count of the fighting is correct. And here let me add, that the Missisisippi riflemen were the first in said battery and 'house fitted up as a fortification.' Col. M'Clung was the first in the battery, for I saw that myself; and I am informed that Col. Davis was the first at the 'house fitted up as a fortification' directly behind the battery. There Col. M'Clung was shot by a Mexican as he was entering the door. After Col. M'Clung was shot, Col. Davis pressed on with some fifty men through a terrible fire, and was in the act of charging upon the second battery or field-work, when he was ordered back. We returned to the camp Monday night, and Tuesday morning the 22d went back to the battery and 'house fitted up as a fortification,' and remained there until Wednesday morning about half-past six o'clock. At this time Col. Davis called out the Raymond Fencibles and Vicksburg Volunteers (in the order mentioned), marched at their head, and took a 'second battery.' We then took possession of the third battery, and every other fortification and defense on that end and side of the city."

B.

QUITMAN'S RECONNOISSANCE AT CHAPULTEPEC — GALLANTRY OF LIEUTENANT (AFTERWARD CAPTAIN) LOVELL, U. S. A., AND LIEUTENANT HARE, PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS.

This was decidedly the boldest reconnoissance of the war. The following note of it I find among the papers of Gen. Quitman.

"During the morning of the 12th of September, 1847, while Drum's battery (No. 1) was playing upon Chapultepec and the enemy was briskly returning the fire, Gen. Quitman proposed a close and accurate reconnoissance of the preparations of the Mexicans to receive an attack, of their means of defense, the obstacles of ground, number and position of guns, etc. Accordingly it was determined we should proceed that afternoon up the road as close to their lines as practicable, and endeavor to get a sketch of their arrangements; and about 3 o'clock the general, with his A. A. A. general, Lieut. Lovell, and about 40 or 50 men under Maj. Twiggs of the marines, started on this expedition. The escort was composed of men of all regiments, and formed a portion of the command which had volunteered for the storming party of our division. We pushed along by file up the road, keeping ourselves screened as much as possible from the view of the castle by the magueys on our left, until we came to a small house on the left-hand side of the road; but, before we reached this point, the enemy in our front had discovered us, and opened a scattering fire from their sharpshooters, who were considerably in front of their lines, and somewhat on our right. The escort was placed at the building aforesaid, being pretty well protected by it and a few large trees from musketry in front, but within short range of their field-pieces, and exposed to a flank fire from the castle which overlooked us on the left. Lieutenant Hare of the 2d Pennsylvania regiment was sent with five men across the road to get into the fields on the right, and by a dropping fire keep back the enemy on that side from turning our flank. The

general and Licut. Lovell then proceeded about twenty or thirty yards in advance, being slightly protected by a tree from the fire in front, but exposed on both sides. These arrangements and dispositions had occupied half an hour, during the whole of which time the advanced skirmishers of the enemy had kept up a constant fire of small-arms upon us, though without much effect. The general and Lieut. Lovell were at the tree before mentioned, and the latter was preparing to take a sketch of the enemy's works and the approaches, which were closely and distinctly before us, when all at once there was a sound of trumpets and beating of drums, and an evident general movement and commotion along the whole of their lines extending from their position on the road in both directions for a long distance. Their troops stood to arms, and the regiments were paraded with flying colors, evidently expecting to receive an attack. The advanced parties of their sharp-shooters were increased, and the fire upon us now became pretty warm. They, seeing likewise the smallness of our party, began cautiously to envelop us on both sides. Their demonstrations were rapidly becoming of an alarming character, but the general and his aid remained quietly in advance, making accurate observation and perfecting their sketch with a view to the operations of the next day. The enemy, meanwhile, continued to advance, and their fire grew warmer, and it was also evident that we had attracted the notice of Chapultepec itself, which opened a plunging fire upon our left flank at short range. Our protection screened us in a great measure from the fire in front (except that of artillery), but our flanks were entirely exposed. About twenty minutes had been passed in this manner, when Licut. Lovell told the general he had better retire, as 'this was rapidly becoming an unfit place for a general of division;' but no attention was paid by the latter to this remark, he being evidently intent upon knowing personally his own field of operations. Lieutenant Lovell then said, 'I have finished my sketch;' but the general replied, 'Let us wait a few moments and find out where these guns are; no one ever saw that number of Mexican soldiers together without artillery.' The words were scarcely uttered before bang! bang! went two pieces directly in our front, and a round shot crashed through the house while a load of grape swept by within a few feet of our persons. These were followed in a moment by two more discharges of artillery, when, Lieutenant Lovell having dotted down the position of the battery, the general said, 'I am ready to move,' and they turned to go back to the escort, but to their surprise and astonishment saw them running to and fro evidently panic-stricken. The cry was raised, 'We are surrounded; the lancers are in the corn-fields on our left;' and they commenced huddling together in one spot, all seeming to be in a measure unaccountably bewildered. At this moment a couple of rounds of grape from our front increased the confusion. Licut. Lovell said, 'What the devil do you mean by huddling togethcr? Ono round of grape might destroy the whole of you; separate yourselves.' And the words were no sooner uttered before Chapulte pec awoke, and a 68-pound howitzer vomited down upon us about two quarts of grape. The iron shower passed luckily a little too high, cutting through the trees directly over our heads and covering us with leaves. The men then lost all command, and commenced moving to

