Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-12-05


his honor was at stake The tears and
walls of starving and smitten city could
not move him from his purpose. And yet
he knew that the city must fall into the
hands of the besiogers. That he could not
avert though he might prolong the defence
until the city should be stormcd, and the
streets be crimsoncd with the mingled
blood of the besieged and bcsicgers He
would not comply with the ontreaties of the
citizens to surrender the city
The third night of the bombardment had
set in, Every combustible house in the
city was in flames or in ashes The work
of death was still accelerated and despair
settled down upon the hearts of that doomed
and heroic city. Late at night on the 24th
the foreign Consuls sent an appeal to Gen
! Scott to allow the women and children to
leave the city. This Gen, Scott believed
1t his duty to refuse, and replied according
ly.
The reply of Gen. Scott doomed the suf-
| feriug city to n renewal of the horrors,
which it had suffered for nearly three days.
| will make no defence for the conduct of
Gen. Scott 1t needs none. 1t seems in,
credible that the citizens of Vera Cruz
would have remained to suffer the dangers
and horrors of Il protracted siege, or tri-
umphant assault, and still more so that they
| did not remove their women and children.
1t was only another example of their blind
ness and folly. All the women and chill
dren, and non-combatants should have been
removed as they might have been long be-
fore the city was envroned. The morning
of the 25th was the fourth day of the bonn
bardment 1t was but a repetition of the
previous day. Our batteries played upon
the city with greater activity aud effect
than at any previous time Every part of
the city was torn and riddled with bomb
shclls. Houses were brought down in
masses ofruins, the streets were swept with
balls, and there was no covert in the city
aflording retreat, secure from the missiles
of the besiegers. Having nothing to do,
went alone with only my side arms, as
near the city rs L could get, to see the eff
feet Of the bOmbardmont. [ sat there en-
tirely alone, for several hours, Watching
the operations of the people in the city
The flags of all the Consuls were flying
conspicuously from the house tops of the
consulates. could hear the screams that
arose from the stricken city as the bombs
fell and exploded among its people. /
could distinctly see the Mexican artilcrists
as they loaded and fired the guus | could
see the scntinels on the walls, and the citi-
zens in the streets. The Mexican forts on
the south side were terribly battered Their
guns were knocked to pieces, Their ram
parts broken down, and the wall leveIled to
the ground for sixty or seventy yards
I I fbn,,,ht I x,-o,,ll t,,, A., l,.,... Al.
from a little battery ON the north side of
the city whose guns were idle, because they
did not bear towards our batteries there
fore drew myself up to my full height, and
dared them to fireat me by wavinga hand
kerchief in defiance at them. In moment
saw the flash of cannon, and a six pound
ball whzzcd over my head Sufficiently
gratifcd with the compliment they had
| paid me by firing cannon at me, | did not
invite repetition of the courtesy. Soon
after that / heard heavy roll of musketry
beyond our camp, and knowing that close
| fight was waging there, ran with breath
less haste to the rcgimental quarters. We
were expecting to be sent to the field of
fight; but were disappointed We could
distinctly hear the roar of muskctry for sew
1
river, about three miles from us. 1t was
sharp battle, in which Gen Harney com
pletely routed the Mcxicans During the
bombardment of this day, NIidshipnan
Shubrick of South Carolina was killed at
the naval battery. He had said that he
intended to silence certain gun which he
pointed out to another officer, and he aimed
his gun with great care, and fred it off,
His uncrring aim knocked the designated
gun offits carriage, but just at that moment
he himself fell dead by an equally unerring
aim of the Mexican.
/ INFLUENcE OF LITERARY TASTE. To
a young man away from home, friendless
aud torlorn in Il great city, the hours OF
peril are those between sunset and bed
time; for the moon and the stars sec more
evil in single hour, than the sun in his
whole days circuit, The poets visions OF
evening are all composed of tender and
soothing images. 1t brings the wanderer
to his home the child to his mothers arms,
the OK to his stall, and the weary laborcr to
his rest But to the gentle-hcarted youth,
who is thrown upon the rocks of pitiless
city, "and stands homeless amid a thousand
homes" the approach of evening brings
with ii an aching sense Of loneliness and dos
! olation, which comes down upon the spirit
\ like darkness upon the earth. In this mood
his best impul. cs become snare to him
and he is led astray because he is social
aaecticnate, sympathetic, and warm-heart
A n