New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-24
AN INCIDENT OF THE MEXICAN WAR,

A. the Kentucky regiment crossed the Nuoee,, asd
reached those immense praines and woodward
streams which spread themselves GU, 800 miles b tho
Rio Grsnds, great quantities Of game presented
strong temptation 10 the soldiers and II was found
very difficult 10 keep the regiment from Struggling
Wien the campground chosen, the sick, tho
lame and the hunters were, contrary II al military
rules stretched ont for miles behind. This was tbs
greater breach of orders because frequent signs Of
rowing Cmarches were seel, who, not having the
fear of Uncle Sam before their eyes ready to cut
of any stagelsr secretly, aud appropriate his clothes
and gun. One day, Cspt. Cassius IL. Clay OF the
kentucky Volunteers was hunting turkeys, AMI
strayed several miles from his regiment; hcsk OF
turkeys flew out of the prairie into the woods when
skrted stream that once wa, but now, IN July,
drl. Tying his fine blooded horse to bash,
he entered the dry channel Of the quondam stre~ni,
the banks of which both sides above ms heal,
and be an calling the turkeys, in Indian STYLE VITA
the email bone Of q detunct turkeys pnion. Tho
fowls answered, and came nearer and nearer Al
len, th on raising his head cautiously above the bank,
instead of seeing the turkey he heard = q" clekV
There is roise of tree ar stream or wild beast IL
ali savage nature, Ike this suggestive sound-ts
Clsys practic. ear, it was death knell-tAe sprng
tng Of a niggeri As quick as thought, he shppsi
back into the rsyine, and, running some
hundreds of yards, he reached and mounted
his rusty courser. His su.pic we're nos all tso
well confirmed. the regiment had crossed tue wood
above passing west; ana, Is soon rs the last horse
nan disappeared from the distant horizon, the Co
mapches who mad been wstch,cg them from the
wosd, took on opposite oour~, sod quite troop Of
them eoud be seen depl"!ng from the wood, IN oog
Indian e. into the pralus esstwsrdly. The regiment
had crossed il such direction that Clay had to fo-
low the trace by making the tro sides Of triangle,
and the Iudans, II determined 70 interrupt him, had
only 20 make one. Notwithstanding the odds az snst
Dim. trusting to the ood Of Kentucky racer, hs
gave shout ct defiance, waved his bat and plunged
i.to II wood GLOWING the uacs for half . mile be-
fore he struck the opposite prairie Wito GREATNESS
anxiety he approached the clear space, not koowng
but that he would be cut off by = superior force,
While still out Of hearing of gupsbot from the rsgi-
ment. But "luck attends the daring sportsman
and. as he emerged Into the sioe OF grass end
h,wers, the coast clear aod ali ~ss serene End
lovely-io o, Q r.d..k t. be seen Clay descr bes his
feeling s as being descent suddenly from the Sublime
to the rdiculou- and laughed outright at his rsem-
blsnce to the wicked" ssid to " flee when
no man pursuetb" But the sun was fast sinking in
the wtk, Dt'Dp laT Otuinu tue NC
up bri-k cauter tll the hindmost strsgglsrs cans
into view. Misery loves company; SO does nerriment-
Putting spurs to his already pantiOg charger, asd
assumirg the widest ard most tenined air, he
came up crying, ely for your hives, the Comanehes
are comingl" Then there mounting IN hot
haste. Some had captured wild horses, some had
loaded themselves with fruit and game, some were
sick, others lame, &c. But, when the cry Of lndi-
ars" came thus startlipgy upon their ears all elso
was forgotten. TIE horses turned loose, the
grapes and game around, coats and hats were
scattered in all directions the blind saw, the lame
walked, ard the sick were cured. Az one overlook
another in the for life, the same inspiration Of
terror became a common feeling till nearly one sixth
of the Regiment was 10 full stampede The more
Clay cried Halt and defend yourselves" the faster
they ran and the less inclined they to halt Tho
Captain had jolly time of it, and, for many day
af,erwsrd, a singular balf-comical, balf-serious
shadow would pass some brother soldiers face,
when the Captain would ak him what had become
" Of his Gray Uustang2" Nor WEsTER.