The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-01-16
Selected story.
A DASHING DRAGON.
The HIurat of the American Army
Phil kenrney Mt Churubus.o.


ever drew sabre Oh set loot in stirup.
This officer was Phillip Kearney.
1t will not be ny purpose TO write the BIZ
oyraphy OF General Philip Kearney. There
are other pens better fitted for the task; and
some one of them will no doubt perior." this
tional duty. 1t should be the labor of love
Tor any parrot to write the story OF such a
lie: and there is no patriot who should not
read it, am incapable; tor while Kearney
was engaged IN tina. grand struggle, that gave
the latest proofs, alike OF his gallantry ana de-
votion to his country's cause, was far away
In distant part OF the globe. :.
In the lesser strife that by something more
than decade preceded 1.-THE Second Con-
quest OF Mexico-I was by his side, and saw
ilim do a deed that fixed him in my mind, for
ever AFTER a; 'dashing Dragon"
1t was the battlefield, known in history as
ChurabuscO; so called tom a stream of the
name, with village upon it's banks-a cluster
OF huti AID churches, with a grand convent
rising mass v'ly Ia their midst. 1t is on the
lam National Road leading south towarl
Acapulco from the city OF Mexico, and about
five miles from the suburb OF the latter city
the guritG OF San Antonio de AbaI
Inc crossing OF the stream was defended by
battery on the tete de pOnt by thanking
works along the banks ON both sides; and by
strong body OF troops that occupied the con-
vent Churubusco, Tor the time transform
ed into fortress.
1t cost the American army a deadly strug-
gle to take these works; all the deadlier that
they we're defended by two hundred brave
lrishmen, VINO. as is too often the case, were
fghtlng on the wrong side. They were de-
serters, and fought in despair-wilh the pros
pect OF halter IT taken.
The teGe de pont, although desperately de-
Tended, Was at length carried; the sooner
that brigade OF gallant volunteers, sent
round by the left flank, pressed the enemy at
the hacienda OF Los portales. But tor this
1t is QUESTION whether Churubusco would
have been carried so soon,
This brigade, on Its OWL side. had enough
work to do. 1t consisted OF the New York
and South Carolina regiments.
AS we stood side BY side, our flags swayed
by TIE same bleeze, our muzzleS pointed in
The same direction. who could have til ought
that those standards should ever he in oppos-
Ing ranks, or Tho e bayoDets ever clash in the
conflict oil iltelnecine STRIFE? Surely not one
Of U.s..
No: we had enough to think OF without
that. as oar men fell. side By side. or one sup-
Oh tue other, min2lins their li,e-blood toeetn-
er--the best OF the North, as of the SouIh.
And b)tn flowed equally, feel, In those
day. men used to talk OF Waterloo and its
terri d. carnage. Man Tor man there was
mole blood spilled at Churubusco. The
writer Vi this sketch was In command of six
~ volunteer soldiers. When the action was
over, he counted th:ty.two OF them |, ing Oh
the glass, nearly dozen OF them dead At
ter this it Is not necessary to say they we've
brave.
And it needed all their courage to carry
the deences OF Los Portales. There was a
time when they wavered. What troops
would not have done so under a shower OF
leaden hail, that, in addition to halt their
nun bers, laid low nearly every field officer
In the brig ale? 1t would have been no cow
arlice had trey at that time retrea:ed.
But they did not. A young officer, belong
ing 10 the New York, sprang lorL, and cali
eI upon them to follow him to the charge
The IRISH drummer, Murphy, dashed out
after, gave sou!-stiiring tap to ris drum.
aid, as If keeping time to its quick rolling.
Empires and Palmettos rushed forward at
bayonet charge.
The coming of. the cold steel was warn
ing TO the Mexican troL ps. A squadron of
their cavalry, Threatening a charge on our
LETT, wheeled their horses quick about, and
went Oft at hand ga lop for the city; while
the loot defenders OF Los POrtales and The
causeway OF Il e Acapulco road, flung down
their discharged escopettas, and scattered OF
through swamp and chapparal.
Sim led by the New York officer, the rem
nants OF the hall-slanshtered brigade pluag-
ed east-deep into the shiny zanca Chamber
ed up the causeway, and continued the cur-
suit along the level road.
