The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-08-28
General MoGowan,s Speech.

subject is one well calculated to draw out the
feelings and cloqncncc Of the speaker, having
borne part himself in the rrivations, tolls aud
dangers Of that noble band, who reflected so
much glory upon the State. We have space
but for the following extract:
But surely we cannot hc upon doubt full
ground, if we alludc, very briefly, TO some of
the departed brave who fell far away from
those VIII" were nearest and dearest to their
hearts who have fought their last battle, and
are now alike inscnsbc 10 our praise and
blame. The fortunate survivors are still among
us. They have their reward in tho thanks and
l'"n"rs of their grateful c"untrymrn; and
nothing that we could say, would either stiInu-
late. Or heighten the just appreciation Of their
merit We see no reason, however, why we
should withhold our humble mention from the
dead. There ID to lis, n sweet sentiment, in the
very plain but appropriate monument. viii ich
stands ON yonicr hill in front of the Capitol
the emblem tree, cp0nym of their State, and
device Of their banner in honor of which they
poured forth their blood-inscribcd simply,
with the names Of the dead, of the Palmetto
Regiment. In reference To the cold tcnants of
the tomb, whose names thus constituted their
only cltnph, there is an cl"qucncc in silence.
which speaks their culogium trunpettongucJ.
Soldier rest ! thy warfare DER.
Dream of fighting fields no more;
Morn ofto, nor night Of waking"
There was the noble chief the father of his
Regiment, bearing n name honorably distin-
,uslcd throughout the revolution, Identified
with every war, since our Independence, and
brimiui OF every association connected with
chlvalry Il name which cannot be hcarlwith-
ont exciting sentiments of honor and patriot
ism Pierce NJ. Butlrr. lie was not in the
State when he was elected Colonel. 1t was
understood that he was about to return from
the W st, where he had been engaged in some
service of the General Government, and with
out solicitation upon his part. he elected
we believe unanimously, Colonel Of the Pal
metto lscgincnt. A better selection could
not have been male. lie was by name, by
education, and by nature, n soldier. lie had
been an officer i'll the army, he had fought gal
lantly in Florida, and he had been Governor
OF the State. lie brought with him age, expert
cncc AMI character, anl hc devoted all to The
service Of the Regiment with the enthusiasm
of youth. We believe when he was called to
the command of that Regiment, lie resolved in
his heart to return with it in glory or perish.
No one could mistake his manner, when he re-
ccivc'l the flag which he loved we'll from
the hands Of the Mayor Of Charleston. There
was q tone in that clarion voice, aud q fire in
That eye, which plainly promised
With it, when the battles done;
Or, on it, from the field.
There was one sentiment which inspired him
throughout the campaign, and which, upon
every occasion ofperi, spoke forth in clnqu
harangues to his Regiment lie woull say
that South Carolina had always claimed a
character forspirt, and had sometimes been
tauntcd rs 'lhc chivaIry,"-that the Rcyi-
mcnt bore her ensign and her honor, and that
they must pcrsl,-pcrish to n man-rnther
than have her bright cscuLc!lcon furnished by
any act of theirs. lie succeeded cminently in
breathing his own spirit of intense State pride
and patriotism into his Regiment, and the re-
suit is known.
From the commencement of the campaign
Col. Butler was in bad health. Ills frame was
shattered by n complication of diseases, which
were aggravated by the exposure of camp life;
but he was ever at his post. lie shrunk from
no ice, and actually courtcd danger with
the enthusiasm Of q lover. Whca he was uu-
able to march, hc had himself carried Oh an
ambulance, which might always bc seen NOV
ing near the head Of the pamcttoes. On the
nineteenth of August he was quite indisposcd,
but when Shields Brigade wns ordered to join
the forces OH Valencin's left, he mounted his
horse. and led the Regiment through the ped
rgal Oh that terrible nig ght The rain fell in
cold torrents, yet lie toiled on through Egyp-
tim darkness, over volcanic rocks aud rugged
ciasIns the greater part of the night, and he
fore dawn OF the glorious twentieth, was ut his
post to assist i'll the bloody rout Of Cmtrcras.
lie had managed to get his horse-olL Roam
over the pcdigrnl. and OH Inn, he kept with
with his Regiment i'll tho hot pursuit to-
wards Mexico. 1t was now half:past two
o'clock i'll the afternoon; the day was very
sutry after the storm Of the night before no
one hal eaten anything for enrly twenty four
hours except few apples which had been
pluckcdby the way side; Col. Butler was resting
for /" few moments, and perhaps endcavoring
10 get something to eat in the hamlet Of San
Angel, when the firing commenced in advance
ut Churubuseo. Quickencd by the sound of
cannon, Shields Brigade was soon up and was
retained for few moments in reserve at Caya-
can, where the Gencral-in- Chief had TAX ell his
stand. Gen. Scott, with some of his staff, ns-
cendcd the stecple Uf church in the village,
and surveyed tic field From his position hc
could see clear away to the Southern gates of
tho city, nnd over the whole intermediate
ground. 1t was new field to him, and he
found himself going into q general battle, with
out even reconnaissance. lie observed tina
th'rty-two thousand MeXicans, who were en-
gagged III that battle. draw up into two long
coi'mns,-onc directly ncross his path and nj
ready engaged " ,s lining with a blaze Of mus
ketry, the dykes Of the river Churubusco far
up and down. In this ling, abnut tho ccntro
where the road croesed the river, was the the tetc
da on, and little to the right, and front, stood
the vent of San Pablo, both of which were thun-
condcring upon his contre. The other column
was Nth"u uioitS oRu hutoiiiu CauSeWnS
at right angles with the river front now cngag.
ed-supporting il at the tete dv pont, and extern
.iing fnr back towards the gates of the capital.
This second column was tho reserve, fresh from
the city. In 1t stood Santa Anna with o bril-
limit staff. In il fought the Polkass-tl,e ma
tional guard Of Mexico; and from Il, during
the whole bnttlc, poured strains OF martial
music, mingled with cheering shouts and bngle
blast. AS soon rs these dispositions we're ob.
served by the General he ordered the Brigades
of Pierce and Shields to turn the cncny's right,
cross the river above and attack the column of
reserve This was perilous service. 1t could
yond the reach of speedy support The dis
tanee was considerable s'and,1t ground, low
and marsl.y, was interested by numerous ditch
es ond irrigatiug canals But, perilous as it
was. the scrvice was pcrformed-nobly and
gloriously performci-altIlough ut bloody,
cost to South Carolina. The 2 brigades, now
under the command ofshields, approached the
reserves near the hacienda Of Portalea Some
whnt di an rra nOe1 by tho march f1,ex,