victorious, the three continued to press upon the fugitives to within a mile and a half of the capital. Here Colonel HARNEY, with a small part of his brigade of cavalry, rapidly passed to the front, and charged the enemy up to the nearest gate.

"The cavalry charge was headed by Captain KEARNY, of the First Dragoons, having, in squadron, with his own troop, that of Captain MCREYNOLDS, of the Third-making the usual escort to general headquarters; but, being early in the day attached to general service, was now under Colonel HARNEY's orders. The gallant Captain, not hearing the recall that had been sounded, dashed up to the San Antonio gate, sabring in his way all who resisted. Of the seven officers of the squadron, KEARNY lost his left arm, MCREYNOLDS and Lieutenant LORIMER GRAHAM were both severely wounded, and Lieutenant R. S. EWELL, who succeeded to the command of the escort, had two horses killed under him. Major F. D. MILLS, of the Fifth Infantry, a volunteer in this charge, was killed at the gate." Major-General SCOTT's Official Report, Ibid., No. 32, page 315.

Captain KEARNY, of the First Dragoons, commanding a squadron composed of his own and Captain MCREYNOLDS' companies, was on duty with my division during the action, and made his way with great difficulty across the wide and marshy fields and deep ditches. Seeing no field for the action of his fine squadron until the tete de pont was carried, I had held him in reserve. I then let him loose. Furious was his charge upon the retreating foe, dealing death with the unerring sabre, until he reached the very suburbs of the city, and drew from the enemy's batteries at the garita a heavy and destructive fire, by which the gallant Captain lost his left arm; and Captain MCREYNOLDS, Third Dragoons, who nobly sustained the daring movements of his squadron commander, was also wounded in the left arm. Both of these fine companies sustained severe losses in their rank and file also."

Major-General PILLOW's Official Report, Ibid., page 340–'1.

"The reports of Major SUMNER, commanding First Battalion, and LieutenantColonel MOORE, commanding Second Battalion, which I have the honor to forward herewith, will show in what manner the other troops and squadrons of my command were employed. The three troops of horse, brought by me on the field, being ordered away in different directions, Major SUMNER and myself soon found ourselves without commands. I then employed myself with my staff in rallying fugitives and encouraging our troops on the left of the main road. Major SUMNER, towards the close of the engagement, was placed by the general-in-chief in charge of the last reserve, consisting of the rifle regiment and one company of horse, and was ordered to support the left. This force was moving rapidly to take its position in line-of-battle, when the enemy broke and fled to the city. At this moment, perceiving that the enemy were retreating in disorder on one of the main causeways leading to the city of Mexice, I collected all the cavalry in my reach, consisting of parts of Captain KERR'S company, Second Dragoons, Captain KEARNY'S company, First Dragoons, and pursued them vigorously until we were halted by the discharge of the batteries at their gate. Many of the enemy were overtaken in the pursuit and cut down by our sabres. I cannot speak in terms

too complimentary of the manner in which the charge was executed. My only difficulty was in restraining the impetuosity of my men and officers, who seemed to vie with each other who should be foremost in the pursuit. Captain KEARNY gallantly led his squadron into the very intrenchments of the enemy, and had the misfortune to lose an arm from a grape-shot fired from a gun at one of the main gates of the capital. Captain MCREYNOLDS and Lieutenant GRAHAM were also wounded, and Lieutenant EwELL had two horses shot under him."

Colonel WILLIAM S. HARNEY's Official Report, Ibid, page 347.

"Return of killed, wounded, and missing of the army under the immediate command of Major-General WINFIELD SCOTT on the 19th and 20th August, 1847.

HARNEY'S BRIGADE.

Killed:

"First Dragoons, Company F (KEARNY'S)-Privates PATRICK HART, JAMES MCDONALD, MCBROPHY, JOHN RITTER.

*

"Third Dragoons, Company K (MCREYNOLDS')-Privates EDWARD CURTIS, AUGUSTUS DESSOLL, GEORGE DUVER.

Wounded:

"First Dragoons, Company F (KEARNY'S)-Captain PHILIP KEARNY, severely, lost left arm; Lieutenant LORIMER GRAHAM, (Tenth Infantry,) attached, severely.

"Third Dragoons, Company K (MC REYNOLDS')—Captain A. T. MCREYNOLDS, severely; private

COWDEN."

Senate Executive Document, No. 1, December 7, 1847, page 431.

"Behold my success in your service," and the ABBE produced a long leather case, richly inlaid with gold.

"Faith, ABBE," said I, "am I to understand that this is a present for your eldest papil ?"

