Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-04-09

Ing DelOFe Iuc IeSlucuU, GIe IVY ioolliS
over the neck of his steed, as he coolly ex-
claimed d-"W Well-how do you like me p
'sDo you think you could kill an Indian?'
the President said, taking him by the hand,
as he leaped from his horse.
s'Aye-and eat him afterwards p cried
the 10y, ringing out his fierce laugh as he
read his fate in the old mans eyes.
You had better come in and get your
commission :" and the hero of New Orleans
led the way into the White House.
There came night, when an old man,
no longer-sat in the silent
chamber Of his Hermitage home, q picture
of age trembling on the verge Of Eternity.
The light that stood upon his table reveal
ed his shrunken form resting against the
pillows which cushioned his armchair, and
the death-like pallor of his venerable face.
In that face, with it's white hair, and mas
sive forehead, everything seemed already
dead, except the eyes. Their deep gray
blue shone with the fire of New Orleans, as
the old man with his long white fingers,
grasped letter post-marked s'Washing-
tom
''They asked me to designate the man
who shall lead our army, in case the annex
alton of Texas brings Oh a war with Mexl-
co"-his voice deep-toned and thrilling,
even in that hour of decrepitude and decay,
rung through the silence Of the chamber,
there is only one man who can do it, and
his name is Zachary Taylor'"
It was dark hour when this boy and
this General, both appointed at the sugges-
tion or by the voice Of the man Of the Her
mitage, met in the battle Of Rcsaca de la
Palma.
By the blaze of the cannon, and beneath
the canopy of battle smoke, we behold the
meeting.
Capt May, you must take that bate
ryp'
AS the old man uttered these words he
pointed far across the rayine with his sword.
It was like the glare Of volcano-the
steady blaze of that battery, pouring from
the darkness Of the chapparal.
Before him, summoned from the rear by
his command, rose the form of a splendid
soldier, whose hair, waving in long masses,
swept his broad shoulders, while his beard
fell over his muscular chest. Hair and
beard as dark as midnight, framed deter
mined face, surmounted by small cap,
glittering with a single golden tassel. The
young warrior bestrode magnificent charg-
er, broad in the chest, and small in the
head, delicate in each limb, and with the
nostrils quivering as though they shot forth
Jets of fame That steed was black as
death.
Without word, the soldier turned to
his men.
Eighty-four forms, with throats and
breasts bare, eighty-four battle horses,
eighty-four sabres, that rose in the clutch
of naked arms, and flashed their lightning
over eighty-four faces, knit in every feature
with battle fire.
s'AIen, follow p shouted the young COM
mander, who had been created a soldier by
the hand of Jackson, as his tall form rose
in the stirrups, and the battle-brecze play
ed with his long black hair.
There was no response in words. but you
should have seen those horses culver be-
meath the spur, and spring and launch away
Down upon the sod with one terrible beat
came the sound of their hoofs, while through
the ar rose in glittering circles those battle
scimitars.
Four yards in front rode May, himself
and his horse the object of a thousand eyes,
SO certain was the death that loomed before
him. Proudly in his warrior beauty he
rode that steed, his hair floating from be-
meath his cap in raven curls upon the wind.
He turns his head-his men see his face
with stern lip and knit brow they feel the
fire of his eyes they hear not 'men for
ward .' but 'smen follow !" and away like
an immense battle engine composed Of eigh-
ty men and horses, woven together by swords
away and on they dash.
They near the ravine old Taylor follows
them, with hushed breath, aye, clutching
his sword hilt, he sees the golden tassel Of
May, cleaning in the cannon flash.
They are on the verge of the ravine, May
still in front, his charger finging the earth
from beneath him, with colossal leaps, when
from among the cannon, starts up half clad
figure, red with blood and begrimmed with
powder.
It is Ridgely, who to-day has sworn to
wear the mantle Of Ringgold, and to wear
! it well! At once his eyes catch the light
now blazing in the eyes Of May, and spring
ing to the cannon he shouts
Zone moment, my comrade !! and [ will
draw their fre!''
The word is not passed from his lips when
his cannon speak out to the battery across
the ravine. His flash, his smoke have not
gone, but bark! Did you hear that storm
of copper balls clatter against his cannon
did you see it dig the earth beneath the hoofs
Of Mays squadron.
s:Men, follow" Do you see that face
cleaning with battle fire, that scimitar cut
ting its glittering circle'in the air? Those
men can hold their shouts no longer. Rem
ding the air with cries. Hark. The whole