Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-04-11

brigade led by General Scott, was the
only regiment of the command left TO
rally upon after the desperate fighting
which decided the day. According to
the custom of those times, the Ninth
was credited to the state of Massa-
chusetts, and congress awarded hOnors
to the Bay State for the prowess dis
played by her sons at Lundy's Lane.
In the Mexican war the Ninth was
led by a volunteer colonel, but in this
case volunteer was not another name
for "greenhorn." Vermont, the home
Of heroes, numbered among her sons
Truman Bishop Ransom, a soldier by
training and spirit. He had establish
ed and drilled the Vermont militia and
also instructed men for the United
States navy. When the government
called for troops to fight Mexico, Ran
som volunteered and before the first
battle was colonel of the Ninth. The
regiment at that time counted among
its subordinates William B. Taliaferro.
who was one Of Stonewall Jackson's
brigadiers; John S. Slocum, killed at
Bull Run at the head of the First
Rhode Island volunteers, and Jesse A.
Cove, colonel of the Twelfth Massa-
chusetts, killed at Gaines Mill.
Colonel Ransom was killed at the
Storming of the citadel of Chapultepec
In crisis similar to that which cost
the life of Colonel Liscum at Tien-tsin
The Ninth was in the division of Cen
eral Pillow and was selected to follow
on the heels of the voltigeurs who
stormed the wall outside the citadel,
and in case Of disaster to the stOrmers
or delay In their attack the Ninth was
to charge forward in a skirmiSh line to
the crest. Half way up the ascent the
stormers met with a check, and the
Ninth rushed forward only to find the
way blocked by troops who would not
or could not press on. While trying to
urge the line forward General Pillow
was wounded and Colonel Ransom
shot dead when he was close up to the
storming party showing his men the
way to the crest. The fall of It's leader
did not dismay the Ninth. 1t crossed
the wall surrounding the castle and en-
tered into race for the citadel with
the Eighth infantry. Two lieutenants
of the Eighth who were conspicuous in
this affair afterward made history as
generals in the Confederate service.
These were James Longstreet and
George E. Pickett. Longstreet was
shot down while the line was strug-
Cling up the hill, and Pickett took the
flag under his care. Hurrying forward
to plant the colors on the dome of the
citadel, Pickett found Major Seymour
Of the Ninth ahead of him and the flag
Of the conquered Mexicans lowered
from the staff. The flag of the Eighth
being the first at hand, Major Seymour
ordered it run up to replace the Mexi-
can banner.
General Pillow found numberless he
roes among the rank and file Of the
Ninth at the storming of Chapultepec.
He named II officers and II enlisted
men for conspicuous bravery during
the attack on the wall and citadel,
Fate seemed to have destined the
Ninth for service on the Pacific coast,
for as soon as the Mexican war closed
the regiment was rushed to northern
California.
A history of the battles of this regi-
ment with Indians for over half a cen
tury would be a thrilling romance. 1t
fought with everything in war paint
from Arizona to Oregon and even en-
dured the exile of Alaska. Spokane
and Sioux, Cheyenne and Apache, have
faced the white men under the flag of
the Ninth, but they never once covered
that flag with defeat. In a campaign
against the redskins back in the tifties
a contingent Of the Ninth numbering
150 men was surrounded by hostiles
near Fort Walla Walla. The Indians
forced the fighting all day and after
sundown charge retired to wait for
morning. The soldiers had barely