, 1860-11-16
1ElM STRUGGLE AT BUENI VISTA.
ny GEORGE LIPPARD.

By 6EOhdE LlffAhD.
Il vas near the setting of the sun, when
hs Man Of Palo Alto, Resaca de Ia Palma
nd Monterey, saw the clouds come down
q the last charge Of Buena Vista, that a
esn6 worthy the days Of Washington,
closed the day in glory. Do you behold
hat dark ravine, deep-sunken, between
AsSe PERCEPTIONS banks I Here no sun.
Int comes, for these walls of rock wrap
be pass 10 eternal twilight. Witbered
trees grow between the masses Of granite,
snd scattered stones make the bed Of the
uTine uncertain and difficult 10 the tread
Hsrk I That cry, that rush, like q
mountain torrent bursting its barriers, and
quick % the lightning flashes from dark
lsa, the dismal raVine is bathed in red
battle light. From its northern extremity,
. confused band of Mexicans, an army 10
isslf come yelling along the pass, treading
one smother down as they fly, their ban.
nan, spears, horses and men, tossed togeth-
e In iasxtricabls confusion. By thousands
IAsy rush into the shadows Of the pass,
their dark faces Redeemed by the sheeted
blaEs Of musketry. The caverns Of the ra-
vine send back the rear Of the panic, and
a. grey rocks are washed with their blood.
Bat the little band who pursue this
Hrnyl Wh0 ere they You may see in
thlir firm heroic ranks, the volunteer cos
tune Of Illinois and Kentucky. At their
bead, urging bis men with shouts, rides the
gallant M'Kss, BY his side young Henry
Csy-that broad forehead, which reminds
y0u Of his father, bathed in the glare as
N sword quivsrs on high ere it falls to
IN. There. too, wild figure. red with
IAs blood Of Mexican foes, his uniform
rUat in tattsrs, his arms barred to the shoul-
dssI, striking terrible blows with bis good
IWogd-Hardin, Of Illinois-comes gallant
b forward. The small, but iron band, hurl
Ne Mexlcans from the heights into the ra-
vine, and follow up the chase, ( dorm the
lie eternal twilight Of that mOuutaI pass.
Look I As their musketry streams its
ltsAdy bIa1e, you would think that one
ssasslesI sheet Of lightning bsthed these
sOekS 10 fame Oyer the Mexicans, man
Gad horse, hurled back in mad disorder,
he Americans dash on hlir way; needing
~ the Overwhelming numbers of their
baI, never needing the palpitating forms
bsnsath their feet, with bayonet, rife and
WORD, they press steadily on, their we'll
known banner streaming overhead. The
howl Of the dying warhorse ! Hark
Does It not chill your blood to hear it
Tho bubblinE cry Of the wounded man, with
he horses hOof upon his mouth, trampling
his face into hideous wreck-does it moi
icksn your soul to hear it
4 hundred yards or more into the pass
The Americans have penetrated, when sud
denly . young Mexican rushed back upOr
their ranks, seized the fallen flag Of Ana
hauc, and daShes to his death. To see him
yOung and beardleSs, q very boy, rush with
bic eountry's Asg, and with his barred
breast, upon that line Of sharp steel-i
was sight TO stir towards into manhood
snd it shot into the Mexican hearts like al
electric fame. Even In their panic-strick
sn disorder, they turned; by hundreds they
graSpsd their arms, and rolled in one long
we're Of lance and bayonet, upon the foe
Woe 10 the brave men Of Illinois aud Ken
taeky now Locked in that deadly pass
. wall Of ipfuriAted MexicanS between
them and that wall Of rocks-aboVO thei
heads, through every aperture among th'
elias, the blaze Of muSketry pouring I
shower Of bullets in their faces-whereVe
they turned the long and deadly lane
poised ct their throats--it was monen
70 think once Of homo and die ! Thos
Who survived that fearful moment, tell will
1Aaddsriug trump Of the deeds Of thre
harooS-MKse, Hardin and Clay.
Hardin runs from . heap Of slaughtered