Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-01-07

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told that fear was fast predoninatng. ovei
hope. He had promised that u The Meri
cans toere obliged to retreat, he would NEE
her al a certain spot on the road. and he haC
not come; aud now after the last fugitive haC
passed by on the high road TO Jalapa she
came on the woful errs0d Of seeking her hus
band, 10 find him either among the suffering
or the slain. ! pointed TO the groups o
wounded, among whom the surgeons were
actively at work; and she turned away, with
love. hope and fear merked upon her flowing
eyes and her quivering lip. woman on a
batIle field may impeisonate the genius OF
sorrow. She cones 10 perform holy Of
fce--to mingle affections tears with valor's
blood.
She spent hours in fruitless search among
| the prisoners the wounded and the dead;
and then she came to thank me, with native
| polileness, and TO say, with words OF inpen-
ded utletance, that he tcds not anytohere.
| had read Of such scenes, but 20 words
can do them justice. have heard Of the
tenderness, fortitude and deathless attach
tient of woman-such scene forms their
! best illustration.
Meanwhile, had begun my researches
among the wounded. Under the TEN nporary
sheds, which has served as their shelter TO
the garrison, where lying, without regard TO
| color or rank, Mexicans and Americans Ofli-
GERS and men. There found avalued class
mate, severely wounded, and other officers
vsiiousy hurt. There, lying diagonally,
parallel. or al right augles. were Mexican
colonies and captains. suffering from pain
and humiliation, answering coldiy TO my en-
quities concerning their wounds, and receiv
ing assistance with the most undisguised an
noyances. There was young Mexican ser
eeant screaming with pain. What said |,
are you boy! Behave like man. 'Ay,
senior, he replied, 'creo que el diablo esta
ddentro demi piernd. U believe the devil is
in my leg,) | looked at his leg, which had
been broken by a musket ball, and found
that the Mexican surgeon mad put on splits,
without setting ;he limb. cut the cords
with my sabre, aud. with some assistance
fixed it quite comfortably. He thanked me.
But the most revolving sight of all that
saw that day, amid blood aud carnage, was a
camp woman, more Indian than Mexican,
filthy degraded looking wretch, who was
groaning with mortal wound. Her face in
dcated Intempetance and luathsome excess,
she had lost one eye. probably in former
brsw, and now she was cousummating a Ca
reer which it was painful ior the imagination
10 trace. Human nature abounds in anti
theses. but the two women OF Cerro Gordo
were ia remarkable contrast. For the be-
reaved and hean-broken felt d powerful
sympathy; but turned from the dying with
slckenlng disgust.
Poor E., Of the rifles. ore Of the first
beiOre the enemy's entfenchment. had fallen
at the breasr-work, shot through the body
Through the care of his brother and friend,
he was lying apart fiom the rest, under a
temporary shelter. One does not like TO die
among the curious 'ances Of strangers and,
never having met E, | contenied myself
with sending such comforts as i could COM |
msnd, and watching his little blanket tent al
a distance. He died that night. among the
most pleasing iancies OF delirium. We ba-
ried him the next morning on the hill side
and placed his shoes at the head and foot Of |
his coffin. that his remains might be identi
fled for removal.
Am ong the dead, prominent in rank, age
and position, was General Citiaco Vasbuez.
He was lying at the very bresst-work, shot
through the To rehead. Some scoundrel bad
Ifled his pockets: but fine handkerchief
was lying upon his face, aud thus covered, be
looked indeed 'lke warrior taking his resi-
Near him was young sergeant OF the sew
enth infantry, stretched al full length. His
eyes were open, and some friend had lain his
arms across his breast. His uniform was
new. and Gtted well, and his tall, soldierIy
figure appeared like statute such as those
W hich lie upon the sarcophagi Of mobiles anC
nighs of former age His teeth were
set. aud most stern and determined sxpres
sion was thus siWn to his marble features.
Neither grave stone nor historic record has
accorded to him. nor thousand others of
whom he is the type, place among the
'immeritis mori;" bat all who looked upon
his glorious bed at CerrO Gordo will remen-
Der the eye unclosed in death, and the mate
ial aspect Of that handsome young soldier,
As looked upon these two PROSTATE fig
lres, contiasted in years, IN station aud in
country, | recalled to mind. the touching
emotion Of Priam- in anticipation OF Hec-
or's death. | wished the old man alive
again. in the bosom Of his family, his hosry
head unstained with gore, and natures short
emnant Of years cloudless as summer
Ky But for the youW felt an exulIaIion-
IN nde finable saIIslScuon. This was spen-
lid close to his short csreer-thls was his
nodicum OF glory.
Time would fail me 20 tell all the strange
md novel sights which this battle field pre-
,ented. Here was a soldier who was dead
Ipon his knees with his hand resting against
he parspet;, his last sigh was doubtless pour
ID oat in invocation TO ia santa .Hddre de
Dios.' A ltle apart was hesdless trunk.
All along the slope by which we bad ascend
ID, we're our own blue jackets. some clutch I
ng their muskets with the gripe Of death;
,thers with hands outstretched in their sud
len agony. One might almost fancy that
We had realized the story of Niobe.
Such is the csse-hsrdening power OF war,
hat |, who could not before look upon blood
without faintness, now heard the moaniugs, ,
lumoved, saw with curiosity, rather than !
nausea, the incisions and the blood, aud lent
,fficienl aid to the single American surgeon,
Who was performing prodgies Of surgery.
/ must not forget to mention remarkable
.sse. There was Mexican lying with his
Icad doicn hiA, shot through the brain. As
l. laIs Ia