the rear of the road and ditch, notwithstanding the orders and entreaties of the general and his aid. At this moment it occurred to the former that Lieut. Iare was still in his position, and he ordered sevcral of the men to go and recall him, but no heed was paid to the order; the men could not be induced to stay where they were, much less to go again toward the enemy. And yet these same men behaved the next day with the greatest gallantry in advance of this very spot. But such is a panic. The order was repeated, but no one would go, whereupon Lieut. Lovell, seeing the emergency of the case and unwilling to have the little picket sacrificed to its gallantry, said, 'General, I will go and recall them.' The latter hesitated at first about permitting it, but finally said, 'Well, they must not be sacrificed.' Lieut. Lovell then started across the road, when a soldier, whose sense of duty had returned to him, sprung out and said, 'Hold on, captain, I'll go;' but Lieut. Lovell, merely exclaiming 'You are too late, my good fellow,' pushed on across the road, the soldier, however, accompanying him. But just as they reached the middle of the road a volley of musketry swept it, and the poor fellow fell shot through the body, a victim to his reawakened gallantry. The officer pushed on, crossed the ditch on the other side, and, advancing toward the enemy's works, recalled Lieut. Hare and his little party, and they moved off through the open fields under quite a severe fire and rejoined their own troops. The lieutenant had, in the mean time, restored some order among the escort, and moved down the road with them toward our own batteries, Two companies of the 2d Pennsylvania regiment, seeing our party falling back under a sharp fire, and the enemy coming out very boldly and insolently in our direction, had advanced some distance up the road, and by a well-timed fire induced the Mexicans to stop their advance. The general also, as soon as he had reached the batteries, directed a 12-pounder to be drawn out into the road and discharged at the sharp-shooters who were pushing quite toward our lines. These demonstrations had the desired effect, and they went back to their own works. Thus ended, after a sharp and protracted skirmish, in which we lost eleven men killed and wounded, one of the boldest and most determined reconnoissances made during the campaign, and one too, which, if it did not insure our success the next day, yet contributed to it in a great measure, and was the means of saving many valuable lives. It enabled the volunteer division to perform the duty assigned them in an expeditious and direct manner, and without losing time in feeling their way. The panic which seized upon the escort was one of those unaccountable things which often occur in war, and which sometimes affect veteran troops. The previous and subsequent gallantry of many of these same men amply redeemed them in the opinion of their officers."

C.

THE PALMETTO REGIMENT.

