Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/85

Rh the Second Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, under the command of Col. William T. Haskell, all under Gen. Robert Patterson. Off they started with cheers and waving of their caps, promising to bring good news.

After they arrived at Medallin (once a town). Col. Harney opened fire upon the Mexicans to draw their attention, so as to find out their position, and at the same time gave Lieut. Judd a chance to plant his artillery. After this was accomplished, Lieut. Judd opened on the Mexicans and their small breastworks. At this Col. Harney made one of the most gallant charges on the Mexicans that has ever been heard of, it put Col. May's charge at Palo Alto entirely in the dark, charging with full speed of their horses, running their horses over the Mexican infantry, following and cutting the lancers down right and left, and killing twenty or thirty of the enemy. Col. Harney's loss was one Tennesseean killed, and four of the dragoons wounded. The victory was complete. They captured two pieces of artillery each, six brass pieces and several small arms. Col. Harney thinks that the Mexican forces were commanded by Gen. Harrah in person, yet he was lucky enough to make good his escape.

The Medallin river, above mentioned, was so named by Conqueror Cortez, who also built a town of the same name, in memory of his Cortez birth-place in Spain, but the town was soon destroyed by some of his Cortez men. Some of the ruins are still standing, and the whole place looks like a Godforsaken place.

Towards evening the northern wind ceased to blow. Mr. Welsh and myself took a walk down the sea shore to see the sights. The sun was just setting in waves of gold and purple, the long stretch of glittering sand with misty splendor, the tide rolling in with a low musical murmur, here we sat down on the beach, and saw our sailors and laborers busy in landing artillery, ammunition, ordnance stores and provisions. Further down the bay we saw no less than five schooners and one brig lying high and dry on the shore, all driven ashore by the late northern gale.