The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1912-06-13
orms and made swooping

! forms aliQ mace S"OOpiIlS
charges on nalf wild mustangs
which they managed with ease
At the battle Of Contreras the
Palmetto regiment was held IL
reserve, much to its disapoint.
ment and chagrin. 1t was
then that its commanding of
fcer, Col. Pierce B. Butler,
wrote a letter to Gen. Worth
commencing Lieut.. Col, Dickin-
son, second in command. who,
tired of enaction, asked for a
position as aide on the general S
staff. In the letter occurs the
famous phase. Col. Dickinson
desires a place near the flashing
of the guns.
1.-The Palmetto regiment was
| disappointed at not having an
active part in the battle at Con-
treras, said Capt. Stanley,
but soon there was fighting
enough to satisfy the most
ardent of the South Carolinians.
Immediately after Contrer IS,
the army moved on toward the
City of Mexico. The Mexicans
were in force at Churubusco.
Ny regiment played an impor-
tant part in The engagement
there, considered one of the
hottest of the whole war. Com
pany G.. my company lacked 20
men of having it's full strength,
and in the whole Palmetto regi-
ment at II at time there were
only 2SO men.
The city of Mexico was the
stake for which the two armies
played at Churubusco. A vic
tory for Scott meant that the
way to the Mexican capital
would be practically open as
the weaker defenses around the
city's gates could afford but
little resistance. Santa Anna's
army, routed at Contreras, had
rallied around Churubusco.
The battle began n;i the after
noon of Aucnst % jlle Pal
netto regiment vit ii;e New
York regime :;!;s:y ui'&hic!d's
brigade.
The story of the s'n:i'h Caro-
linians' share in TIE !i:hting on
the bloody field follows HI i'p'.
Stanley's words:
The Palmetto regiment was
in advance and had been select
ed as the base Of the attack!ns
line around which the otiiel
regiments were to form. 1b'
Mexicans were entrenched o..
side of a wheat field. The Pal
metto regiment led the attack
on this position. The ground
was low, marshy and perfectly
fat. We had to march through
a field of standing corn before
we got to the wheat field. In
the corn field the regiment was
practically hidden from the
sight of the Mexicans, and, in
my opinion, it was then that
" e should have teen formed in
to line of battle. But the COM
mand was not given until we
reached the wheat field
The Mexican works were
only 300 yards across the field.
It was easy musket range, and
they moved US down, while we
stood waiting for the command
to charge. At last it was given.
We ran across the marshy
wheat field, stumbling and fall
inc in bitches. saw Col But
Ter fall when his horse was
shot under him, and a few
minutes later the cry went up
Pierce DIltler is shot!'
We kept straight on toward
the Mexican entrenchments.
When l got about half way,
a musket ball struck me in the
forehead. I stopped by a ditch
of muddy wat, and washed
out the wound. | wondered a
a minute ortw whether l was
dead. The visor Of my cap,
which was ri: reed by the ball
probably saved my life.
"Col. GLADDEN. led US toward
the castle on the run. 1t was a
long stumbling way up the hill
and many Of the boys did not
reach the top. The Mexican
cadets worked their guns on the
castle walls until the last. Mines
had been planted all around the
castle but none of them were
exploded.
L.