Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1856-12-04
Written for the Dollar times.
A SCENE ON THE BATTLE FIELD.
AN INCIDENT OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
BY RICHARD EVERETT.

The bloody battle Of Molino del Rey was
finished, and the American arms were again
victorious. But it proved dear bought VIC
tory. The battlefield was red with Anglo
Saxon bloom, for never did the Aztec army
make more desperate defence. Those
who participated in that glorious battle will
never forget its many eventful circumstan-
ces; how at faint dawn of morn, when the
stars looked sweetly upon the earth, our
army moved silently into its position, corps
after corps, artillery, infantry, and cavalry;
the muttered word Of command, the rum.
bling of wheels, and the muffled tramp
tramp! tramp! Of the devoted stormng par
ty, which pioneered the main force. 1t was
not five o'clock in the morning, when the
battle commenced. With thunder which
shook the earth, the heavy guns of Huger's
battery belched forth the signal of attack
Then the stormers, carrying their ladders
and fascines, started forward. cheering as
they ran, and were soon lost amid the thick
smoke which rolled from the Mexican can
non. Now and then broad flash of fire
showed our gallant fellows fighting hand to
hand with the enemies cannoniers. On
pressed the centre Of our line, and like a
rushing tornado swept the enemy frcm their
guns. But bravely they rallied, and in turn
our troops were driven back. Here the car
mage was dreadful. Of the fourteen officers
of the storming party, eleren were killed or
wounded in less than fifteen minutes
Meantime, upon each wing, the fight pro.
gressed with great fury, and the bitches in
front OF Molino del Rey and Casa de Mata
were rapidly filling up with the dead and
wounded. In front Of these defences the
carnage was terrific. TIE gallant Col. Nc.
lntosh was shot while cheering on his men
Lieut.. Scott fell in the front rank, and noble
Waite sunk under a mortal wound. Among
the Mexicans there was heavy loss of gal
liant officers. Old Gen. Leon, gray haired
but full of fire, Balderez, Hherta, and Meo.
leos, all accomplished officers, fought thei,
last fight upon the ramparts of Casa de
Mata.
But, direfnl as was the, conflict, no power
could stay the Saxon's red right arm. Over
broken ground, gaping bitches, and bloody
rampant, in The face of fire and steel, the
American troops pressed forward, trampline
the dead bodies OF friend and foe, beneatl
their feet, until covered with the stains o
battle, they stood triumphant upon the Mex
lean Notifications. Oh! it was a glurou
moment, when, as the smoke rolled away
the stars and stripes were seen waving from
the Mexican flag staff, proud emblems O
American valor!
But we did not intend to describe the bat
tie of Molino del Rey at length. Slowly th
scattered remnants of the American forct
retired from the hard-earned field, and upol
the Ninth Regiment devolved that mos
painful of all duties, burying the dead, AM
picking up the wounded. About sunset tn
labor commenced. Some six hundred me
divided into small parties pursued the mel
: ancholy duty. Day faded but the moon, 500
rising, shed pale, sepulchral light ever tn
scene, which no man could contemplate with
/, out thrill of horror. Over large ex
panse of ground the bodies of dead an
wounded men were thickly strewn. In som
places hundred corpses might be counte
within the space Of few square yards, ,whil
the sandy sell was wet with human gore.-
Large pits were dug, and friend and 70
found soldiers grave together. Deaf
had abolished all distinction. American an
Mexican, who few hours before wer
= striking for each others lives now laid peace
il fully side by side, their animOsity subduet
o Ambulances and wagons rolled away to tn
temporary hospitals filled with wounde
o men, whose groans Of anguish were awfl
to hear.
1t was while the work Of burial progress
ed that Lieutenant, in charge Of a sma
le party came to ravine not far removed fro
Or the main line Of attack, through which ran
=, bubbling brook. Many wounded men HI
crowded to the banks of this stream to s!al
that terrible thirst which severe woul