The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-02-06

flame .' 90
Even in their panic stricken disc rder,
they turned, bv hundreds, they erasped
their arms, and rolled in one long wave
! Of lance and bayonet upon the foe. Woe
to the brave men Of Illinois and Kentucky
now! Locked in that deadly pass, a wall
Of infuriated Mexicans between them and
that wall OF rock-above their heads
through every aperture among the cliff,
the blaze Of muskets pouring shower of
bullets in their faces Wherever thev
turned, the long and deadly lance poised
at their throats il was moment 20 think
once Of home and die
Those who survived. that fearful no,
ment, tell with shuddering triumph of the
deeds OF the three heroes-McKee, Har
din and Clay.
Mckee, you see yonder, with his shat
tered sword dropping blood, he endeavors
10 ward off the aim Of those deadly lances.
and fights on his knees when he can
stand no longer, and then the comba,ants
close over him anG you see him no
more
Hardin rose from a heap Of slaughtered
foes, his face streaming from its hi,lcous
lance wounds, and waved 4 Mexican flag
in triumph, as his life blood gushes in n
| torrent over his muscular form. That
instant the full lgh, Of battle was upon
his mang'ed face. Then, nineing the
captured flag to a brother soldier, be
| shouted: "Grye it to her as a memorial
to Buena Vis,al Nv wife /" 1t was his
last words. Upon his breast the fury Of
ten lances rushed, and the horses hoofs
uamped him into the heap OF fdead.
But most sad and yet most glorious OF
/ all, was to SEQ the death Of the Second
Henry Clay You should have seen him,
with his back against yonder rock, his
sword grasped firmly, as the consciousness
! that he bore name that must not die
ingiorionsIy, seemed to ill his every vein,
aud dart deadly fre from his ayes!
At that.momeut he looked like the Old
man.
For bis BROW high ana re,rea,ng,
with the blood clo,,eI har wavjng back
from its outline, was swollen in every vein,
as though his soul Shone from it. ere she
Ned forever. Lips set, brows knit, hand
hrm-a circle of his men tiahtin. round
him lie dashed into the Mexicaus until
his sword was wet, his arm weary with
blood.
At last, with lis thigh spIiu,ered by
ball, he gathered his proud form 10 its
full height, and fell. His face ashy with
intense agony, he bade his comrades to
leave him there to die That ravine should
be the bed Of his glory. .....
Bu. gathering around him, guard Of
breasts aud sieeI-while two of their
number bore him ,snderiy aIonc-these
men OF Kentucky fought round their faHen
hero, and as retrea,ing step By step, they
launched their swords and bayone,s into
the faces Of the foe, they said with every
blow: "Ilenry Clay !"
1t was wonderful to see bow that name
nerved their arms, and called a smile TO
the face Of the dying hero How it would
have. made the heart Of the ,old man Of
ashland tmob. to have beard his name
yelled AS battle cry down the shadows
Of that lonely pass
Along the ravine, and up this narrow
path !! The hero bleeds rs they bear bun
ron, aud tracks the way with his blood
Faster anti thicker tho Mexcsns swsrm-
they see the circle around the fallen man,
even his pale face, upIfted as a smile
crosses lis fading lineaments, and like q
pack ot wolves scenting the frozon traveller
at dead Of night, they come howling
upon the rocks, and charge the devoted
band with one dense mass Of bayone,s.
Up and onl Tho light shines yonIer
on tho topmos! rocks Of the rayjne. It
IS the light OF die setting sun. OLD
Faylor's eye upon that rock, and there
we will fight our way and die in the old
mans sight! .'. .. '..'.
1t was murderous way, that path up
the steep bank Of The ravains! Uttered
with dead, SLIPPERY with blood, il grew
blacker every moment with Mexicans, and
! the defenders Of tbs wounded hero, fell
one by one, into the chasm yawDjDg all
round -...
AT last they. reached tba Jiehl, the
swords and bsyOnets ,gfs,erin in sight ofihe
contendicg armies, and the bloody con
,ast rnar. IInua,Ja tho ,on,,, 81. .xzt. .....