The Mississippi lynx. (Panola, Miss.) 1846-18??, 1846-08-01
ARlSTA AND TAYLOR.

avn 'iSi 10 tue Mo Orande, pre-
sents the following graphic pictures o
the Mexican and American Command
ing Generals as they were successivel,
seen in camp at Matamoras. TIL,
sketches are true to the life, and tht
contrast which they present is boil
strong and striking:
The contrast of the two commanding
Generals, Taylor and Arista, in the
pomp and circumstance of war, was
characteristic of the different instltu-
lions under which they lived. There
was semi barbaric spIendor assocIa-
ted with Arista's, according to the des-
Potlsm of the Mexican government. A
simplicity about that of Taylor's signi-
tcant of pure Republican institutions.
The marquee Of the commanding
General of the Mexican forces was
bell-shaPed, and of great size. The
material of which it was composed was
ornamented by parti-colored stripes.
giving it hoIyday appearance. A.
round it were stationed gaily dressed
officers who glistened in the sun, and
were ever ready to pay the most abieCt
respect to their chief. Led horses
richly caparisoned slowly paced in
sight. Protecting its rear, like contin-
ued labarynthian walls, were arranged
the equiPage of the camp. Pack sad
dies for five hundred mules were taste
fully placed for display, and their loads
near by, heaped up in prodigal confu-
sion. To the poor Mexican soldiers
bivouacked in the open air, this wealt h
seemed vision of fairy land, and its
conventional possessor, rich beyond
their imagination, and powerful beyond
comparison.
Bands o! rude music almost constant
ly rent the air with their noisy labor.
The furniture Of the marquee was rich;
the costly figured chests Of The camp
were the ornamental furniture; upon
their tops reposed in ostentation, the
heavy silver service Of the table, or
the elegantly finished snaps of the
campaign" In this array sa; the COM.
manGing General, surrounded by his
numerous staff-his clothes Of gay col
ors and laced TO vulgar profusion. Wis
its of ceremony or of business were
conducted with pomp and needless de-
lays; long lines of official stared and
leered and were impudent or cringing,
as suited their purposes best. Music
rolled, sabres and muskets ratified, and
the buzz of inflated greatness and hol-
low pretence, was triumphant.
About mile above the city Of Mata-
moras, little distance from the banks |
Of the Rio Grande, is to be seen tJune
lst,} some stunted and ill shaped trees,
which bend their gnarled and almost
eafess limbs over group of three or
our small tents, only different from
hose of the common soldier in their
ear, in this, that they are heterogen-
onsly disposed Of for shade, instead of
'eing m line regardless Of all else
han military precision, The plain a.
'out is dotted over with thousands of
ents, before many of which were artil-
cry, and groups of men and soldiers;
nd over some waved in triumphant
bids our national flag, giving promise
f more importance and pomp, than the
tile knot to which we have particular
7 alluded. We wendell our way en-
wards the dwarfish trees that were
from being a few feet
igher than the surrounding brush, ;
nd for the little group of tents that
ested beneath them, for they were /;
ointed out as marking the head-quar-
RS of the commanding General of a |
triumphant American army.
Not the slightest token was visible, to
lark enc tent in the group from anoth- t
r; there were no sentineIs or any mil i
airy parade present; chubby sun 9
lrnt child, BELONGING to the camp" I
as playing near by in the grass, tenn
orarily arrested in its wanderings by {
,me insect Of usual size that was delv- /
g IN the dust. l.
We presented ouFself at the opening