Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-05-08
"reminiscences or General Worth.

"reminiscences Of General Worth.
A young gentleman, who has for the past
year been attached to one,of the .literery de-
partments Of this journal, and who served
in General ut orth's division IN the Mexican
war, has handed us, says the New Y ork Post,
the "reminiscences of the deceased hero to
whose memory the citizens OF New York
propose to offer tribute They illustrate
the two great virtues which he had in COM
mon with every truly brave man-brayery
and kindness, and exp saain to some extent the
attachment, and even devotion, with which
he inspired those under his command.
During the seige Of Monterey General
Wol.ths division, to which nry company be-
longed, was operating on the north side Ct
the city. Duncan's battery had just repulsed
column Of the enemy's cavalry from the
city, and my own company. which had been
acting as a corps Of obstrv ton on the
heights, was lying in cornfed awaiting
orders TO join the main body. Two Of the
| encmys batteries-one on the heights above
the bishops palace and the other across the
river near Fort Seldado-had discovl--An our
position, and were feeling for lis among the
tall corn with round shot and shell The
9Th Infantry and ]3lanchards Louisiana
Volunteers had already crossed the river to
attack Fort scldaao. Our position was get
ting to be little uncomfortable, when Gen.
| Worth galloped up, accompanied by two or
three staff officers
Who commands this company?' he
asked. sa86
Il do. sir. said Lieutenant Shacklcford
raising his tall form from behind a corn hill.
"'Nery well, said the General, go over
there to Major Scott, and help him to take
| that hill. don't want you to try and take
it; | want yon to take 1t. It must be done.
Wen do it, sir said our commander
1.-The General was off in cloud Of dust
to direct other operations, and with 1t must
be done, ringing in our cars, we responded
to the Lieutcnant's Come or, boys--fall in 7
and were very shortly hand to hand with the
enemy.
a. fer Monterey SURRENDERED, nearly ev-
cry man in our company was taken down
With the chills and fever, and myself among
he number / had been previously weak
'nembered, swept of our unacclimated troops
like .5c,stesa sheep, and from which. be-
lieye, s,o one ever entirely recovers, and
! the clsills' stuck TO me closer than broth
or. QUinine aud Peruvian bark would ad-
| iourn them for only a week at time, at
most At Saltillo, sent into the hospital
Will. she sIaills' for 3}ae sixt t.ale, and then
! had one Of peculiar AID dangerous nature,
during the psros ysnls Of which ! was tenn
porsrily insane
| Il was then as thin as A ath' "a mere
skeleton with ska drawn Overland 50 weak
! I could hardly stand Cha surgeon, DR..
| Porter. q rough old Florida campaiguer, re-
marked to HE in the morning, by way Of
Encouragement: Aha ny lad you are 60
/ ing to Gle this time.' told him hoped
not. which, ,sTas certainly the truth. lie in
quired how long ! had TO serve. I replied
only three weeks Then, said be, get a
| farlauah end 60 home; perhaps you may
get srII there. You can't live in this CHI
| mate an1 We don't want the trouble Of bury
ing ynu.
| THE hope thus HID cut did more good
han medicine. ! prepared furlough, and
obtained Tie signature cS i4leait. ShachlaEord,
Or Porter, sdeut Col Clsiias, who com
handed the Artillery Battalion Che lat
ter told me. however. that General Taylor,
then at Victoria, had ISSUED orders TO grant
no Through under any circumstances; but,
as 1t was gu extreme case, [ might apply to
/ General Worth If thought il would do ar
good.
THE next morning, with the assistance Of
ny bunky, Robert Gamble, afterwards
killed at Mclino del Rey. walked up to
the Generals quarters and asked the order
! " to say that ------- wanted to speak TO the
General The proper way would have been
TO send 10 tie lfssiougA, but | knew that
would fail The orderly At fret refused to
take the message, whish he kaew, as we'll as
|, was contrary to all military etiquette, but
finally said he would mention it casually
when he went in on other business. He
went in shortly, and | heard the Gen. say
send hin, in.
"When | entered. General Worth turned
towards me -athe9 hastily, saying, We'll,
/ boy; what Do yeu WANT Then noticing my
hatchet like face, be added, What's the
matter dowa'
Il remained standing, however, and hello
out the furlough. 1 am sick, General, The
surgeon says I can't get we'll if stay here
[ have only nineteen days longer to serve,
and came to ask for a furlough.'
81 am sorry, my lad, but | must rtfust
lit. general Taylor's orders are to grant NJ
more fsirloughs.
s'lIope aud strength failed together, ano
I accepted the inyitat;on profered mo
mont befasc, to be seated. rose and ad
dressed the General, entirely forgetting tn
difference Of our age and rank. MI timid
ity had yanquisaea knew not what
said, but for five minutes I pleaded earn
estly for my lie. The General fdgettee
with the fuIlough IN his hand, and his eye
eli<tened, but be heard me patiently. -
When I said all, his face was turned from
me, and I sat down. lie made no reply
until my heart began to sink again.
Then he spoke. in somewhat chang
ed ro;ae, slowly and hesitatingly-1'llsig'
! It'll sign it, my lad, but you must prom
Use not to tell any one. | may be disobey
ing orders. but it is hard case. Yo7
must show the furlough if you are oblige'
TO- but not otherwise. You promise me
Very weil-sign it Pemhcstor.
Good bless him 70: these words the.
saved my life. ! showed the furlough t
the wagon master Of the tSain from Salil
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