The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-10-18

rear as ordered; but when he reached Buena
Vista, he found us in possession of It. The
22d Of February, $500 men, mostly raw
troops, opposed to 10000 of the enemy, was
certainly not very encouraging day. We
did not feel quite SO happy OR so well, as
over this bountiful table tonight. We
thought Of homes and of families and friends,
and our chance of death was much, better,
wc thought, than of ever seeing them again.
For several days previous Gen. Taylor was
constantly engaged IN making arrangements,
and writing home. 1t is said, also, that he
made his will. But he never shrank from
his duty. 4 may PERISH was his thought,
but will perish in maintaining the honor OF
nv country have to run terrible risk
in assuming the responsibility of making this
onward march; bat it is the on y course
that will save my army. TO stay in Mun-
terry was to be sacrificed BY the overwhcl-
ming force Of the enemy. 10 save all, |
must risk ALL
The battle was lnught, you know the
rcs.!!t; but you never can know the III
hucncc that The presence Of General lay
Ior had upon the army. lie alone, so Il has
seemed to me, could have inspired by pre-
sence, every soldier in the army as The Vol-
untce,s were inspired. The confidence IN
him was compete. lie had commanded
Volunteers before, and had been successful
IIc had never been whipped; and the idea
got abroad, thai he never could be. When
manGuvrng my pieces athwart the guIIles, l
cite this as an example Of that confidence,
| saw clouds of dust about two miles from
nc. was painfully anxious, ] thought
Gen. Mmon had fallen upon our rear, and
attacked our depots, aud to meet him was
my first thought. A man come gaoplng
up through the dust INTO sight, screaming,
Old Zack is conngr Every soldier gave
invoialarIIy ullerancc to his feelings. Old
Zack Ca'nc.-aud in fifteen minutes the tide
Of battle tar ned. Four thousand five hun
drcd men rcpu!sed twenty thousand, and to
the influence of that presence under God, |
think am alive here 10 due with you this
day.
A gentleman, How often did YOU dis.
charge your pieces that day!
Col. Bragg. About $50 rounds to each
gun.
Another gentleman. How near was the
enemy tn your pieces at any ono time!
Col. Bragg. Within fifty yards at one
time when we moved them down.
Another. Where was General Taylor?
Col. Bragg. Within fifty yards.
Col. Bragg closed his remarks with say
ing: understand me, gentlemen, am sol
dier, and no po i;ician. know Gen. Tay-
Ior only as a soldier aud man. speak
of him only as the communicating of
our army in Mexico. have nothing to do
vita his politics. yours. 1t is the duty Of a
soldier chcertuy 10 obey whomsocver you
put INTO power. could not help speaking
of my commander when thus toasted, as
have been by you, for service under him.
have nothing to do with with politics.
4 NEwSPAPER.-A man eats up pound
of sugar, and the pleasure he has enjoyed is
ended; but the information he gets from a
newspaper is treasured up IN the mind. to be
cninvcd anew and to be used whenever oc-
caSon nr inclination call frr it. A newSpa-
per is nu,lhc wisdom ofnnc man, or two men;
it is the wisdom of the age and of hc past
ares too.
\ family wiIhont 4 newspaper is always
half an age behind The time in general intor-
nation, besides they never think much. or
find much to talk about. And then there
arc InlIe ones growing up in ignorance
without any taste for reading.
Besides all these evils, there's the wife,
who waen the work is done, has to sit down,
with her hands in her lap, and nothing to
amusc her or divert her mind from the tolls
and cares Of the domestic circle. Who, then,
would be without newspaper!
Benjamin Franklin.
"Arc you drunkard!" said the Record
CT. yesterday, to il hard case, who was
brought mp before him for being as blue as
indigo the mic before.
"NVhy, I'm adrunkard," said the prisoner,
nhut nnt an nh drunk ard -