The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-11-10

and was able TO form q tolerably good
idea of the number of men In them
There could not have been fewer than
two thousand FIVE hundred in each divis,
ION OF regular soldiers, well armed ana
equipped. Add TO these some two tilou-
sand horsemen whe left the city III small
parties during the four days fight, and at
! least five thousand citizens of the town
who took up arms in It's defence, and you
have pretty strong force for the defence
Of place which nature and art have com
binod 10 render as strong as any in the
world. How such an army, thus situa-
! ted. could ever allow itself 10 be conquer
ed by force of less than seven thousand
men will always appear strange TO me-
The cowardce of ofAmpudia is now estab-
lished beyond a doubt. So careful was
he of his person that it is said he never
once left bis house when any firing was
going on. What pity that one OF our
shells could not have dropped into his
bedroom.
/ felt perfectly satisfied, when saw
the Mexican troops pass Out OF town.
with the arrangements which Gen Taylor
( had made with them. To have taken all
these men prisoners would have been
useless. Their arms we did not want;
their horses were worthless with few
exceptions, and would have been very
expensive and troublesome 10 feed and
so many men; and, moreover, 1t would
have cost many a valuable life TO have
carried the city at the point OF the bayo-
net.
| rode out with the head Of the column
day before Yesterday; when their second
division left town. That scene alone
would almost have rcmunerated one for
the long Journey 20 Monterey. At the
head OF The column rode tie commander
Of the division with his staff, accompanied
by Major Scott, of the 9th infantry, with
his Adiutant, Lieut.. Deas,) and Lleuts.
Hanson, Robinson, and McLaws. Col
onel Pevton rode by tie side Of the chief,
and received a very a1eclionate embrace
from him as we turned out TO let the col
umn march on. when the head had reach
ed Palace Hill. And now was present
ed a scene that I can never forget. Two
regiments of infantry led of, with colors
flying, drums beating, and the trumpeters
blowing with ali their might; the flers
made all the noise they could. The men
were al well armed, and the whole divis-
ion seemed 10 be wei appointed, with the
exception Of shoes, in lieu Of which most
of ihcm wore sandals. Three pieces of
artillery were III the centre of the column
one six, one nine, and one twelve
pounder. The line, marching four a.
breast, extended about one mile.
The army was accompanied by great
many females; officers wives on horse
back, their faces mulfled, and with hats
on; soldiers wives mounted on donkeys
or on foot, some of them carrying bur-
Iens that would scarcely think of pack
ing upon mules; young women with short
petticoats and hats, tripping lightly along;
young girls trudging along with their lit
tie valuables in their arms. l noticed
one pretty little creature, about nine years
old, with pet chicken on one arm and
parrot perched upon her hand. The ug-
liest woman ever heard of was walking
behind poor little fea-bit donkey, be-
laboring him with a large stick. The |
donkey was ridden by young woman, a
second edition to the old one. A pre-
cious pair, that mother and daughter
Most Of the soldiers looked sullen, and |
their eyes cleaned with hatred and de-
sire for revenge. One Of McCulloch's |
horses, valuable animal, which a man
was leading out of the way Of the Mexi-
can troops, was seized and led off, the
soldiers dwelling their muskets at the
hosiler when he cndeavored to recover
his horse. The animal was promptly
returned, however, on the circumstance
being mentioned to the commanding Of
fcer.
Yesterday morning the last division
was drawn out in the plaza next to the
citadel-that is, all that the plaza could
hold-and Capt. Miles, who is stationed |
there with his regiment, Seventh infantry |
drew up his command and saluied the |
regiments as they passed him. l never
heard noise until yesterday morning.
Pandemonium never contained as noisy
gang as these Mexicans are. 1t seemed |
to be the particular endeavor OF every
man TO make all the noise that lay in his
power. There must have been fifty bu-
giles and as many fifers and drummers
playing at the same time, and no three Of
them attempting the same tune.
Isaw several regiments of fine looking
soldiers, men of good size, young, active,
and athletic.
The first division is encamped in the
grove three miles east Of Of the town
one OF the iovliest spots in the world, sha-
ded by large pecan and live-oak trees.
This grove seems to be the only wood
lard in this region, and is resoried TO by
the citizens Of Monterey as a place for
holding picnic parties. The third, vol