The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1849-01-26
The Fate Of the " Foreign LegiOn.''
BY II. G. CH1PMAN.

-
The morning Of the l4th Of September,
broke clear and calm over the dark and irown-
ing battlements Of The Castle Of Chapultepec
The flag Of the MeXieans streamcd proudly
out from the ramparts, and waved in all It's
gorgeousness to the gentle breeze which swept
along the plain. Shining bayonets and %glis'en-
ing sabres reflected back the SUMS bright
rays aud deep month"; ed cannon doomed out
upon the surrounding country, threatening
death and destruction to the advancing foe.-
On they came, filing out column after col
umn, from the suburbs of the little village OF
Tacubaya, and sweeping Ikea tornado upon
the devoted ramparts. Suddenly, from the
batteries Of the castle, a stream OF fame and
smoke shot forth, and all along that lengthen'
ed line, the missiles OF terror and death went
hand in hand, cutting d'wn the noble and
brave, the good and generous, and strewing
all in one mingled heap Of gore and blood
War, with all it's blasting and desolatiug Ell
feels, was carrying grief and misery into ma
ny a heretofore happy family, and striking
down the father and husband, the son and
brother, in terrible and bloody havoc, and
consigning them to one common aud sorrow
inc grave While'the faces Of the wife and
sister athome were perhaps, W reotbedin smiles.
that of the husband aud brother was writing
in the agony Of death upon a foreign soil, and
breathing out life's last sigh amid the roar Of
cannon andthe rattle ofmnskets. The scenes
Of that fearful and fatal morn will never be
forgotten.
But while this was trunsacting around Cha
pultepec another and still more terrible scene,
was passing in the little town Of Miscoux, some
half a mile distant ftom Tacubnya. At the
battle Of Churubusco, the 'deserters under Ri
lev had been captured, and after an impartial
trial sentenced TO be hung. They were known
BY the title Of the Foreign Legion and were
/ made up of men who had deserted from the
ranks Of the Americans and joined the fore
Of the:enemy The day set for their execution
, was the 18th Of September audit also hap
pened that the attack upon ChapultePoc tool
place the same day.
The sun Lad just risen, and tinged the Eas'
with his purple rays, as they wereled forth tc
die. Thirty in number, and surrounded By
d strong body Of men, they advanced witt
slow steps towards the gallcws, the mufie'
drnm sending forth its solemn death notes, ana
! giving to the whole the appearance ~ amili
! tary funeral, rather than apublic execution
! they were arranged under The gallows, which
4 was one erected for the purpose-being moth
inc more than two large posts set firmly NTH
ground. across the top Of which wasaplace'
a pole Of sufficient length to admit the bod
les Of thirty men. Beneathrit the prisoner
were arranged, with a moose around thel
~necks-the other end Of the rope being throw
over the pole, was grasped BY thfee or lou
stout men, ready V 4 Emoment's warning t.
launch them into eternity. A gloomy silenc'
pervaded the spot, and as they gazcd upon tn
oroup collected there, they found no sympa
d thizing glance in the %scowling faces and glaI
inc ewes which were Fixed upon them. The
had destroyed the last feeling ofrespect felt to
them, when they took up arms against thel