"You are,” said MONTREUIL, Opening the case, and producing a sword; the light fell upon the hilt, and I drew back dazzled with its lustre; it was covered with stones, apparently of the most costly value. Attached to the hilt was a lable of purple velvet, on which, in letters of gold, was inscribed,

*

*

*

DEVEREUX.

AFTER his return from Mexico, in December, 1847, decorated with the loss of his left arm, and honored with a brevet—which he had won as justly as ever a brevet was earned-for distinguished gallantry in action-for which, alone, such a distinction should be conferred-Major KEARNY was on recruiting service in the city of New York from May, 1848, to July, 1851. During this period, for the first time in many years, he was settled down in the midst of his few surviving relatives and many friends, and happy in his own home, built on a portion of the country seat of his great-grandfather on his mother's side, Honorable JOHN WATTS, senior. He used to speak with delight of this period, when he was "master of his own establishment, his nice garden, and pretty play-ground for his children," in his native city.

During his sojourn in New York, a compliment was paid him which he always seemed to regard as the most welcome token of his fellow citizens' appreciation of his military services. A great many persons at the time, especially New Yorkers, did not think that the government had taken sufficient notice of KEARNY's gallantry at the Gates of Mexico. Many officers had received two brevets for far less conspicuous merit. In fact, such was the injustice

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shown that one of the finest officers in the service returned his brevet in disgust. PHILIP KEARNY was a member of the Union Club, a body of gentlemen, which comprised numbers of the first men of the city, both as to position and intelligence. This body of representative citizens determined to present a "costly and superb testimonial" of their feelings towards their fellow-member "for gallantry during the Mexican War, but especially at Churubusco." This testimonial was a "magnificent sword," which was indeed magnificent for the time when it was made. As a rich and chaste specimen of art it has never been exceeded, although more money has been lavished upon similar presentation gifts in recent years. "The guard was formed by a large spread eagle in gold, holding in its beak the head of a serpent, the folds of which constituted the guard, which was studded with agates. The handle itself was solid silver, richly chased, and it was fastened to the blade of "the icebrook's temper," arabesqued and polished in perfect taste.

"The scabbard, which was also of sold silver, was relieved with ornaments in gold and etchings. In a long oval was a sketch of the battle of Churubusco, where Captain KEARNY lost his left arm, and within a circle, the word “CHURUBUSCO." Upon one of the bands was a representation of Hercules crushing the Serpent, and on another a military device, admirably arranged. The following inscription shows the purpose of the gift :-" Presented to Captain PHILIP KEARNY, Jr., First Regiment U. S. Dragoons, by his Friends and Associates, members of the UNION CLUB, New York, 1848."

The sword was enclosed in a curiously contrived case of black walnut, which was worthy of the weapon it contained.

When his body lay in state, prior to his interment, in the parlor of his mansion at Belle Grove, this sword was clasped in the arms of the dead soldier, closely pressed to that bosom which had twice been decorated by the hands of foreign sovereigns, for the same pre-eminent soldiership that won the exquisite weapon for the fallen warrior—a weapon his patriotic right arm never again could wield for the country he loved so dearly, the country for which he died.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE GOLDEN GATE; AND VICTORY ON THE ROGUE RIVER.

"TAUSEND TEUFLEN! that I should say so, and so like to be near my latter end," ejacuated the Captain; but under his breath, "what will become of us, now they have brought musketry to encounter our archers ?"

SIR WALTER SCOTT'S "Legend of Montrose."

IN midsummer, 1851, KEARNY received orders to join his company in California, and sailed for San Francisco in August of that year.

Thither he was not unwilling to proceed, as he wished to look after some very large investments made for him by an agent, but without his knowledge. These turned out very unfortunately, and swallowed up a fortune. Nevertheless, as lucky in his daring speculations as in his military dashes, he more than retrieved the loss while at the "Golden Gate."

The writer has reason to be well acquainted with all these circumstances, for to him, as to a brother, in preference to all others in the world, PHIL KEARNY came for assistance in difficulties for which he was in no way responsible in honor nor called upon to remedy, except through that high sense of chivalry and regard for his name which always distinguished his actions. Prostrate from typhoid fever and almost powerless, the writer was still happy to be able to accomplish all that was necessary, and this fact is mentioned simply to demonstrate the mutual confidence and affection at crises which existed between his cousin and himself.

It was during this period of KEARNY's residence in New York that he experienced that attack of varioloid-taken in the discharge of his duty-which was almost as severe as the worst form of smallpox. He was very deeply scarred in consequence of this disease, and through it a complete alteration was wrought in his appearance. Not only were his features affected, but a complete physical change occurred. From this time forward he began to spread and develop into that magnificent figure of a trooper which attracted the atten

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