The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-11-14
ASHLAND. ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. WEDNESDAY MORN
TIRsT UNDER FIRE.
a aIscminisoence OF the mexican war

Soldicrs who have been engaged in
g the dreadful revelry of war are Of
teu.asked how they felt while perform
ing their duty1ia the heat of battle.
believe that-allo%ance made for all va
rieties of temperament is a far
greater similarity in. the sensations felt
on=saese occasions than is commonly
supposed; and that, although habit
bluits, to certain extent, the percep- |
tioh of danger, it never takes off the
keeuness of it's edge. The impressions
of lbis kind made upon my mind as a
lighting soldier in Mexico are still quite
fresh.
The soldiers love of novelty and ex-
citement is more than countcrpoise to
aflldspressing influences; and at no Pc
rioa of his career does his spirit show
itself more buoyant than when lie has
been ordered out on e campaign It is
only after he has endured some of the
stern realities of his situation that he
begins to cast nervous glance or two
upon the road before him. Ohe of the
NEST common and natural of the sources
| ofapprehension that disturb the young
soldier, and which his FIRST engagement
always finally disposes of is fear that
his. faculties may be so paralyzed by the
spectacle of carnage during an engage
ment, that being rendered faint aud in
capable of performing his duty, thestain
of,cowardice may taint his character.
With his first battle this apprehension
vauishes, and he discovers that when he
is once fairly in action, the excitement
is inteuse, and his whole energy is con-
ceatrated on the work in hand. Com.
rades fall wounded around him and are
scarcely noticed; there is no time for
pity, fear, or anything but action.
am Scotcllnian by birth, but en-
listed into the American service. 1t
was not my fortune to come to cfese
quarters with the enemy until 1 had
been nearly three months in Mexico I
consequently experienced portion OF
that uneasy state of feeling which | have
Just mentioned before first meeting the
enemy face to face | had become fa-
milliar with the sound, and the fury,
too, of shot aud she'll, in the trenches at
Vera Cruz, and was on easy terms with
them. Constant rumors of attacks, med
itated on our rear, had helped also to
keep the idea of close conflict familiar
In camp at Vera Cruz, l had beceme &C.
quain,ed with an old soldier, Billy
Wright, fellow couutryman, no had
served in his youth under Wellington
and been in several engagements without
receiving any serious wound. He had
also fought with the indians in the Flo.
rida War. I frequently talked with
this comrade on. tn subject of my first
engagement and his advice to me in.
variably was, that, as soon as feiug had
commenced, should fire and load as
expeditiously as possible, taking good
aim in which case, be assured me, that
should feel all right after the first few
rounds. Poor old fellow I passed him
as be sat down, after the first few rounds
at my first battle, Cerro Gordo, wound
ed; but he recovered from his wound
however, and vas sent home to receive
pension.
We had lain inactive four or Eve days
at Plan del Rio, few miles from rhc
cnemy's strong position at Cerro Gordo
when General Scott, having arrived, an.
examined as closely as possible then en-
emy's strength and position, at once dc
cided on his plan of action. In pursu
auce of his design, General Twiggs, witt
hie division, comprising the regimnnt t,
which belonged, was ordered to ad
1 vance by newly discovered route thro
l the bottom of ravine, aud TO gain
J commanding position on the top of
| high, unfortifcd hill 1t was while mo
wing down the ravine, which had beel
: partially cleared by our pioneers, AM
while waiting until party of the rife
0 should have beat up suspicious look
iug bit of c1 aparai in front. that W
s began to fear we were on the point o
II meeting with the enemy; but We had Ii
> expectation of anything more than
: skirmish. A shot or two from the mus
:, kets of the enc nv was followed by th
cracking of our rifles; aud at double
&c quick time we descended to the bottor
: of steep hill, partly covered wit
brushwood, on the top of which stood
: body of the Mexican infantry, busily Ell
= gagged in firing down upon us as we cam
'e in sight Luckily for US, their frin
u did but little damage; aud, ordered t
u charge, we, with loud hurrah, bega
running up the HILL When near til
summit, we began to FIRE, and the Mex
leans went off as quickly as our sho
: closely pursued by US up the hill. A
:, effort was made by some of our captaif
to form their men into companies s
= = they reached the top; but they coul
u only collect few, and soon gave up th
. attempt We pursued the flying Mex
T cans down the opposite side of the hi
which was only divided from Cerro Go
do by ravine, across which the eu'
r. my's battery fred grapo among u
while some thousands of infantry. clu