Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-21
OLD LION.
His Story of Leading 800 Kentuckians at
Monterey

monterey.
There was crowd of men seated on the
steps of the Custom. house yesterday, talk
ing about the wars of the country, and
about the time they mentioned the battles
of Buena Vista and Monterey an old vet
eran "who fit in 49," who had plum
colored nose and look about him which
plainly told that he could outlie light
ming rod man, got up, and brushing the
dust from the seat of his pants, said ;
"Well, it kinder amuses me, then again 1t
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 slept together and scratched
each others backs. I'll jest be essentially
COL darned if I'd have my name stuck IN
an old history, cause my comrads who mt
with me knew what did, but it raises my
dander when these here history chaps glt
to talking about what was done when they
weren't thar, and you couldn't have pulled
EN- thar with yoke of Arkansas steers,
neither. Why, at Monterey : his
tory sports about Monterey. What
was Monterey Merely little
skirmish which didn't amount to a
bar.room row. | recollect Monterey. l
was thar and commanded the Kentucky
Volunteers, 300 of the bravest boys from
the Bluegrass District. and they used to
call me odd Lion Why? Not because
| was drawer than any one else, but be-
cause 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 My place was
thar, and thar | stayed. At Monterey
General 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 loafug around Dragging
about what you did, and trying to sneak
your name into history? Dang a man, |
say, who will do it. It's true, [ 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 gazed at him silently,
and, after reaching down for fresh chew
of tobacco. he continued 81 recollect at
Buena Vista l sat on my horse with my
left leg resting on the pommel as pistol
wound in it hadn't healed, and General
laylOT was StduuiHS oy my sioC, ooAhin
Just as calmly 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 snort of pain. Zach
Il 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 l was busily engaged survey
ing the fight through my tield-glass, and
Zach, seeing that l didn't move, said :
Major, you're the most obstinate and
reckless old war horse / ever met, but |
never had time to hear the rest, as l or
dered the volunteers to waltz into the
fight. When the victory had been gained
l rode up to old Zach, and he had one of
those pleasant smiles on his face-darned
if l ever saw man who could throw more
soul into his smile-and all he said was
Major, guess you had better wear this,
and he held out sword-the very one he
wore at Monterey. 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 to
wonder if they could lie that way when
they got old and had the rheumatism in
their back New Orleans Times.