Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-12-13

Colonel Watson and Lieutenant
Bowie joined these reinforcements
and while leading u charge Watson
was shot dead, falling into the arms
of Lieutenant Bowie. In the mean
while other troops had carried Fort
Teneria. The battalion went into
the action $50 strong. and lost nine
killed and Is wounded, among the
latter being Lieutenant Bowie.
Promoted for eallantry.
The gallantry of the young Mary
lander in his first battle was highly
commended by his superior officers,
and shortly afterward. although on
~ 20 years of age, he was appointed
by President Polk senior captain Of
the noted voltigeur Regiment, of
which the late Gen. Joseph Z. john
ston. G. s. A., was made colonel;
the late Brevet- Brig. Gen. Timothy
p. Andrews, e. s. A., lieutenant
colonel, and the late Lieut.. Col.
Folliott T. Lally, Z. S. A., of
Maine, major.
The regiment was created with
an idea of combining the three arms
of the service, and its novelty has
made it historical, but the scheme
did not prove practical in the United
States Army. Captain Bowie at
this time was taken sick and in
valided home. He was forced to
resign from the army, and several
years passed before he recovered his
health. lie was one of the few Mex
lean War pensioners in Maryland,
not because, like Bill Nye's land
lord, he "needed the money" but
because of the just pride he took in
his service, and of the fact that his
name appeared on the rolls of the
War Department, and the vouchers
would descend to his children.
His Political Career.
For a period Captain Bowie re-
mained at his fathers farm in
Prince Georges county, under med
ical treatment. The elder Bowie
wanted his son to study law, but the
latter had had taste of that before
he crossed the Rio Grande, and did
not fancy the profession. One night,
in 1S4S, the late Philip Francis
Thomas of Talbot, who afterward
became Secretary of the Treasury
in Buchanan's Cabinet, and who
died few years ago in this city at
a ripe age, visited the Bowie home
stead and spent a night with his
friend and supporter, the Captains 8
father.
The Eastern Shore statesman was
then making a campaign for the
Governorship. The next day Mr..
Bowie drove him to Upper MARI
boro', where he made a speech, and
then returned home with him to
Fairview. He surprised Captain
Bowie by asking him to run for the
House of Delegates. The latter
said he was not of age. Mr.. Thomas
replied that he would attain his
majority before the General Assem-
bly, met, and therefore would be
eligible.
At Upper Marlboro Mr.. Thomas
had been advised to get Captain
Bowie to run. The glamor of war
hung over him, and Marylanders
were martially inclined during the
Mexican conflict, particularly as
Watson, Ringgold, Ridgely and
other well-known and esteemed Of.
ficers had fallen.
| 1t was set forth that the race fol
the Governorship would be close and
Captain Bowie would draw hun.
dreds Of young men to vote the tick.
ct aud these might elect the Cover.
nor, but Mr.. Thomas frankly said
that Captain Bcwie would be de-
feated. The Captains father, in
his desire to aid his friend, consent
ed to his sons candidacy, exactine
a promise from him that he would
not be a candidate for political Of
flee again.
7 Captain Bowie was put on the
ticket and before the election ar
uncle of his-a strong Whig-madt
the charge that he was too young tc
vote. Captain Bowie made no at.
tempt to meet the charge and die
: not vote nor 60 to the polls in hii
own district. He went to Bladens
: burg and worked for the Democra
tic ticket, two county candidates OF
which were elected. Captain Bowl,
: was defeated. He once said that h,