Acknowledging their courtesy, we gave it back like men.
But our men, though doing wonders, began to disappear,
When Ridgely thundered with his guns up from the distant rear,
And we heard his balls go crashing through the thick palmetto trees,
And the shrieks of wounded Mexicans come ringing up the breeze;
And we hurried on like maniacs, scarcely stopping to take breath,
While every where around us rushed the messengers of death!
By this time our brave infantry had reached the chapparal: —
Here and there we heard our comrades answering one another’s call;
And the sharp crack of their muskets, and the death-cries of their foes,