Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-12-05
M0SDgaaAMW.
The Palmettoes in Mexico,
by ONE OF THE TWO HUNDRED.
NMw sEnIEs-No. rouRrRnN.

On the morning of the 24th, another
battery was completed 1T mounted six
heavy guns, three eight inch Paixhans, and
three long 32 Founders. At ten o'clock
the chaparal which masked it was cut away,
and its fire was opened on the city. This
was the Malibran battery designated as
battery Nod And on the same morning
the naval battery near the beach revealed
itself to the astonished Mexicans bya sud
den sheet of frc. These batteries had been
concealed by the Intervening thckcts of
chaparral, which were not removed until
they were completed. The first intimaton
the Mcxicans had of their erection was in
the thunder of their guns All the guns
of the city and castle were turned upon the
naval battery. The cannonade was fierce
and terrible. Several of our artillerists
were killed at their guns. The Mexican
officers had their artilerists chained to the
cannon wheels to keep them at work. The
havoc i'll the city, of this days cannonadc
was awful beyond description. The earth
trembled with the vibrations of the cannon's
roar. Broad sheets of flame appeared to
leap forth from the batteries of the besieg-
ers. Smoking ruins, crashing roofs, and
toppliEg buildings attestcd the destructive
ness of our batteries. The fire stone pave
ments of the streets were torn up, and
ploughcd through with great furrows.--
The iron gratings of the balconies were
torn from their fastcnngs, and case
ments and lattices shivercd in pieces
The massive walls of the houses afforded no
protection. The cries of terror and des-
pair, of wailing and lamcntation were
heard all over the city. Fathers were
stricken down upon their own thresholds,
and mothers smitten at the fireside, as they
leaned over the helpless children who clung
to them in vain for protection. Stout man
hood and decrepit age, wailing infancy and
tender womanhood fell dead together
Prayers ayailed them nothing. \ bomb
would explode in their houses and bring
the topping ruins upon their heads
Whole families perishcd in one common
grave. They fed to the Priests and to
the sanctuaries and shrines of religion
and fondly hoped that these could shell
ter them. The cathcdrals and church,
es were crowded with fugitiyes from
their homes. But the house of God offer.
ed them no protection. Ap enormous hnmt
entered the centre of the cathedral and
spread death and wide havoc throughout its
sombre walls The Priest fell dead at tho
altar and the frightened fugitives fed tc
distant parts of the city. The whole city
assembled near the mole, which had been
safer than other places, but soon the guns
had acquired the range of the mole, and di
rected their missiles upon it. Gaunt fam
inc stalked abroad, threatening a lingering
death 80 those whom the bullet spared -
Unburied and horribly mutiIated bodice
laid in heaps about the city The air wa
noisome with the odor of deeomposition.-
The pangs of famine had furrowed th,
gaunt cheeks of the citizens, and their fer
eyes bore witness that slumbor had not Wis
tied them for many days. For who ooult
sleep under the momentary expectation o
death For more than fifty hours an un
ceasing dolugo of bombs and balls had rain
cd upon the city. Every household mourn
cd victim. And the fire of our batterie
was growing steadicr heavier, quicker, anC
more destructive. What people could en-
dure such scenes of havoc and horror, anS
what people would endure them in the de
fence of a city which the ncgleet Of tl,ci
infatuated oountrymcp had rendered hopo
4 less2 : And yet The army remained firm
Morales, the commandant, had sworn Il
issp egs stl,aiSFa9ee, OF 10 buried undo