Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

182 THE MEXICAN ACOOUNT.
pieces of serio-comedy were played in the shifting scenes of
the battle, but to rehearse which would too much delay the
progress of our narrative.~
After the repulse of the Lancers, our regiment was moved
to a new position near the Teneria, and within sustaining
distance of Bragg's battery, where we remained for some
* It may be a satisfaction to the reader to peruse the subjoined Mexican account
of the conflict between our regiment and the defenders of the tete-de-pont, and of
the affair with the cavally. It will be observed that the want of ammunition is
again pleaded, and here, it would seem, unnecessarily. And yet, strangely enough,
in almost the next sentence it is stated that the Mexican troops " increased their
activity." How can we be expected to agree with an historian who does not agree
with himself?
The " confounded and frantic charge," so classically described in the extract
is a piece of pure romance, a fabrication more shadowy than the fabulous achievements of the deformed Tyrtmus, and to which the word " confbunded." perhaps
misused by the translator, might with more propriety be applied. The sortie must
have been made, if at all, after the withdrawal of our regiment from the vicinity,
of the Purisima. Unfortunately we knew not of it, for certainly after contending
so long with concealed and inaccessible foes, there would have been no shrinking
on our part from the " breast to breast, and arm to arm," conflict. They are welcome to the laurel! gained by charging the dead, and bayoneting the dying. From
the passage quoted, it appears that the 3d regiment is entitled to the dishonorable
aistinction of lancing fifty of our wounded men.
" General Mejia was posted at the bridge of the Purisima. There revived the
sanguinary contest, which was tenaciously prolonged with great carnage. When
all the ammunition was exhausted, the troops asked General Mejia for the park,
who answered that it was not necessary while they had bayonets. This reply was
received with vivas of applause, and they increased their activity. Finally an
impulse seized upon us, our soldiers leaped the parapets, and as Tyrtmus staid in
exhorting the Greeks, bieast to breast, arm to arm, confounded and frantic ours
charged, and over the ground they had gained, and over the dead bodies of the
enemy, and amid the vapor of their foul reeking blood arose to heaven the victorious cry of-viva Mexico. The brave men who gained this laurel were commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ferro.
"The Americans having fallen back, General Mejia believed a charge of cavalry
proper. General Garcia Conde was ordered with the 3d and 7th, who were in the
place, to charge the enemy in- the rear, by the way of the citadel. Garcia Conde
led the corps to the point where he should have charged, and there the 3d alone
entered the action, lancing more than fifty men of various partisan enemies, and
afterward withdrew to the city." —-Mexican " Notes of the TVar,"l page 74.