Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1848-04-05
q. d.. THU MAN
Edgefeld G. H., March 30, 1913.

"As our Brigade was returning ffnm
Alvasado 10 Vera Cruz. three miles from
abe former place | was left behind on The
road side sick, no, being able 10 march
any farther on account Of weakness from
,diarrhaa; when The baggage train came
up, begged of the Wagon Master per,
mission TO gel in and ride, bur was posi-
( lively refused-,his was early in the morn
/, ing, between anu O'Clock, aud there on
!, the hot sand near the sea shore. lay all
day till late in The evening, when fell
somewhat better aud sat up-as night came
on, felt str,nger and stronger. The Mexi-
cans had been passing and repassius, at
intervals all day, some Of them armed,
and Judged from The way they eyed me,
and talked among themselves, that they
would Attack. and either kill or lake ine
prisoner that night, which firmly believe
!. now, aud this caused me to take the course
j did. now, got up, bul felt sure that
could not march far with my heavy bag
Sage-knapsack, haversack, carlouch and
side arms.$so my mind was soon made up
to take the FIRST horse that passed load
ed my empty musket, the Sigh Of which
had kept The cowardly Mexicans al dis
,ance all day. This was dune bur shor,
time, before saw Mexicao o ficsr com
Ing up to ms-ae was well mounted, rich
ly dressed aud armed; said TO myself,
"Goi favors me with an opportunity, aud
cow Mr. Officer, we'll have it, He had
approached in about ten steps. when
raised my nusket, and told hin in Spanish,
The best could, TO gel duwn-thar / only
wanted his hnrse, aud would not fire. if he
wouldsgiye him up--but as soon as the
the other side, and ! Instantly stepped for
:, ward and seized the bride; at the same
lime he made an eif,rt 10 draw pistol
from his holsters, which prevented by
5lnakins a push at him with my bayonets
thatke avoided by jualplns aside; he then
put his hand 10 his sword, wbichconvinced
me thai he had bns that weapon and hhis
,lolsters. Whichsi aftef@ar found contain
8 sbiaee Of well ieilatsed a pistols: = toIa3
.-lmTsil yaS usrtess stU Tesiss: TIA, / So,fiy
wauled his horse aud would have him; !;
then taking off a .spIeadid cloak. ! threw it
S 10 hun. aud told him ebe GG. which he
!. did, ,muttering something 10 himself
s,3 Having placed my thugs upon the h,rse
gol, up, aud put of afterthe Brigade,
which was at,least twenty miles from me,
bal by this time twilight was fast fading
awav aud night setting in. rode on for
- some distance, the moou and stars shining
out very brightly, so that I could see every
thing as far as the eye could reach. o.
turning my head from The road. discov
cred some one lying by a los, about fifty
yards of, | determined TO see who il was.
thinking that it might be some poor feliow
who had been deserted like myself. 50 |
rode out TO the hg and saon found from the
uniform, that hewas Que of our Rec im.nt,
called him several lines, but he neither
moved nor answered, which led me To be
lieve :aat be was dead, still desiring To
know the worst. disnoun n,ed; found him
warm and brealhins, and after shaking and
calling him some time he aroused from a
sleepy slupur, then said, "Fit,imons,
wha, are YOU doius here!" to which he re-
piled, II have heen' left behind" get up,
said /, AID Try and see if you can walk, at
length, with difficulty, he sot up aud walk
ed few steps, but soon sa, down and in a
few minutes laid down .sayius"Tillman do
not leave me, | beg y'u;'lhe Mexicans
know that am here, and will Kill me if
you do" This appeal could no, he with
sood-it called up my own f,rlnrn cou'li.
tion but a few hours ago. and hut little bet
ter now. did No, know wha, 10 do but
this at least | resolved, not 10 go without
him. After mature deliberations. enquired
if he could ride horse back, 10 which he
answered, he feared noI-lhat he was 100
. weak, bu, he would try # he had nna.
AS said belore, the moon was shining
$; very bright, and f,rtuualelv this ENABLED
US 10 carry OUT the design We had formed
Of capturing another horse. We had aux
iously waited au opportunity for ahou' nalf
an hour, looking in every direction, when
suddenly casting my eye along The beach,
spied MEXICAN coming down II with
TWO horses, riding one aud leading The
olher; Immediately told Fitsimnns 10 ge,
up, now was our chance-he replied that
he was 100 weak TO dc any lhing-mean.
time the Mexican was drawing naar, but
was fixed on it, that bs should noi escape
me. gave Filsimons the horse | had,
i and put off 10 Intercept the Mexican he
tween my musket anj the beach. which
easily did by presenting ii and ordering
him TO get down aud take the other hnrse,
which was not as geod as the one he was
riding; he readily obeyeI, and seemed well
satisfied 10 gel offso well, BY quickly lrot-
ling away.
returned to my companion and put
him on the new horse, and then we started
after the Brigade endeavorios to overlake
il that night. but were uuabIe 10 d" So
The farther we rode rhe weaker got and
Fi,simons grow s'ronger--ti! a. length af
ter riding several miles, proposed that we
should leave the road AMI luke nap iu The
bushes. | was completely exhausted from
loss of sleep. ] had slept Bone the night
before, on account OF the musqueoes.
Tho owners Of our horses pursued US,
asd passed while we were asleep. !, Cen