Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-04-14
A Dashing Dragon.

recognizes the ring of tie true metal;
and its motion calls up the image of
/ as line dragoOn officer as ever drew
sabre or set foot in q stirrup.
Z This officer was Philip Kearney. -,
Vas! How sad an old cOmrade
feels in penning the past tense! Would
I could say, Is!
Alasl it cannot be. His life blood.
of which he was so daringly regard
! less, has fertiliZed the sod of Chan
tilly; his ashes rest in the tomb of
his ancestors; and his heroic soul has
/ passed to more peaceful world. But
for that fatal shot that made him q
corpse in the saddle, his name would
have now been louder upon the lips
Of his cOuntrymen.
| Alas, that from among Us Philip
Kearney is missing! But his memory
is with Us, and now for a chapter
I that will not only recall him to the
/ thoughts Of his old comrades, but his
cOuntTymen, in all the dash, the
daring, the unparalleled picturesque
ness of his character.
| 1t was the battlefield, known in
| history as ChurubuscO, so called from
stream of the name with a village
upon its banks; a cluster of huts and
Z churches, with q grand convent
7 rising massively in their midst. II IS
on the famed National Road leading
south toward Acapulco from the city
/ OF Mexico, and about five miles from
the suburb Of the latter city-the
gdritd Of San Antonio de Abad.
The crossing of the stream was de
/ Tended by 4 battery on the tete de DOnf !.
{ Hr~ .I- hnr L.
on both sides; and by a strong body
Of troops that occupied the convent
Of ChurubUseO, for the time trans
/ ferred into a fortress. It cost the
/ American army n deadly struggle to
take these works; all the deadlier
that they were defended by two hum
I dred brave Irishmen, who as is too often
the case, were fighting on the wrong
side. They were deserters and fought
in despair-with the prospect Of a
halter if taken.
The tefe dc pORf, although desper-
ately defended, was at length carried ;
the sooner that a brigade of gallant
volunteers, sent around by the left
flank, pressed the enemy at the
hacienda Of Los POTtales. But for
| this il is question whether Churu-
buseO would have been carried so
soon.
This brigade, on its own side, had
enough work to do. 1t consisted of
/ the New York and South Carolina
regiments. The coming of the cold
steel was a warning 10 the Mexican
troops. a squadron of their cavalry,
threatening a charge on our left,
wheeled their horses quick about, and
went Off at a hand gallOp for the city ;
while the foot defenders of Los POr-
tales and the causeway-o the Aca-
pulco road flung down their discharg-
! ed eScODpetts, and scattered off through
swamp and chaparal.
Still led by the New York officers,
/ the remnants of the half slaughtered
1 brigade plunged breast deep into the
Shiny =uRcd, clambered up the cause
way, and continued the pursuit along
Z the level road Exhausted by the
long continued struggle, saturated
with water from sole TO waist, laden
with mud, they made butslow progress.
! But at that moment there appeared,
I coming along the causeway, troupe
4 going quicker, that promised to take
pursuit OFF their hands. It was a
troop of horsemen, with horses of
/ light gray color.
/ Emerging from the smoke cloud of
| ChurubuscO, they looked like band
OF angels, with Gabriel at their head |!
I 1t was Kearney, with his squadron Of
cavalry. Before the fatigued foot had
/ time to congratulate themselves on
the relief, the dragons came sweep
Ting past. They were going at full
gallOp in half sections Of twOs, the
men with slOped sabres, the horses
with snOrting noStrils, each buried in
the spread tail of that preceding him; !;
I the hOOfs of all striking simultaneous
I II On the firm eauseway, as If they
were gallOping to set music.
At their head rode man of slight
stature, with light eolored hair and
/ complexion to correspond. A long
I tawny mustache became the classical
/ type of face, and somewhat aquiline
nose that surmCunted it. They were
features belonging to a natural born
commander, and looked in their
place at the head of charming troop.
They were the features Of Phil
KeaTney.
The young New York officer, rec
ognizing them as those of his gallant
friend, cried out to his tried COM
paniOns,-
"Now, boys; three cheers for Phil
Kearney! You have still breath
enough for thatl1
The shout that .resOunded showed
that he had not mistaken their
strength. Most of them were New
Workers, and knew that Kearney was
of their kind.
The dragons had scarce passed
when an aid-de-camp rode up, bearing
message from the cOmmander-in-
chief. 1t was an order to stop the
pursuit. 1t was given to a lieutenant
celOnel-the only field officer upon
the ground. The order came upon
the man like bombshell projecting
from the rear.
Stop the pursuit! What did it
mean? They had put the enemy to
flight, and they knew he would not
again make a standard to oppose them
that side of the city. Not even in the
city, for the scare upon his scattered
troops would be sure to carry them
clear through it, especially when
chased by Kearney. Stop the pur-
suiti What could it mean? The
lieutenant-eOloneI could not tell. He
could only beg of them to obey.
They laughed at him, for he had
not led them and only looked to the
lieutenant who had. The latter list
ened to the order from the aid-de-
camp; for Il was at length directed to
him, rs the only one who had the
power to enforce obedience TO it.
''Tis fatal mistake" said he, "and
Gen. Scott viii find it out in time.
We have the city in our power, and It
viii cost more blood 10 get it so
again."
1.-The orders are for you to halti'
shouted the aid-de-eamp, who, ac-
companied by q cavalry bugler
galloped on after the dragons.
"Haltui cried the New York heu-
tenant, fiinging himself in front OF
his pursuers. and raising his sword
with an air of determination. 1t was
a command that came only from a
sense of military duty, and the word
faltered upon his lips as he prOnoune-
ed il.
''Halt, did you say, lieutenant?'
HALT" repeated the officer, in a
firmer tone.
''If yOu say halt, be gorrah, We'll do
it; but not fur any other officer in
the Amirikan army
With sword held at point, the lieu
tenant stood determinedly fronting
them; and the men came reluctantly
to a stand. They had scarce done so
y Il -