Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-03-11

BY AN Ex-REPoRTER OF THE STATE SENTINEL
No. l5.s

untain peak to the left After proceeding about
mi we found ourselves at the foot Of high rocky
hill The train reached the top with considerable
dithculty at the top of this summit l observed
place where the Mexicans had commenced throwing
up breastworks for the purpose Of preventing the
Americans from advancing any further into their
country but the work had been abandoned before any
part OF 1t was completed They had only dug a
ditch about Is inches deep around a small space of
ground. From the quantity of rock in and about it,
should Judge it was hard digging, and if had been
so unfortunate to have been upon Mexican soil
with Mexican principles. and been doomed to dig in
such place, if they did furnish powder to
blow up the rocks | should certainly ask the priv-
lege of being mustered upon the lazy list. There
be no doubt that when Ampudia succeeded in induc-
ing Gen. Taylor to have it fixed In the of the
capitulaon that neither army should pass Rinconada
within the sixty days, it his intention to foriify
so strongly upon this hill as to prevent army from
passing at any future time. He probably imagined
that he would cut the Americans down by thousands
as they approached am willing admit that this
would afford the enemy a strong position, but
army considers fortlfcation invincibe-no walls
too high scale. and force large to contend
with This position would enable the Mexicans to
make strong defence, but they would be driven from
| it. Duncan's Battery would be climbing the
steep precipice. Ridgeley's Flying Artillery would
advance quickly, sending the messengers of death IN
rapid succession the regulars and volunteers would
advance upon them with fixed bayOnets; the Texan
Rangers would climb oyer the mountains at the right
and before the setting of the sum- the Mexicans would
be glad TO slip out the back door. not i'm the
habit of boasting, but after viewing the ground at
Monterey, where army fought against superior
numbers. in strong forts and well erected castles,
am constrained to believe that in any other contest
| they would be no less brave.
| We encamped at hacienda called Oio Caenta
The mountain pass through which we were travelling
did not contain tree shrub four inches in dame
ter, except some shade trees that were set out at
hos he road side no ito
rocky and covered with small bushes about foot and
half high and two three species of the cactus
though pine of considerable size seen on
the top of the mountains. The next morning was
years day, but nothing of importance occurred
After marching several hours met the LIST regi-
ment of Ohio and the Louisville Legion returning to
Monterey. We arrived at the camp ground near
Saltio, before dark and found every thing
quiet, and the Mexicans as polite as so many French
gentlemen. In fact, they did not be stupid
set of heathens those onzshe Rio Grande. On
the contrary, many of them this section well
educated in their own language.
Gen. Butler and Gen. Worth were still here. They
are both excellent men-men whose bravery has been
tested-men who have exceeded the expectation of
their friends in svery contest in which they have been
engaged Gen. Butler has not entrelyly recovered
from his wound but assure you that Notwithstanding
this fact the old hero wouid-asssoon fight to-day as
any other time
Tie health of the men in the ID and Sd regiments
has been very good One of Capt. Rousseau's men
died very suddenly the Sd of January. He went
TO the spring branch, and While IN the act of
dipping up cup of water he fell over and survived
only a few minutes. Col. Bowles, Capt Walker, and
Commssary Graham, arrived here the 4th of
January.
portion of the infantry and artillery left here
day 1t is expected they will go to Vera Cruz.
There were some Of the regulars that hailed from
Indiana, and among the number Lieut.. Benjamin,
who called on US and bid us farewell. ! was much
gratfed to learn from gentleman belonging to the
same battallon) who accompanied US to THIS place.
that Lieut.. B. gave good account of himself at the
battle of Monterey. He is an ardent young officer,
always ready to face danger, and be foremost in the
attack.
1t is much colder here than at Matamoras, though
not windy We have not seen any snow, and but
little ce Wood is very scarce, being brought here
at great distance on pack mules. We suffer but
little with cold but the Mexcans draw their ring
streaked and spotted blankets their shoulders and
even cover up their faces and exclaim muchu riso."
Camp Butler, SaltIllo, Jan. 7, lSi7.
No. l6.
When Gen. Worth left Sato on the 10th of jan |
uary. with portion of the flying artillery and some
of the infantry belonging to the regular army, every
thing was calm. There not the slightest moye- !
ment of hostile nature on the part of the enemy,
that could be perceived. Gen. Lane moved into the
city and took the command of it in place of Gen. |
Worth. Gen. Butler still remained here, having COM |
mand Of not only all the forces uear this point bot of
his entire division stationed at different points But
we began to hea of 'rumors of war; Mexican
encampments Mexican lancers and spies. The Sd
regiment had already moved from their encampment |
the city and taken quarters that had been evacued
The I'd regiment sent for in great haste, which |
regiment moved into The city with as little delay as
possible on the 18th of January, and since that time
there has been nothing talked of but fight. 1t has
been asserted that there would be battle before
the going down of the the following day, but
that day has than passed by without bring
ing with it the horrors of But most OF the news
came through from Gen. Wools camp and one
of the Arkansas cavalry informed me yesterday that
Gen. Wool had been talking about fight ever since
they commenced the march, and at this late period they
attached no Importance to any alarm that was given
bv him-that they had continually heard the cry OF
''wolf,'' when there wolf 1t is true there
some remarks made in relation to an attack that APP
pear somewhat ludicrous, but there be no doubt
that there indications of hostile movements
on the part of the enemy. The MexicaDs have already
moved many of their valuable golden images from the
church the Plaza de Santiago, and great number
of families have moved out of the city within few |
days. The Tlascan Indians (who inhabit portion |
of Saltllo) appear to take coming events more easy
and do not leave town such great numbers. These
Indians part of tribe that rendered Corez eff-
cient service in conquering Mexico. | know not
what part they have played in this Mexican war, but
have been informed that they do not amagamate |
with the Mexicans to very great extent-that their
municipal regulations distinct from the rest OF the
city, and that they have church of their own, which
is of the catholic ORDER other is tolerated by the
Mexican constitution.
SaltlIo was once the capital of large district OF
country embracing all of Coahua parts of New Leon
and Durango. 1t is known on most of the American
maps as Leona Vicario The Mexcans would con-
T.