New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-03-14
An Incident Of the Mexican War.
BY RICHAsp FvKRsrr.

4 . ----
BY RICHARD EVERETT.
The bloody field Of Molno del Rey was finished
and the American arms were again vctorious- But it
proved dear bought victory. The battlefield was
red with Anglo-Saxon blood, for never did the Aztec
army make a more desperate defence. Those who
participated in that glorious battle will never forget
eventual circumstances !; how at the faint dawn Of
MORN when the stars looked sweety upon the earth,
our army moved silently into its position corps after
corps, artillery, infantry and cavalry the muttered
word Of command the rumbling Of wheels, and the
mnfded tramp, tramp, tramp Of the devoted storm
ing party, which pioneered the main force. It was
not tive O'Clock In the morning when the battle COM
meneed. With thunder which shook the earth, the
signal Of attack. Then the storners carrying their
ladders and fascnes started forward cheering as they
ran and were soon lost amid the thick smoke which
rolled from the Mexican cannon. Now and then
broad Hash OF hire showed our gallant fellows fighting
hand to hand with the enemy cannoniers. On press
ing the center Of our line and like rushing tornado
swept the enemy from their guns, but braveIy they
rallied, and in turn our troops were driven back Here
the carnage was dreadful. OF the fourteen officers OF
the stormiag party eleven were killed or wounded in
less than fifteen minutes.
Meantime upon each wing the fight progressed
with great fury, and the bitches in front Of Moline
del Rey and Casa de Mata were rapidly filing MP with
dead and wounded In front OF these defenees the
carnage was terrific. The gallant Col. Mcintosh was
the front rank, and noble Waite sunk under mortal
wound. Among the Mexicans there was heayy'loss
of gallant officers Old General Leon grey haired but
full Of fire BelGerez Huerta and MeoIeos all accom-
plished officers, fought their last fight upon the ram
parts of Casa de Mata.
But direfu was the conflict; no power could stay
the Saxons red right arm. Over broken ground gap.
ing bitches and bloody rampant in the face Of fire
and steel the American troops pressed forward tramp
ling the dead bodies of friend and foe beneath their
feet until covered with the stains OF battle they stood
triumphantly upon the Mexican Notifications. oh
it was glorious moment when, as the smoke rolled
away, the stars and stripes were seen waving from
the Mexican flagstaff, proud emblems of American
valor. Eia
limo del Rey at length. Slowly the scattered REM
nants of the American force retired from the hard
| earned field and upon the Ninth Regiment devolved
that most painful Of all duties burying the dead and
picking up the wounded! About sunset the labor
commenced Some six hundred men divided into
small parties pursued the melancholy duty. Day faded
but the moon, soon rising, shed pale sepulchral
light over the scene which no man could contemplate
without thrill Of horror. Over large expanse Of
ground the bodies of the dead and wounded men were
thickly strewn In some places . hundred corpses
might be counted within the space of q few square
yards while the sandy col was wet with human gore.
Large pits were dug, and friend and foe found sol
ders grave together. Death had abolished all dis
tincton. American and Mexican, who few hours
peacefully side by side their animosity subdued
Ambulances and wagons rolled away to the tempo
rary hospitals filed with wounded men, whose groans
of anguish were awful to hear.
1t was while the work Of burial progressed, that
Lieutenant, in charge of small party, came to "a
vine not far moved from the main line of attack
Many wounded men crowded to the banks of this
stream to slake that terrible thirst which severe
wound always induces As the party were collecting
such injured soldiers as would bear removing the
wall of infant suddenly attracted the eutenants
attention. He listened again and the sound came
family upon his ear, plain however, that there
was no installing its source. Search was instantly
made along the margin of the brook, and ir q few
moments sight was disclosed at which the most
hardened heart grew faint. Two dead bodies lay on
the sand few feet from the waters edge. One,
young Mexican artillery man, whose head was badly
crushed apparently by large shot; the other
young and very beautiful Mexican girl, from whose
neck rivuet of dark blood was yet oozipg, for
musket ball had penetrated to the jngular vein. The
young man lay upon his back, apparently just as he
fell, while the position Of the woman indicated that
she received the fatal ball while kneeling at his side.
r But this was not all. Naked and all dabbled over
with the gore of its parents, infant evidently
about three months old lying upon the breast Of
its mother wang and grasping with his little hands
her long black hair which was damp with cold night
D dew. Oh it was picture which made the heart
swell with emotions of pity too deep for utterance
that helpless innocent infant, stained with its moth
l. ers blood! Often have we thought Of the dreadful
# scene for was scene to be forgotten. That
gloomy battlefield strewn with dead and dying the
brook murmaring geefully along unmindfnl Of it;
bloody rppes the groups Of soldiers standing with
their spades and picks around those dead parents and
the living babe, and all the cleaning with
= ghosty glare formed a striking scene for the dread
e panorama of war.
|. The man had probably met his death while ii
search Of water, leather bucket, such as is at
tached to an artillery carriage lying near by tn
woman must have received chance shot, while bend
ing over her husbands body, for the Mexican womeI
with heroic devotion often followed their husbands
lovers into battle The Lieutenant giving orders tina
the two bodies should be inferred in grave, wrap
ped the babe in blanket and in company with tw,
tending to send the little orphan to the Mexical
camp. He had not proceeded far, when couple 0
Mexican friars were discovered providing, as was thei
custom, among the dead bodies in search Of plumber
Ordering them to desis the officer related the seen
he had just witnessed, and in conclusion offered ON
of the priests liberal reward if he would take th
babe in safety to the camp Of his countrymen Tn
priest assented with alacrity, and receiving his re
ward took the infant and turned away. With con
seriousness of having fulfilled the dictates of humanity
the Lieutenant prepared to join his party again. HI
had taken but few steps, however before an exca
nation Of horror from one of his companions caused
him to turn quickly, and as he did So they bounded
from his side in pursuit of the two priests who wer
t running rapidly towards the Mexican lines.
sudden suspicion OF horrible import glanced
through the officers mind in an instant, and calling
! on his to fire on the ugitives if they did no
stop he looked earnestly along their tracks, and
!, discovered the reason of his companions conduct
for, thrown down amidst a. heap of corpses was TIT
dead infant with bayonet driven completely through
4 its body The inhumane wretch to whom the office
consigned his little charge had not proceeded dozel
yards before committing the atr0eious deed. Thu
pursuit WAS suGCessiul, anu III rev uouleutS DOtl
t friars brought back trembling and in broker
s English begging for mercy. But justice was qucl
q and sure. A file OF men were soon on the ground
Five minutes for prayers, said the Lieutenant look
ing at his watch Five minutes, You bloody scound
e rels Sergeant, tie their hands, Men form fifteel
PAGES 'front.' These orders were quickly obeyed, tn
|. victims meanwhile begging for their lives " You
time is up. said the officer. " IT is no use a ma
who would murder an infant deserves worse tina
It DEATH Are you ready. sergeant?' Yes, sir,
e, was the reply. Then God have mercy on the soul
n of those Williams. Platoon! ready, aim, FIREs'
sharp report rang out upon the stinight air. and til
two friars were dead men.
IN Two men at Brownsville, Minn., killed sixty DEF
in one month this winter. Several have been kille
in that neighborhood by travellers on the road sid
d with clubs.