Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-12-23
From the St. Mary's Beacon,

From the St. Mary's Beacon.
MEssRs. EDITORS: A very gallant and accom-
plished officer, who participated in the battle a
Buena Vista, in speaking of noteworthy Incl
dents that occurred during that ever-gloriou
and memorable contest related the following
cat very critical point of the battle on the 23d
when it became necessary to sustain one of ou
columns, which was staggering under charge
made by the Mexicans, in overwhelming mum.
bers, General Taylor dispatched Mr. Crittender
to order Mr. Mckee, of the I'd Kentucky regi
ment to bring his men into immediate action
Mr.. Crittenden found the regiment, men anc
officers, eager for the fray, delivered the order
and rode back to the General, by whose side il
was his duty to keep. The Kentuckians moved
forward in gallant style, led by Mckee and Clay
both of whom, alas fell in a subsequent part
OF the day. 1t so happened that, before reach
ing position from which they could deliver an
effective fire. the regiment had to cross valley
which was broken up by ravines and masses Of
stones. Whilst crossing this valley, the heads
only of the men could be seen from the point
which General Taylor and Mr.. Crittenden occu-
pied, and these were bobbing up and down and
crosswise in such confusion as to impress both
with the idea that the regiment had fallen into
disorder. The Mexicans were annoying them
at the same moment by a fire, which helped to
confirm the opinion of the General that the
kentucklans were thrown into dismay.
ut was one of those decisive crisis which oc-
cur in every contested field, when the issue of
! the day depended for the time being upon the
gallantry OF particular corps General Taylor
who, as before said, could only see the heads of
the troops, and mised by their motions in get
| ting across gullics and going around rocks and
other instructions into the belief that they were
about to falter, turned to Mr. Crittenden, who is
a kentuckian, and, with countenance ndicat-
ing deep notification for the General is a
kentuckian too-and an eye fierce with emotion,
exclaimed: MIR. C1ttenden, this will not do
this is not the way for Kentuckians to behave
themselves when called upon to make good
battle-it will not answer, sir, and with this, he
clenched his hand, knit his brows, and set his
teeth hard together. In few moments. how
ever, the Kentuckians had crossed the uneven
places, and were seen ascending the slope of the
valley, shoulder to shoulder and with the firm
and regular step of veterans Of a hundred fields.
On they moved until they reached the crest of
the hill, where they met the enemy before the
flush of temporary advantage had subsidized.
Here they delivered their fires with such regu-
lax Of Mexico gave way and retreated precipi-
lately. AS the Kentuckians emerged from the
valley, the countenance Of the old General, who
was regarding them with the intensest interest,
gradually relaxed the bitterness Of it's expression.
A glow of pride supplanted the deep mortifca-
ton which fixed its muscles and enthusiasm
qualified the fierce glance of his eye. Forward
they moved under his rivited gaze, whose feel
ings became more and more wrought up as they
approached the scene of carnage. When they
opened their fire, the old General could no long
er restrain his admiration, but broke forth with
a loud huzza-FHurrah for old Kentuckyv he
exclaimed, talking as it were to himself, and
rising in his saddle,-'thats the way to do it );
give it to them, and the tears of exultation rolled
down his cheeks as he said it: Having got rid
of this ebullition of State pride, he went about
looking after other parts Of the feld.'
| This is one among many hundreds of instan-
ces that goes to prove the great Importance of
every States encouraging and lending foster
| ing care to the great art of gunnery. Stout
prerequisites in the formation Of good soldiers,
but, unless the whole science of gunnery has
been taught the art of taking "deadly aim, they
can be of little use in modern warfare, unless
to serve by their presence to intimidate by out
numbering an opposing army. The battle of
New Orleans, that shed so much lustre upon
the American army, was won by and in conse-
quence of the unerring and murderous fire of
our troops. One thousand Kentuckians can be
selected that will whip or destroy like number
of soldiers, the pick of all England Ireland and
Scotland. And why is this? Is it because the
bluegrass region beats the world in game and
fearless men as it does in stout and speedy
horses? No, for there are as brave men in
Great Britain as the world can produce, but her
people are not reared like ours, and her youth
are Injured in the main to practice the art of
shooting. Every thing depends in numerous
instances upon an effective discharge on the part
of single regiment, and the fate of an empire
may be decided, as has frequently been the case,
by the result of one single battle. What boots
it, if particular regiment is ordered toward to
protect weak point, and it is deficient in the
art of shooting we'll! The main fact of its ex-
hibiting great GOODNESS and bravery is of little
or no practical benefit, unless from early educa-
ton each and every individual has learned, not
only to pull the trigger, but to point his gun
well, and let every discharge thereof send death
and destruction into the ranks of his countrys
foe. It is important then that our soldiers
should know how to shoot well, and unless they
have learned before actual hostilitcs have begun,
they will in all probability never learn, for it
takes time and practice to excel in shooting, as
it does in most other things.
Your correspondent is pleased to see that an
impetus has recently been given in the right di-
rection and that the youth of this and the adj
jacent county of Charles have determined to
meet on some future day, to test their relative
powers in the art of shooting.
Time was when your (now superanuated)
correspondent would have been delighted to add
his name to the list of contestants, but when the
limbs grow stiff, and ever and anon, electric-like
pains are flying through them-when the eye
grows dim and nature asks of art the use of
shelps to see," it is time for one to be elevating
thoug hts to another and better world, instead of
guns at birds in this. It is pleasing, though
viewed as a matter Of amusement solely, to see
that the challenge of our very presumptuous
] L.otbron of the har and u11n hailinn from, and