The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-09-01
Army lntellIgence.
LETTERS FROM THE ARMY.
No XIV

LETTERS FROM THE ARMY
No. XIV.
CAMP La CANrERA, Mexico, on the
San Juan, August 3, lS46. !
wrote you from San Lucia, giving of the Incl
dents of Capt Duncan's march from Maamoras 1t was
completed the 30th July, when he encamped on this
river four miles above Camargo Our journey has been
through wild, uncutvated country, but il is evidently
not because nature has been ilibera in her bounties
The finest land is running waste. The few and scat
tered ranches cannot be called settlements, the nd
ferent attempts at tllage cultivation. The chief diff
Guilty may find in peopling and improving the
try this side of the Rio Grande, will arise from the
scarcity Of water But this may be obviaed by the dig
gng of wells and the construction of tanks which an in
dustrious and enterprsng population would not long
neglect Through good interpreter, we conversed
freely with the people along the route and 10 evident
that better feeling towards prevails here and in this
neighborhood, than we found about Matamorss They
every where contrast conduct with that of their
soldiers and indulge in SO many sayings complimentary
we not the robbers Paredes styles nation
Only case has occurred where failed to ay for
what we took Passing Mexican cottage, our men
halted at the door to obtain milk other
they accustomed to buy on the march the door
opened without reluctance, but when it swung
back fine American horse was revealed among the in
mates, who 'under some trepdaten overwhelmed
with many expressions of welcome, that appear
evidently made them perfectly happy An exami-
nation of the animal showed the letters branded his
hip, U. s. D., which commander concluded strong
that he at decided to arrest the horse on
pcion and leave the burden of proof that he true
SCISSOR After we had sew ,ral miles two Mex
leans up with the assertion that pistol had been
stolen by one of our men Our Captain, scrupulous to
avoid the appearance of injustice, unhesatipgy
paid the exhorbant price demanded for the weapon,
though the fellows countenance would be a standing i'm
peachment of his veracy all the world The horse
recognised without doubt of those captured with
Thornten's squadron in April. Speaking OF American
horses the country hereabous thckiy infested with
Camanches whose end and aim is theft, and to whom
Of fine snowy animals is the greatest earthly prize
killing and plundering the deienceless inhabitants,
though our army will soon dispense them, they still lin
in the hope Of securing some Of the valuablss which
advent displays to their eager gaze. They have al
ready succeeded in carrying on the animals Of several
mounted Texans serving here Their ordinary method
attempt by approaching il with all those unearhy vocal
and instrumental SOUNDS that Indians alone capable
tbe syove and by mvs,eroy. inusncs his civilized
brethren suddenly to acquire his wild nature
and dispense defyng the strongest fastenngs in their
gevernabe fury. SO bold have become these savages,
that within day two Mcxcans have been killed by
them in immediate neighborhood. This announce
ment startling that invsluntary explored the
Uranium to discover il my scalp safe, hsvng
been self within twenty -four hours at what now find
very hazardous distance into the forest.
Our present camp is rancho consisting of several
houses The population numerous as usual and all under
venerable PATRIARCH who lives here with his children
and childrens children Probably this little community
well illustrates the pstrarchsl age and government
All look up to the ancient OF days Tor orders and advce
duty the incentives to obedience and the picture
truly agreeable of the order and happiness Of half
civilized lite This old processes intelligence great
ly superior TO his class and having served cartain
under Ferdinand nearly ~ years ago. he Is able to toll
much OF the changes and commissions he has witness,
cd in that period.
His colony juvenile rancheros highly -four ishng
Every house Is crowded with the charming little ones
If leisure is afforded before leave this encsmp-
ment, gu shall enter with of these habiteons,
and we will contemplate the ordinary condition and
ployment Of Mexican life
We obtain, without dinculty, nearly all the comforts
anorded by an indifferent farm but the natural laws Of
speedily selfdeveloped, tax as severely for the
common necessares. A great demand created by the
presence OF large force at one point is answered by
stationary we are made feelngly sensible that
literally obeyng the Generals order in the premises by
paying the highest market price for everything.
CAMARoo, MEXICO, Aug. 8, 1876.
This town has become large depot of supplies,
and nearly all the regular army is in line here Steam
arrive daily from below and the natives seeing
sights that their philosophy had dreamed Of This
has been village of about 5000 inhabitants but during
the last month the San Juan ovcrfowed its banks, and
completely submerged the site Of the town. The dis
tress is represented to have been appalling the poor
families having been driven from their homes neigh
horing emnence and cd to abandon every comfort
and necessary Of life. The aged grandfather and the
helpless infant have alike exposed naked and hun
cry, to the peltings the storm Even glance at the
ravages Of the food and the fghtful devastation has
spread raises the enderest emotions Of sympathy in the
breasts OF the invaders towards the suffering inhabitants
however II might be under ordinary circumstances,
mere can be no doubt in the mind of the maddest
wal oecamer that our coming at the present time is
Lhe money and supplies that we dispense, aievaies
ther distress, and enables the roor to repair
their misforunes. The violence Of the flood was so
VIC unds al IN