Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-08-30
Wnttllaneous.
DEATH OF YOUNG HENRY CLAY.
RY GEORGE LlPpARD.

1t was near the setting Of the sun, when
the men of Palo Alto. Resaca de la Pal
ma and Monterey, saw the clouds come
down on the last charge of Buena Vista
that scene worthy of the days of Wash
ington, closed the day in glory.
DO you behold that dark ravine, deep
sunken between these precipitous banks?
Here no sunlight comes. for these walls of
rock wrap the past in eternal twilight
Withered trees grow between masses of
granite, and scattered stone make the bed
of the ravine uncertain and difficult for
the tread.
Hark! that cry, that rush like noun
tain torrent bursting it's barriers, and
quick as the lightning flashes from dark
ness, the dismal ravine is bathed in red
battle light. From its northern extremi-
ty, confused band of Mexicans, an ar
my in itself come yelling along the pass,
treading one another down as they fly,
their banners, spears horses and men toss
ed together in inextricable confusion.
By thousands they rush into the shad
ow of the pass. their dark face Redeemed
by the heated blaze of musketry. The
caverns of the ravine send back the roar
of the panic, and the grey rocks are
washed by their blood.
But the little band who pursues this
army! Who are they? You may see in
their firm, heroic ranks, the volunteer cos
tune of Illinois and Kentucky. AT their
head, urging his men with shouts, rides
the gallant Mckee, by his side young Hen
ry Clay, that broad forehead, which re-
minds you of his father, bathed in the
glare as his sword quivers on high ere it
falls to kill. There, too, a wild figure
red with his own blood and the blood of
his Mexican foes, his uniform rent in tat
ers, his arms barred to the shoulders, strk-
ing terrible blows with his good sword
Hardin, of Illinois-comes gallantly for
ward.
The small but iron hand hurl the Mex
leans from the heights into the ravine,
and follow up the chase far down into
the eternal twilight of that mountain
pass.
Look AS thei, musketry streams its
steady blaze, you would think that one
ceaseless sheet of lightning bathed these
rocks in flames!
Over the Mexicans, man and horse,
hurled back in mad disorder, the Ameri'
cans dash on their way, never needing the
overwhelming numbers of their foes, new
or needing the palpitating forms beneath
their feet, with bayonet, and rifle, and
sword, they press steadily on, their we'll
known banner streaming evermore over
head.
The howl of the dying war-horse-
hark! Does it not chill your blood to
hear it? The bubbling cry of the wound
ed man, with the horses hoof upon his
mouth, trampling his face into hideous
wreck-does it not sicken your soul to
hear it?
A hundred yards or more into the pass
the Americans had penetrated. when sud
denly young Mexican, rushing back up
on their ranks, seizes the fallen flag OF
Anahuac and dashes to death.
To see him, young and beardless, a
very boy. rush with his country's flag,
with his barred breast, upon that line OF
sharp steel-it was sight to stir COW
ards into manhood, and it shot into Mex
lean hearts like an electric flame.
Even in their panic stricken disorder
they turned by hundreds; they graspec
arms and rolled into one long wave o
lances and bayonets upon the foe. Woo
to the brave men of Illinois and Ken
tucky now! Locked in that deadly pass
a wall of infuristed Mexicans between
them and that wall of rocks-above thei
heads through every Aperture among tn
cliffs, the blaze of musl1ets pouring
shower of bullets in their faces-wherev
er they turned, the long and deadly lane
pointed at their throats-it was momen
to think once of homeland die.
Those who survived that fearful momen
tell with shuddering triumph the deeds @
the three heroes Mckee, Hardin an
Clay.
Mckee. you see him yonder with hi
shattered sword dripping with blood, h
endeavors to ward off the blow OF thos
deadly lanoes, and fights on his knee
when he can stand no longer, and then tn
eombatants close over him, and you Sc
him no more.
Hardin arose from heap of slaughter
ed faces, his face streaming from its hide
GUS lance wounds, and waved Mexica
flag in triumph, as his life blood rushe