The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-02-03
From The Marion American.
I h Q P lme tito Reg m en-
BY OSE OY THE TWO HUNDRED
~ o I I.

NO.. H.
On the morning Of the 11th of March
just alter sunrise, Pattersoas division
Proceeued forward to extend the line of
investment around Vera Cruz The first
thing 10 be accomplished WAS com.
pIete investment OF the city, to cut off
supplies and reiniorcements. The al
vance was very difficult Oh account of the
deep sand and thick chapp.rni. Pioneers
with plckaXes were Sent forward to open
the way Tor us. As soou as our position
WAS discovered, the batteries from the city
aud castle opened heavy fire of shot
and shells on us. They over shot us, and
Their nSscIs went cracking #nd Kissing
far beyond US. Gen. Morales the Gov
ernor OF the State and comnandant Of
Vera Cruz came out with some cavalry
and attacked us on the sand-hilIs. He
kept up II hot skirmsh for about AN hour,
chiefly with the Palmettoes. The dis
tsnce between us and the MeNicaus WAS
generally about four hundred wards, tho
sometimes they came nearer. Their es
copetsS shot a very Iary ball, with great
force. They came whizzing aud singing
about our heads like nest Of hornets.-
they have most melancholy, aud dra
hoIlcal sound, rs If it were preaching the
funeral Of their victims. Our position
WAS very irving one TO the courage and
discipline OF raw volunteers in Their first
tight. Not only was the skruIish hot
one, but the guns OF the city and caste
were playing fcrcrIy on our exposed
ranks. Yet the Palmettoes stood the fire
as coo,IS aS veteran soldiers. The Me,i
cans began TO retire and three companies
OF the Paimettoes pursued them within
less than a mile of tho City. The guus
from the city threw shot and shells Al u,
with terrible fury. They fell around
us, and exploded above us. One cnor
nous cannon ball struck about three feet
IN front Of the Abbeville COMPANY, aud
covered II with a cloud Of sand. Moth
my saved US tut the depth OF the sand in
which :he balls buried themselves. We
continued i'll pursuit of the re,reatinp
Mex'cans, but they kept beyond range OF
our nuskcts.
We took shelter behind somc little
Sandhlls. Col. Drckenson was with us.
severely wounded. The batteries from
the city made the most untiring efforts To-
drive us from our position. They SEEM
ell determined to batter down the sand
hills that Sheltered us. Next they tired
BOMBS and they bursted them all over us
and around us. | saw bomb shell burst
over our beads, and al iron arrow three
feet long fell from it, and stuck in the
ground. Captain Secrest Was wounded
hy fragment Of al exploded shell. We
were soon recalled, and we retired under
another shower OF shells from the city.
Elght or ten Palmcttocs were wounded,
among whom were Col. D,ckenson and
Captain Secrest. 1t is rea!!y surprising
that so little loss WAS suffered, for The air
hurled with deadly missiles.
Some companies of the ramettoes
presented =" their costume ludicrous,
and some ferocious aspect. At Lobos
all OF them had bought from the suller,
coarse heavy shirts. Some wore blue
striped cotton, and some flannel Of bloc.
~ red color. These shirts reached near
ly 10 the knees, and worn over the pants.
made a very SNOWY frock coat. They
looked SO handsomely that they were
adopted As uniform, worn over the
pants and fastened Il; the waist by gir
die and a buckle. Th, fantastic costume
highly amused the Mexicans.
II WAS now about MONDAY the sun
was iu,oerably ho:, the lazy Mexcans
had g"ne back 20 the city, and we, heated
and fstgued, retired to the woods, 10 find
a cool shade. The heat was inlolerable,
and most Of us were out Of water. One
man fainted under the effects OF tho heat
aud fatigue. We scattered in every al
rectlon hunting for water, but none was
found. | had very impruiently given
away about half my canteen Of water as
went into the fight. A Pennsylvania
begged me for some water and gave him
my canteen. He drank it like furnish.
ed volt. untd an old soldier standing bv.
reproVed him tor taking ll,e water from a
boy who was going into battle and would
need 1t. The old soIIier was right.
WAS green and generous, and foolishly
gave away my water to lazy fellow who
was not in the fight, aud might have
gone for it. did need that water badly
heiore | got any more. After ~ search
OF some hours | discovered little pool Of
water full Of wiggletsils, but 1t was no
tune to be sgueanIsh aud | drank it co.
piously.
Late in the evening Mexican rsccho
was found about mile and half dis.
iant, where there was well Of water.-
From this We were amply supplied. The
ignoran, MeXicans had heard us described
as barbarians, who would devour them
and their property, and they had fled in
terror TO the woods, carrying with them
their most valuable property. On the
next day, however, the owners of the
shauty were induced to return. We pro.
missed them protection, and left guard
al the shan,y to project them and the
well. These were the first Mexicaus we
Ia hal eaan THAI mara n..nr ,Ia,,il. ali