Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-06-25
INTERESTING LETTERS
aIsa3 FROM MATANORAS, a9as
Correspondence of the New Orleans Bee
us MATAMoRAs, May &c, 1916.

Gentlemen: Two days after 1 las,
wrote to you, we took up the line Of
march for this point, which we reach
ed on the 25th. The country through
which we passed was lovely in the ex-
treme-being as level as ballroom
floor, and full of little chapparels and
muskeet groves. Our road, though
not exactly following the meanderings
of the river, touched its banks often
enough to obtain water every mile Or
two. The citizens were friendly to
US, and showed little displeasure at the
invasion. In fact, some of them ex-
pressed their wish that the country
should be governed by Americans or
some other people, that would guaran-
tee them liberal and stable govern
ment-so much had they been annoyed
by the internal commissions of their
own. At every house we found three
or four men, which induced me to be-
lieve that the gang had met with
poor success among them. They say
it's not their disposition to play the
soldier at any time, particularly the
present, and when the call is made for
troops they leave their homes in pos
session Of the women and find business
in the chapare]. They are a happy,
simple people, whose aim seems to be
to make provision for to. day, leaving
tomorrow to look out for itself. Ali
along the road they were found wait
ing with milk, a sort Of bread which
they call tortillids, cheese, poloncas of
maple sugar, and sort of liquor re-
sembling in looks and taste San Croix
rum. We paid them literally for all
we obtained, which to them must have
presented a strong contrast to the Mex
lean soldiery, who spread dismay and
devastation among their own people
wherever they 60. 1t seemed to have
been the desire Of every man in our
ranks to make the line of disparity be-
tween the American and Mexican SOL
diers as palpabIe as possible, and the
good effects Of such conduct, if not
Immediately developed, will in the
course Of time be more apparent. Our
march was very heavy, particularly the
day we left Baritas, and some of the
young men were very much used up.
Two from company Awere SO much af-
fected by the scorching sun as to be un
able to proceed further, and stopped at
the house of Mexican, where they re-
ceived the utmost kindness and atten-
ton during the night, and were fur
nished horses in the morning to catch
up with us.
1t was about ten o'clock in the morn
ing when we reached the town of Mat
amoras, though its white buildings, so
different from those we passed on the
route, had attracted the eye long before
that time. There was something far
more attractive to the eye than the
white buildings Of the town-some-
thing to awaken thrill of pleasure in
the breast of the whole regiment-the
Stripes and &ors were majestically
floating in the breeze from the highest
point in Matamoras, and between the
river and the town, hundreds and hum
dreds Of white tents were pitched in
such admirable order as to induce the
beholder to think ii a great town. ID
AS we entered the town at the east
end, thousands of people sailed out
from their houses to look upon US,
whose looks more bespoke welcome
to their own army than to that of the
invaders. At many half opened door
or window was to be seen the head of
a Sonora, whose timidity or modesty,
(albeit they allow SO little to the Next
cans forbade their emerging into the
streets. Some Of these women are in
deed beautiful, though great majority
are indolent, slovenIy and destitute of
that female delicacy which characteri-
yes our own women. Their common
dress is white muslin skirt, tied quite
loosely around the body, without any
bodice; the chemist being the only COW
ering for their breast, in which they
wear their jewelry and cross. | did
not see one pair Of stocking in all the
town. From this style Of dressing you
will infer hat.pride of dress gives way
to comfort and ease, and that, too, in a
greater degree, than think the largest
liberty would warrant them in indpl-
ging in. | went into house, yester-
day evening, occupied by an old man
and two daughters, both speaking a
sufficiency of Englishto be understood.