Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-04-10


certain. Never mind the leap, though
it is terrible. But up the bank and over
the cannon-hurrah At this dread mo-
ment, just as his horse rises for this
charge, 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 Sackett's eye.
TO his men once more he turns, his
hair floating back behind him, he points
to the cannon, to the steep bank and the
certain death, and as though inviting
them, one and all, to his bridal feast, he
says,
"CoMEp
They did come It 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
striking mudly home as they heard, thro'
the roar of battle they heard it, that word
of phrenzy, "Como p
As one mass of barred chests, leaping
horses and dazzling scimetars, they char
ged upon the bank; the lannon'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 cannon shot, Sacket was buried
beneath his horse, and seven Dragons
fell at the battery's muzzle, their blood
and brains whirling into their comrades
eyes.
Still May is yondcr, above the cloud,
his horse rioting over heaps Of dead, as
with his sabre, circlng round his flowing
hair, he cuts his way through the living
wall, and says to his comrades-"C Gomez
All around him, friend and foe, their
swords locked together--yonder the blaze
of muskotry showering the iron hail upon
his hand-beneath his horses feet the
deadly cannon and CHASTITY corse, still
that young soldier riots on, for Taylor
has said Silence that battery" and he
will do it.
The Mexicans are driven from their
guns; their cannon are silenced, and Mays
heroic band, scattering among the mazes
of the chaparal, are entanglcd in wall
of bayonets.S Once more the combat
deepens, and dyes the sod in blood. -
lIedged in by that wall of steel, May
gathers eight of his men, and hews his
way back toward the captured battery.
AS his charger rcars, his sword circles
nbnye his head, and sinks blow after blow
into the foemen's throats. TO the lief. a
shout is heard; the Americans, led on by
Graham and Pleasanton and Winship,
have silenced the battery there, while the
whole fury of the Mexican army seems
concentrated 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
r masses; his golden tinselled cap; his
b sword-they know it too, and wherever
e it falls hear the gurgling groan of NOR
r tai agony
: Back to the captured cannon he cuts
his way, and on the brink of the ravinc
, beholds sight that fires his blood.
A solitary Mexican stands there, reach.
: ing forth his arm in all the phrcnzy Of &
r brave mans despair he entreats his
: countrymen to return, to man the battery
S once more and hurl its fury on the foe
They shrink back appalled, before tina
S dark horse aud its rider, May! Tn,
Y Mexican, gallant young man, who's
i handsome features can scarce be distin
y guished on account of the blood which
c covers them, while his recent uniform
{, bears testimony to his deeds in that day.
a carnage, clenches his hands, as he fling
his curse in the face of his flying coun-
: trymen, and then, lighted matchin hanC
, springs to the cannon. A moment ant
G its fire will scatter the American soldiers
G in the dust.
Even as the brave Mexican bends near
, the cannon, the dark charger with ono
9 tremendous leap is there, and the sword
: of May is circling over his head
4" Yield !" shouted the voice which on
b ly few moments ago, when rushing 10
the death, said---" Come %
n The Mexican beheld the gallant form
0 before him, and handed Captain May his
. sword
General La Vega is prisoner p he
: said and stood with folded arms amid the
7 corscs Of mangIed soldiers.
You see May deliver his prisoner into
the charge of the brave Lieutenant Ste
' phens, who when Inge fell-dashed
I broyely on.
Then would you look for May once
I more-gazc through that wall Of bayonets
beneath that gloomy cloud, and behold
him dashing into the whirlpool ofthe fight;
his long hair, his sweeping beard, and
!. sword that never for an instant stays its
lightning career, making him look like
tho embodied demon Of this battle day.
In the rear Of the battle behold this
picture: Where May dashed like a
, tlIunlcrbolt from bis side, Gen. Taylor,
in bis familiar brown coat, still remains.
Near him, gazing on the battle with in
q terest keen as his own, the stout form
I the stern yisagc Of his brother soldier,
Twiggs. They have followed with flash
I ing eyes the course Of May; they have
! seen him charge, and seen his men and
horses hurled back in their blood, while
still nc Numbered on At this moment
tho brave la Vega is led into the pres
encc Of Taylor, his arms folded over his
breast, his eyes fixed upon the ground.
: AS the noble-hcarted General express
es his sorrow that the captive's lot has
r fallen on one 80 brave, as in obedience
D 70 the command Of Twigg5, the soldiers,
r arranged in battle order, salute the pris-
=. a. II