Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-10-25
5liatellantQug.
DEATH STRUGGLE
AT
RU Il ~ a VISTA,
BY GEORGE LIPPAED.

il was near the setting OF the sun, when
the Man of palo Alto, Rcsaca de la Palma
Monterey, saw the clouds come down on the
last charge of Buena Vista, that scene
worthy the days oi Washington, closed tn,
day in glory
Do you behold that dark ravne, deep sun.
ken between those precipitous banks2 Her,
no sunlight comes, for these was of rock
wraps the pass in eternal twilight Wlther,
ed trees grow between the MASSES Of granite
aud scattered stoues make the bed Of the ray
inc uncertain and difficult for the tread
iark That cry, that rush like noun
tain torrent bur,ting iH barriers, and quici;
a. tine lightning flashes from darkness, the
dismal ravine Is batnei in red battle light
From its northern extremity, a confused band
Of NcXi q, an army i Itsse came yelling
along the pass. treadIng one another down as
they fly, their banners, spears, horses and
men, tossed together in iHeItrlCable Cuuiu-
sion.
BY thousands they rush into the shadows
Of tic pass, their dark faces reddcuel by III,
shceted blaze of musketry. The caverns ol
the rayine send back the roar of the panic,
and the gray rocks are washed by Their
blood.
But the little band who pursues this army
who are they? You may see il their firm,
heroic ranks, the volunteer costume Of Illinois
and Kentucky At their head, urging his
men with the shouts, rides the gallant VI kcc
by his side young Henry Clay, that broad
forehead; which reminds you Of his father,
hathed il the glare As his sword quivers o.
high ere it falls to kiII-Thcre, too, a Wild
figure, red with the blood OF Mex sn foes
his uniform rent iu tattcrs, his arms bated to
the shoulders, striking terrible blows with his
good sword-llardin OF lllinUis-comes gal
lantly forward.
The small, hut iron band, hurl the MeXi-
cans from the height into the ravne, and fol-
low up the chase, far down into the eternal
twilight Of that mountain pass.
Look As their musketry streams It's stead
Y blaze, you would thiuk that one ceasle-s
sheet Of lightning bathed the rocks in flames
Over the Mexcaus man and h irse, hurled
back in mad disorder, the Americans dash
on their way, needing not the overwhelming
numbers OF their foes, never beeding the pal
pitatng forms beneath their feet, with bay
onet, rife and sword. they press steadily on,
their well-kuown banner streaming over
head
The howl Of the dying war -horse.-hark
Docs it not chill your blood tD hear i'll
The bubing cry Of the wounded man, with
the horses hoOf upon his mouth, trampIing
his face into a hideDus wreck-does it Lot
sicken your soul to hear it.
a hundred yards or more, into the pas:
the Americans have penetrated, when sud
denly young Mexican, rushing back upon
their ranks, seized the fallen flag Of Auahuae
and dashes to his death.
10 see him, young and beard less, very
boy, rush with his country. flag, with hi
barred breast upon that line Of sharp 'teel-
it WAS a sight to stir coward in manhood ant
it shot into the Mexcans hearts like an e.
lectrc fame.
Even in their pantic-stricken disorder, t!.ey
turn: by hundreds they grasped Their arms
and rolled in one long wave ol lance and bay
onet, upon the foe. Woe to the brave met
Of Illinois and Kentucky now. Locked il
that deadly pass, a wall Of luturiate M"xi
cans between them and that wall Of rocks
ahove their heads through every aperture p
mong the cliffs, the blaze Of musketry pour
ing a shower, Of bullets in their faces-where
ever they turned, the long and deadly Iamc'
poised at their throat-it was a moment 4
| think once Of home aud die.
Those who survived that fearful moment
tell with .huddering triumph Of the deeds o
the three heroes-M'Kee, Hardin and Clay
Hardin ruus from heap Of Slaughtered
foes. his face streaming from its hide rs lance
wounds. and waves Mexican flag in tri
ump, as his life blood gushes in torrent 0
yer lis muscular form. That instant the iul
light Of battle was upon his mangled face
Then, fingng the captured flag 70 brothe
soldier he shuuthed-''Give It to her as a me
mortal Of Buena Vista. Ny wife7" 1t wa
his last word. Upon his barred breast, tn
| fury Of ten lancers rushed, and the horses
ho0fs trampled him into the heap OF dead.
Bu, most sal aud yet most glorious Of al
was the death of the s-coud Henry Clay =
! You should have SEEN him, with his back =
gains, yonder rock, his sword grasped firmly
as the consciousness that be bore a nsi e tha
must no. die iugloriously seem Il FL his ev
cry vein, and dart a deadly FIRE from hi
EYES.
Az n. sc-..-t IS ;ostsd tie tts .