The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-09-12
Death of Young Henry Clay,
sst 90 By GEORGE L1prARD. !,


lssst % sBY GEORGE L1PrARD. - I'd
.bosgaa ~ .scisuiasa1 9aiE6llal
1t was near the setting of the sun,
when the men Of Palo Alto, Resaca de
Il Palma and Monterey, saw the clouds
come down on the last charge of Buena
Vista that q scene worthy Of the days of
Washington, closed the day in glory. -,
Do You behold that dark ravine, deep
supken 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. ,,S ,tl.
Harkl that cry, that rush like noun
tain torrent bursting Its barriers, and quick
as the lightning flashes from darkness, the
dismal ravine is bathed in red battle light
From its northern extremity, confused
band sof. Mexicans, an army in itself come
yelling along the pass, treading one an,
other down as they fly, their banners,
spears horses and men tossed together in
inextricable confusion.
BY thousands they rush into the shadow
of the pass, their dark faces Redeemed by
the heated blaze of musketry. The cav
erns Of the raviBe send back the roar of
the panic, and the grey rocks are washed
By their blood ..-s-s,s-- ,-z=s
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
~ Clay, that broad forehead, which re-
minds you of his father, bathed in the
glare as his sword quivers on high ere
it fails to kill. There too, a. wild figure
redb with his own blood and the blood OF
his Mexican. foes, his uniform rent in tat
ers. his arms barred to the shoulders, strik-
ingeterrible blows with his good sword
Hardin, of Illinois--eomes gallantly for
ward. qeg 7 .-es.g&
The small but iron hand hurl the Mex,
icars from the heights into the ravine
and. follow up. the chase far down into the
eternal twilight Of that mountain pass.
Lookl As their musketry steams its
steady blaze, you would think that one
ceaseless sheet of lightning bathed these
rocks in famesl s..4,sas s.--.4-.-s
Over the Mexicans, maa and horse
hurled back in mad disorder, the Ameri
ca9s dash on their way, never heedngi the
overwhelming aumbers IF their foes, new
or needing the palpitating forms beneath
their feet with, bayonet. and rife, ant
sweEd. they press steadily .on, their well
known banner streaming eyermore over
head. .eIg2 s'fo1Bafs.4Iilalsk
The howl Of the dying war horse
hArH Does il, not. chill your blood T.
hear isiizeThe bubblipg cry Of the wound
"a man; with ethes horses hoof upon hi
mouth. trampling his face into q hfdeou
ySsck.doess ss,Jit il not Msickena M your soul ts
HShtotss ssES 7elsnsis .sesifGsFg gsigasiaa SO
A hundred yards or more,into the pas
thesAmericans had penetrated, when sud
dshiy : young Mexican, rushing back up
on their ranks, seizes the fallen flag o
xpahuac snd, ,dashes to death. ssu eao
-1nEo ssee; him. young and beardless,
verY.boy, rush YiGh bis country's fag, will
his'breast, upon that line Of, sharp steel
il Ras sight to stir towards into man
hood; and itshet into Mexican hearts lik
an elnctric fame. aa Z = 41ll0
esEE1veh ia their panic stricken disorde
thsy turned by hundreds; they graspe
armA and rolled into one long wave G
lances and baycnets upon theifoe. 'qWo
to the brave men of Illinois and Ken
Neky lowt Locked in that deadly pass
afya4l Of Iipfariated o Mexicans abetwee
them and that wall Of rocks -aboye thei
heads throngheyery apperture among tn
cliffs, che blaze of muskets pouring
sAoversof bullets in their faces s--wherey
efdhsy tnfned,s the long and deadly lane
pointed at theirthroatsFutitwss. q momen
to think once of home--and die.
Those who survived that fearful mo