The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1857-09-02

ing hair, he cuts his way through the liv
ing wall, and says to his comrades Come.
All around him, friend and foe, thei,
swords locked together, yonder the blaz,
of musketry showers 6 ron hail IL ION hi.
band, beneath his horses feet the deadly
cannon and ghastly corpsas, still that young
soldier riots on, for Taylor has said "S-
lence that battery" and he will. do it.
The Mexcans are driven from thei,
guns; their cannon are silcnccd, and Mays
heroic band, scattering among the mazes
of the chaparel, are entangled in wall Of
bayonets. Once.more the cambat deep.
ems, and dyes the sod in blood. Hedged
in by that wall Of steel, May gathers eight
of his men, and hews his way back toward
the captured battery. AS his charger
rears, his sword circles above bis head,
and sinks blow after blow into the foe
mems Threats. To the left shout is
heard; the Americans, led on by Graham
and Pleananton and Winship, have 81
fenced the battery there, while the whole
fury OF the Mexican army seemed center
ed to crush May and his band. AS he
went through their locked ranks SO he
came back. Everywhere his men knew
him by his hair, waving in dark masses
his golden tnselled cap, his sword, they
know it, too, and wherever it falls comes
the gurging groan of mortal agony.
Back to the captured cannon he cuts
his way, and on the brink of the ravine
beholds sight that fires his blood
A solitary Mexican stands there in all
the frenzy of q brave mans despair; he
entreats his countrymen to turn, to man
the battery once more and hurl its fury
on the foe. They shrink back appalled,
before that dark horse and its rider MAY.
The Mexican, a handsome young man,
whose features can scarce be distinguished
on account of the blood which covers
them, while his rent uniform bears tcsti-
mony to his deeds in that days carnage,
clenches his hands as he filings his curse
in the face of his flying countrymen, and
then, lighted match ia hand, springs to
the cannon. A moment moro and its
fire will scatter ten American soldiers in
the dust.
Even as the brave Mexican bonds near
the cannon, the dark charger with one
tremendous leap, is there, and the sword
of May is circling over his head.
Yield p shouted the voice which only
a few moments ago, when rushing to
the death, said, "Come!"
The brave Mexican beheld the gallant
form before him, and handed Capt. May
his sword.
General La Vega is n prisoner" he
said, and stood with folded arm. amid the
mangled corpscs of his soldiers.
You see May deliver his prisoner into
the charge of the brave Lieutenant
who, when Inge fell, dashed
bravely on.
Then would you look for May onco
more, gaze through that wall of bayonets,
beneath that gloomy cloud, and behold
him crashing into the whirlpool of the
fight; his long hair, his sweeping beard,
and sword that never for moment stays
its lightning career, making him like tho
embodied demon of the battle-day.
In the rear of tho battle behold this
picture. Where May dashed like thun-
ierbolt from his side, General Taylor, in
MS familiar brown coat, still remains
Near him, gazing on the battle with an
interest keen as his own, the ST out form
he stern visage of his brother soldier,
rwiggs. They have followed with flash
NC eyes the course of May; they have
seen him charg'. and seen his men and
lorses hurled back in their blood, while
till he Numbered on. AT this moment
he brave La Vega is led into the presence
If Taylor, his arms folded over his breast,
liz eyes fixed upon the ground.
AS the noble hearted General expresses
lis sorrowthat the captive's lot has fallen on
me SO brave, as in obedience to the COM
nand of Twiggs the soldiers, arranged in
'attle order, salute the prisoner with pre-
ented arms, there comes rushing to the
Gene the form Of May, mounted on his
gel-known charger.
General, YOU told me to silence that
,attery, | have done it."
He placed in the hands of Zachary
'aylor the sword of the brave La Vega.