Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-01-27
OLD LION,
/ His Story of Leading 500 kentuckians af
| MOntery,
From the New Orleans Times.

From the New Orleans Times.
There was a crowd of men seated
on the steps Of the Custom House
yesterday, talking about the wars of
the country, and about the time they
mentioned the battles of Buena Vista
and Montery an old veteran s'who
fit in 49," and who had plum-col-
ored nose and look about him which
plainly told that he could out-lie q
lightning-rod man, got up, aud
brushing the dust from the ssat of
his pants, said: swell, it kinder
amuses me, then again it makes me
feel sad, when read the history Of
the Mexican war, and see the ALFRED
lies them history fellows tell. They
speak Of the old army officers jest as
intimate like as they'd slept together
and scratched each Others backs.
I'll just be essentially gol darned if
I'd have my name stuck in an old
history, cause my comrades who ct
with me knew what / did, but it
raises my dander when these here
history chaps git to talking about
what was done when they wern't
thar, and you couldn't have pulled
'em thar with a yoke Of Arkansas
steers, neither. Why, at Montery-
history sports about Montery. What
was Montery? Merely little skir-
mish which didn't amount to q bar
row. I recollect Montery. I was
thar and commanded the Kentucky
Volunteers, sou Of the bravest boys
from the Bluegrass District. and they
used to call me odd Lion Why?
Not because was braver than any,
one else, but because they loved me.
Dang it. they used 10 try to keep me
from the front, but I couldn't leave
'em when knew they were liable to
be cleaned out. My place was thar
and thar l staid. At Montery, Gen.
Taylor ordered US in. Well, sir, you
jest oughter seed them boys how they
lit into the greasers and took two
forts and 5000 prisoners fore you
could wink your eye. But only did
what was their duty. What's the
use of loafing around Dragging about
what you did, and trying to sneak
your name into history? Dang man
l say, who will do it. It's true I got
shot four times while leading the
right wing over the parapet, but you
don't see me hanging around asking
for pension. Not much"
The crowd gszed at him silently,
and, after reaching down for fresh
chew Of tobacco, he continued: II
recollect at Buena Vista sat on my
horse with my left leg resting on the
pommel, as a pistol wound in it
hadn't healed, and Gen. Taylor was
standing by my side, talking just as
calmly as if no fighting was going on.
Confound it. his GOODNESS under fire
discounted an ice bill. A bullet came
whistling along and struck his horse
in the shoulder, causing the animal
to rear and plunge forward with o
snort of pain. Zach-I always called
him Zach turned to me-I'll never
forget his words-and said: Major,
those id greasers are shooting
pretty close, and we had better get
down. At the time I was busily
engaged surveying the fight through
my field-glass, and Zach, seeing that
I didn't move, said: Major, you
are the most obstinate and reckless
old war.horse ! ever met, but l never
had time to hear the rest, as order
cd the volunteers to waltz into the
fight. When the victory had been
gained I rode up to old Zach, and he
had one of those pleasant smiles on
his face-darned if ever saw q man
who could throw more soul into his
smile-aad all he said was: Major,
1 guess you had better wear this
and he held out a sword-the very
one he wore at Montery. Pshaw
what does them history fellows know
about these things, I'd like to know"
and the old veteran limped down the
street with a proud air of disgust and
left the crowd wondering if they could
lie that way wheI they got old and
had the rheumatism in their back.