Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-01
Golly, massa, you give i'm goss dat time

Then he would again resume his position, be-
hind tree, ,and await with anxiety the discharge
of another cannon, with straining eyes, watch
for the shot to strike the castle, and then rush
into the road and go through the same perform
auce as mentioned above. The fellow had con-
Quoted himself in this manner for twoor three
hours, when shot from our battery made aes
perate havoc with one of the out-wcrks OF the
castle. The terrible crash could be distinctly
heard, and the clouds of dust that assembled In
to the air from the demolished masonry present
cd a picture similar to vast conHagraton-
The negro's delight at this smoment was Unbound
ed. He threw himself upon the ground, rolled
over and over, and kicked and squirmed like
dying animal, uttering loud and joyous cxcarna-
tons. Thus suddenly springing to his feet, he
leaped about five feet from the gpsund.A struck
his heels together, clapped his hands, and ex-
claimed
Whe-o-o up! Hoo-rah' by grashus, massa,
dat was de best of em all Give it to i'm
again
Just as he concluded the last sentence, the
loud report Of monster cannon was heard
| from the castle, then the whizzing noise of
ponderous shot as it came flying through the air.
1t was the poor negro's death messenger before
he ha4 IN opportunity to resume his position, it
struck him in the stomach, completely tearing
out his cntrails, and Of course instantly depriv-
ing him Of life. The poor fellows merry voice
was silenced in death.
Within musket range of Capt Drums bat
terry, small force of the enemy, perhaps fifty,
occupied position that enabled them to annoy
us very much, and occasionally kill Or wound
one Of the men stationed at the guns. These
men were undoubtedly sharp shooters, and were
stretched along, for perhaps sixty yards, in a
deep ditch. Taking the advantage of ev-
cry opportunity that presented itself for rem
making their services available, to our detri-
ment, they would partially raise up and dis
charge their weapons at US, and then quickly
resume their lying position These fellows had
been harrassing us so long and 50 fatally, that
General Shields (who commanded the brigade to
to which my regiment WAS attachcd) deemed it
advisable to disIodge them. For that purposea a
detachment of thirty men, under the command
of Il lieutenant gallantry and rapidly advanced
with his men, under sharp fire from those oc-
cupying the ditch Before be had advanced
forward sixty yards, three of his men were shot
dead Still this did not intimidate him or his
men. Onward he pushed-radidly nearing the
enemy. Now he was within thirty yards of
them, and still they maintained their position.
Forward the lieutenant pressed, and just as he
within about ten yards Of the ditch n masked
battery in the immediate vicinity opened its
its murderous fire upon the little party. When
the smoke cleared away, but three Of that gall
liant band stood upon their fee,-the remainder,
with the lieutenant, were stretched upon the
blood damp ground, trightful, mangled corpses
The three survivors stood bewildered for a mo-
ment, and then recovering themselves, speedily
rejoined U.s.
We, too, had sharp pshooters stationed at ad-
vantagcoas positions around the castle; and the
many Mcxicans that VIC found the next day, stiff
in DEATH with their forcheads pierced with balls
bore proof of the accuracy OF the aim. The
mounted rihcmen is the regiment to which al
lude. This regiment WAS composed oi the best
BODY of men-all Amcrcans--that ever saw
They were all crack shots, each man icing sure
to ''fetch his man." At Cbcpultepec they were
scattered in different directions, near the cas-
tie as they possibly could get, and hundreds OF
the cnemp that day perished by their unerrlng,
deadly aim. An incident that witnessed on
the 18th suggests the mentioning of the regi-
ment in order to introduce the incident itself.
From the base of the hill on which the castle
of Chepultcpcc stands, running upto the castle
itself, is Il broad, paved road. Down this road,
during the morning, horse mounted by Off
Ger, was seen to dash furiously. The officer was
undoubtedly an aid-de-camp, carrying orders
from General Bravo, stationed at the foot OF the
hill. lie wore very snowy cap, and therefore
| wondered that he escaped the rifles. His horse
was richly and showily caparisoned, and he him
self was dressed in IA gorgeous fdrm--in short,hc
was "as gay as a peacock, y as the eccentric but
gallant Capt. Farchild remarked at the time
had my eyes fixed intenty upon him the last
time saw him dashing down the road expect
ing every moment to see him fall from his sad
die. But ho escaped. Then awaited his re-
turn. Presently he came dashing UP the road
us he had repeatedly done! He had proceeded
about half way, when suddenly saw his horse
stumble and fall. lie Immediately disengaged
himself from the stirrups as the horse fell, stood
erect over the fallen animal and waved his sword
over his head, us if in defiance. The sharp crack
of a rife suddenly greeted my ear, and at that
moment tho ,emerous officer fell dead beside the
dying horse.
Another incident is recalled to my recollec-
tion, which serves to show the effectiveness OF
our artillery particularly the battery command
ed by Captain Drum. Late in the afternoon, a
party of the enemy were engaged in bringing a
heavy piece of artillery from the castle to the
of their troops at the foot Of the hill. They had
succeeded in getting it about half way down,
losing, however, SO far, two or three of their
men in the attempt, by the deadly aim of our ri.
femen-when Captain Drums attention was
called to lhe proceeding.
3" IN see if l can't put stop to that" was
his cool remark; which was presently followed
by the deep-toued thunder of one Of his heavy
pieces of artillery. The effect was astonishing
the shot from his gun striking the enemy
cannon and killing three or four Of the men,
The rest Immediately retreated to the castle
No similar attempt was made by them during