Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-10-21
From; til; the Marion American.
THE zPALMEfTOES In MEXICO.
By ONE: OF THE TWO HUNDRED.
q. NEW sEaIEs-No., ".

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES In MEAlGU.
BY oNE;oF THE TWO HUNDRED.
49, NEW sEaIEs-No. ".
In writing these chapters, I must parenthesizt
occasionally q little conversation with the Pal
mettoes. Within the last week ] have beer
pleased to receiYes many new subscribers
Among them is tCol..Ss "A II. GLADDEN.. He wa:
at Buncombs Springs in North Carolina, ant
will soon return=to New Orleans. Captain Sum.
ter writes me letter in regard to the members
of his company. Ittells sad tale.
lesa There are few off!tls here indeed; some are
dead, and some are gone to the West"
1t. Secrest sends i;me an interesting letter
communicating some important facts. Speak.
ing of the youthfulness of his company, (co. T.
which numbered II men he says
"There were but four men over 80 years o
age. The ages of the remainder ranged from
II to %, and most Of them were from 20 to %
wears old.n I hope all the suruiuors, privates as
well as Offices will write me letter. I wish to
hear anything they may remember, which they
think worth recording. I also wish to hear
how many Of, each company, are now living.
their place Of residence, and the names of those
who have died since their return.
A lady writes me-: 8
aI received the two last Americans to-day
am very anxious for the Palmettoes to get to
fighting. My scrap book is increasing now.
You remember told you that was preserv-
ing the sketches of the Palmettoes in Mexico
Shame on your bloody mndedness, Miss Rebec-
ca. Do you want the poor fellows to be killed
over again, before,their time? Be patient and
1 will let you sup on horrors, dream Of ghosts
and breakfast on blood.
"If you have tears prepare to shed them, then
The subject will. deserve it."
The hardships Of the Palmettoes began from
the very day when they left home. The call
was sudden and unexpected, the response was
| immediate, and the march was hurried, and
precipitate. Inthe bleak month Of December,
through mud and rain, they made forced mar
ches to the, place Of rendezvous. 1t was COM
minsling of men from mountain and from sea,
from highland andEyfrom lowland The city,
the town, the village, the hamlet, and the
country each sent its representatives who met
as strangers, strangely united in common
cause, and a commonfate.
I" Each valley, each sequestered glen
Mustered its little horde Of men,
That met, MS torrents from the height
eIn highland dales their streams unite,
Still gathering MS they pour along
- A voice more lloyd, tide more strong
Till at the rendezvous they stood
T. By;hundreds; prompt for blows and blood"
About the Goth Of December all had reached
Charleston, Hayingheen mustered into service,
to serve "during the war with Mexico" the
regiment was ordered to strike camp about five
miles from Hamburrl We, received orders to
march to Mobile, Afabama; which was selected
rs the port of embarcation. On the lst day Of
January, lS47, the right wing of the regiment,
under command of It. Col. Dickinson crossed
the Savannah river at Augusta. "The Cover
nor accompanied them to the middle of the
BRIDGE the limit Of his jurisdiction, and having
blessed them, and sent them forth to serve their
country, there he stood until the new bright
banners of the companies disappeared from the
view. and he heard the booming cannon of
Aususta's hearty welcome. Then silent and
in tears slowly he turned his steps,-his warm
and swelling heart, no doubt, oppressed by
some sad preSentiment of the fate of many .
ioyous youth sent forth never to returns
The right wing was taken by railroad to
Griffin, Georgia, from which point they march
ed on foot to Notasulga, Alabama.
On the second day Of January, the left wing
under Major GLADDEN., was conveyed ON the
cars to Atlanta, Georgia. We struck our tents
in the morning. and marched to Augusta, where
cars were engaged to convey US to Atlanta.
About four o'clock in the evening we crossed
the Savannah. We were halted upon the
bridge, to take last, lingering, and fond look
upon our native State, which so many of us
were never to see again. We fired salute OF
musketry to "our native land" cast the last
look upon its blue horizon, and wiped the in
voluntary tears that flowed from eyes unused
to weeping. But the struggle of feeling was
soon oyer,-the order to "Inarch" was given,
and to the sound Of martial music, the BOOM
inc of hospitable cannon, the wayings of ladies'
bandkerchiefs, and with every demonstration of
welcome. sympathy, and admiration, we march
ed through Augusta. / received one act of
humble hospitality which can never forget.
Near the depot was poor and humble family,
who lived in a neat little cottage. A little girl
about ten years old, came to me, and begged
me- to 90 home with Ler. There was in her
face such genuine expression of beneyolence
and sympathy, that accepted the invitation.
Her mother and father who were French, gave
me the warmest and kindest welcome, and soon
the little table was set, and a hot supper spread
before me. The mother and daughter evinced
the most aifectionate solcitude for me. Had
Ia fatber 2n No. aHad mother?" No.
Poor little fellow so lonely and bereaved, and
was going to the bloody wars to be killed %
Amid shower of prayers and benedctions,
from the kind old woman, and the tears OF her
little daughter, I left them, under q promise
that if ever I got back, would call at the
little house with two chimnies" and see them
again. g.,
The old lady had sent her daughter with in
structions to bring home "a soldier" with her.
She was to make the selection, aud was the
Fortunate fayorite. 1 was then STRIPPING,
smooth-faced boy, pale with study, and sup
pose NV youtlfuiness excited the sympathy of
the little girl. II was singular good fortune to
have rot a good hot supper just before starting,
for it was the only meal / had for nearly two
days.. This NAV be thought, and doubtless is,
trifing incident, but it illustrates, the kind
ness and patriotism of poor ignorant woman.
Her country was at war, its soldiers were at
her door. and she felt a patriotic wish to do an
humble act of kindness to one of them. She
therefore cooked a hot supper and commissioned
her little daughter to go and bring home "a
soldier"
About shutdown on the2d Of January we left
and on the next night reached Atlanta. Then
Atlanta was little village of 800 population
The railroad had just reached there and it had
lust begun it's magical rise to Importance. II
now has 10000 population. The weather was
raw, cold, and wet. The rain fell in constant
sluiee. the heavens were dark as Erebus, and
the cold chilling wind blew fercely upon us
We had nothing to eat, and nowhere to sleep
My supper that night was hard sea-biscni,