Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1858-03-11
New Series---vol. iii, No. IL.

New Series---Vol. iii, No. liz.
were put under guard, and the lady was
also requested to remain in hex chamber,
over which a sentinel was placed, but as
sured that she should not be restrained of
her freedom in the morning. Sentinels
were thrown out to prevent surprise, and
then those who could, sought the arms of
a soldiers best friend--gentle sleep.
When morning came, party was sent
out to collect the horses and cattle for army
use, the prisoners were mustered and noun
ted for march, party entailed to destroy
the fields by fire and steel, and then our
leader had the lady brought before him.
{ / am sorry, Senora,' said he, that my
orders were to burn and destroy, even as
your father. has done with us; but | was
not ordered to detain Or injure a woman.
Select any attendants you desire, choose
your horses, and depart whittier you choose,
with your personal property
Execute your orders aud spare your
sorrow 7 said she disdainfully. ask no
| attendant-they are all towards, or they
would have fought while life lasted. But
| will take my horse, and with him speed
in search of father who will hasten to
give you crimson receipt for the labor you
have performed.
Words could not be banded with lady,
especially one of her spirit Her horse
was saddled and she rode off alone at full
speed, leaving behind her blazing home
and ruined fields. We returned to camp
with our booty, and made our report But
there was look of dissatisfaction on our
commanding officers face when he heard
we had not met Ramon Canovas, although
the provisions were grateful and timely
supply in the camp. Fat pork will do very
well in a region of eternal snow, but it is
not the ration for men sweating under q
heat of from 95o to 1909.
| 1t was on the twenty-third day of Feb
ruary, lS47. For two days the hostile ar
mics of the United States and Mexico
the one small but heroic band, the other
a vaunting, boasting host-had been front
ing each other. On the day previous, that
DAY of days, anniversarial of HIS birth,
who was first in war, first in peace, and first
last, and FOREVER in the hearts of all true
| Americans, the armies had been warmly
engaged, but night had drawn veil be-
tween them, and they rested But with
the sun, rose on the twenty more than
twenty-five thousand men, eager to decide
| by that days deeds, a battle which would
astonish wondering world
And over the field, the sun threw its
rays from a cloudless sky bayonet and gun
barrel, FURNISHED sabre and glittering lance
head, threw back their bright reflection,
while futtering pennons, waving banners,
and dancing plumes, kissed by the morn
ing's gentle breeze, added to the gorgeous
beauty of the scene. The chilled troops,
who, without fires, had slept all the long
night upon their arms, ate their hasty meal
from their haversacks, and then were drawn
up ready for the fearful harvesting Of death.
And when the first gun announced the ball
opened-then, then arose cheer, which
told the multitudinous foe that there were
those before them who could de, but who
aeper could be conquered
The enemy then opened wave on wave
of his choicest troops were rolled forward
upon the bulwark of American breasts,
but broken and shattered, like great surges
dashed against an adamantine cliff, they
recoiled, in broken fragments, on those
which they followed. No longer was the
air pure and clear; no longer shone the sun
on unsullied plume and fag-on glittering
, steel Smoke and blackness obscured all,
r except the red fash of artillery and mus
/ kerry.
And yet, like the untiring surges, which
. roll on--through the long watches of the
e storm, that desperate army, fighting upon
$ its own soil, swept in with It's reserves upon
the devoted ranks under old Rough and
$ Ready But it is not for me to describe
! that fght--how fell Hardin, Clay, and
5 Yell-how gallant Lincoln, friend of more
than one campaign, died-how Mckee,
Zabriskie, and hundred other gallant
spirits perished, sword in hand. This has