Cuba. Reminiscences of. By Tenella, 566, 593, 700, 745 Fountain in the Dell, the. By Marion Harland, 560 Fields of June, the 501 444 First of the Yellow Leaves, the 471 124 Flower's Message, the. By Matilda, 419 252 PUBLISHED MONTHLY AT THREE DOLLARS PER ANNUM-JNO. R. THOMPSON, EDITOR. VOL. XXI. RICHMOND, JANUARY, 1855. SKETCHES OF OUR VOLUNTEER ALEXANDER KEITH MCCLUNG. indiscriminately raised from among all sorts and onditions of men. The veterans of Palo Alto und Resaca de la Palma excepted, none of the troops had ever seen a battle, or been under the fire of an enemy's guns. The first important aetion of the war was about to be ventured, and The battle of Monterey was, in many respects, here were few to rely upon but raw volunteers, the most brilliant and grand which distinguished possessing no qualifications of the soldier beyond our war with Mexico. The engagement at Buena hardihood and courage. During the war of 1812, Vista was perhaps more thrilling and momentous; such forces had not been found to own much steadmore stirring in its details, more important in its iness on the field of battle, and were pronounced effects, and has invested Gen. Taylor with by far to be far less efficient than regular soldiery. It the greatest and most enduring measure of his was before the dark buttresses and frowning forglory. The siege of Vera Cruz and its far-famed tresses of Monterey, that volunteers were first to castle; the bristling navy rolling its thunders be tested as the main reliance for a successful from the bay in concert with the roar of ten thou-issue. Upon the event, the future plan of consand muskets on land,-the imposing array of ducting the war was to be determined. If they regular troops added to the lustrous prestige which should prove to be inconstant under discipline, or garlanded the General-in-Chief, who had been for unsteady in action, drill camps and indefinite demore than twenty years an historical character, lays would be the inevitable consequence, vexaall these may have contributed to throw around tious and even fatal as such might have been. But the affair more of the pomp and circumstance of the test was nobly sustained, and the event gloriglorious war: while the fierce battles before the ously illustrated the omnipotence of chivalrous walls of Mexico, coupled with that crowning ac-enthusiasm, as contrasted with mere routine eftion which has made Quitman a hero, and all the forts of duty. But it is proper to suggest that gorgeous associations which come thronging from such a volunteer force, officers and men, had never every fastness and fortification of the ancient im- before been gathered, and it is scarcely to be hoped, perial capital, may lend to the closing scenes of we fear, that such will ever be gathered again. the war a glitter and flourish that will forever Davis, and Bissel, and Hardin, and Campbell, the outshine all that had preceded. But there were Marshalls and their brave compeers, surrounded circumstances connected with the battle of Mon- by impetuous and glowing bands-all under the terey which will hereafter engage a larger share of lead of the heroic Taylor, whose sound common attention, deeper and more searching thought, than sense, mixed with experience and military skill, any or all which we have named. The calm, re-fitted him pre-eminently above all other American flective writer of history is not apt to be seduced generals, to command a volunteer force,—such a from rigid judgment and impartial criticism by muster-roll, thus collected, is the event of centuimposing incident, or to be so incautiously dazzled ries and not of generations. But prominent in as to neglect unadorned merit. While the litera- this martial group, was one whom we have not ry market teems with volumes from stilted eulo-yet named-in connection with whose history the gists-those plethoric and pitiless pets of a shal-above remarks have been made. Alexander K., low constituency, whose brushes blaze ever with McClung, lieutenant-colonel of the first regiment red, whose pages groan ever with redundancies, of Mississippi riflemen, and late ambassador of whose praise is fustian, and whose aims tend solely the United States to the government of Bolivia, is to undue exaltation, regardless of all intrinsic now about forty-one years of age. He is a native worth-notwithstanding the inundation of all such of the State of Kentucky, and is a lineal descenspurious and flimsy excrescences, we still have a dant of the Virginia family of Marshall, so rePrescott, a Bancroft, a Hildreth, and others, whose nowned in connection with the deceased Chief grave, considerate turn of mind, countervails and Justice of the Supreme Court. In his early years corrects all fanciful indulgences. Splendor of he was attached, as Midshipman, to the navy, but appurtenance, the mere fantastic of war, does not in consequence of indisposition, or, as some conalways contribute towards successful results. The tend, in an affair of honor in which he was engainvestment of Monterey showed none of this.ged as principal, he retired with a view to study Most of the invading force had been hastily and law and enter upon its practice. A few years preVOL. XXI-1 vious to the Presidential campaign of 1840, he re-[name before the President as worthy, in the highmoved to the State of Mississippi and settled him- est degree, of favorable consideration, in distribuself