Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-11-18
A s4ef Aees-.t .f d. siege or P-ssl..

a late numOefs1Oi tne L aiIneiu
Is. C.) Advertiser contains the fol.
lowing:
! The history OF the brilliant cam
paign Of the Mexican war every one
lis conversant with. The position
assumed and sustained by the Pal
metto regiment has long since been
recorded by able historians and
caused the heat Of the CaroIinian TO
ihrob with emotions of pride; but
iSere are other scenes which oc-
CURED in that campaign. which,
fron, some mishap, have never been
spread on record save once, and TO
some Of them we now call the
readers attention. The sick OF the
army, among whom were many Of
the Palmetto regiment, were left in
the city of Pueblo, in charge Of a
small garrison, whilst the troops
marched toward the city. Scarcely
had they left, before signs OF discon-
tent and a disposition to rebel was
manifested among the many ladrOnes
who infested the city. Groups OF
ierce-looking savages could be seen
standing in the plaza, with weapons
concealed under their zdrapdS,
watching, with an evil and hostile
eye, the movements of the garrison.
Large bodies of horsemen hovered
around the city, and, like birds OF
prey, would pounce upon their! de
ienceless victim at every opportuEi-
iy, and the deadly and fatal siiletto,
guided by an unseen but unerring
hand, found ITS way TO the heart OF
many Of the unsuspecting soldiers.
A siifled groan, heavy fall on the
rock pavement, and all was over.
The rattle Of escopets and the tramp
and champing Of well-frained stseds
could be heard at all hours OF the
night. These symptoms of revolt,
which increased daily, caused Col.
ChiIds, who was civil and military
governor Of the city, 10 fortify him
self as securely as possible, and that
devoted band determined 10 sell their
lives as dearly as they could. Seni-
nels were placed on all commanding
points Of the city, and kept there
day and night, exposed TO an irregu-
lar fire OF musketry, kept up from
the housetops, windows. and corners
Of the streets. Many of these SEN
iinels were killed while on post; but
as soon as one would fall another
would fill his place. Each and
every one Of thai gallant band per-
formed daring leats OF bravery,
which should have made them he
roeS.
Who Of that Spartan band can
forget the noble conduct OF the
daring and intrepid Alexander, who.
though wasted under the influence
OF protracted disease, was first at
every point oI danger, and who,
whenlying in the agonies ol death,
begged his friend and comrade in
arms, the chivalrous- Lieutenant |
CoIoner of the 25th regiment, TO
"raise him up and let him have one
more shot al the cowardly rascals.n
All remember the gallant Heron,
who, with his company of Pennsyl-
vanians, charged and took possession
of fortified building from which
raging fire was streaming; "lor,"
saws an witness, "no one ex-
pected, when they marched TO the
building, that one OF them would
ever return alive" .5. ~
Santa Anna with the fragment Of
his army now surrounded the city,
and sent an express to Col. Childs
demanding formal surrender Of the
city and OF his forces. The gallant
colonel replied that he politely de-
clined his invitation to surrender at
discretion, and that he would defend
the city to the last extremity. Skir
mishes were OF daily occurrence.
The enemy had cut off all supplies,
and the troops were compelled TO
subsist on less than half rations.
No one could show himself but that
a shower of bullets would fall
around him. Night and day did
they stand on post, weakened by
disease and suffering for want of
food and water. Their suferings
were now terrible; their little force
consisting OF some l.500 men, half
Of whom were sick, were sur
rounded by 5000 regular troops,
and in the midst OF an inturiated and
treacherous populaces But, for the
purpose Of acquainting the reader
more fully with this thrilling scene,
we make; an extract from the wri-
tings Of a gallant member of com,
pany G, who was, also among the
besieged: III, - s-.-,-,, -. ~
S"'Look for a moment at the pecu.
liar circumstances of our situation.
Surrounded, as we were by an un-
known number OF savage and blood
thirsty foes whose avowed and
sworn determination wasto butcher
ns in cold blood tha noment We