Exhausted by the long continued struggle.
saturated with water from sole to waist and
laden with sink mud, they made bu. slow
progress, ..- .-...
But at that moment there appeared, com
ing along the causeWay, troop going quick
"a, that promised to take the pursuit of
their hands. 1t was troop of horsemen,
with horse, all OF light gray color. I
Emerging from the smoke cloud of Chur-
utusco, they looked like band of angels
with Gabriel at their head! 1t was Kearney
with the squadron of cavalry.
Before the ati2ued loot had time to con-
graduate themselves on the relief, the dra-
soons came sweeping past. They were 60
ing at Jul gaiiop in half sections OF twcs,
se fg Y Htsfe ne EACH Safed IN 5s snres
tai q tbas preceding him; the hools OF all
SEX ng simultaneously on the firm crown of
e'the causeway, as if they were galloping to
set music! r. -...
At their head rode man Of slight stature
with lisht-colored hair and a comp exon to-
correspond. A long. tawny moustache be-
came the classical type oil face and some
Wnat ac4uiline nose that suImountedit it. they
were features belonging 10 a natural-born
Commander, and looked in their place at The
mead OF charging troop. They were the
features OF Phil KeaIney.
Ihe young New York officer. recopnizino |
them as those or bis gallant friend, cried ouf |
10 his tired comrades; Now b;,s. three |
cheers for Phil. Kearney! You've stiil breath |
enough Tor fhst7'
TIE shout that responded showed he had
not mistaken their strength. Most of them
were New Yorkels, and knew that Kearnev
was one OF their kind.
The dragons had scarce passed when an
aide lie camp rode up, bearing message from
tne ,Inmahder in-chie'. 1t was an order to
sta. The pursuit.
1t was given to lieutenant coloneI-tbe
only held officer upon the ground. The or.
Ger came upon the men like a bnmbshell
projected from the rear.
stop the pnIsut. What did It mean
ihey had put the enemy to flight, and they
knew he would not a.ain make a stand to
Oppose them that side OF the citv; nor even
IN the ely; Tor the scare upon his scattered
troops would be sure to carry them clear
through it, especially when chased by Kear-
ney. stop the pursuit! What could it mean
Tue Lieutenant colonel could not tell He
could only beg OF them to obe,.
They laughed at him, for he had not led
them anu they only looked 10 The lieutenant
who had. t-
The latter listene to the order from the
all-de-camp; tor il was at length directed TO
Liu, as the only one who had the power TO
enforce obedience to it. a-tl
lis fatal mistake" said be, "and Gen,
Scott VIII fin! it out in time. We have the
CITY III Our power, aud it will cost more blood
10 get 1t so agai1.' nv III
The oriels are for you to haltv shouted
lns a'u-ue-camp, who, accompanied by cav
AIRY pu5,er' galIoped on alter the dragons.
a, aat! cried the New Yok lieutenant. |
ninsmS h,mset in front OF the pursuers. and |
raising bis sword with an air of determine. |
ton 1t was command that came only from |
sense OF military duty, and the word falter-
ed upon his lips as he pronounced it.
"nalt, did yez say, Ii tinant?" |
Halt! repeated the off .er, in tirmer
tone. 100, 4 ---o-' - ~ nie'
''if you say halt, be gorrah wen do it but
not for any other officer in the American ar
N.Y." r--s
Min sword held at point, the lieutenant
stood deierminedly fonting them; and the
men came reluctantly to stand 'i'bev hal
Scarce done so, when a Spectacle commenced
passing before their eyes that made every
man OF them sad-almost mad. Rack alon1
the road came riding the 50 ladron of Kearpey. |
not as they had passed before, at full gallon,
snu IN the flush of a vigorous charge; but |
SOW and detected, as ii returning from re- |
And in the rear rode the leader. his left
aln no longer grasping the reins, but hang
10y Wy us side' like the sling, jacket OF |
lie tale was soon told. Some bo,f milo
peyold the spot where, the abide camr holt
ca s,th2 enemy had cut the Acauicor RnaJ
anu tt1own parapet across it. will H.
us"al pIce outside. Here lew of tha'r