Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1861-04-27
TIL E De MOOR AT.


r. "A. AO I, ...:- -. LuILoL,
B~i The following we extract from
the April number of De Bows Re-
view:
An episode may be here tolerated, in
regard to the conduct of the celebrated
Mississippi Rifles, under charge of Col,
now President. Jefferson Davis, on the
field of Buena Vista. The great move
ment then msde by Davis, is SAID to
have been without previous parallel in
the art of war, and was regarded by the
Duke of Wellington as new and master
ly. 1t was subsequently made, we learn
on the authority of General Gushing, on
the fields of the Crimea.
But to the extract from Claiborne, p.
2S9: ....- ..-...... ..
"Thc battle had been raging some
time with tluctuating fortunes, and was
setting against us, when Gen Taylor,
with Col. Davis and others, arrived on
the field. Several regiments (Which
were subsequently rallied and fought
bravely) were in full retreat; O'Brien,
after having his men and horses com
pletely cut up, had been compelled to
draw off his guns, and Bragg, with al
most superhuman energy, was sustain
ing the brunt of the fight. Many officers
of distinction had fallen. Col. Davis
rode forward to examine the position of
the enemy, and concluding that the best
way to arrest our fugitives would be to
make bold demonstration, he resolved
at once to attack the enemy, there post
ed, in force, Immediately in front, sup
ported by cavalry, and two divisions in
reserve in his rear. 1t was a resolution
bold almost to rashness, bat the emer-
gcncy was pressing. With handful of
Indiana Volunteers, who still stood by
their brave old colonel (BoWles), and
his own regiment, he advanced at double
quick time, firing as he advanced. His
own brave fellows fell fast under the
rolling musketry of the enemy, but their
rapid and fatal vollcys carried dismay
| and death into the adverse ranks. A
deep ravine separated the combatants.
Leaping into it, the Mississippians soou
appeared on the other side, and with a
shout that was heard over the battlefield,
they poured in well-dfected fire, and
rushed upon the enemy. Their deadly
aim and wild enthusiasm were irresiStl-
Bile. The Mexicans fled III confusion to
their reserves, and Davis seized the com
manding position they had occupied.
He next fell upon a party of cavalry
and compelled it to fly, with the loss OF
their leader and other officers. Immedi-
ately afterward brigade Of lancers,
1000 strong, were seen approaching at
gallop, in beautiful array, with sound
ing bngles and futtering pennons. 1t
was an appalling spectacle, but not a
man finched from his position. The
time between our devoted band and
eternity seemed brief indeed. But con
] scious that the eye of the army was upon
them, that the honor of Mississippi was
at stake, and knowing that, if they gave
way, or were ridden down, our unpro
tected batteries in the rear, upon which
the fortunes of the day depended, would
be captured, each man resolved to die il
his place rather than retreat. Not the
Spartan martyrs at Thermopyle--no1
the sacred battalion of Epaminondas--
not the tenth legion of Julius Cesar
not the Old Guard of Napoleon-evel
evinced more fortitude than these young
volunteers in crisis when death seemed
inevitable. They stood like statues, as
| frigid and motionless as the marble it
self. Impressed with this extraordinary
frmness, when they had anticipated
panic and fight, the lancers advanced
more deliberately, as though they saw
| for the first time the dark shadow Of the
/ fate that was impending over them
! Col. Davis had throw n his men into tlt
form of re-enteriHg angle (familiarl,