Mountain Democrat., 1857-05-09
Fashion.
A MezIeass War Incl,Icnt.
ny RICHARD EVERETT.

The bloody field Of Molino del RAY was
finished, and the American arms were
again victorious. But it proved dear
bought victory. The battlefield was rcd
with Anglo Saxon blood, for never did the
Aztec army make more desperate de-
fcnSc. Those who participated in that
glorious battle will never forget its event
full circumstances {; how at the faint dawn
of morn, when the stars looked swcetly
on the earth, our army moved silently into
its position, corps after corps, artillery,
infantry and cavalry; the muttcred word
Of command; the rMmbling of wheels and
the mufllcd tramp, tramp, tramp Of the
devoted stOrming party, which pioneered
the main force. 1t was not five o'clock
in the morning when the battle conmenc-
cd. With a thunder which shook the
earth, the heavy guns of lIuger's battery
bclchcd forth the signal Of attack. Then
the stormcrs, carrying their ladders and
facincs, started forward, cheering as they
ran, and were soon lost amid the thick
smoke which rolled from the Mexican
cannon. Now and then a broad fash of
fire showed our gallant fellows fighting
hand to hand with the cncmy's cannon.
ierS. On pressed the centre Of our line,
and like rushing tornado, swept the en-.
envy from their guns, but bravely they
rallied, and in turn our troops were driven
back. Here the carnage was dreadfli.
Of the fourteen officers of the storming
party eleven were killed or wounded in
less than fifteen minutes.
Meantime upon each wing the fight
progressed with great fury, and the ditch.
cs in front Of Molino del Ray and Casa dc
Mata were rapidly filling up with dead
and wounded. In front of these dcfcnccs
the carnage was terrific. The gallant
Mcintosh was shot while cheering on his
men. Lieut.. Scott fell in the front rank,
and the noble Waite fell under q mortal
wound. Among the Mcxicans there was
heavy loss ofgallant officers Old Gen.
Leon, gray-haircd but full of fire; Belde-
rcz Ilucrto and Meolcos, all accomplished
officers, fought their last fight on the
rampartS of Casa dc Mata.
But dircful was the conflict; no power
could stay the Saxon's red right arm.-
Over broken ground, gaping ditchcs and
bloody rampant, in the face of fire and
steel, the American troops pressed for
ward, trampling the dead bodies of friend
and foe beneath their feet, until, covered
with the stains ofbattle, they stood trium-
phantly on the Mexican fortiications.-
Oh it was glorious moment when, as
tho smoke rolled away, the stars and
stripes were seen waving from the Mexi.
can flagstaff, proud Cmblcms of American
valor.
Buk We did not intend to deScritc the
battle Of Molino del Ray at length. Slow.
ly the scattered remnants of the American
force retired from the hard-earned field,
and upon tho Ninth Regiment dcvolved
that most painful of duties, burying the
deadand picking up the wounded. About
sunset the labor commenced. Some six
hundred men, divided into small parties,
pursued the melancholy duty. Day ia.
dcd, but the moon, soon rising, shed a
pale, sepulchral light over tho scene,
which no man could contemplate without
q thrill Of horror. Over large expanse
of ground the bodies Of tho dead and
sounded men were thickly strcwn. In
SomC places hundred corpses might be
counted within the space of few square
yards, while the sandy soil was wet with
human gore. Large pits were dug, and
friend and foe found soldiers grave to-
gether. Death had abolished ali distinc.
tion. American aud Mexican, who were
q few hours before striking for each 9TH
er's lives, now lay peacefully side by side,
their animOsity sNbdued. Ambulsnces
and wagons rolled away to the temporary
hospitals filed with wounded men, whose
groAns 0fAngOish were awful to hear.
It was while tho work Of burial pro.
gressed that lieutenant, in charge Of q
small party, came to ravine not far from
the main limo Of attack. Many wounded
men crowded 10 the banks Of this stream
to slake That terrible thirst which asevere
wound always induces. AS the party
wcrc collecting such injured soldiers as
would boar removing, the wall of an in
iAnt suddenly attracted the lieutcnont's
attention. lIO listened again and the
sound came hintly upon his car, 80 plain,
however, that Aherc was no mistaking itS
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