The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-01-13

M air Of determination. It was q com.
mand that came only from . sense Of
military duty, and tho word faltered
upon his lips, as he pronounced It.
I"Halt did yez say, liftinaut?"
"Halt" repeated the oflcer In n
f]rmer tone.
"If you say halt, be gorrah, we'll do
It; but not fur any other officer IN tho
Amirikyan army"
With sword held Mt point, the lieu.
tenant stood dctcrmincdly fronting
them and tho mon cano reluctantly
to a stand. They Ind scarce done 40,
when spectacle commenced passing
before their cyes, that made every man
Of them sad-almost mad. Back along
tho road cauo riding the squadron .ot
Kearney; not ns they had passed DC.
fore, at full gallop, and in the flush OF
q vigorous charge; but slow and de-
icctcd, MS ifrcturning from reverse
And in the rear rode their leader. his
left arm no longer grasping tho reins,
but hanging by his side, like the sling.
Jacket Of q hussar!
The tale was soon told. Some half.
mile beyond the spot where the aid-dc-
camp halted us, the enemy had cut the
Acapulco road, and thrown paruPet
across 1t, with the usual fossc outside.
Here few of their bravest men had
determined on making Inst stand.
But Kcarmey. bravcr than they, rid
Ing at wild gallop, had Ieapcd his horse
Into the work-with one spring, clchr-
Ing both ditch and pnTpct! His faith
full sergeant had followed him; both,
rs soon ~ they alightcd, plying their
subrcs upon the enemy inside! =,
At that moment sounded the recall
buglo OF the orderly accompanying
SCOTS aid -dc.camp; and the American
dragoons, trained to the signal, pulled
short up outside.
1t was terrible prcdicamcnt. Alone
within the intrcnchmcnt. surrounded
by score Of assailanrs, kearncy and
his sergeant had no other alternative
but retreat; and, wheeling right tabout,
both headed their horses to rc-lcap the
ditch.
Their gallant grays carried them
across, the sergeant safe; but the best
cavalry officer IN the American army
received IL shot in his left arm, that
caused him simultaneously to let 80
his bridlc-rcin.
1t paincd me to sec 1t hanging loose,
rs he and his squadron filed past, 20
lug buck along the Acapulco road.
But tho cheer that salutcd his return
was fur more sympathetic. and not less
enthusiastic, than that sent after him
in his impctuOus charge.
In the battle Of Churubusco, rs on
other Mexican fields, the writer Of this
sketch commanded corps Of men
who were Il strange conglomcration OF
veterans aud ricHr SabreurS. They
had seen service on almost every Euro
pcan field, rs also in Asia and Africa.
They had bcen organized in New YORK
city, under the Pgis Of an old Napo-
lcomic otIiccr-the Count dc Bongars.
By tho Incidence Of campaign life they
| came under my command, shortly after
the battle of CerrO Gordo; and 80 con-
! tinucd, till peace was sealed by the
treaty Of Guadalupe HidalSo. Among
them were many cavalry men, who had
been trained in the first schools, and
taken part in celebrated charges. Ono
aud all confessed to me- they had never
witnessed II charge 50 perfect, so com.
pact, 30 dashiny, rs that led by Phil.
Kcarncy along the causcway Of San
Antonio dc Abad.
TO convince inc Of this, did not
need their testimony: for / too had
seen something Of cavalry service
enough to know that, II there be any
dispute as to who is tic Mlrat OF tho
American army, it must be between
two men Of similar Christian names
two Philips: in short, between hcar-
neg and Sheridan.