Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-11-28

lu was miracle that so little damage was
done by them. Every spot in four miles
OF the city was visited with shower of
missiles. One bomb fell in the centre of
Four camp, a few yards from Col Buffers
tent
/ We soon became accustomed to the sound
of these missiles, and grew indifferent to
them. We We're not yetin . condition to
return the fire, and the Mexicans had the
game all to themselves The time wore
tedlously away We went out in small
parties securing the country around, shoot
ing beeves, catching 6onkeys pirating for
| provisions, and visiting the country girls.
got lost one day about three miles from
camp In tangled and dense chaparral L
had chased drove of becves until / bad
lost my course, and became lost in a chap
paral so thick that / could not stand in it.
was never before so pcrplcxcd. [ was
hot and exhausted by the chase and almost
fainting. / was obliged to have water i'm
medlatcly. But | was utterly lost in the
Elnterminuble mazes of Mexican cbaparral.
kne' not which course to take for camp.
1t was all a hazard, and if took the wrong
course, d would fall into the hands of the
Mexlcans and be butchercd. To make my
nay l was obliged to get down and crawl.
| My situation was very perilous, and it re-
| qulred a great effort to be calm, Upon which
my life depended When almost in de-
spair, 4 reached little hill, and taking
look around me saw the sandhills behind
the city. Then ] knew my course and was
safe.
i On the 18th, Gcn. Scott received official
information of Taylor's victory at Buena
Vista. Tie cheering news was announced
IN becoming terms to,all the regiments, at
| dress parade on the evening of the.15th in
stant. Had they needed any stimulant to
inspire hope, orsustain them under hard
I ships, the glorious victory of Buena Vista
would have furnished it. Itkindled in us
a noble emulation to equal the valor of our
brothers in arms. With soldiers nothing is
Eso powerful as the force of9exainple, nothing
so inspiring as the pride of emulation. n
The norther having abated, the landing
! OF ordnance and ordnance stores was contin-
ueo. On, the 18th, the positions for the
batteries were selected, and the work of
erection began. They wero erected on the
sandhills on the south side of the city at a
distance of 800 or 1000 yards from the
city. The work was very laborious, and
was continued night and day. The battc1
| ries were protected by sand bags piled in
tiers. For the protection of the workers,
I; I; trenches were dug The working parties
relieved each other at stated intervals, and
the luborious aud dangerous work went on
without a moments cessation from morn
till dewy eve and from de@y eve till
morn. 1t was work requiring energy
endurance, and passive courage. The Mex
leqns Kept up g lively practice upon the
workers,
/ +" INC booming shot and flaming SHELF
We're their music by day, and their "pillar
OF fire by night. Not shot could be re-
turned Our day was not yet. But pa
ticnce and courage would yet have their
reward, After four days of patient, quiet
endurance, and herculean labor, our bate
ries were completed 1t was now the 22d
| day Of March, and the 18th day after our
! tdeb9feation. Now we could return shot
I for shot Now we were ready to i.
| I" Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war.a
/ But with the accustomed humanity of
war, the olive branch was first offered, be-
fore the sword. Gen, Scott then sent to
y the city the summons to surrender, which
II was declined, -, = 49,,
( lhe next summons came from our bate
krles.s GH the same evening about three
1 Eo'cl6ck, the signalwas given, and three batl
tcries opened their thunders on the CITY,
4 The " NInsquito feet" under Captain Tat
/ nall Of she navy ran up.aader q point of
! the.main land, and opened upon the city
Tremendous FIRE from its heavy guns These
4 were very. small vessels, but carried the
heaviest metal, and the havoc of their ere
WAC aeawiuls These little vessels had terribly
si6nificanS names, such ais the g spitfre,1
the e Vixen, the e HoineBn 1t was
called the 6 Mosquito feet as descriptive
LOFTS annoying, and blood letting qualities
NEW SERIES o. TiIIFgEEN.
IL VAS four O'Clock IA the evening Of the
.E22d day Of March, when shc boinbafdmcnt
e.of. Che city Of Vera GEpz was begun. For
thirteen days we had lab0red patiently,
!, !, erecting batteries, and enduring a CALLING
FIRE whiellwe could not return. Nowthree
.hbatteries were finished, and to them were
:! added che Mosquito fleet of four or ave lit
gle vessels. The batteries opened tue bali
1. The position OF the 2 Pallnettoes was about
fSe miles 10 tbe north, near Yereara, bnt
that evening i had the good fortune to have
I,gope TO the Sacrifcious beach fos, DToyis
lions, and ! was near the batteries and the
S Rhe hombAidmens that cyening was the
i grkt slbliinost aud most terrib ble scene
thitS cysT Witnessed Che niceasant roar.