The Columbian fountain., 1846-11-12

following letter from the Picayunss correspondent
Mr. Halle and we are sure that our readers will pc
ruse il with pleasure. W
M MONTEREY, MExIco,
- September 80 1916.
GRNrLEaEN: We are at length in quiet posses
sion Of this place. the last division of Ampudias
my having marched out yesterday morning. The
first division marched out on the 26th, the I'd the
27th, and the balance on the 2sth saw the two
last and was able to form tolerable idea Of the num-
Der Of men in them. There could not have been
fewer than $500 in each division Of regular soldiers
well armed and equipped. Add to these some 1900
horsemen who left the city in small parties, during
the four days fight and at least 5000 citizens Of the
town who took up arms in its defence, and you have
pretty strong force for the defence of place which
nature and art have combined to render as strong
as any in the world. How such an army, thus situ-
atsd, could ever allow itself to be conquered by
force Of less than 7O0O men, will always appear
strange TO me- The cowardice Of Ampudia is now
established beyond doubt. So careful was he Of
his person, that il is said he never once left his
house when any firing was going on. What pity
that one Of our shells could not have dropped into
his bed room. .{f s,sI ar,.er s5s.-l8ls K Ga
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 those men prisoners would have been use
less Their arms we did not want; their horses
were worthless with few exceptions, and it would
have been very expensive and troublesome to feed
and guard so many men. And moreover, it would
have cost many valuable life to have carried the
city at the point Of the bayonet. 3'.es
rode out with the head Of the column day before
yesterday, when their second division left town.
That scene alone would almost have remunerated
one for the long journey to Monterey. At the head
Of the column rode the commander of the division,
with his staff, accompanied by Major Scott Of the
5th Infantry, with his Adjutant (Leut. Deas,) and
Lieuts. Hanson, Robinson, and McLaws Col. Pey-
ton rode by the side Of the chief and received very
affectionate embrace from him as we turned out to
let the column march on, when the head had reach.
ed Palace Hill. ~
/, And now was presented scene that ! can never
forget. Two regiments Of infantry led with colors
flying, drums beating, and the trumpeters blowing
with all their might. The ffers made all the noise
they could The men were all well armed, and the
whole division seemed to be well appointed, with the
sandals. Three pieces Of artillery were in the
centre Ct the column, one six, one nine, and one
twelve-pounder. The line, marching four abreast
extended about one mile, The Army was accom-
panied by great many females, officers wives on
horseback, their faces mufled and with hats on SOL
Of them carrying burdens that ! would scarcely
think Of packing upon mules; young women with
short pettcoats and hats, tripping lightly along
young girls trudging along with their little valuables
in their arms noticed one pretty little creature,
about years old, with pet chicken on one arm and
a parrot perched upon her hand The ugliest wo.
man ever head of was walking behind poor little
Aea-bt donkey belaboring him with large stick
The donkey was ridden by young woman, second
edition Of the old one. precious pair, that mother
and their eyes cleaned with hatred and desire for
revenge One of McCulloch's horses, valuable an.
imal which was leading out of the way of the
Mexican troops, seized and led of, the soldiers
dwelling their muskets at the hostfer when he endea-
vored to his horse. The animal was promptly
returned, however, on the circumstance being mem
toned to the commanding officer.
Yesterday morning the last division was drawn
out in the plaza next to the cathedral-that is, all
that the plaza could hold-and Capt Miles, who is
stationed there with his regiment, 9th Infanry,)
drew up his command and sauted the regiments as
they passed him. never heard noise until yester-
day morning. PaAdemonium never contained as
noisy gang as these Mexcans are. 1t seemed to
be the particular endeavor of every to make all
the noise that lay in his power. There must have
been fifty buglers and as many fifers and drummers
playing at the same time, and three Of them at
tempting the same tune. 6E
saw several regiments of fine. looking soldiers,
men Of good size, young, active, and athletic.
The lst division is encamped in the grove, three
miles east of the townone of the lcveles spots in
the world, shaded by large pecan and live oak trees
This grove to be the only woodland in this re-
gon and is resored to by the citizens of Monterey as
place for holding picnic parties. The Sd, vol