The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-25

across the intervening ground, they came mp
with the storming party under the brow OF the
hill, where it had halted to await the scaling
ladders. CAT this point" says Lieutenant
Marshall, of the Fifteenth Infantry, "the Ere
from the castle was so continuous and fatal
that the men faltered, and several officers
were wounded while urging them on. At this
moment noticed Lieutenant Msyne Reid, Of
the New York Volunteers; noticed him more
particularly at the time on account Of the very
brilliant uniform he wore. He suddenly
jumped TO bis feet, and calling upon those
around to follow, and without looking around
to see whether he was sustained or not, pushed
on almost alone to the very walls "
Reds action was not quite so reckless as
this account OF an eyewitness would make 1t
appear. The outer wall OF the castle was
commanded by three pieces Of cannon on the
ter, fearfully decimated the ranks OF the Amer
leans at every discharge To advance seemed
certain death. But death seemed equally GER
tain whether the assailants retreated or re-
mained where they we're Such is his own az
PLANTATION of his conduct
'Menp' he shouted out, in momemtary
lull of the conflict, ''if we don't take Chapul-
tepec, the American army is lostl Let us charge
Voices answered: ave will charge IL any
one will lead usi' 'We're ready!"
"Come onl I'll lead you" shouted Captain
Reid, as he bravely leaped over the scarp that
had temporarily sheltered them, and made the
charge already described.
There was no need, he says, to look back to
see IL he was followed. He knew that his men
would not have been there, unless prepared to
go where he led About halfway up, he saw
the parapet crowded with Mexican artillerists,
on the point OF discharging q volley. DE
avoided it by throwing himself on his face re-
ceiving only slight wound in his sword hand,
another shot cutting his clothing. Instantly
on his feet again, he made for the wall. In front
of which he was brought down by q Mexican
ounce ball tearing through his thigh.
All the testimony goes TO show that be was
first before the wall of Chapultepec. Reid's
Frenchman, moanting the scaling ladders with
The f"-emost, tore down the Mexican flag from
its siak.
bo.ore that, however, Reid was observed BY
Lieutenant Cochrane of the Voltigeurs. Coch-
rane was pushing for the castle with his men,
when before him, scarcely ten yards from the
wall, an officer of infantry and comrade were
shot and fell. "They were the only two at the
time" he says In his statement, "whom saw
in advance of me on the rock upon which We
were scrambling."
Reaching the wall, Cochrane ordered two
men ''to go back a little way and assist the
ladders up the hill" AS they passed the spot
where the wounded officer lay, he raised HIM
self with evident pain, and sang out above the
din and rattle of musketry, imploring the men
to stand firm:
"Don't leave that wall" he cried, "or we
shall all be cut to pieces. Hold on, and the
castle is oursl'
Cochrane answered, to re-assure him: "There
is no danger, Captain, of our leaving thisl
Never fearl" Then the ladders came, the
rush was made, aud the castle fell.
"The wounded officer" Cochrsne continues,
proved to be Lieutenant Mayne Reid, OF the
New York Volunteers"
Lieutenant Marshall, to whom we are in
debted for that vivid glimpse of the young
officer in "his very brilliant Uniform" de-
scribes the effect produced by the exploit-all
those who witnessed or knsw of it pronouncing
it, "w tnont exception the bravest and most
brilliant achievement performed by single
individual during the campaign.-J. T. Trow-
bridge in st. Nicholas for November.