The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-08-22
Patrick Leonard and Sergeant
ThOs. BeggS.


ThOs. Beggs.
Patrick Leonard.--It will be seen from the
Congressional report in another column, that
Senator Butler alluded, in very appropriate
terms, to the gallant conduct of this gallant
solder-the "big Irishman," as he was once
called. Patrick Leonard was brave and gen.
erous spirit, if encased in a rough exterior,
and it gives us pleasure, if all the deserters in
Mexico was his countrymcn, to see that Seua-
tor Butler did remember him and his gallant
conduct. 1t certainly wipes out some of the
reproach which, we regret to see, Senator But
ler was willing to see cast upon foreigners.
We have clipped this paragraph from one
Of our exchanges, in order that we may do that
justice, which has been too long delayed, to a
brave but unpretending soldier.
We do not sympathize at all with that feel
ing which would make war with an oppressed
foreigner, who has sought our country as an
asylum from tyranny and wrong. Our ances
tors were all foreigners, and while that class of
persons demean themselves with proprIety, and
manifest proper regard tor the law and insti.
tutons of our Republic, we are as willing to
extend to them the protecting agis Of our Con
stitution and government as to the men who
are born and raised Oh our soil.
But our aim in this paragraph, is to correct
most erroneous impression, which has gone
abroad in regard to "Patrick Leonard" and
to bestow the need of praise upon the true
soldier who deserved it, and whose wife and
children might possibly enjoy the rewards OF
the valor of their husband and father.
A great deal Of hig flown language, and
much useful as well as useless breath has been
expended on the heroism of Patrick Leonard,
to the real detriment Of the man who merits
applause.
We had the fortune to participate in most OF
the battles of Mexico, and we have therefore
uniformly declined, as much as possible, 10
write or speak Of the incidents and occurrences
of that war, although we may have been taunt.
ed by envious, self:conceited upstarts, with
our frequent illusions to our own military ex-
ploits.
But we think it our duty, for once, to make
known what we ourselves have Witnessed
The company (D) to which we were attached
stood on the left of company "H' in battle,
to which last company both Thomas Beggs
and Patrick Leonard were attached.
Thomas Beggs was an Irishman as we'll as
Patrick Leonard, and Beggs it was who really
bore the standard of the Palmetto Regiment
in the heat of the fight. Hc was shot near
about the time Col. Butler fell. AS the color
bearer went down, COL Dickinson with others,
ran and took up the standard. In few mo-
mens he was shot down, and then Col. Glad.
den reared the flag, and after bearing it for a
time aud until the Mcxicans had, in a great
measure, ceased firing, he handed it over TO
Patrick Leonard that he might carry it, more
on account of his muscular power, than any
extraordinary courage or prowess that distin'
guished him.
1t is my firm conviction, that not single
man in the Palmetto Regiment was wounded
or touched by Il ball after Leonard was en-
trusted with the ensign under which they fought
Patrick Leonard lived in our own village for
long time before the war, and we knew him
well; and we venture to declare, upcG ouI
knowledge of his character, that he had as few
elements of the hero as any man that ever
shouldered or fired a musket in battle. With
very moderate nerves, he did have strong
desire to do his duty, and that is all that marked
his character. the truth has never been told
about the man, for he was naturally as timid
an Irshman as we ever knew, aud man OF
true gallantry has been robbed of his deserved
honors for one who was, in no particular, his
cqual.-EHgcfeM Adrcrtiser.