The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-21

nov HR eAHiskSTt.x LED THE RoRLoRS
saas AorE AT THE sT0RN1Se OF
gHARrLTEPEc M

A A S4s4Aa~ : : 49,. as8 sA4
.. :. fFsaAriass ls SosstsAef s. Sisholass
i The castle ef 0hapnltepee, co1nmand
/ ing the great road 10 Mexica. was Snc'
eessfully stoFmed BY our tEoops on tbs
18th Of September, 1S47. Red vas IN
command of the grenadier company 81
/ New York Volunteers and detachment
Of United States marines, with orders to
guard . battery which they had thrown
up, The morning of the 18th was liked
for the assault The batteries were or
dered to cease Afing at llo'cloek and
the attack began
Ried and the artillery oficerss standing
BY. their guns. watched the advance o.
the line With intense anxiety, which be-
came apprehension when they saw that
about hall way up the slope there Wasa
halt. Il knew, he saysin his account,
that If Chapuitepee MAS not taken nei
ther would the cfts be. and failing that,
not a man of Us might ever leayethe val
ley of Mexico alive.
Asking leave OF the senior engineer
officer to join the storming party with
his men. hesebtaiiied it vita the words
"Go, and God be with YOU. He was
off at once, with his volunteers and ma
rines Aftera quick run across the inter
xening ground, they came up with the
stofnfing party under the brow Of q hill,
where il had halted 10 wait the sealing
ladders. AT this. point, SAYS Lieuten.
ant Marshall, OF the Fifteenth Infan-
try, the FIRE from the castle was 20 CON
tinuons and fatal that the men faltered,
and several officers we're wounded while
urging them on. At this moment / mo-
ticed Lieutenant Mayne Ried of the New
York Volunteers; | noticed him more
particularly at theIime on account of the
very brilliant uniform he wore. He
suddenly jumped to bis feet, and calling
upon those around to see whether he
was sustained or not pushed on almost
alone to the very wallis"
J s Red etlon was not quite so reckless
as this account of an eyewitness would |
make it appear The outer wall of the |
castle was commanded by three piecss5f !
cannon on the parapet, which loaded !
with grape and canister, fearfully deci- |
mated the ranks of the Americans at |
every discharge. To advance seemed
certain death. But death seemed equal |
ly certain whether the assailants retreat
ed or remained where they were. Such |
is his own explanation of his conduct.
ttMenH he shouted ont in a momenta-
ry lull of the conflict, eff we don't take !
Chapultepee the American army is lost !
Let us charge up the wallsr'
Voices, answered "We will charge if |
any one will lead usl "We're readyP
g "Come oHl I'll lead you'll shouted |
CAPTAIN Ried, as he brayely leaped over
the scrap that had temporarily sheltered |
them and made the charge already de-
scribed. There was no need, he says, to /
look to see If he was followed. He knew
that his men would not have been there
unless prepared to 60 where he led. About |
half way up he saw the parapet crowded
with Mexican artillerists on the point of
lischarging sSoiiey. He avoided il by
throwing himself on his face, receiving
snly slight wound in his sword-hand,
another shot cutting his clothing. In
itantlyon his feet again, he made for the
vaIl, In front of which he was brought :
lown by a Mexican ounce ball tearing /
through his thigh. All the testimony goes
o show that . was the first before the
vail of Chapuitpeec. Ried's Lieutenant,
1ypolite Dardonville, a young French
nan, mounting the sealing ladders with
he foremost tore down the Mexican flag
rom its staff. Before that, however,
2ied was Observed By Lieutenat Coch-
ane, of the Voltigeafs Coehrane was
pushing for the castle with his men,
Ehen before him, scarcely 10 yards from
he wall, an officer of infantry and
,omrade were shot and fell aThey we're
he only two at that time, he says in 4
lis statement, "whom saw in advance
# me on the rock upon which we were
crambling' Reaching the wall Coch-
ane ordered two men to go back 4
little way and assist the ladders up the
ill AZ they passed the spot where Che
officer lay he raised himself
yith evident pain and sang out above
he din and rattle of musketry implor-
ng the men tostand firm:
'EDon't leave that walln' he cried, ''or
re shall be eut to pieces, Hold on, and /
be castle is .oursr' II
"Cochrane answered to reassure him:
There isno danger, captain, Of bur
eaving thisl Never fearg'z Then the
AddeFs came, the rush was made and the
astle fell. i,
1.-THE. wounded officer, Cochrane con-
inues, proved to be Lieutenant Mayne.
Tied Of the New York Tolunteers." Il
Lieutenant Marshall, to whom We are
Indebted for that vivid glimpse of the |
oung officer in his very brilliant uni
brn, describes the effect produced by
he exploit-all those who witnessed or
new of it prenouncing il without ex-
option the bravest and most brilliant
performed by single In
ividaal during the campaign"