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

his venerable face. In that face, with It's
white hair, and massive forehead, every
thing seemed already dead, except the
eyes. Their deep, gray-blue shone with
the fire of New Orleans, as the old man
with his long, white fingers, grasped a
letter post-marked Washington"
"Thcy ask me to designate the man
who shall lead our army, in case the an
nexation of Texas brings on u war with
Mexico" his voice, dcep-toncdand thrill
ling, even in that hour of decrepitude
and decay, rung thro' the silence of the
chamber. "There is only one man who
can do it, and his name is Zachary Tay-
lor."
1t was dark hour when this boy and
this General, both appointed at the sug-
gestion or by the voice of the Man of
the Hermitage, met at the battle of Re-
SAGA dc la Palma.
BY the blaze of the cannon, and be-
meath the canopy of battle-smoko, we
will behold the meeting.
Captain May, you must take that
battcryw
As the old man uttered these words he
pointed far across the ravine with his
sword. 1t was like the glare of a vol
cano-the steady blaze of that battery,
pouring from the darkness of the chap
parel.
Before him, summoned from the rear
by his command, rose the form of a
splendid soldier, whose hair waving in
long masses, swept his broad shoulders,
while his beard fell over his muscular
chest. Hair and bcurd as dark as mid
night. framed determined face, sur
mounted by small cap, glittering with
single golden tassel. The younger
warrior bestrode magnificent charger,
broad in the chest, small in the head, del
icate in each slender limb, and with the
nostrils quivering as though they shot
forth jets of flame. That steed was black
as death.
Without a word, the soldier turned tc
his men.
Eighty-four forms, with throats anC
breasts bare, cighty-four battle horses
eighty -four sabres, that rose in the cIutcl
Of naked arms, and flashed their light
ming over eighty-four faces, knit in every
feature with battle fire.
"Men, foilowl" shouted the young
commander, who had been created sol
der by the hand of Jackson, as his tai
form rose in their stirrups, and the bat
tie breeze played with bis long blacl
hair.
There was no response in words, bu
you should have seen those horses quive
beneath the spur, and spring and launcl
away. Down upon the sod with ON
terrible beat came the sound of thei
hoofs, while thro' the air rose in glitter
ing circles those battle scimctars.
-Four yards in front rode May himself
and his horse the object of thousan'
eyes, so certain was the death that loom
ed before him; proudly in his warrio
beauty he rode that steed, his hair float
ing from beneath his cap in raven curl
upon the wind.
lie turns his bcad--his men see hi
face with stern lip and knit brow; the,
feel the fire of his eyes they hear--no
"Men, forward" but "Men, follow !!
and away, like an immense battle engin
composed of cighty-four men and horses
woven together by swords-away and Oh
they dash.
They near the rayinc; old Taylor fol
lows them with hushed breath, aye
clutching his sword hilt, he secs tn
golden tasscl Of May, cleaning in tn
cannon flash.
They are on the verge of the ravine
May still in front, his charger Aingin,
the earth from beneath him, with colos
sal leaps, when from among the cannon
there starts up a half-clad figure, red witt
blood, begrimmcd with powder.
It is Ridgely, who to-day has sworl
to wear the mantle of Ringgold, and b
wear it well At once his eyes catch tn
light now blazing in the eyes Of May
and springing to the cannon, he shouts
Zone moment, my comrade and
will draw their frel"
The word is not passed from his lip
when his cannon speak out TO the batter,
across the ravine. His flash, his smck,
have not gone, but bark Did you heot
that storm of copper balls chatter agains
his cannon; did see ii dig the earth be
meath the hoofs of Mays Squadron?
"Men, followw Do you see that fac,
cleaning with battle fire, that scimeta
cutting its glittering circle in the air ?
Those men can hold their shouts M
longer. Rending the air with cries. --
Hank The whole army echo them 49,
They strike their spurs, and worried in.,
madness their horses whirl on and thun
der away 10 the ravinc.
The old man, Taylor, said, after th,
battle, that he never felt his heart bea
az it did then.
For it was a glorious sight TO see tina
young man, May, at the head Of hi
squadron, dashing across the ravine, foui
yards in advance Of his foremost man
while long and dark behind him VA
stretched the solid line Of warriors anc
their steeds.
Through the windows Of tho clouds
some CLEANS Of sunlight fall-they light
the golden tassel on the cap-they glitter
on the appraised sword--tbey illumin'
the dark horse and his rider with tbei
warm glow they reveal the battery--yo'