Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-07-25
Ml9oGlGAGIW.
History of the Palmetto Regiment.
I. ~ BY 'oSE or nm: Two,HuNDRED.

NO. Ill. ~

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(The Amainobiectof this narrative is to
gipo in minute detail tho separate and in,
diyidnol history Of the Palmettoes. But
this cannoS begiven apprcciably without
including many other facts, necessary to
explain and accompany it. In drama
there are subordinate as we'll as principal
characters; there are incidents as well as
epic unity. Aiming, therefore, at beth
completeness and unity, it is necessary to
the completeness of the drama that much
else shall bcagiyen besides the character of
Hamlet.
As7aproper introduction of,thc Palmct-
toes on the field of battle, preliminary
view of the war and the circumstances
preceding and attending their entrance, are
unnecessary part of tho history.
The Palmettoes shall be introduced when
| reach the act and scene proper for their
introduction.9 IL ..sof,I. ].
The sun sank serenely behind the blue
mountains of Mexico, ON the 9th of Nav;
1916, but hundreds who had greeted his
rising, had fallen neves. tosrise again. A
veteran army of 5000 Mexicans glittering
rail ''the PRIDE pomp, and circumstance
OF glorious war; who had three DAYS be-
fore crossed the Rio Bravo in confident an.
ticipation of victory, were now cumberinn
the field of battle, as the ghastIy victims of
war, groaning under the agony of wounds,
or,soelIins inwild and disordered fight a
refuge from our victorious army,
Z. Tho maidens Of Matamoras had prepared
ball and feast for the vctors, and flowers
and garlards to wreathe the brows of Mex
ico's defenders. But the tide of war flowed
not to their liking, or in fUillment of their
expectations. The maiden who awaited
tho coming@of her gallant soldier-loyer,
heard in the 10, d boom of cannon nearer as
it came, that he was fallen aud bleeding
on the battlefield, or at best disgraced
fugitive ashamed to meet her
1T is said that Ampuoia, the Mexican
commander, was the first to fly, and put
ting spurs to that white horse which bore
him so swiftly from other fields of FIGHT. he
plunged into the turbid waters of the Bra
Vo, encountering one danger ahead to cS-
cape from greater danger. behind His
Panicked troops followed in chaotic fight,
having but one fiat to take them, over the
river, they rushed madly into it, the drag
oons trampling down the Infantry, and the
infantry fighting among themselves, hun
dreds were thrown into the river and
drowned. But Taylors army was too fa-
tigued to pursue them, and they might have
escaped by fight less prccipitare.
But in justice to the Nfexicans it must
be allowed that they fought hcroically.---,
In numbers they had three to one, and
ttheirpositions admirably selected gaveth
largely the advantage The battles were
won by the superior stFategy OF TAYLOR, and
the superior efficiency of his armyi Itwas
to the Lying artillery alwaysiii the ri6bt
place at the right time, belching out its
missiles of destruction thick and fast, that,
the army was mainly indebted for its gic-
tory - ~ s. n
J 10 was one battery of flying artillery nm
der LIT. OBrien thatsavcd Taylor from an,
nihilati0n at Buenna Vists, That was at,
awful moment and upon it hung victory
orddef6at. Santa Anna had BROUGHT nm
his fresh reserves, and poured battalion al.
ter battallion In sorfied soluni1Is upon Tay.
lor's centre. O,Brien poured his iron hail
into their ranks of I2, 900 men, ana opened
wide lanes through them, but closing mn
tho gap tk9y came on ike q, mountaiS oys
blanche :, It.acclped that all was lost. )n-
y tour Or tlvs wounded mon, attempting to
cneck ~, ,OVq who wese now in fftgysrds
q them And yet they quailea not III
taat aWful crisis, but loading their guns
almost to tho muzzle With grape. they 9aye
~ last fire with terrible effect. ard aban..
aoned their guns 10 the encny. B,adT,s
battery now reached the ground, and. nn6,, mon
u hung tho fate OF the day. tTfe sbot slaw,