Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-07-15
The Late Lieut.. MCkce-S"mething \
bout the Battle or Buen, vista.

The Late Lieut.. thing A.
bout the Battle Of Buen. vista.
This gallant young officer Of the ma
w, who was killed in the fight with
the Coreaus 1t Kongnoe, on the llth
ult., was native Kcntuckian, having
been born and reared in Lexington. He
was a son Of that most chivalrouS gen
tlcman and soldier, Col. W Il. Mckee,
who fell so nobly at the battle Of Buena
Vista. He threw himsefinto the thick
est of the fray, and was in the very van,
leading his men to victory, when killed.
The Admiral reports him to have been
the first man to enter the fortresS-an
exhibition of chiyalry and patriotism
which cost him his life. His friends,
however. have the consolation Of know
inc that he died rs became an Amcri-
can soldier, and left no stain upon the
memory OF his chiyalrous father lie is
said by those who knew him best TO
have been young man Of very rare
promise, singuIarly cultivated and &C
complishcd, Of remarkably fine person
and address, as well as that genius and
substantial intellect which characteriZeS
the family. lie Was twenty seven years
old-iust entering upon young man
hood tull Of hope, with bright prospects
for usefulness. distinction, and happi-
ness. 1t is said he was engaged to be
married to 4 lovely and accomplished
yOuuo lady OfthiS city His mother
who was a Miss Wilson, of PennSylya-
mia. resides in this city with her son-in-
law, Capt. Stephen f. Jones. His only
brother is in the United States army-a
captain-and is on duty in charge Of the
arsenal in st. Louis, Mo.-LO"isrWc
ledger.
The battle Of Buena Vista, the most
memorable fought on the soil of Amer
lea previous to our recent war, has been
quite lost sight Of evenly the older pco-
pie, and but few among the generation
now growing up know much concerning
it. The battle took place on the 22d
and 23d Of February, 1S47, between
General Taylor with about five thous-
and kentucky, Illinois, Mississippi, Ar
kansas, and Indiana volunteers, -four
batteries of regular artillery, and one
company Of Mays Second Dragoons)
and General Santa Anna, with 22,OOO
men Of the regular army Of Mexico.
An article has appeared in the last
two numbers Of the OM and New W0g.
0z,nt from the pen of an Engineer OF
ticer, whom we have little difficulty in
making out to be General Abucr Dou
bleday, Of the Federal army, who at the
time was Il Lieutenant Of Topographi
cal Engineers on the staff OF Genera
Taylor, descriptive Of this conflict. Thi,
writer gives very fair account Of the
battle, despite his northern prcjudiccs
As the circumstances Of the death Oh
young Mckee have recalled the coinci
dence Of the fall Of his father, pierced
by bullets and lances, in an unequal con
test with barbarians on a foreign soil
even rs the son has fallen pierced by
spears and bullets in an unequal battle
on foreign soil and with a barbarian
foe, we reproduce from the article il
the magazine referred, to the following
account of Col Mckee's death or rath
er murder. for like young Henry Clay
he was slain most cruelty and barbar
ously when powerless to defend him
self:
in the belief probably of the enc
my's withdrawal, General Taylor order.
ed an attack by IIardens and Bissell'.
and Mckee's Kentucky regiments-ff
teen hundred men in all, supported by
Lieut.. O'Brien. one OF the most noble
and gallant men on the field, with three
pieces of artillery These men moveC
forward in an echelon line towards tn,
next valley, the existence of which, from
the clearness Of the atmosphere, they
could not suspect even, the whole sue
ccsson of ridges in front appearing q.
but 3 simple plain. But as they neareG
this rayine, within some fifty to eighty
wards only, an immense force Of some
five thousand to seven thousand men
suddenly rose as it were from the opcr
earth upon them, six to seven lines
4 ueep, is one OIHctT SldVtu 10 me- dhO
outhanked them in both directions
There was nothing then for them, but
"SauUe goG Pem : and our men fed tC
the rear as best they could, large part
taking refuge and escaping down th,
first valley to their right, just in rear o
our former lookout spur, and down thi!
valley also. on either side. passed tn,
Mexicans in full pursuit. 1t seems tha
they sent word to their cavalry to NEE
our men at the mouth Of the valley,neal
the road, and thus holding the broker
regiments completely caught in c,,i-de
sac and the work OF massacre began
and finished only when 10 more were
left for slaughter. Survivors who es