Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1849-06-16
Es0ns tie Neso- Orleans Dels1

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From the Ne,U- Orleans Delta.
Messrs. Editors MY attention having
been called to an article in Monday morn,
ing,s Crescent y setting forth the claims
OF Lieut.. Mayne Reid to Gen. Jackson's
gold box. and noticing in that article ma
ny glaring Inconsistencies mot to use a
harsher term Il have thought tiny duty,
as member of one of the regiments mem
toned by him, totgive simple statement
OF iacts whlcit heretofore have never been
disputed to my knowledge. / shall SIM
ply review his statement in the order in
which 1t appears, so far as my personal
knowledge extends.
~ ms tirst three statements can say
nothing. But in his fourth, he clnims
having taken the first trophy captured by
the brigade of Gen. Shields in the battle
OF Contreras Such an exploit was total
ly impossible, from the nature Oft the for
NATION OF that brigade, the South Caro-
lima volunteers having been brought to
the attack OF the retreating enemy1--be-
fore, and at least 900 yards farther up
the road than the New Fork regiment. of
which the Lieutenant was8a member
furthermore, the fire of the South Caro-
lima regiment destroyed what little order
was preserved in the Mexican ranks. and
gave the New Workers but little oaportu-
nifty OF making the first capture, as dozens
ofthe Palmetto regiment were in the road
capturing horses and making prisoners
In his fifth, he says that Shields brig
ade was composed of five regiments.
Ssch WAS not the case it consisted of the
New York and Palmetto regiments. who
were afterwards supported by three or
four companies taken fromthe Rifles. and
If remember rightly, also from the Dtb.
11th and 18th regiments of Infantry---;n
all, not more than 1900 men; this in
cludes the party with the howitzer.
Lieut., Reid says that his company OBJ
was the only one that stood the fire Of the
enemy, For that / can say positively.
that when the South Carolina regiment
was brought into line, the New-Y Yorkers
were in the utmost confusion, and had re-
tired behind the Hacienda, or were scat
tered about the field, save some twcnty
brave fellows who had surrounded their
nag, The Palmetto regiment remained
IN Inc some. fifteen minutes, Col. Butler
requesting Gen. Shields to give the or
der to charge, which he refused to do,
and he having failed to restore the New.
Workers to their ranks, ordered the re-
treat of the South Carolina rct-:rnent
Even then the order was not extended to
the three left companies, who stood until
the balance of the regiment had proceed
ed some distance. when having been in
formed of the ordsr, they followed.
In the sixth, he says he forced a body
Of South Carolinians to carry Lieut.. Col
Dickenson from the field. Such could
not possibly have been the case. Col. d.
having taken his position in the centre ot
his regiment, and was there when woun-
.ded. Hence, if Lieut. Reid was near
Col, y. when he was shot, he must have
so far forgotten the first duty Of an officer,
as to leave his company and regiment, and
attach, himself to another, at a time when
every man, more particularly an officer,
should be seen at his post.
In the seventh, he saws that he CAUGHT
the flag of the Palmetto regiment, as 8 i
tcilfrom the hands Of Col. d. and carried
y ior some time Agah,, / ask, was he
at his post?
bpt this is MT the only ground on
Which / base my disbelief. Tshe subject
q the flag has been discussed a hundred
nflles. and 4 will give & brief history Of it
IN satengagement. Whenthe regiment
%as ilrst brought INTO action. it was car.
nee py the color-serg geant (T. Beges) who
was wounded while carryincit Colooel
g,csenson ..m then took the flag, and bore it
.iii hcEwas shat down. .Es Nea handed
st a0sM ms ssoosss. n Col. Giaadyem and
! y was committed by the Major to tba
care Of q member Of company Fl. ls Le. M
opard) who bore it. ttbronglout that Iat.
tie, and every subsequent one, tiff Il was ,s
the first to wave over the cai,f,,fea ~. II