Mayne Reid Part 4

The following are extracts from dispatches and official doc.u.ments:

From Major-General Winfield Scott, commander-in-chief.

"September 18, 1847.

"The following are the officers and corps most distinguished in these brilliant operations... Particularly a detachment under Lieutenant Reid, New York Volunteers, consisting of a company of the same, with one of marines."

From Major-General G.J. Pillow, commanding division.

"September 18, 1847.

"Lieutenant Reid, in command of the one company of the New York Regiment and one of marines, came forward in advance of the other troops of this command, Quitman's, partic.i.p.ated in the a.s.sault and was severely wounded."

From Major-General J.A. Quitman, commanding division.

"September 29, 1847.

"Two detachments from my command not heretofore mentioned in this report should be noticed. Captain Gallagher and Lieutenant Reid, who, with their companies of New York Volunteers, had been detailed on the morning of the 12th, by General s.h.i.+elds, to the support of our battery, Number 2, well performed the service. The former, by the orders of Captain Huger, was detained at that battery during the storming of Chapultepec.

The latter, a brave and energetic young officer, being relieved from the battery on the advance to the Castle, hastened to the a.s.sault, and was among the first to ascend the crest of the hill, where he was severely wounded... The gallant New York Regiment claims for their standard the honour of being the first waved from the battlements of Chapultepec."

From Brigadier-General s.h.i.+elds.

"September 25, 1847.

"The New York flag and Company B of that regiment, under the command of a gallant young officer, Lieutenant Reid, were among the first to mount the ramparts of the Castle, and then display the Stars and Stripes to the admiration of the army."

From Captain Huger, chief of ordnance.

"September 20, 1847.

"As there were two companies in support of batteries 2 and 3, I now allowed one of them, commanded by Lieutenant Reid, New York Volunteers, his command, composed of volunteers and marines, to join its proper division, and he gallantly pushed up the hill and joined it during the storming of the Castle."

From Colonel Ward B. Burnett, commanding New York Regiment.

"Order Number 35.

"The following promotions and appointments having been made 'upon good and sufficient recommendations' will be obeyed and respected accordingly:

"2nd Lieutenant Mayne Reid, of Company B, to be 1st lieutenant of Company G, _vice_ Innes, promoted."

CHAPTER FIVE.

HE IS MOURNED AS DEAD.

It was reported that Lieutenant Mayne Reid had died of his wounds. This intelligence reached his family in Ireland, who mourned him as dead until the joyful contradiction arrived. It may be interesting as evidence of his reputation at this time to give an extract from a contemporary notice in the _Newport News_.

"The lamented Lieutenant Reid.

"Lieutenant Reid has been in this country some five or six years, and during that time has been mostly connected with the press, either as an a.s.sociate editor or correspondent; in this last capacity, he pa.s.sed the summer of 1846 in Newport, R.I., engaged in writing letters to the _New York Herald_, under the signature of 'Ecolier.' It was at this time that we became acquainted with him, and there are many others in the community who will join us in bearing testimony to his worth as a man, all of whom will be grieved at the announcement of his death. He returned to New York about the first of September, and shortly after sailed for Mexico with his regiment. He was at the battle of Monterey, and distinguished himself in that b.l.o.o.d.y affair. We published a little poem from his pen, ent.i.tled 'Monterey,' about three months ago, which will undoubtedly be remembered by our readers; towards the close of the poem, was this stanza:

"'We were not many--we who pressed Beside the brave who fell that day; But who of us has not confessed He'd rather share their warrior rest, Than not have been at Monterey?'

"Alas! for human glory! The departed, probably, little thought at the time he penned the above lines that he should so soon be sharing 'their warrior rest.' At the storming of Chapultepec he was severely wounded, and died soon after from his wounds. He was a man of singular talents, and gave much promise as a writer. His temperament was exceedingly nervous, and his fancy brilliant. His best productions may be found in 'G.o.dey's Book,' about three or four years ago, under the signature of 'Poor Scholar.' It is mournful that talents like his should be so early sacrificed, and that his career should be so soon closed, far--very far--from the land of his birth and the bosom of his home, as well as the land of his adoption. But thus it is! When the day arrives for our army to return, if it ever does, it will present a sad spectacle. The ranks will be thinned, and hearts made sorrowful at their coming that hoped to rejoice in the fullest fruition of gladness. Many a gallant spirit has fallen to rise no more; and the wild note of the bugle cannot awake them to duty, or the sweeter call of friends.h.i.+p and home. The triumphs may be as splendid as ever crowned a human effort, but they have been purchased at the price of n.o.ble lives, and too dearly not to mingle the tear of sorrow with the shout of joy."

The verses by Captain Mayne Reid referred to are:

Monterey.

We were not many--we who stood Before the iron sleet that day-- Yet many a gallant spirit would Give half his years if he but could Have been with us at Monterey.

Now here, now there, the shot it hailed In deadly drifts of fiery spray, Yet not a single soldier quailed, When wounded comrades round them wailed Their dying shouts at Monterey.

And on--still on our columns kept, Through walls of flame, its withering way; Where fell the dead, the living stept, Still charging on the guns which swept The slippery streets of Monterey.

The foe himself recoiled aghast, When, striking where he strongest lay, We swooped his flanking batteries past, And braving full their murderous blast, Stormed home the towers of Monterey.

Our banners on those turrets wave, And there our evening bugles play; Where orange boughs above their grave Keep green the memory of the brave Who fought and fell at Monterey.

We were not many--we who pressed Beside the brave who fell that day; But who of us has not confessed He'd rather share their warrior rest, Than not have been at Monterey?

At a public dinner held in the city of Columbus, Ohio, to celebrate the capture of Mexico, Mayne Reid's memory was toasted, and the following lines, by a young poetess of Ohio, were recited with great effect:

Dirge.

Gone--gone--gone, Gone to his dreamless sleep; And spirits of the brave, Watching o'er his lone grave, Weep--weep--weep.

Mourn--mourn--mourn, Mother, to sorrow long wed!

Far o'er the mighty deep, Where the brave coldly sleep, Thy warrior son lies dead.

Lone--lone--lone, In thine own far island home, Ere thy life's task is done, Oft with the setting sun, O'er the sea thy thoughts will roam.

Sound--sound--sound, The trumpet, while thousands die!

Madly forcing his way, Through the blood-das.h.i.+ng spray He beareth our banner on high!

Woe--woe--woe!

Like a thought he hath sunk to rest.

Slow they bear him away, In stern martial array, The flag and the sword on his breast.

High--high--high, High in the temple of fame, The poet's fadeless wreath, And the soldier's sheath, Are engraven above his name.

Long--long--long, As time to the earth shall belong, The sad wind o'er, the surge Shall chant its low dirge To this peerless child of song.