in the then young capital. Here he opened an ting the responsible offices appertaining to this office, but, notwithstanding his acknowledged tal- State. Accordingly in the summer of 1841 he ents and decided professional acumen, we have was brought before the Cabinet as an applicant not been able to learn that he took any prominent for the office of Marshal of the Northern District stand at the bar, or transacted any considerable of Mississippi, and promptly received the appointamount of professional business. ment. The Colonel was a resident of the SouthBut the exciting contest of 1840 soon opened ern portion of the State, and we believe he had to him a congenial theatre of action. By his never even visited the section which comprehendown exertions and the liberal aid of his polit- ed the limits and duties of his office. At all events ical friends, a new campaign-paper was estab- he was an entire stranger personally in the Northlished at Jackson, called the True Issue. This ern counties, and his appointment over worthy paper was devoted to the elevation of General competitors at home elicited quite extended comHarrison to the Presidency, and was placed under plaint both from the newspapers and people of the sole editorial management of Col. McClung. the District to which he was assigned. It must It was conducted with an ability, a vigor, and a be admitted frankly that there were other causes dashy raciness which had never been surpassed which operated to spread the discontent which had in the South, and rarely equalled in the Union. met the appointment. Southern State was as much noted for subserviency to the Bloody Code as Mississippi; and it is a remarkable fact that few men of talent, up to 1844, had ever attained to high position politically who had not fought duels or been engaged in some It speedily drew to its subscription list a number At the time in question, and even since, no of eager and admiring readers, whose weekly mental food was gleaned from its columns, and gained an extensive and a commanding influence throughout the State. Argument, satire, and the most withering ridicule, filled by turns the editorial columns, and seemed to flow from the author's mind desperate affray. It was difficult to get to office with the ease, the continuity, and the sparkle except at the point of the knife, or the mouth of of a mountain rivulet. It was at once perceived the pistol, and in some judicial districts, aspirants and admitted that the young Kentuckian was no for legal and forensic eminence were forced to like ordinary man, and that the intellectual ascendancy hazardous resorts. This proclivity was contagious, which characterized his race was fully and lus- and soon invaded the social and business circles, trously sustained in his person. Hitherto com- while the loafers and idle gentry, especially among paratively unknown, his political foes were now the young, made the duel grounds and the public equally surprised and abashed, as his friends were walks, on the occasion of every fight, so many delighted; and at the great Whig State Conven- arenas for sport. It was almost impossible for tion of that year, and of which such men as Pren- any gentleman, however amiable or cautious, to tiss, and Sharkey, and Guion, were prominent pick his way to eminence, or take part in those members, McClung was appointed to draft the ad- varied amusements ever common in a newly setdress to the people of Mississippi, urging upon tled country, without being subjected to the test them the claims of Harrison and Tyler. It was or trial of arms. Weapons were in everybody's welcomed with lively acclamations, and was more bosom, and everybody counted on the chance of extensively circulated and more generally read, getting into difficulty. The surest road to peace, than any like paper which has ever been published revolting as it may sound, was through the blood in Mississippi. The tone of the address was earn-of an antagonist, and hesitation ever brought proest, patriotic, and stirringly eloquent without be- scription. Great and gratifying has been the ing too declamatory, and the style exhibited the change of latter years, since our citizens have besingular terseness, vigor and grace, which the come familiarized by social intercourse, and sowriter has since reduced to such captivating per-ciety has become more discriminative. At the bar fection. and in business, talent and worth hold permanent It is known that the State of Mississippi cast sway, and select messes formed at the saloons and its electoral vote for the Whig candidate, and that restaurants, protect against improper intrusions Harrison and Tyler were triumphantly elected. from adventurers, blacklegs and bullies. But The active and prominent part which Col. Me- among those who had been brought to take up Clung had played throughout the entire long con- with the sanguinary terms of the ancient règime, test, his arduous labors and free expenditures, his was the distinguished subject of this sketch. Poshigh qualifications, and the general appreciation sessed, to an extreme perhaps, of the courage inof those remarkable abilities he had exhibited and born to his family, and of that chivalry so charbrought to bear with such effect and energy, sug-acteristic of the high-bred Kentuckian, mixed gested to his friends the propriety of carrying his with a sensitiveness deep-seated, and keen, and |