The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-03-24
" Old Lion. ."AThe Man Who Led Three
Hundred Kentuckians At Monterey,

|
There were 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 Monterey,
an old veteran '.who fit in 49, and
who had a plum-colored nose and a
look about him which plainly told that
he could outlie a lightning-rod man,
! got up, and, brushing the dust from the
seat of his pants, said:
''Well, it kinder amuses me, then
agin it makes me feel sad, when read
the history of the Mexican war, and
see the ALFRED lies them history fel-
lows tell. They speak of the old army
officers jest as intimate like as if they'd
slept together and scratched each
others backs. I'll just be essentially
gol burned if I'd have my name stuck
in an old history, cause my comrads
who tit with me knew what did, but it
raises my dander when these here his
tory 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 Monterey history sports about
Monterey. What was MontereyP
Merely little skirmish which didn't
amount to bar-room row. 1 recollect
Monterey. Twas thar, and commanded
the Kentucky volunteers, 800 of the
bravest boys from the Bluegrass dis
trict, and they used to call me old
Lion Why? Not because 1 was
Drawer than any one else, but because
they loved me. Dang it, they used to
try and keep me from the front, but
couldn't leave 'em when / knew they
were liable to be cleaned out. Nv
place was thar, and thar 1 stayed. At
Monterey 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. 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 hang
ing around asking for a pension. Not
much"
The crowd gazed at him silently,
and, after reaching down for fresh
chew of tobacco, he continued: 81
recollect at Buena Vista I sat on NV
horse, with my left leg resting on the
pummel. as a pistol-wound in it had mt
healed, and Gen. Taylor was standing
by my side talking as if no fight were
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
sharp snort of pain. Zack-I always
called him Zack.-turned to me-Tn
never forgot his words-and said:
Major, those d-n greasers are shoot
ing pretty close, and we had better get
down. At the time l was busily en@a"-
ed surveying the fight through my field
glass, and Zack., seeing that l didn't
move, said: major, you're the most
obstinate and reckless old war-horse |
ever met, but l never had time to hear
the rest, as l ordered the volunteers to
waltz into the fight. When the victory
had been gained rode up to old lack,
and he had one of those pleased smiles
on his face--darned if | ever saw man
who could throw more soul into his
smiles all he said was: Major. |
guess you had better wear this and he
held out a sword-the very one he wore
ut Monterey. Pshaw! what does them
history fellows know and the old
veteran limped down the street with a
proud air of disgust, and left the crowd
to wonder if they could lie that way
when they got old and had the rhen-
matism in their back.-Neac Orleans