write:“This like all of Hardin’s moves was quickly made ” and approximately a thousand menpushed ahead triple-speed over broken ground in theface of a heavy re of grape from a M

” advanced under cover ofa hill
shouting
“Remember Illinois! Give them Blizzard
boys!” The infantry was driven back. His soldiers laterclaimed that that charge saved both the First Illinois andClay’s Second Kentucky regiment from being anked.58A erce charge by the Mississippi troops
led byJeerson Davis
combined with the ceaseless eorts ofthe artillery
drove the Mexicans back by the earlyafternoon. At 4:00 p.m. Taylor attempted to seize theinitiative. He ordered the Illinois men and the SecondKentucky to advance. “This
like all of Hardin’s moves
was quickly made
” and approximately a thousand menpushed ahead
triple-speed
over broken ground in theface of a heavy re of grape from a Mexican battery. Ina frenzy of optimism
Hardin brashly announced
“Wewill take that battery.” He drew his sword with a shout
and the men of Illinois charged the battery directlybehind their fearless colonel.They almost made it. When they were only a fewyards from the battery
“some fty yards to our righttheir whole reserve—some six or seven thousandinfantry
opened re.” Hardin had unknowingly rushedinto the path of Santa Anna’s nal assault. Ten thousandmen
including several thousand fresh troops
emergedfrom a ravine armed and ready to crush the Americanadvance. They advanced across a plateau in a blaze ofre. Many who were there later recalled that “no manbut Hardin would have attempted to ght with suchodds as 15 to 1.” The men could hear the colonel’s voiceabove the din
shouting
“Boys
remember the SuckerState; we must never dishonor it! Give them Blizzard!They fall every crack!”59Hardin’s bluster could not disguise the fact that bothhe and Taylor had badly misjudged the situation.Because of his ill-considered charge
Hardin’s troopswere now beyond supporting distance and were