The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-08-28
NUMBER ~.
Monterey.

'bo a. WIS VIII Oc sue pace Wucre per-
manent DEPOT will be established, and from
which the advancing army viii leave the
Rio drande when II takes Up lis general
march upon Mon,ery, il viii naturally hold
q Conspicuous place in the estimation oil
The American people. Camargc i siiua.
ted Immediately upon The banks Of The San
Juan river, three miles from lis junction
with tue Rio Grande, /, is o small, rude.
" 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 pIastering
them with mud, and others formed OF cane
and plastefcd in like manner. The nun.
ber q Inhabitants will no, exceed two thou
sand, bat as the Mexican government has
never thought her population worthy Of
enumeration, no positive statement can be
made Of The population Of any OF their towns.
| ne late extraordinary rise Of the Rio
Gfande has caused the San juan 10 back
iup aud literally lnundule Camargo TO the
great damage Of houses and other property;
also tG the sacrifice Of several lives.
CamaSgo may be considered the head of
navigation, IS above here the bed Of the
river is SO filed u vlih rocks shat its navi.
cation higher up has Jpeyer been attempted.
The road upon leaving kamaTgo aud cross
lng the San Juan, becomes higher, and less
obslFucted by swampy gFounG& and II then
becomes an important inquiry 'Hhai other
obstacles may presen, themselves ~ The
distance between this place and Monterey,
which IS two hundred and ten miles. The
road passes through level country, ihickly
set With small underwood, the largest
timber being ebony and she mesquite, nei-
Their OF which grow to the heigh, Of more
than twelve or fifteen feet, and twelve 10
fourteen inches 10 diameter. So dense is
this underground, that armies of 10000
men each might march ior Aafa day with
IN mile Of each other, without the yicini.
iy ct one 10 the other being known.
The literal meaning Of Monterey is the
Kings " Gods, bu. to those who have been
raised 10 heavily ,mbered country, it
would seem more appropriate to call il
grove Of brush IL is common saying
with Texans who have travelled through
this forest, that airs so Id ;hick you
lcsu', shove a bowie knlle lGp Io- And
U4slf uuu shrub is armed With thorns,
curved ia The shape Of fish hooks. and tho
hold they lake upon the clothes and skin
Of travellers is not easily shaken of, as the
jackets of tie sodiery viii testify TO before
they reach Monterey.
The whole distance is well watered from
August uatil March, plenty Of w God, rea-
sona5le pasture, many herds Of cattle, nu.
mefous iocks Of sheep and goate, now and
then small vllage-whlch all have the
appearance Of decay. Scattered a!oDg the
road miserable huis, slnguarly picturesque
from their original construction, no, quite
equal to rail pen stables bull, in the back
woods Of Arkansas Gud Texas Cor scrub
ponies. Yet, nature ia her mighty forma.
Iions, has formed some positions on thus
road, which iftaken advantage Of BY skill
fol aud daring enemy, would prove q Sc.
c0nd Thermopya to those who might have
the temerlly to tread these formidable pas
ses. The American army will no doubt
look ahead before entering these dangerous
and shady paviIlons. The m0zes Of the
labyrinth are beautifully pictured out by
meandefng paths and conflicting cross roads
leading to some farmers hut, some water.
ing place, or the willy lure Of some Mexican
bandit.
When in fifteen eagues of Montery tho
village Of Caldereie presents itself, enjoying
the most lovely si:uaiion standing upon
perfectly level PLAIN, surrounded with green
groves presenting everlasting summer; tho
fields blessed With natural fertility. The
Deholder nYOIuntarily eSclains, why should
. Mexican toll or labor
II js no. Indispensable tha! the army
should pass through Caijerete, as there
lrs other roads by which Monterey can DO
approached, but we mention this route as
supplies can be obtained in CaideTele, and
he direction is ueaEes. straight line. I'm.
upon leaving this place you enter
again those shady, winding pavilions, and
continue in them until within sight Of Mon.
erey, Many little streams and rivulets
utersect tho road, and some muddy lanes,
which 81 times become impossible, SO that
he army will be fortunate if able 10 pro-
coed in 6ies of six deep; but, az the Tear
vicinity TO Monterey is somewhat opened,
owing TO the many fields, smGll digres-
sion might be made to the right, and inter.
sect the road that comes from. the mouth of
FL Caaoa de Salinas, it being the most o.
pen road Of the two. TIE creek iha, wash.
CO tho southeast side of Monterey runs be.
tween those two roads, the fields forming
! border 90 elhes side. The road tina,
eads from Caltetele, when within a milo
If Monterey. has the appearance Of small
'iIlage, the houses being so numerous
PASSING Through the seeming village, and
arriving upon the bank of the creek, you
lave Monterey in view on the opposite
side, presenting a very handsome appear.
ance. The city is regularly laid out, the
streets, avenues and squares are shaded with
numerous fruit and other trees, and the
houses generOlIy exhibiting much taste aud
in their construction. The city
is well watered, and every thing abou. i
strikes the beholder as grand and beautiful