Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-28
BUCK COMBS BUGIE.
Old Soldiers Recolleotions Of
the Battle Of Cerro Gordo,
And the Bugle Blowing Between
Captain williams and
Colonel Haskell.
ST. LouIs Republican.

"reminiscences Of the late wars aud
/ border life have frequently appeared
in the columns Of st. Louis papers.
The gentleman had the Republican
10 his hand and had just finished read
ing the article entitled Buck Combs
Bugle,"a Renaissance Of the Mexi
can war. 1t called to his mind most
wildly the scenes on the battle ground
on the day Of the fight, and couspicu.
Gus among them was the recollection
ofan undue amount Of "bugle blowing"
so to speak, that was INDUCED in be-
tween Captain Williams and Colonel
Haskell after the charge and utter de
feat of Pillows command at the hands
Of Santa Anna in his stronghold in
the mountains near Cerro Gordo. AT
the time of which | speak" said the
veteran, 81 was a member Of General
Scott's staff. Captain Williams was
in command of company Of volun-
teers which was attached to the Sixth
United States Infantry, and accompa-
MED the same to join Scott's forces in
the seige of Vera Cruz, our army
marched on to Cerro Gordo, which is
situated about fifty miles from Vera
Cruz, on the great highway to the City
of Mexico. Before the immediate
vicinity Of the enemy's stronghold
was reached it was discovered that
Santa Anna was thoroughly
capable OF making a strong resistance
against any army that might attack his
forces. His Notifications were built
at Cerro Gordo in advance and to-
wards US he had fortified a mountain
height and armed it with heavy Bate
ries OF artillery. The ~shrubbery on
this mountain was cut so as to make
it as smooth as glass on its rocky sur.
face.
THE famous General Joe Johnston
was at that time a Captain OF engineers
and on General Scott's staff. In an
attempt on the day previous to the
battle to reconnOiter this battery he
was severely wounded, but brought us
the information Of its strength aud
position. The main highways leading
to the City of Mexico crossed Cerro
Gordo, consequently it became neces-
sary, to avoid a raking fire from the
numerous batteries Of the enemy, to
make a detOur from the main road in a
half circle leading through the gulleys
in the mountains to enable US to get
between the enemy and the City Of
Jalapa to command the main highway.
The action was fought at daylight on
the morning oil April l9, l847. At
daylight our forces moved from Plan
del Rio. We diverged from the main
road into the gulleys with the Tennes-
see volunteers and Williams company
under command OF General Pillow, we
marching by a flank. Pillows orders
were to file to the left, we filing
to the right, and attack and endeavor
to carry at the point Of
the bayonet the cannon reconnoi
tered by Joe Johnston. Pillow, nov
ing by a flank, turned to the left and
faced this battery. He faced his com
mand by the rear rank "a sad mistake)
which broug his commissioned aud
non. commissioned officers to the front
He then gave the command charge,
and as soon as his command emerged
from the chapparal the battery Of the
enemy gave him one terrific round oil
grape and canister. Down went his
command, and 1t was every man fol
himself down the mountain side-roll'
ing and tumbling over each other Ia
the main highway below. Such feats
OF lofty tumbling and sOmersaulting
we're never before witnessed on a bat.
tie field. 1t was the old game o.
devil take the hind one | had been
to Plan del Rie to hurry up some pack
mules with more musketry ammuni.
tion for our forces, who we're engaged
in the gulleys and had just reached
the point where these lofty tumbisri
emerged upon the highway. Viii.
liams' company, which was a small one
from having served with the old Sixth
United States infantry for SOME
months, prided themselves on theii
discipline and steadiness under fire
but in the general rush they we're run
over by the Tennesseelns and carried
along in their wake.
Williams felt bitterly the defeat
and was engaged when | struck him.
on the highway doing some tall cuss
ing. Cerro Gordo, as everybody
knows, was a victory to our troops.
myself had the good fortune to cap.
ture Santa Anna's carriage, private
papers, silver plate and a large amount
OF silver money that he had
levied upon the citizens o.
Jalapa a few days ago. Our
victorious troops moved at once
upon Jslapa. General Scott directed
me to remain at Plan del Rio, and
with the defeated Tennessee troops
gather up u dead and wounded. A
few days afterwards, on our arrival al
Jalapa, it was discovered that the
period Of enlistment of the Tennessee
troops was about expiring. | was
directed to take them to Vera Cruz
and ship them for New Orleans.
Whilst engaged in making prepar.
atoms for this march at Plan del Rio,
Williams and Colonel Haskell, Of the
Tennesseeans, formerly a Methodist
minister and afterwards a member OF
Congress from Tennessee, exchanged
various cartels that we're expected to
eliminate in a duel. | was not going
to allow any such nonsense, and utter.
fered and for the time being stopped
the affair, but during its progress
Buck Combs bugle' would have been
eclipsed by the blowing in regard to
this contemplated duel. l know
Williams well, and he was a hand-
some, clever gallant fellow, and it was
no fault Of his that q duel did not
take place. 1t was after this that
Williams returned to Mexico at the
head Of a regiment of Kentuckians,
but ! never had the pleasure Of hear
ing Buck Combs blow his buele. Hope
a blast from it will return Williams to
the Senate"