The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-08-28
A srY IN MEXICO

statement, performs the rather hazardous
functions Of u spy, and with great success
The following letter gives a very interest
mo account of an excursion made by him \
10 Monterey, the point at which It Is sup.
Dosed the Mexicans intend to make an ei- I
Tor, 10 arrest the progress OF our army
MArAAoRAs, July "a, lei6.
| gave YOU an account Of my trip 70
Monterey, and the adrols manner IN which
passed through that whole district oil
country as a Mexican. The successful IS
sue Of the first adventure determined me
10 try my luck in second effort 10 Tue
neighborhood of Monterey, and deter
mined also to push on as far as ArIsla
country place, and if possible obtain an m
,orview with the General, and see what
! could from his view 10 relation to the war
md the manner II was determined 10 carry
i an. Nv beard and whskers OF coal
b.ack. I cut aud trimmed and periumed IN
real Spanish style, and with natural
swarthy complexion, deep black eye
iacke, and breeches Of buo Gotten velvet
with silver buttons, sash round my waist,
broad brimmed drab hat, li'nt, steel ahd
tobacco, you could not possibly, WIN my
idiomatic pronunciation Of tho epanisH,
mistake me for any thiag else 10, a aieNI'
can trader IN good Circumstances, selling
goods aud shaylnglhe Yankees al Ma'a'
moras.
Thus accou,rcd, with a small revolver
under my sash, q dozen Mexican dollars IN
nv pouch, and five ounces Of gold (by
ounces moan doublouns concealed about
my person and guitar al my back, ieii
| Matamoras about 5 IN the afternoon, ana
struck out en- the right bank Of the RIO
Gaude. Our troops had Their tents scat
TERED in detachment on line oi some tn4ieS
gg close communication with oaeh "thof'
! By the way, highiy respect the dellcacy
las Wcllas discretion Of General Taylor, IN
Isl allowing the inhabitants q Ma!amotSs
10 be disturbed Ia their houses, bot | 60
with Marcy" To the victor belongs ihe
spoils.n | would have demanded that al
the public buildings, churches excepted,
should be given up as quarters Tor the sol.
diers. and that one or two officers shou q
be b.lluicd IN every, !. use. This would
have Locn comfortable, and ! might hnfo
had a billet IN a pleasant family Of hand
some seaoritas. The market women were
returning homo from Matamoras, seated
Sideways On their mules. shouted a.
tie top Of my voice and beat MY Jackass
Win thick stick ol wood until | came up
with them. They oil had plenty Of sil'
YER which they wero couuiing-tho pro.
ceeds Of sales Of vegetables, melons, mai2'
pulqao aud other produce sold 10 the "eufS
. ed hcietics."
) They we're pleased with the American
0 and their treatment, and did not care hos
!. long lie war lasted, 30 that the churchc
!. wero left unmolesled, and tho Yankee
G rod or al t4ey consuMed. pushed 2
II pora!'s guard Of Americans on their Harc
Il Tor CAmargo. There weFe about thro
e hundred IN Rcynosa, very eomfonaLI
q qua7'erod, in good hcal.a, and ANXIOUS Il
r something to do. Reaching Camatgo,
,e vas struck with The desoIaIon which ,ui
rounded me. The RIO Grunjc had over
q flowed is bank onl had utterly DESTROYS
II two.thirds Of The houses principally mu
10 huis, but neatly and comfortably built, on
: the inhabitants, collecting oil their moved
Y bles, had made palmetto shelters on ID
z hills sih.E ha.. r1ilc Of tic place. III
&c dampUess OF tic ground satisfied ire lh.
our troops should abandon this place,
bilious and typhus icycfs would iney,abl
y set IN. On tie 9th day, toward the eyei
ing OF a glorious orange sunset, came
pr sight Of Tho spires Of the churches Of Mul
IN terey, aGd heard lhe chimes 70. prayer
ls but all vas IS | LEI, il. 4 icw additions
Is pieces Of cannon had been mounted, con
Is m4nding the road from Malamaras On
10 Durango, but | say 40 additional troop
y Il was fcsfa Of some kind, and the pea
70 mt g,rls, ia their best bibs md tucker
.; were sporting on the green on the bani
al Of the river, having lItte tables garulsh,
IN with fowl, tripo, yams, beans, melons al
at drukables. They oil ran 10 the as | a
he preached on my mule, and ospyins II
g, guitar, screamed out" Senior dane
Id dance" and had 10 ahght, and tunir
I'D my instrument, collected group, aud so
~, struck up.
be They snapped their fingers 10 imta,i
os Of castancts, aud began to dance iurol
his iy. Tho atcdiie mayor Of she place so
or ljnlned the festive throug, and | coniriyc
10. alter paying my respects aud Offering hI
or a couple OF pfHuc scgars, to ret into COME
Nc sdlion. found bin an intelligent old &c
he tleman. All alarm at tha approach Of t
he Americans, discovered, had disappearC
Use They were expecting % at Monterey
md full force, and the conduct Of our troops
u Matamuras had allaycd all apprehension
'als | told tho aicaide that the last tlmo h
been al Monterey, with my goods, exp,
ted that General Paroles would be by n
time at the head Of powerful force
Monterey, to meet the advanced guard
Iout the Americans. lie had also expected /
uly same event, but the troubles IN the CITY
Mexico aud the lutugucs Of various If;
., uons, made 1t dangerous for the Prcsld,
'o,' to leave the city with the army. Voh
. " unteers had como in slowly aud money a