The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-04-08

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sci of May, cleaning in the cannon fash.
They are on the verge cf 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 be-
grimmed with powder.
| 1t is Ridgely, who to-day has sworn to
wear the mantle of Ringgold and to wear
it we'll! At once his eyes catch the light
now blazing in the eyes of May, and spring
ing to the cannon, shouts
Zone moment, my comrade, and will
draw their fire!"
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 hark! Did you hear
that storm of copper balls clatter against
his cannon, did you see it dig the earth
beneath the hoofs of Mays dragons.
Men follow" Do you see that face
cleaning with battle-fre, that scimitar cut
ting its glittering circle in the air. Rend
ing the air with cries. Hark! The whole
army echo them. They strike their spurs,
and worried into madness, their horses
whirl on and thunder away to the deadly
ravine.
The old man. Taylor, said after the bat
tie that he never felt his heart beat as it
did then. For it was glorious sight to
see the young man, May, at the head Of
his squadron, dashing across the ravine.
four yards in advance of his foremost man,
while long and dark behind him was
stretched the solid line of warriors and
| their steeds.
Through the window OF the clouds some
CLEANS of sunlight fell--they light the
golden tassel on the cap--they glitter on
the appraised sword-they illuminate the
dark horse and rider with their warm
glow-they reveal the battery-you see it,
above the further bank of the ravine, frown
ing death from every muzzle.
Neai and nearer, up and on! Never
heed the death before you, though it is
certain Never mind the leap though it
is terrible. But up the bank and over
the cannou-hurrah! A this dread mo-
~, =,
May turns and sees the sword of the brave
Inge on his right, turns again and reads
his own soul written in the fire of Sacket's
eye.
! To his men once more he turns, his hair
floating thick back behind him, he points
to the cannon, to the steep bark and to
the certain death, and as though inviting
them, one and all, to his bridal feast he
says,
"CoME!"
They did come 1t would have made
your blood dance to see it. AS one man
they whirled up the bank, following Mays
sword as they would banner, and strik-
ing madly home as they heard, through the
roar of battle they heard it. that word o.
frenzy, "Come!"
!, As one mass of barred chests, leapine
horses and dazzling scimitars, they charg'
ed upon the bank; the canuon's fire rushed
, into their faces; Inge, even as his shou
rang on the air, was laid mangled thing
beneath his steed, his throat torn open 10y
: cannon shot; Sacket was buried beneath
, battery's muzzles, their blood and brains
5 whirling into their comrades eyes.
Still May is yonder, above the clouds
his horse rioting over heaps of dead, a
with his sabre circling around his flowing
hair, he cuts his way through the living
wall, and says to his cmrades-"Come!!'
All around him, friend and foe, thei
swords locked together-yonder the blaz
of musketry showering the iron hail upol
his band-beneath his horses feet tn
l deadly cannon and ghastly corse, still tina
young soldier riots on, for Taylor said Isl
t lence that battery!'' and he will do it.
The MeXicans are driven from thei
i guns, their cannons are silenced, and May
heroic band, scattering among the maze
of the chaparal are entangled in wall G
bayonets. Once more the combat deepen
0 and dyes the sod in blood. Hedging il
by that wall of steel, May gathers eigh
u OF his men, and hews his way back towar
> the captured battery. AS his charge
n rears, his sword circles around his head
and sinks blow after blow into the foe
: mems throats To the left shout is heard
the Americans, led on by Graham an
: Pleasanton and Winship, have silenced tn
I battery there, while the whole fury Of tn
Mexican army seems concentrated TO crus
e May and his band
As he went through their locked rank
IL so he comes back. Everywhere his me
;, know him by his hair, waving in dar
n masses; his golden tinselled cap, his swor
: they know it too, and wherever it fal
s. hear the gurgling groan of mortal agon,
s Back TO the captured cannon he cu
way, and on the brink of the ravine b,
If holds sight that fires his blood.
q A solitary Mexican stands there, reacl
u ing forth his arm in all the frenzy of
y brave mans despair: he entreats his coul
al trymen to turn, to man the battery one
le more and hurl its fury on the foe Tho
shrink back appalled, before that dan
,e horse and its rider, May! The Mexican
e Il gallant young man, whose handsom
= features can scarce be DISTINGUISHED G