Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-09-04
SCENES OF THE WAR!
From The Mdinmoros Fl1g.
MOnterey.

by pursuing the Rio Grande up as high as
Camargo, both by land and water, and as
This will be the place where n permanent de-
pot will be established, and from which the
advancing army will leave the Rio Grande
when it takes up its general march upon Mon
terey, it will naturally hold a conspicuous
place 10 the estimation Of the American peo-
Pile. Camargo is situated Immediately upon
the banks of the San Juan River, three miles
from its junction with the Rio Gfande. 1t is
4 small, rudely constructed village, with some
few stone buildings, many built Of mud
bricks dried in the sun, some constructed by
driving stakes into the ground. and then plas-
tering them with mud, and others formed OF
cane and pl~astered in like manner. The num-
Der OF inhabitants will not exceed two thous-
and but as the Mexican Government has
never thought her population worthy Of emu
merltion, no positive statement can be made
of the population Of any of their towns. The
late extraordinary rise of the Rio Grande has
caused the San Juan to back up and literally
inundate Camargo, TO the great damage of
,.ouses and other property also to the sacri-
flee of several lives.
Camargo may be considered the head Of
navigation. as above here the bed of the riy-
er is so filled up with rocks that its naviga-
ton higher up has never been attempted
The road upon leaving Camargo and cross
ing the San Juan, becomes higher and less
obstructed by swampy grounds, and 1t then
becomes an important inquiry what other OBJ
s%ticles may present themselves in the dis
lance between this place and Monterey,
which is 30 miles. The road passes through
a level country, thickly set with a small un-
dprwooj, the largest timber being ebony and
the musquite, neither of which grow to the
height of more than IL or Is feet. and IL to
II inches in diameter. So dense is the un-
d%ergrowth, armies of 10000 men each might
march for half a day within a mile Of each
other without the vicinity Of one to the 9TH
er being known.
The literal meaning Of Monterey is the
Kings WUOdS but to those who have been
raised in a heavily timbered country, it would
seem more appropriate 10 call it IA grove of
brush. 1t is a common saying with Texans
who have travelled through the forest, that
It's so ID thick you can't shove a bow
ie knife into it," And what may appear
somewhat singular, every bush and shrub is
armed with thorns curved in the shape of
fsh-hooks, and the hold they tax upon the
clothes and skin Of travellers is not shaken of,
as the jackets of the soldiery will testify to
before they reach Monterey.
The whole distance is well watered from
August until March, plenty of wood, reason
able pasture, many herds of cattle, numerous
tlocks Of sheep and goats, now and then a
small village-which all have the app 'arance
of decay. Scattered along the road are mis-
cradle huts, singularly picturesque from their
original constructions. not quite equal TO rail-
pen stables built in the backwoodS of Arkan-
sas and Texas for scrub ponies. Yet Mature,
in her mighty formations, has formed some
positions on this road, which, if taken advan-
tage of by a skillfnl and daring enemy, would
prove a second Thermopyle to those who
might have the temerity to tread these formid-
able passes. The American army will no
doubt look ahead before entering these dan
gerous and shady pavilions. The mazes of
the labyrinth are beautifully pictured out by
meandering paths and conflicting crossroads,
leading to the farmers hut, sonIe watering
place, or the willy lure OF SOM Mexican Jan
dit.
When in fifteen leagues of Monterey the
village of Caiderete presents itself, enjoying
the most lovely situation, standing upon a
perfectly level plain, surrounded with green
groves, presenting everlasting summer, the
fields blessed with natural fertility. The be-
holder involuntarily exclaims, Why should
Mexican toll or laborl
1t is not indispensable that thearmy should
pass through Caiderete, as there arc other
roads by which Monterey Can be approached
but we mention this route as supplies can be
obtained in Caiderete, and the direction is
nearest a straight line. Immediately upon
leaving this place you enter again those sha-
dy, winding pavilions, and continue in them
until within sight of Monterey. Many little
streams and ~rivulets i~ntersect the road, anc
some muddy lanes, which at times become
impossible, 80 that the army will be fortu
nate if able 10 proceed in files of six deep
but, as the near vicinity to Monterey is somo
what opened, owing to the many fields,
small depression might be made TO the right
and intersect the road that comes from thu
mouth of et Canon de Salinas, it being thu
most open road of the two. The creek tina
washes the southeast side Of Monterey run
between these two roads, the ields forming
a border on either side. The road that lead
from Caiderete, when within a mile of Mon
terey, has the appearance of a small village
the houses being SD numerous. Passin!
through this seeming village, and arriving OF
the bank of the creek, you have Monterey II
view on the opposite side presenting a yer,
handsome appearance. The city is REGULAR.
laid out, the streets, avenues, and squares ar
shaded with numerous fruit and other trees
and the houses generally exhibiting mucI
taste and regularity in their construction
The city is we'll w~atered, and everythin
about il strikes the beholder as grand an
beautiful. A passing view Of the city woul
convey the idea of a large population. but
close inspection will show its large, castle
like ediices, sometimes occupying a Who'll
square, sheltering but the members and sci
wants of a single family therefore, from Of
servatiou, we should not give the city a poi
ulation Of more than 5000 souls, and II
doubted whether it is even so great.
Cast the eye beyond Monterey, and III