Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-30
DEATH OF YOUNG HENRY CLAY.
BY GEORGE L1ppARD.


1t was near the setting of the
sun, when the men of Palo Alto,
Resaca de la Palma and Monterey
saw the clouds come down on the
charge of Buena Vista, that a splen.
did scene, worthy of the days of
Washington, closed the day in
glory.
Do you behold that dark ravine,
deep sunken between those precipi-
tous rocks? Here no sunlight
comes, for the walls of rock wrap
up the pass in eternal twilight.
Withered trees grow between masses
of granite, and scattered stone make
the bed of the ravine uncertain and
difficult for the tread.
Hark! That cry that rushes like
mountain torrent bursting its bar
riers, and quick as the lightning
flashes from the darkness, the dis
NAL ravine is bathed in battle light.
From its northern extremity a
confused band of Mexicans, an
army in itself, came yelling along
the pass, treading one another
down as they fly; their banners,
spears, horses and men tossed to-
gether in inextricable confusion.
BY thousands they rush into the
shadow of the pass, their dark
faces redeemed with the heated
blaze of musketry. The caverns OF
the rayine send back the rear Of
the panic, and the gray rocks are
washed with their blood.
But the little band who pursues
this Grmy-who are they? You
may see in their firm, heroic ranks
the volunteer costume of Illinois
and Kentucky. At their head,
urging his men with shouts, rides
the gallant Mckee; by his side
young Henry Clay, that broad fore
head which reminds you of his
father, bathed in the glare, as his
sword quivers on high ere it falls to
kill. There, too, a wild figure, red
with his own blood and the blood of
his Mexican foes, his uniform rent
in tatters, his shoulders striking
terrible blows with his good sword
Hardin of Ilhnois-came oal-
iantiy forward.
The small but iron band hurl the
Mexicans from the hight in the
ravine, and follow up the chase far
down into the eternal twilight of
that mountain pass.
Look AS their musketry streams
its steady blaze, you would think
that ceaseless sheet of lightning
bathed these rocks in flames!
Over the Mexicans, men and
horses hurried back in mad disor-
der, the Americans dash on their
way, never needing the overwhelm-
ing numbers of their foes, never
needing the palpitating forms be-
meath their feet, with bayonet and
sword they press steadily on, their
well-known banner streaming over
head.
The howl of the dying war-horse
-hark! Does it not chill your
blood to hear it? The horrible cry
of the wounded man, with the
horses hoof upon his mouth,
trampling his face to q hideous
wreck--dOes it not sicken your sopl
to hear it?
A hundred yards or more into
the pass the Americans had pene-
tratad, when suddenly a young
Mexican, rushing back, opens their
ranks, raises the fallen flag of Ala.
hanac and dashes to death.
TO see him, young and beardless,
a very boy, rush with his country's
flag with barred breast upon that
sharp line of Steel-it was a sight
to stir cowards into manhood, and
it shot into Mexican hearts like an
electric flame.
Even in their panic.stricken dis
order they rallied by hundreds, they
grasped arms and rolled into one
long wave of lances and bayonets
upon the foe. Voc to the brave
men Of Illinois and Kentucky!
Locked in that deadly pass, wall
of infuriated Mexicans between
them and that wall Of rocks, above
their heads, through every aper-
ture among the cliffs, the blaze of
muskets pouring shower of bull
let's into their iaces-whenever they
turned their long and deadly lance
pointed at their throats-it was a
moment to think once of home
and die.
Those who survived that awful
moment tell with shuddering
triumph the deeds of three heroes
Mckee, Hardin aud Clay.
Mckee you see yonder with his
shattered sword dripping with
Alood ha ondaaVorg to ward oGI