A high-toned, martial spirit has always characterized South Carolina. The great battles of the war of independence were within her territory. The death of Jasper, the martyrdom of Hayne, the victims of the prison ships, the imprisonment of Laurens, the forays of Tarlton, the enormities of the Tories, the brilliant partisanship of Sumpter, the coups de main of Marion, and the patriotic spirit of her daughters, are incidents never to be forgotten. Her habitual chivalry of character may be traced mainly to those glorious recollections. She entered warmly into the war of 1812; her great orators stood by the side of Henry Clay in defense of the national honor, and on the occan and the battle-field her sons were conspicuous. In 1882, when there was a probability of collision with the federal government, and when her Southern sisters, though suffering a common grievance, gave her little nid or comfort, nothing daunted, she exerted her energies, and converted the state into a vast encampment. Thore was a general embodiment of her available strength; volunteer companies, thoroughly drilled and ably officered, were organized in every district, and no people on earth were ever better prepared to resist invasion. This military spirit had not been extinguished when the war with Mexico commenced. But President Polk, with whom her statesmen were no favorites, made no call on South Carolina until after the fall of Monterey, when public opinion and the exigencies of the service compelled the call. It was promptly responded to from the seaboard to the mountains. The regiment was soon organized, each -company, in their respective districts, voting for regimental officers. The result was-for colonel, Pierce M. Butler; for licutenant-colonel, James P. Dickinson; for major, A. H. Gladden. It had been raised for twelve months; but before it was called into service, the term was changed by the War Department to "during the war with Mexico." Under this proceeding, in some quarters, a general disbandment would have occurred. The regiment was composed, for the most part, of husbandmen, and officered by affluent planters or eminent professional men, who had made special arrangements for twelve months only; but not a man faltering, the regiment was promptly reported ready. They landed at Vera Cruz, and there they met, for the first time, their future commander, General QUITMAN, "in the full harness of a soldier, with a blanket stretched over three muskets stuck in the sand, to screen him from the burning sun.' 99*

Their protracted exposure on the route, and the long march to Alvarado and back, over a burning sand-beach, sowed thickly the seeds of disease, and many a gallant gentleman succumbed under its cffects. When the regiment first mustered on the beach at Vera Cruz, 10th March, 1847, it numbered 974, rank and filo. On the 19th of June, 1848, when formed on the same strand to embark for home, 433 had perished. And many subsequently died from the effects of wounds and exposure during that brief campaign. "From General M'Gowan's cloquent address before the Palmotto Association.

the commencement of the campaign," says Gen. M'Gowan, "Colonel Butler was in bad health, but he shrunk from no service, and courted every danger. When unable to march or ride, he was carried on an ambulanco at the head of the Palmettos. On the 19th of August, though suffering severely, he led his regiment, on its midnight march, through the Pedrigal, and took part in the battle of Contreras. Without pausing for rest or refreshment, he plunged into the battle of. Churubusco. His horse was shot down. Waving his sword, he received a ball in his leg. But still the heroic leader pressed forward. Human courage could scarcely withstand the overwhelming odds concentrated against Shields's shattered brigade. Its ranks began to waver, and the impotuous genoral, almost in despair, appealed to his men to advanco. Butler cried out, The South Carolinians will follow you to death;' and his men ratified his words with a ringing cheer and a rushing charge. At this moment Butler received a ball through his head, and fell to rise no more. The gallant Worth, as he dashed by in hot pursuit of the enemy, on seeing the body of his friend, reined up his horse, and exclaimed, Butler dead! A spirit pure as the blade he wore has gone to God. preserve his memory.'

His country will

There was one sentiment that inspired this heroic man, and which he constantly impressed on his command. He would remind them that South Carolina had always claimed a character for spirit, which her enemies had denied her; that the regiment carried the flag of the state, the symbol of her sovereignty, and must perish man by man sooner than justify the taunts that had been cast upon her. An intense feeling of state pride and of personal responsibility for the honor of Carolina pervaded the Palmettos. The following-the last lines that Butler ever penned-is the letter of a thorough soldier, and contains one electrical line never equaled in military correspondence: "He desires a place near the flashing of the guns."

Colonel P. M. Butler to General Worth.

"San Augustin, 19th August, 1847. "DEAR GENERAL,-We are here in tribulation. I can but hope, however, it is but temporary. It is ordered that this division remain as protection to the train. There is gloom on us all, while I am one who believes that there will be fighting enough for all. The moral effect is withering. The regiment, though weak in numbers, is up to the full point, and I trust South Carolina may have a place in the picture. We have been watching you and your division for the last two days with fraternal affection; but the entire voice of the army where I have been or heard is unbounded confidence in 'Worth.' 'So mote it be.' But I have strayed from the principal point or purpose of my note, which is to say that our friend, Colonel DICKINSON, more impatient, and not so long a soldier as myself, desires a place near the flashing of the guns, and, with good taste, wishes to get near you. If you can make him useful, he will feel much gratified. I am aware you are surrounded with a talented staff, but a little more of a good thing will render it not the less complete or effectual. "I am, my dear general, yours sincerely,

"General W. J. Worth, eommanding, etc."

"P. M. BUTLER, S. C. V.