The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-08-20
"REMINISCENCES OF THE PALMETTO REaI-
MENT

The speech mado by our distinguished
representative, i'll Congress, the Hon. Law
-encc NJ. Kett, ut tho banquet, recently
given by the City Council Of Columbia to
Tho survivors ofthe Palmetto Regiment, in
which he related several incidents Which
occurred on the bloody field Of Churubusco,
unknown before, save to those who now
survive, has created an interest, and caused
q feeling among our citizens to hear and
know more of the history Of that Rcgi-
mcnt.
The following sketch is,-as we believe, q
full and true account of the death of Col.
Pierce NJ. Butler, and what occurred thcre+
after:
Early i'll tho action, Col Buffers horse
was shot through the nostrils, the ball cut
ting the hcadstall of the bride, causing the
bit to drop out Of his horses mouth. The
Colonel Immediately dismounted, when his
horse plunged most furiousIy, became wild
from pain, and ran into the ranks of the
enemy. Soon after this, Col. Butler re-
ccivcd a severe wound in the knee, the ball
passing under the joint, and through the
flesh, causing him intense pain, and almost
rendering it impossible for him 10 walk, and
i'll Il short time disabled him from keeping
the command. lie retired, turning the COM
mand over to Lieut.. Col. Dickinson.
The fire of the enemy was now terrific
the very air was thick with tho lcadcn mes
.scngers Of death, and the continual order of
close ranks told how truly they did their
duty.
Gcnl. Shields then ordered the regiment
to retire behind 4 large hacienda, (whcae
Col. Butler and the other wounded Of the
regiment were lying) for the purpose of
forming new line. a new line was form
ed, and the regiment marched on under a
most murderous fire towards the enemy,
which were strongly posted i'll the. road.
Col. Dickinson i'll command and bearing
the Palmetto Flag. Beggs, the color bearer,
having previously been shot down.
When the regiment arrived in line
parallel 10 the road, and fscing the enemy,
which was several hundred yards from the
hacienda, Col. Butler was seen advancing
towards tho regiment, using his sword as Il
means Of support, to enable him to walk
As he moved up into ranks, Major Gladden.
approached, and spoke to him. The Colo
mel half faced to the rear, and while he and
Maj. GLADDEN. were in conversation, the fatal
ball struck him in rear of the left ear. He
turned on his left heel and fell straight
backwards in the arms Of Maj. GLADDEN.,
who gently laid him on the field, and Or
dercd detail of men from the ranks TO
carry his body to the rear.
During this time, the regiment had ad-
vanced several PAGES, and, as Major GLADDEN.
approached it, Col. Dickinson was seen TO
fall. Major GLADDEN. nwcntimmcdately to him
when Col. Dickinson SAID to him, "Here,
Major, take these colors and this sword,
and defend and maintain the honor Of South
Carolina" The gaIlcnt Major took the
Palmetto flag, handed it to Patrick Leonard,
"a private in Company H., who bore it
safely through tho chargc,) and, after or
dering a file Of men to take Col. Dickinson
to the rear, assumed command Of the Rcgi-
ment.
General Shields then rode up, when
Major GLADDEN. asked his permission to
charge. "That is what wish you to do,"
was tho reply. The charge was then or
dered, and soon the bayonets of tho Pal
mettoes forced back the scrried ranks of the
foe, scattering them in all directions.
Thus ended the battle of Churubusco.
Time and space forbid me to speak of
many other incidents which transpired on
that bloody field, but, perhaps we will re-
late them hereafter.
Potato Meul.-At meeting of the
Farmers Club, Of this city, on the 12th
inst, M. B. Soutllwick, of Canada West,
exhibited prcparation,of Of potatoes dried by
heated air after being boiled, which simply
takes away all moisture from the pulp,
leaving it in grains Of the size of coarse
gunpowdeE lie says it can be prepared
for cost of twelve cents a bushel, and
reduced in bulk four-fifths. This product
can bo kept as easily as flour, and may bo
prepared ready for eating in five minutes.
The process of cooking was exhibited to
the Club over spirit lamp, and the product
tasted much like ordinary mashed potatoes.
TO prepare it for eating it is mixed with
three times its bulk of hot water, and stir
red until it is of the consistency of mashed
potatoes. 1t is then set into an oven for