Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-01-12

ing, Tor sucn may Dc tile ureau OF eAcommunication
by you with your flock, that my one else may be
afraid to do 80. Yours, &C., THE DEACON.
For the Advertiser.
GENERAL MCGOWAN BEFORE THE PALMETTO
ASSOCIATION.
Mr.. EDIroR Il nm very glad to see that MIR. RAM
SAY at tho Post Office, has for sale yet few copies
of the admirable speech of Gen. MCGOWAN before
the Palmetto Association.
credit to his genius and taste, any thing which has
proceeded from him. It is exceedingly difficult, on
such theme, to meet the demands Of vulgar expec-
tatiun and still conform to the rules Of taste and ele
CANT composition. So much blood is required to How,
so much noise of drum, trumpet and culvcrin is OK
tected to roar, and so many appalling pictures of
limbcss human bodies, of mangled charges rampling
over the wounded md dying men, and Of cities desc
lated by fire and sword, with their women violated,
their husbands melerng in gore, and their children
consumed in the smoulderng dwellings that sheltered
their helpless infancy, are supposed to move in The
grand panorama of every speech that made on tie
Mexican war, that almost overy orntor who has graft
nally offended the judgment and wounded the nicer
susceptibities of the few temperate and wise, who
listen to such things.
Tho address is very npretonding-designed only
to give slight sketch of what was suffered and done
by the Palmetto Regiment and TO claim for that gal
liant corps reasonable shnre Of credit and proper
place in history. Tho style is casy, perspicuoua,
graceful, and rather classic. The reader will readily
conceive whilst perusng its pages, that the writer
gould accomplish greater things-bccause there
seems to be manifest in it so great lack of effort
That is one of its chiof beauties, and complete his
tory of tho regiment, after tho same manner, and
finish, would, indeed, be Incompatible
But own, that the General has been little too
unambitous. His effort would have had longer
life, if be had made two or three strong points, and
to thoir elucidntion, development establishment
directed the whole artillery Of his thought the ma-
ges and drapcry of bis delightful fancy and the force
and eloquence of his convincing logic.
The right government Of volunteers, their aptitude
for foreign service, and their suferings in Mexico
would ouch hive presented field for romark and dis
cussion, wide enough to have filed the hour. The
Of the peculiar bearing proves and heroism
of the South Carolina volunteers, would alone have
furnished argument for the longest orntion. And
the comparative merits of tho Northern and South
ern volunteers, though rather an invdous, would yet
havo afforded most highly interesting opic the dis
cussion of which, would have been justified by the
circumstances surrounding us, and by the difficulties
harrassRsnts and dangers that besot :sneri the
South.
These remarks am surc are not made by way OF
objection. The speaker touched on nearly oil the
matters mentioned. The human mind is hard to sat
isy md upon tasting much that s good, it longs
to eat and drink, until the appetite, provoked,
shall Lc appensed by q complete surfeit
The history afforded us Of the career of the rcgi-
mcnt, md all the reflections thereon, appear to be
truthful and just and conveyed in language of great
simplicity and appropriateness. Only, think there
is little inaccuracy in tho account of Santa Anna's
attempt upon Quitmans Brigade between FL Pinnl
and Amnzoque. 7 had the pleasure of reading the
MEXICAN Generals own despatch to his Govern
ment, relative n the occurrence; and have con-
verscd freely on thp splect with the officer who COM
mapded tho advanced guard of the Palmetto Rcgi.
ment ON tho day Of the melitated attack. 1t wAs
perhaps no accident that Gen. Worth awaited tho mr.
rival of Gen. Qutman, and That the Inter FASTENED
his march on the thirteenth of May, 1S47 General
McGuwdn, on reflection, will recolcct, that during
the night of the 18th May, whilst the New Workers
and sauh GarplnHns lay near the pass of El Pinal,
after Tattoo had long been beat after the excitement
consequent upon the accident in the quarters of the
New York Regiment, by which one nembor of that
shot another, had cntiruly subsided, and
found repose, that the Sentinel at post, No. T.
tho tent Of Capt. Quartermaster McGowan, hailed
three times some unknown intruder who had gal
loped up to the lines at full speed, and only
rosed by the faithful soldier Of the guard awake TO
his duty. lie will also remember, that just ut the
instant when the sentry bud accostcd the horseman,
the third and last tme and the onnous cung Of the
musket lock gave warning of DEATH the voice of the
Lieut. commanding tho guard restrained the soldiers
fire by this concise anl sPoftinent ordcr,-" Sentinel
No. 1, will let the express pass" Tho mystery there
is solved. On that night express from Gen. Worth
reached Quitmun informing him Of sunta Anna's de-
signs, and warning him to use all despatch in the
lnorninG ia Gprming junction with his Division at
the village Of Annroque. Fhe tents were struck ear
ly and before clenr light, and Lieut. Abney who
nanded tho advance guard Of the South Carolina
regiment, und Lieut.. Mayno Roid, who commanded
the advance of the New York regiment, received or
lers tto proceel rRpilly ahead Of the Brigade, no
lOnN In oi Mt thn nf he M
and to keep hm in check until the regiments if
pressed, might form their ling of battle Tho 18th
of May was trying to the hearts of at least portion
1f the Pulmettcr crcsimelt Tho guard commanded by
The Lcutonants named, continued ut loasI ono half or
Of q mile in advance of tho Brigade,
md the looks of the Mexcans on tho road side and
in the little villages, and every thing around gave
such positive Indications OF fight, that ono two
nom commissioned officers and privates of tho for
orn hope" snucd battle strongly ain the tainted
,alc" that their courage insantaneously evapornted
nto the thin air. their strength ilcd them, their
ior. faltorod, md they faintcd by tho way-sid0.
bdrrning u ca",.ol a:d tho kissing Of shot and
hell, sOen realized sif nsst sltsqst eaprynsnssHs
Still the little van guard pushed forward, even IN
light of the enemy, and tho two officers in command,
ike true soldiers and comrades in common glorious
ause, made dispositions for falling back upon thor
egiments but formed their heroic bands in good or.
lcr pledged themselves to each other to fight togeth
r or fall together and to ghnro alike the honors and
hp hazarls of the daF:
At this junouro, an did or other messenger of quit
nans gallopOd forward and ordered the guard to join
heir respective regiments and prepare for baltic.
Cha nn of hn fila fnrmnd IoaI --n.I