Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/139

Rh T. Griflin, R. Keirman, K. Price, M. M. Durham, A. Hatton and S. W. Landerdal of the First Tennesseeans. These men were unfortunately killed in the blundering charge on the batteries at Cerro Gordo. Those who have escaped that dreadful carnage are cursing and condemning every bone in Brig.-Gen. Pillow's body, and some even boast and seemed to know how Gen. Pillow was wounded, and that it was a pity that the ball didn't kill him for his cowardly and inhuman act on our poor and much exhusted soldiers on our march from Vera Cruz to Plan del Rio. The Tennesseeans don't seem to think much of Gen. Robert Patterson. They think, like a good many others, that he is braver before going into the battle than in the midst of the battle. That he made the same war speech to them as he did to us Pennisylvanians before the battle began. They, like ourselves, have not seen him since he left us on the National Road.

To-night everything seems to be very quiet. Silence reigned throughout the whole camp, broken only by the step of the sentinel. The soldiers, as well as the officers, are all tired, and will soundly sleep over the glorious victory of the battle of Cerro Gordo, April 18, 1847. Thus on Cerro Gordo Heights, a short, but fierce, day's work was done. And thus our brave old Gen. Scott another battle won, and our glorious banner still triumphantly waves over everlasting glory unto Cerro Gordo's dead.

Since the above has been written a great deal has been said, as well as written, about Gen. Robert Patterson's action and cowardice at the battle of Cerro Gordo. The author of this book has no animosity, or is no partisan of Gen. Patterson, nor do I wish to harm a hair on his veteran grey head, now in his eighty-second year, and all I have to say is that I have nothing to add to or detract from the above. They were taken down on the spot. But I will say this for the General, and I will say it boldly without fear or favor from either side, that there is not a better man living to-day to take charge or command a set of men than Gen. Robert Patterson.