Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-18
Letter fr.m N, Army.

We publish below the following humorous let.
ter from Weiser Zeigler, who lef thi. place with !
Lieut.. Martin. fof Mexico, last March. His nu.
merous friends (for we believe he had no enemies)
know how to appreciate the qnaint humor Of the !
writer, who let here in rather q desponding
mood. We were, however, we'll satisfied, that
if Weispr could not find some fun in fighting
Mexicans, there was no use in any one else at.
tempting IT, Like President Polk however, and
other good democrats, he is in favor Of the Zone
term principle.
CRY OF Mexico, Oct 9th, 1s47
Mr. DeAR Ell gaess You never received q
letter from Mexico yet, and so I will just lay
down my rife and sword for few minutes. and
.cribble you line or two, But really, my friend,
I have been using the gun 40 long among the
| "gressers" he,e in Mexico, that handle a pen
rather awkwardly; still, ii yon can make out
nv inklngs, why am satisfied, and if you can't,
| why Just lay this letter to one side till drop
down among you folks in Snnbury some of these
full moons, and I'll read il fo- you. Well, here
I am safe and sound Except bad colt) in the
ancient and magnificent city Of Mex;co-arrived
here on the nth Of last month, after giving the
Mexicans 'h----i" at Contreros, Cberubuseo
Molino del Rey and the Castle Of Chspultepre.
We had hot work Of it, as they had en- army
three times our number. and occupied all the best
positions Of defence with their cannon. At Con.
treros, one thousand Of us licked six thousand of
them, took four hundred prisoners and "a pieces
of heavy artillery, in just seventeen minutes by
the watch. That call doing up the Mexican
killing business in little less than no time.
was in the very hottest of all the battles. but no
bullet was ever moulded TO hit me. and so es.
scaped unhurt. Good luck 10 battle is worth
more than good farm.
This is a great country. tn. priests and lice
were only sent to Botany Bay or some other ou,
of the way place. The priests are thicker than
hddlers down in that bad place tba, the preach
ers talk much about. They wear long robes.
with their heads shaved on the top and a hs big
enough for country school house, with a play
ground round the brm for the children. There
are great many pretty women here, but as |
cannot :alk Spanish like native stand no more
chauce among them than poor hoy at a huskine
This is the greatest place for beggars ever saw.
1t seems to me that more than half the people
have but one leg or oLe eye, or some.
ner. Business is very brisk, and the gamblers
and GROCERY keepers are making their eternal
fortunes out Of us soldiers. Several men are
found murdered on the street every morning, and
when q Mexican is caught with any fire arms or
knife about him. We hurry him of to the quad
! hou i'm t.k 7 s.tc L..
a theatre and eireus every night. and by way OF
spending Sunday afternoon to good advantage
there is bull fsh. to be seen up town for quar
ter. Two bulls don't fight. hut n man with .
long spear in his hand, OF horseback, attacks q
wild bull. and then they have it, rough and tnn.
bic. Last Sunday one man, three bull, and two
horses we're killed for our amusement.
/ cannot tell when this war will end, nor when
We vii, be discharged guess one term soldier.
ing will satisfy me, uness am made general.
which don't think likely at present. We live
on bread, beef, beans. rice. coffee, candles, soap
and vinegar, and occasionally a small sprinkiins
OF speck or mn;ton strong enough TO bear an iron
wedge. manage 10 g., along pretty well, as
generally have few dimes to buy butter, eggs,
&c. We have pleasant quarters, s'ways except.
ing the lice, and we are TO have q meeting mex,
week. 10 determine whether they or Us have the
best right TO the building. We were much slar
: med by violent shock Of an earthquake on the
% of this month; old mother earth rolled back
and forth like dutch baby in cradle, and many
Of us thought it was notice TO come up TO IN,
court above, and answer for our bad dongs
am satisfied TO f:ht Mexicans, but I can't stant
earthquakes, that is run~ing things into M,
: ground One four men and myselfcan beat sny
thing at e"ehar, that the army can produce. anc
We will bet fiaco on it. wish could step in
to Whsrton's and take glass Of brandy with you
but the army is first rate Temperance society
particularly on . long march, when there is nj
liquor to be had. ! will bring you Santa Anna,
wooden leg, II get my mud hooks upon the car
eass of the old scamp.
Give my respects to all my old eronies, ans
tell them il they want TO know all about Mckee
E to come here and serve a campaign
$ Write TO me when you receive this Direc
e to the care Of Capt. Barnard, Y. s. voltigeurs
army in Mexico. Your friend,
u WEISER ZIEGLER.
TnE STATE OF MAIsG will hereafter elect he