Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-03-22


broke out he asked to be removed from the
Philadelphia Navy Yard to the field of
more congenial service; but the government
sent him to the coast Of Africa. Here he
visited the slave factories, from Cape Mount
to the river Bonny, and through the infamous
Da Souza, got access to the baracoons Of
Dahomey, and contracted, besides, the coast
fever, from the effects of which he has never
entirely recovered
From Africa he returned before the close
Of the Mexican war, and believing that his
constitution was broken, and his health rap
idly going, he called upon President Polk,
and demanded an opportunity for service that
might crown the little remnant of his life
with achievements in keeping with his ambi-
ton; the President, Just then embarrassed by
a temporary non-intercourse with General
Scott, charged the Doctor with dispatches
to the General of great moment and urgency,
which must be carried through region oc-
cupied by the enemy. This embassy was
marked by an adventure SO romantic, and SO
Illustrative of the character of the man, that
we are tempted to detail it,
On his way TO the Gulf he secured horse
in Kentucky, such as a knight errant would
have chosen for the companion and sharer Of
his adventures Landed at Vera Cruz he
asked for an escort to convey him to the
capital, but the officer in command had no
troopers to spare--he must wait, or he must
accept instead, band of ruffan Mexicans,
called the Spy Company, who had taken to
the business Of treason and trickery for
livelihood. He accepted them, and went
forward. Near Puebla his troops encounter
ed body of Mexicans escorting number of
distinguished officers to Orizaba, among
whom were Major General Ganoa, Governor
of Puebla his son, Macmillan, and General
Torejon, who commanded the brilliant charge
of horse at Buena VISTA The surprise was
mutual, but the Spy Company had the ad-
vantage of the ground. At the first instant
of the discovery, and before the rascals fully
comprehended their involvement, the Doctor
shouted in Spanish, 'Bravol the capital adj
venture; Colonel form your line for the
chargeW And down they went upon the
enemy; Kane and his gallant Kentucky char
ger ahead Understanding the principle that
sends tallow candle through plank, and
that the momentum of body is its weight
multiplied by its velocity, he dashed through
the opposing force, and turning to engage
after breaking their line, he found himself
fairly surrounded, and two of the enemy Civ
ing him their special attention One Of these
was disposed of in an instant he rearing his
horse, who, with blow of his fore foot,
hoored his man; and wheeling suddenly, the
Doctor gave the other sword wound, which
opened the external lilac artery, and put him
hOrs de combat This subject of the Doctors
military surgery was the young Macmillan.
The brief melee terminated with cry from
the MeXicans !" We surrender Two Of the
officers made dash for and escaped, the Doc
tor pursued them, but soon gave III, the chase.
When he returned, he found his rufiians pre-
pairing TO massacre the prisoners. As he gal
loped past the young officer whom he wound
ed, he heard him cry, "Senior, save my faith
err" A group of guerrilla guards were dash
ing upon the Mexicans, huddlcd together,
with their lances at rest He threw himself
before them-one of them transfixed his
horse, another gave him severe wound in
the groin. He killed the first lieutenent,
wounded the second lieutenant, and blew
part of the colonels beard off with the last
charge of his six-slooter; then graphing
with him, and using his fists, he brought the
party to terms The lives of the prisoners
were saved, and the Doctor received their
swords. As soon as General Gaona could
reach his son, who lay at little distance
from the scene Of the last struggle, the Doc
tor found him sitting by him, receiving his
last adieus. Shifting the soldier and rosum-
ing the surgeon, he secured the artery, and
put the wounded man in condition TO travel.
The ambulance got up for the occasion, con-
tanned ut once the wounded Maximilian, the
wounded second-leutenant, and the man that
had prepared them for slow travelling, him
self on his litter, from the lance wound re-
eeived in defence of his prisonersl When
they reached Puebla, the Doctors wound
proved the worst in the party He was
taken to the government house, but the old
General, in gratitude for his generous services
had him conveyed to his own house. Gen
eral Childs, American commander at Puebla,
hearing of the generosity of his prisoner, dis
charged him without making any terms, and
the old general became the principal nurse OF
his captor and benefactor, dividing his atten-
tions between him and his son, who lay wound
ed in an adjoining room. This illness of our
hero was long and doubtful, and he was re-
ported dead to his friends at home
When he recovered and returned, he was
employed in the coast survey He was "bath-
ing in the tepid waters of the Gulf of Mex
leo, on the 18th of May, 1885," when he re-
ceiyed his telegraphic order to proceed forth
with to New York, for duty upon the Arctic
expedition. In nine days from that date he
was beyond the limits Of the United States
on his dismal voyage to the North Pole. OF