaved so nobly at Buena Vista, were
composed Of some veterans, and that they free
" met death on the battle field
PATRIOTISM i--Lisa. Price.--On the frst
call for VOLUNTEERS a company OF rlflemen was
raised 10 Pulaski county, Illinois, under the
command Of Col. Henry L. Webb. Ii num-
bered one hundred, rank and file, which was
just one one-fourlh of The number of voters IN
the whole county, The FIRST man who sign
ed has name to the mus,er-roll was Smith Price,
an old Yirginian, serenity three years OF age
Two Of his sons, who had previously served
in the Black Hawk war followed his example,
and the complement was soon complete, OF
the best young men in the county. When the
roll was full, Col. Webb intmated 10 Mr..
Price that he supposed he had signed the roll
only for the purpose of setting the young men
a patriotic example.
"You are mistaken, them" answered the
old yirginian; 81 signed my name there, sir,
for the purpose Of setting them an example on
the field !"
81 am afraid, Mr.. Price," said the Colonel,
chat they will mol receive man OF your adj
vanced age" s.il-..
at matters not" said the brave old man,
Il can pay my O~u SAPSuSSS, aHu AeLl vi
my own hook"
Finding remoEsirance useless he was per
miited 10 accompany them, and at the rendez-
vous, at Alton, he was chosen Lieutenant OF
the company. On the march to Mexico, the
old man was permitted to ride, his age and
feebleness not enabling him TO undergo the Ia
tigues of a foot march. In a conversation with
the officers he said
II 10 r,ld rof,,c to
far now as they would forty years ago but
when the lighting comes, gentlemen, viii be
there and shall feel proud 10 lay down the
small remnant of my life in not only setting
an example 10 my boys. but proving to our
enemies that there is no limit in age TO North
Americans fighting days!
| Every officer belonging to the Pulaski com
pany was killed, and among them the brave
old Lieut. Saith Price; besides, report says, at
least fifty of the company. They formed a
portion OF Gen. Woods advance guard, belon-
ged to the light battalion, first engaged the en-
envy at Buena Vista, and Of course, suffered
dreadfully.
| Col. Webb. now raising five companies at
| Cairo, left the command last January TO bear
dispatches from Gen. Wool. He was at home,
| in Pulaski county, when the news OF This
great severe fought battle arrived, and he says
when his anxious neighbors and friends ga
thered in his house 10 learn particulars--this
child asking news of his father, wife other
husband, and father of his son-.hat, knowing
the sad loss the county had suffered, and fear
ing 10 tell it, he broke away and left. When
leaving the village of Caledonia, half a dozen
young men gathered round him to be enlisted.
He told them he could not take them; tina:
Pulaski had suffered too much already, and
that he should grleve TO rob her of any more
other brave sens. They informed him that,
if he refused they would go into Kentucky
and join the companies raising there, for they
were ashamed 10 remain at home now, and
know that SO many Of their companions had
persisted bravely fighting, while they were at
home ingloriously listening TO their deeds of
valor!
| Surely this county Of Illinois Is rightly ma
med 'i'ulaski"