The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-09-08
ThanlricnIl nt cohllaraa.

!. The Buaaio Cousisrselp the following cap
iaI yarn;
The most pFotracted, most equally match,
ed and severely contested conflict II ths
whole war has never yet been recorded, ane
we think i time thai a battle which had no
its equal in ancient AMI modern warfare
Should ct least have the simple justice lon,
il Of mention in history. We shall there
fore detail it just as itoccuued, stoutly re-
fadia.ipg any intention OF making ndilitny
capital for any named presidential candidate
1t was during one of the fights in the val
ley. that sergeant In one Of our infantry
regiments, venting 10 take drink from biz
almost empty flask, separated from bis COM
mund and stnyed off some distance from The
nucleus OF the fight. He had gained as he
supposed, sufficient "offing," and was
about applying his canteen to his mouth,
when be was interrupted by hearing voice
exciaim!
Hold, bastard :"
Now this expression, however popular
with the minor dramatists, is not one OF fire.
quent use in ordinary conversation, and i,
when uttered 10 gentleman about to rrgale
himself in supposed solitude, with modest
drought, Is calculated 10 startle, not to say
alarm him. Accordingly, our hero dropped
the flask. ere it reached the lips, and gszed
about him with bewildered air. Bot his
look Of blank amazement changed into one
of joyful surprise as he held out his hand to
another individual, who advanced to meet
him, with the same gesture Of friendship
The new conner was habited in the garb Of
Mexican soldier, but as he shook the other
heartily by the hand, he exclaimed. in :olera-
good English,
Well, Bob blow me tightif faint you T
'Nothin' shorter, joe responded the Amer
lean.
Where have you been since YOU left the
Bowery?' asked the Mexican.
.Plsyin' short engagement with General
Scott, replied the other.
Jest like me; Pm engaged for the season,
for general utility with Santa Anna re-
piled the Mexican.
AT this moment the changing fortunes of
the fight brought the very hottest Of it close
to our two non-combattants. who found
themselves suddenly surrounded by conHic-
ting squadrons.
'DIaw, scoundrel exclaimed Joe, suiting
the action to the word by producing his own
Toledo
Scoundrel IN thy teeth replied Bob, |
drawing his own weapon; and at it they
went.
How shall it be, Joe; bead blows or six
es.' asked Bob.
oh, the old story two up and two down.
with stamping and grinning-very bloody /!
the Richard the Third fight, you know!'
Sosati they went their swords meeting Of
every blow, but no blood being she'd. Both
armies stopped TO gaze at the unwon.ed
sight. Since Rome's best gladiatorial days,
such determined courage, mingled with such
askill, had not been known. They fought
and fought but without results. Sparks
hew, rage was depicted in the faces Of the
two men, the ground was tranpled for an
hundred feet in diameter, and still neither
was killed or wounded. At last, the sun |
set, and both armies retired, fatigued lpav-
ing the two desperate fellows to fight il out,
which they did so effectually that neither
Was seen the next day. And thus it was las
tradition goes) that two theatrical supprnu.
meraries terminated the battle of Contreras. |
We never inquired Of Gen. Riley, but pre-
sumo it is true.