New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-10-29
THE COURIER on COL. Marks


THE COURIER on COL. Marks
BE coIoNEL's "couRAGE BEFoRE THE ENEMY"
Our doughty neighbor Of the Courier, in his ,
dition of yesterday, has an article resonant of
var and carnage, in which Col. Sam. F Marks
$ made to figure conspicuously. The Courier
,ays of Col. Marks that he has been soldier,
il and in brief but arduous campaign in Next
90 was distinguished for his frmness under pri-
walton, his courage before the enemy, and, in
camp, for his humanity and kindness to the sick
and woundedp
The inference that Col Marks figured in any
Of the battles of our armies in Mexico Is
doubtless new to our readers, and will afford
matter of establishment to the Colonel himself,
when he finds that he has been so summarily
converted into hero by the Romancer OF the
Courier A man never knows what his merits
are until some obhging biographer has paraded
them before the world and this we opine is the
case with Col Marks How the redoubtable
Colonel will chuckle in his sleeve when he learns
that the feuillefoaist of the Courier has Landed
him so highly for his "courage before the
enemy" when the only bravery displayed py
him was in breasting cheraur- de-trise OF prusn-
wood-when the only enemy encountered was IN
the armies of annoying insects, and the only
wounds endured were from the bites of swarm
ine yermin, wherein the poorest soldier endured
more privations and displayed greater fortitude
Verify, will not the Colonel be amazed
We happen to know something of Col. Markss
+" courage before the enemy" in Mexico--of the
dangers he encountered
In the imminent deadly breach
and of his
aHair breadth escapes by food and field"
We will rehearse some of them for the special
edifcation of our readers, and for the enlghten-
ment of the Romanser of the Courier, as well as
for the purpose of soothing the feelings of Col.
Marks, whose modesty might otherwise be shock
ed by the unqualified praise bestowed on him by
the aforesaid Romancer. We have also another
object in hurting out the naked truth, and
that is, that we may smooth the path of the
Colonel in his electioneering tour, by showing
that he is not the bloody champion which he is
represented to be, but one of the "mildest man
nered'. of men! The Colonel will be obliged to
us, we are sure; for our disclosures will serve
to mollify the apprehensions of his backwoods
constituents, who might be otherwise disposed
to " cut and rum when he shall have shown his
face among them. The women and children,
too, on the borders will have an easier time OF
it when the Colonel visits themin their log cab
bins. He will be enabled, in his quiet way, to
kiss the babies, to pat the urchins on the back,
and to fatter the mammas for having the
finest children in the world; !" and all this with
out ssgiving them fits as he might have done,
had we suffered the Curriers' article to 60 forth
uncontradicted. The description referred to
smells too much of gunpowder, in view of the
real facts With our neighbours permission, we
will be the Colonels biographer in that interest
ing passage of his military life connected with
the war with Mexico We speak advisedly on
! this subject, inasmuch as we have the testimony
of an eye witness who was in the regiment with
Col. Marks, and who participated in all the ex-
ploits performed by that redoubtable corps
Samuel T Marks was Colonel of the Third
Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers in the cam
paign on the Rio Grande, and arrived at the
seat Of war little too late to participate in the
first battles, and for the glories Of the succeed
ing ones he came away too soon!
The Courier speaks of the courage Of Colonel
Marks before the enemy' @ whereas, all the
courage displayed by him was in the enemy
rear, they having ramossd from the theatre Q
conflict before the Coloners arrival.
We can testify to the military exploits of til
Colonel, few OF which we will instance:
1t will be recollected that there is atown
the Rio Grande, few miles from the river
mouth, known as Burita; position strong
fortified by nature, and calculated to hold o.
against great odds This fertilization lay
the line of march from Brazos st. Jago, and CO
Marks was obliged to pass it to form jun
ton with Gen. Taylor, opposite Matamoros
was impossible to go around Burita, and Il
only alternative was to take it. Col. Mar
had no doubt of being able to effect this, as
zjr had under him 800 or 1000 men, and W
assisted by the First Regiment of Louisial
troops. numbering about as many more. L
3d. entire force amounted to between 1900 and 20
men,
Although this force was undisciplined, it "
not wanting in courage, and Col Marks had
doubt that in conflict their exploits wor
cover him with immortal honor. He resolN
to attack Burita, concluding with desper
pre- resignation that if defeated he could but fl
sword in hand, and that would be the end of
Inc preparations ine assault NtIe all
GUS mirably made-Colonsl Marks forming him:
:. and men into forlorn hope for leading the
w tack, while the First Regiment brought up
rear
''n' At given signal the attacking forces rusl
A'' madly to the assault--Col. Marks being son
- where about-and with fixed bayonets-
Do. Still the breeze but dreadful the storm -
- they approached the terrible ramparts No
sound broke the stiffness of that dreadful no
he and not defiant bullet awakened the ech
within that leagured fortress. Marks
wandered on
,v Till within the range Of a carbine's reach
n.y. of the leagured wall but they saw him not
AS Or how could he 'scape the hostile shot
,o We know not, in sooth, but from yonder wall
'ay There flashed no fire aud there Missed no ball
an Burita was as quiet as churchyard, and
10 fortress surrendered without firing shot
tne whole garrison being composed of some la
most dozen old women, and as many of the ASST
Ter. speciesl This, however, was no fault of
ION. Marks, and he would be a niggard of praise
avs should deny that in this instance the Col
ssc. displayed courage before the enemy
,o,t But to our rehearsal. The bloodless vic
80 gained over the fortress did not induce
AZ, Colonel to relax his vigilance Success did
~. render him careless of consequences. On
,ou. principle that 90 in peace we should prepare