Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-01-23
M0@0gaGANW
The Palmettoes in Mexico.
by ONE OF TnE rwo nuNDRED
NEw sEnIEs---No. sEvEMrEpN.

Vera Cruz was now in our possession: but
great as was the achievements it was only
the beginning of our great task IL was i'm
portant only as a base Of operations Tolin-
ger there was to lose all the fruits of victory;
and, still worse, it was death to stay. BE.
fore the poisoned breath of that atmosphere,
pestilence would have brooded like a demon
of wrath, and the city would have been one
vast hospital and graveyard. Not asday was
to be lost in removing the army to tho table
lands, where the winds blow over snow-cap-
ped mountains, and are as sweet and health
tul rs the breath of flowers But the inter
veningspacc was londoroddificult of massage
by deep sands and mountain heights. In
mules and draught horses, and tho othnr
means of transportation, the army was sadly
deficient. Tho ability and the resources of a
great commander arc called forth not only
on the battle field he has to supply md
transport his army, and all the heavy bag
gage and munitions Of war; The success of
A campaigns depends rs much upon this as
upon courage and discipline.
Gen. Scott undertook tho task, with his
characteristic energy. He bought all the
mules and horses which could be bought,
and Mt once began the removal of the army
to the table lands.
The Mexican mules werc small and un-
broken to harness; besides, they were vicious
my attempt to break one of them 1t gave
such exhibitions of spirit, that nobody would
dare to mount it, | never feared to back
anything with hair ON it," andI dotcrnitf-
ed to set an example. Getting two men to
hold it until mounted, I COTTON, when the
furious animal went plunging and Kicking,
until it throw me ton feet over its head iutoa
pond of watoF These wild mustang nuIos
wore in Il. greatp part our only dependence for
Nr.gaNA NssNa L \ "a
away, and played the very devil generally.
One day, on a hurried march, they ran off
with our hospital wagon and tore it to pieces
lost the medicines and tho whole wreck had
to be left to the Mexicans FIX
About fifty miles TO the south of Vera Cruz
lay considerable town, Alvarado, named
after one of the officers of Cortez. Itis n
milo from tho mouth of Alvarado river, a vo-
ny largo stream for Mcxico, and nayieablc
for many miles. 1t is the commercial town
of sich interior country, and has great
commerce. Gen. Quitman's brigade. COM
posed OF the Alabama, Gcorgia, and Palmot-
to regiments, withone train of artillery and
few companies of Dragons, woro sent to
capture Alvarado and, Tlacotalpam. a town
up tho river. Tho only object Of this expe-
dltion was to get draught animals for the
use of thea army. The towns were of no i'm.
portance, not worth Keeping after taking
them. Lieutenant IIunyer, of the navy, was
sent to blockade the mouth ofthe river.
On tho both day Of March we started upon
this ery.uufortunate and disastrous oxpedi-
tion, which ended in nothing useful iowinp
to-the blundering of Iieut. Hunter, y and
which, besides, cheating us of the honors we
might have aon at Cerro Gorde, killed In heat
and fatigue moro than hundred PalmottOes
tt was nearly IN the evening ofthe
Both day of March whom wo left the beach,
on the Alyarado march There was no ROAD
aud Wemarclled along the beach, tho tide MS
itfiowed in, wettlhg our feet This was the
first ruareh for tho pal,netteos. Itwentvery
hard with them We marched from sGndown
tni midnight a DISTANCE of 12 miles. with all
oarhaTaess en-. weighing fifty pounds. was
yefyweak and delcate, and almost sank ufl-
der the fatigue. The fresh, cool breeze of
the galf hnoyed as up and supported us I'M
dor MACH which would have overcome us
in tho daytime. ] Iquit ranks, and went a.
Tong at n pace 60 suit myself I feel in.with
the Alabahias regiment, and waIketf 2iany
nl'les sylsh thena Their terna of sseryicei was
almost .9ut, and they were singing of fs"home,
sweet honie," Happy fellows The Pal
mettoes were booked during tho war with
meSico,S and ten years might still Ind the
renananto of them Ia s6rvice Tic Alabaina
rsglnaent was singing q song of swhl6lStho
'Rollons roll on, sweet rnofncntsrollonl
Andiet the psior soldier 10 homo. rs home -
FaE over the blue galf, ami over tho plains
seyeFbreted thiased but bope-inspieiag re.
frain. Iremcmber ono tall, strappina follow
who sang looder than tho rect only Jaw