The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-11-05
Prom N, Nurinn Im,ri-n.
THE PALMErrOEs IN MEXICO.
nr on. or tiin rwo HUNDRED.

On tho morning Of tho nth Of March,
just afler sunrise, Pat!crson's divisi' II pro.
ccedal forward, to extend tho the line vf in
Sestment around Vera Cruz. The first thing
10 10 accomplished was complete invest
mcnt Of the city, TO cut off supplies and rein
forcenents. The advance was very diff
cult on account Of the deep sand aud the
thick chapnrraL Pioneers with pickaxcs
were sent forward to open a way for u.s.
AS soon as our position was discovered, the
batteries from the city and castle opened II
heavy fire of shot and shells on us. They
ovcr-shot us, and their missiles went crack
ing and kissing far beyond us. Gen. Mo,
raIes the Governor Of the State and com
mandant Of Vera Cruz came out with some
cavalry and attacked lis on the sand hills.
lie kept up a hot skirmisl for about an
hour, chiefly with the palmcttoes. The
distance between us and the Mcxicans was
generally about four hundred yards, though
sometimes they came nearer. Their csco
petas shot very largo ball, with great force
They came whizziny and singing about our
heads like nest of hornets. They have
most melancholy, and diabolcal sound,
as if they were preaching the fune al of
their victims. Our position was a very
trying one to the courage and and discip-
line of raw volunteers in their first fight.
Not only was the skrinsh a hot one, but
the guns of the city and castle were play
ing ferccly Oh our exposed ranks. Yet
the Palmcttocs stood the fire as coolly as
veteran soldiers. The Mexicans cran to
retire and three companics Of the Palmct-
toes pursued them within less than mile
of the city. The guns from the city threw
shot and shells at us with terrible fury
They fell all around lis, and exploded above
us. One enormous cannon ball struck
about three feet in front of the ALbcvilc
company, and covered it with cloud Of
sand. Nothing saved us but the depth Of
the sand in which the balls buried them
selves. We continued in pursuit of the
fetreating Mexicans, but they kept beyond
range of our muskcts.
We took shelter behind some little sand
hills. COL Dickcnson was with us, Sc.
verely wounded. The batteries from the
city made the most untiring efforts to drive
us t'om our position. They seemed deter
mined to batter down the sand hills that
sheltered us. Their balls sometimes struck
the tops ofthe hills and rolled over among us.
Next they tried bombs, and they burstcd
them all over and around us. | saw a bomb
shell burst ovcl our heads, and an iron arrow
three feet long fell from it, and stuck in
the ground. Captain Secret was wounded
by fragment Of an exploded shell. We
were soon recalled, and We retired under
another shower Of shells from the CITY.
Eight or len palmcttocs were wounded.
among whom were Col. Dickinson and
Capt. Secrest 1t is really surprising that
80 little loss was suffered, for the air hur-
tied with deadly missiles.
Some companies of the Palmcttocs pre-
sented in their costume 4 ludicrous, and
some ferocious aspect. At Lobos all Of
them had bought from the sutlcr, coarse
heavy shirts. Some wore blue striped cot
ton, and some flannel of bloody red color.
These shirts reached nearly to the knees
and worn over the pants made, a very
showy frock coat. They looked so hand
somely that they were adopted as a uni
form, worn over the pants and fastened at
the waist by a girde and buckle. This
fantastic costume highly amused tho Mcxi-
cans.
1t was now about MONDAY; the sun was
'ntolerabIy hot, the lazy Mexicans had gone
back to the city, and we, heated and fatie-
ucd, retired TO the woods 10 find cool
shade. The heat was intolcrable and most
OF lis were out Of water. One man tainted
under the effects Of the heat and fatiuue.
We scattered in every direction hunting
for water, but none was found. l had
very imprndcntly given away about half
my canlcen Of water as I went into the
fight. A Pennsylvania begged me for some
water, and l gave him my cantecn. lie
drank it like a furnished wolf, until an old
soldier standing by, rcproved him for Ia
king the water from boy who was going
into battle and would need it. The old
soldier was right. I was green and gener-
Gus, and foolish,y gave away my water to
lazy fellow who was not in the fight, and
might have gone for it. did need that
water badly before got any more After
search Of some hours discovered little
pool Of water full Of wiggletails, but it was
no time TO be squeamish and 1 drank il
copiously.
Late i'll the evening mexican rancho
was found about mile and half distant,
where there was we'll of water. From
this we were amply supplied. The ignor-