The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-03-06
|. Thrilling Story Of the Mexican Mar.

e Mr. iiliam Gilmore Simms, the son
and namesake Of the great South Caroli-
ma novelist, who responded 80 eloquently
to the toast to his native State at the
Knights Of Pythias banquet recently, at
the Hibernan Hall, related in the course
of his remarks an anecdote Of the Mexi-
can war, which was new to the great
majority Of his audience. It vas on one
of the bloodiest fields of Mexico, he said.
The battle had ragged with great obstiDa-
cy for hours Sand although the Mexicans
had fought for every inch of ground With
that desperate vslor which is so charac.
teristic Of all races reared under sropic
sun, they had matched against them a
foe Of equal courage, and the victory,
though dearly bought, was just within
the grasp Of the American army. There
was one point, however, which was still
in the hands Of the enemy. and their
commander realizing that twas a forlorn
hope, had massed the remnant of the
flower of the Mexican chivalry at this
post, and determined to hold it at all
hazards. Gen Shields saw that to win
J the day this point must be reduced, and
he resolved that itsheuld be taken. But
it was q desperate resolve. The Mexi.-
cans had been pressed back from their
original position only by repeated terrific
charges, which ia every instance had left
hundreds of dead and wounded on the
field. They had not surrendered an inch
of ground until they had covered it with
the bodies Of their brayest men, and now
as they took a last stand, nerved to des.
perstion by the misfortune of the day,
they presented 8 compact front, bristliDg
with pixies and lancea. which Gen.
Shields's practiced eye told him would
be hard to break, and which he knew
could not be broken without tremen-.
dous onslaught. He determined to call
for volunteers to do the desperate work,
and applying to the commander of 8
/ Pennsylvania regiment, he met with a
declination. Not discouraged, however,
he asked a New York regiment to under.
take the charge, but he was again morti-
fed to find another portion ofhis army
unwilling to risk 30 desperate game.
Wheeling his horse, The General gallop-
ed to the front Of the Palmetto Regiment,
and demanded of Col. Pierce NJ. Butler
if his men would be willing to clinch the
victory by the charges. "Yes, sir" was
the gallant Coloneps response "every
one Of them, andto the very death r
In less than q minute the regiment, with
Col. Butler riding foremost in the ranks,
swept like q tornado upon the Mexican
front. The struggle, as Gen. Shields had
anticipated, was terrible one. The
Mexicans met the onslaught with an
unbroken line, and for a few moments
sustained their position wieh magnificent
valor. But their hot Southern blood
was no match for the superior proves
and cool, nnfiching temper of their
more Northern foes, and the struggle
was brief. Slowly they were driven back,
contending desperately, but their front
mas broken and, unable to rally his men
to the breach, their leader ordered 8
retreat, and the day was won. Bat just
here comes one of the prettiest parts Of
the story. Commanding company in
the New York regiment that had declin..
ed the charge was Mayne Reid, that
delightful writer of adventure by field
and flood, over whose pages every boy
has dwelt with SO much interest. Reid
was not only novelist, but he was as
brave soldier as ever faced death, and
his whole temper was accused by the
cowar,lly refusal Of his colonel to under
take the charge. When be saw the
South Carolinlans preparing for the ad-
vance he appealed to his men TO follow
them, but ont of his entire company but
eleven could be fourd who were willing
to run 80 desperate risk. With these
eleven Capt. Reid left his command and
Joined the Palmetto Regiment, and in
the blood hand. to hand contest that fol-
lowed these twelve brave New Workers
did much to secure the fortunes of the
day. Their names are now forgotten,
but their gallantry will live always in
the memory of those who admire brave
deeds and love brave men.-Ne,os and
Courier.