Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-10-27
.ST IA 10 81 n % Ne
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 81. 1917.
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BuENA VISTA, Sept. Is, lS47

CAMP BUENA VISTA, Sept. Is, lS47.
DEAR We are still without any addti-
onal news from the City of Mexico in regard to
the peace negotiations, but we cannot be allowed
to remain much longer in our present uncertainty.
II they have failed, do hope that reinlurcements
will at once be sent upon this line that will enable
us to go forward. The very States which are now
most unfavorable TO peace those among whom
We would have been operating the past summer
had Gen. Taylor been supplied with the troops he
desired. The war has not yet been brought home
10 their own doors, and if we We're only among
them, no doubt a change might be made to ''come
over the spirit of their Dreams"
The weather has become quite settled since the
late storm of wind and rain, and the Mexcans say
"the rainy season. is now over. 1t usually closes,
it seems, in something like one of our equnoctial
storms. The temperature of the nights and morn
ings, however, is rather cooler than fancy. Our
location is very elevated one-pobably not less
than five thousand feet above the level OF the sea-
An incident occurred in our camp, few days
pgo, which is well calculated to illustrate the SUI
persli,ous character of the Mexicans One of our
soldiers, who, by the way, is very smart fellow,
but very great wag, seeing, no doubt, the great
gains which the Priesthood of the country max
ing by their ''holy boNeso and other contrivances
thought he would try his hand in the same way
Accordingly he set TO work aud manufactured an
image of 1.-The Lady of Guadaloupo'-a creature
of fancy, | believe, who was called into being by
the old Spanish Priesthood in the early settlement
of the country, 10 aid in the work of outstanding
the Indians, but who, al this day, is regarded with
universal reverence the Great Patroness of all
Native Mexicans No, a house, perhaps, in the
whole country, is to be found without picture or
representation of her, of some SORT This image
soldier dressed up in the richest style possible,
and locking steadily TO the main chance, he fixed
1t neatly upon box with hole in the till, into
which the devout might unosenta,iously slip their
offerings Thus prepared, he sailed forth among
the marke, people. At first they did not seem ex-
actly To comprehend it, and were disposed To dis
trust. But ''our Priest" explained. Then they
began to exhib, signs ofawakcned curiosity-next,
of wonder-then of awe-when soon the shining
tributes began to now in, which true 'sNative
Mexican" could refuse TO THE Lady of Guada-
loupe." OF course, our soldier was satisfied with
his experiment-the success of which was only
limited by the circumscribed theatre which was
allowed him for his operations.
The MeXicans are very fond of pictures and i'm
ages, and the walls of their houses are usually
stuck over with them-mOslly of n religious cha
racer, pertaining to of their superstitions
'''The Lady of Guadalupe" is usually represented
in large flowing mantle, drawn over the head,
but open in front, and extending down to the feet
Images Of The CrucifiXion,' too, shockngly ex-
ecuted, are common household ornaments but the
most revolving thing have met with is a picture
attempting to represent s'The Trinity" by group
ing together, in fanciful way, three male heads
or busts. These pictures and images gene
rally very rude specimens ofart, and have off,
been surprized to find them in houses which lave
understood 10 belong TO those who are conSidcred
to be among the more refined and wealthy of the
population.
The health of our company has improved very
much within few days past. We report this
morning but five priyates and three non -commis-
stoned officers, sick-of whom three of the former
and one of the latter are almost well enough for
light duty. Indeed the only serious case is that of
Corporal Imboden, which, fear, is critical al
though the Surgeon says otherwise.
The general health of the regiment is now quite
good-never better, perhaps, since we have been
in the country.
Although in Mexico, we from the good old Coun-
ay have lost none of our interest in home af-
fairs, and you would be amused to see, when a
newspaper reaches us, with what a perfect guso
every item Of local intelligence is devoured by us
The noble institutions which the munificence OF
the State has reared in your midst-their continued
success and prosperity your Furnishing schools
which reflect so much honor your town. and
promise TO be the copious fountains of so much flu
ture blessedness your Railroad scheme ;-youI
project for making the Shenandoah navigabe for
steamboats, Ian idea, by the way, quite plausible 10
those OF us who have agcendcd the Rio Grande in
such vessels for hundreds cf miles ;)-your Scots
vile road, and your Howardsvillc road ;-your
massive Jail which is to be terror TO all evil
doers-and your magnificent Hotel with every
other individual enterprise for the improvement
and establishment of the town-all, all claim on
attention, and are talked over and discussed BY us
with an animation and interest, which make us for
get, for the moment, the distance and contngen
cies which intervene between us and personal re
alization Of these happy thoughts o? "lIOme."
Yours, &c
CAN'T BUENA VISTA, Sept. 10, lS47.