Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-11-25
Til Midnight Struggle.

| IOne. o. the 1euIlSyiFduld foluu-
teers furnishes the following incident
to the Journal Of Commerce. The
writer marched with General Scots S
division from Vera Cruz to the city
Of Mexico.
1t was on the Sd of June, 1S47,
that Col Mcintosh left Vera Cruz
for the main army then at Puebla,
with a train carrying a large amount
! of funds in gold and silver for the
use of the pay, subsistence and
Quarter Masters Departments. He
had not penetrated into the interior
more than l5 miles, when he met
with a most determined resistance.
He Immediately apprised General
Cadwallader, then at Vera Cruz, Of
his position and the necessity Of re-
inforcements. On the 10th of June,
that General, with a force Of 500
men, Dame to the assistance Of Nc
IntosA at @Pnento de los Vegas
where he assumed the command, and
at noon on the ] th took up the line
of march for "Puento National" OF
the National bridge, five and hall
miles distant, where be designed en-
camping for the night. 1t was be-
coming dark when the vanguard ar
rived at the east 8end of the bridge,
and it " as about eleven o'clock P. M
when the rear-guard passed over
During these three or four hours, oul
brave troops were r eceiving the fire
of their murderous assailants with,
out permission to return it. This
was a severe test for new troops. The
details of this dred ddful and bloody
night have never yd t been placed be-
fore the public. | $ ball not attempt
\ to record its horrors. I merely give
an account Of the following singular
incident.
| A little after midnight, when al
| was quiet as death, save the moaning
ofthe wounded and the heavy breath
ing Of the toll worn soldier a single
shot was heard. The report t came
from the direction pf the picket OF
+b8 hr;dra and ahr,eored 90 have
proceeded from a d istance beyond it
and to the right of the fork over
looking the bridge, and the circuitoui
road approaching it. chose wh{
have been in actual service in cam
paign, VII at once imagine the ex
citement.of the alar m. A shot free
near camp, especially where tht
enemy is known to be in the vicin nity
| is always a signal for the troops tC
jump to their feet and the compan ME:
OF regiments to form in line, anf
! @stand at ease,'' waiting the report o
the officer of the guard, whose duty
iit is to- ascertain the cause Of the
j alarm. This was ordinarily the case
during the campaiguin Mexico; bu
\ the present was extraordinary in tht
highest degree. We were in a meas
1ure encompassed on all sides by {;
ruthless foe. They had q bitter re.
venge to seek, and their thirst 70.
gold was strongly tempted. Herr
were two strong and marked charac
! teristics Of the Mexican made keen
! ly active, impelling our enemy to pu
forth more than his usual pertinacit,
ofpurpose. They had already Bpreat
havoc in our ranks. Some of ou
/ braye comrades lay dead near US
4 and others we're suffering from NOR
,I tai and severe wounds. Our troops
Il too, thirsted for vengeance; butther'
|. was little prospect of that strong
7. feeling. being & gratifed. The mac
c4ssible echa apparel," its thorny thick
cts and rocky Businesses were at thi
, time sufficient barriers to protec
+ them from the American rifle
Scarcely had the sound reverberatet
among the lofty mountain knobs AM
died away il the distance, ere ou
gallant fellows were in the ranks
f awaiting the summons to meet tn
foe, or return to their stoned7pavet
couches. An electric shock woull
not have brought them to their fee
sooner than the supposed discharg
Of Mexican 9escopet.P Being O
lduty, / proceeded to ascertain tn
IIcause of the alarm. first went t
1.-THE picket on the bridge, and inter
rIrogated the corporal on duty there
lbut fliled Id obtaining any explici
information from him, After ma
rfking all the inquiry possible, with n
tbetter success, Freturhed and reporte
1.-The fruitlcss result, when the eompa