Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-26
NEW SERIES, VOL. I, NO 49,


as they would a banner, and striking madly
home as they heard, through the roar Of
battle they heard it, ihst word of frenzy
"Come!"
As one mass of barred chests, leaping hor-
ses and dazzling scimitars, they charged
upon the bank; the cannon's FIRE rushed
into their faces; Inge, even as his shout
rang on the air, was laid mangled thing
beneath his steed, his throat torn open by a
cannon shot; Sacket was buried beneath
his horse, aud seven dragoons fell at the
battery's muzzIes, their blood and brains
whrllng into their comrades eyes.
Still May is yonder, above the cloud, his
horse rioting over heaps OF dead, as with
his sabre circlng around his flowing hair
he cuts his way through the living wall, and
says to his omrades-" Comer'
! II around him, friend and foe, their
50 ords locked together-yonder the blaze of
muskery showering the iron hail upon his
bahd-beneath his horses feet The deadly
tcausoB and ghss,Iy cofse, still that young
soldier riots on, tor Tay lor has said, "Slence
that battery!" and he will do it.
The Mexicans are driven rom their guns.
their cannon are silenced, and Mays heroic
band, scattering among the rlazes of the
cbapparai are entangled in vail OF bayo-
nets Once more the combat deepens, and
dyes The sod in blood. Hedged in by that
wall of steel, May gathers eight of his men,
and hews his way back toward the captured
battery. As his charger rears, his sword
circles above his head, and sinks blow after
blow into the foemen's throats. To the left
a shout is heard: the Americans, led on by
Graham and Peasanton and Winship, have
silenced the battery there, while the whole
fury OF the Mexican army seems concentra-
ted to crush May and his band.
As he went through their locked ranks
SO he comes back. Everywhere his men
know him by his hair, waving in dark
masses; his golden tinselled cap; his sword
they know it too, and wherever it falls
hear the gurgling groan Of mortal agony.
Back to the captured cannon he cuts his
way, and on the brink Of the ravine beholds
a sight that fires his blood.
A solitary Mexican stands there, reaching
forth his arm in all the frenzy ofa brave
mans despair: he entreats his countrymen
to turn, TO man the battery once more and
hurl its fury on..the foe. They shrink back
appalled, before that dark horse and its rider,
May! The Mexican, gallant young man,
whose handsome features can scarce be dis
tinguished on account of the blood which
covers them, while his rent uniform bears
testimony TO his deeds in that days carnage,
cIenches his hands as he filings his curse in
the face of his flying countrymen, and then,
lighted match in hand. springs to the can
non. A moment and its fire will scatter ten
American soldiers in the dust.
Even as the bravo Mexican bends near
the cannpn,zh dark charger, with one tre-
mendous leap is there, and the sword OF
May is circling over his head.
@Yield.' shouted the voice which only a
few moments ago, when rushing to the death,
said-"Come!"
The Mexican beheld the gallant form be-
fore him, and handed Captain May his
sword.
General La Vega is prisoner!" he said,
and stood with 10 ded arms amid the horses
of his mangled soldiers.
You see May deliver his prisoner into the
charge Of the brave Lieutenant Stephens
who-when Inge feli-dashed bravely on,
Then would you look for May once moie
-gaze through that wall of bayonets, be-
meath gloomy cloud, and whirlpool of the
fight, his long hair. his sweeping beard and
sword that never Tor an instant stays its
lightning career, making him look like the
embodied demon of this battle day.
In the rear o; the battle behold this pic
tune: When May dashed like thunderbolt
from his side, Gen. Taylor, in his own,
the stout form, the stern visage of his
brother sollier Twiggs They have follow
ed with flashing eyes the course OF May;
they have seen him charge. and seen his
men and horses hurled back in their blood,
while still he thundered on. At this mo-
ment the brave La Vega is led into the
presence of Tayl his arms folded over his
breast, his eyes fixed upon The ground.
As the noble hearted General expresses
his sorrow that the cap:ive's lost his fallen
on one so brave. as in obedience to tre COM
mand of Twiggs, the soldiers, arranged in
battle order, salute the prisoner with pre-
sented arms, there comes rushing to the
scene the form OF May, mounted on his well
known charge.
"General, you told me to silence that
battery. have done it J"
He placed in the hands Of Zachary Tay-
Jor the SWORD of the brave Ia Vega