The New Hampshire Gazette

The Mississippians Discomfited.

The Mississippi regiment, which distinguished itself so much in the attack on Monterey, did once retreat! We dislike to state the fact, but as faithful chroniclers of the times, we are forced to admit that on one occasion, and but one, they did execute a most decidedly retrograde movement; or, as some of the regiment expressed it. "took the track back in double quick time."

After charging through the batteries, up to the mouths of the enemy's cannon, and amid showers of musket balls, with their rifles and bowie knives, putting to flight whole columns of Mexican infantry, well armed with muskets and bayonets—after marching up the narrow streets, raked by grape-shot and musketry from the terraces of the buildings—after penetrating into the inside of stone houses, bursting the doors, gaining the tops and driving the Mexicans therefrom, they at last encountered a battery from which they fled in disorderly haste.

"Smith!" says Col. Davis to one of the gentlemen who had walked all the way from Camargo in six days to take a hand in the row at Monterey, "burst open that door!"

Bang, bang, bang," sounded Smith's battering-ram—a large stone nearing the heavy door.

But tough was the wood and long were the nails, and powerful the inertia of the faithful Mexican door. It had, per adventure, been constructed by some over-anxious parent who had a daughter, "whom he loved passing well," and feared that ordinary "bars and bolts" would not be a sufficient protection of her virtue. against the designs of any roving Lorenzo; or, perhaps, some jealous Don here hoped to imprison and exclude from the amorous glance of "gay Lotharios" his loving spouse. For what purpose soever it was constructed, this door certainly opposed a long and tough resistance to the doughty blows of Smith's new patent balista.

But perseverance, especially when backed by hard knocks, will overcome all obstacles, and the Mexican door, like Gen. Ampudia, wearied by long resistance, at last gave way; but, as a revenge for the injury. and insult inflicted on it, Mexican like, it treacherously yielded without any warning to Smith, and the consequence was that the gallant Mississippian was projected through it, and far into the interior of the house, with the speed of a bullet from his own rifle. As soon as Smith could recover his breath and take a view of the premises, he immediately beat a retreat, but just as he was emerging from the door he met Gen. Quitman and Col. Davis.

"What!" they cried, "retreating, Smith!— are you wounded?"

"Yes, I am;" replied Smith, "I can't attack -at least without reinforcements."

"We will reinforce you;"—and accordingly the three rushed into the house, but they soon emerged again, and this time Smith was in the rear, but the retreat of the valiant Mississippian was much impeded by heavy baggage—each having a beautiful Mexican Donna clinging around his neck, vexing his ear with the most terrific screams, and melting his heart with the most eloquent appeals.

The whole regiment followed the example of its officers, and hastily retreating from the house where it had received so warm a reception, sought glory and the enemy in some other quarter of the town.