Democratic banner., 1848-05-29

fuses were too long; after this fact was as
certaine6, my men Immediately avoided
their eft cts, aGd a number were kicked III
to corners and small loolns where they could
do no harm.
During all this time our and the Next
Can batteries were exchanging a brisk fire,
the balls Of our battery passing Overus Co.
wards the church, pcalIEg tie tops of tie
walls and parapets If Tie houses, while. as
our party passed through every opening
and over every barrier, they gave lcud
cheers, which answered the two-iold Eur-
pose nf giving the commander of cur bat
.~teries nutIce of where we wers, that We
aot be free into, willie, at tie Same
time, this enthusiasm on our part intlmlda-
ted the tnrmy. In this manner the party
tnW"lGs the church and plaza,
and il less than three quarters Of an houl
frcm tie signal to charge, they Lad f"ng!f;
and worked tEeir way to within ;hiliy feet
of the church, anh gaiacd securely u large
house laatrrencG IN" tt:" piaZh and citrucii
DOOR, aud in five minutes more tie top OF
the church and pisza wo"id have been
ours. At this moment the enemy ir"m Iii'
church sounded a ra,ley. We lo"h."@ ~
and founded suspended overourhsa1> iron.
the s~tceple, tie wiite lag of sarrcndtr.-
We sounded cease firing, hut 50 intent
were the men. and So determined was tiIeiI
enthusiasm TO occupy tie church (ir"r
which 50 much mischief ltad been done
and the plaza before might, that ,hr officers
tinclndins myseif) had tie utmost difficult
ty in restraining them, aid 20 get them
once more into ranks.
In speaking Of the bravery and good
conduct of tho officers and men ~compris-
ing my command in this charge, where
eac! one acted so noble a pant, | deem it
proper 10 speak Of tie chief Of my staff,
Adjutant Simeon Hart acted molly in the
affair; he had solicited a post in the cEar-
ging column, twenty four hours previous
TO tie battle, and after doing hard duty all
day upon the staff at my side. he again as
ked NE TO place him in the line Ter the
charge. assigned him a platoon in Capt
Clarkson's company. From the mon'st
the charges began, all testify, both officers
and men, as well as myself, that lie was
with the foremost in leading, directing and
cuutioning the mcn-was ii the first over
batteries and through openings, and has
won for himself by his department in the
whole affair, the reputation of a brave and
chivalrouS officer, as skillful as lie is brave
and chivalrouS.
My heart throbS with emotions too deep
for expression, when come 10 speak of tie
conduct Of the OIL ccrsa and men in that meni-
orable charge. There were 10 towards
there-every man was an example of cour
age and valor.
That not a man fell after passing the dis
charge of the twenty-four pound hnwltZ"r,
| deem a most remarkable fact, which de-
monstrates that the skill and prudcr",
manifested by the officers of my command
have been rarely equalled. if ever su1Tas-
Sed.
Killed. Corporal Thomas Ely, Of co. T..
Wo"ndcd-Privates Ulysses Norton, co.
E., leg shot IF; JOHN b. Parrish. jr,, in the
leg; Menifce co. F., leg shot off.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
JOHN RAILS,
Col. Comd'g Missouri Horse.
To. 1t. W. Z. PHIcE, 4. a. \. Gen'l,
Army Of the west.