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

A NOVEL HAND-GRENADE. 183
hours unemployed, save as a target for the Mexican artillery.
But our soldiers endured the harassing service with uncomplaining fortitude. Captain I-Hooker, 1st Artillery, of General
Hamer's staff, and Colonel A. Sidney Johnson, of General
Butler's, were constantly with our regiment, and by their
professional skill and gallantry, rendered it valuable aid
throughout the action.
At the approach of evening, all the troops were ordered
back to camp, except Captain Ridgely's artillery, and the
regular infantry of Twiggs' division, who, under the commnand of Lieutenant Colonel Garland, were detailed as a
guard for the captured redoubt during the night. One half
of the 1st Kentucky regiment, which had been all -day at the
mortar battery, panting for the affray, was ordered forward to
reinforce this command. The battalion approached Colonel
Garland's position about twilight, under a heavy cannonade
from the enemy. One of its officers, a tall, thorough-bred
Kentuckian, and doubtless as brave a gentleman as any in
the army, supposing that they were about to be led at once
against the enemy, suddenly became disgusted with the
small sword with which he had imprudently armed himself.
It was scarcely larger than a fencing foil, and in his strong
but unpracticed hand then seemed as useless as a bodkin.
Scornfully throwing it away, and seizing upon two ponderous
pieces of limestone, he marched confidently forward and
entered the Teneria with one in each hand, ready and
anxious for the fight. This incident was related to me by
the major commanding the battalion, who jocularly added,
that he thought of making a requisition upon the Ordnance