Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-05-06
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMARco, Mexico. March q, 1s47.


Dear -: We of the Virginia detachment,
comprising the four companies heretofore mention
ca oy me as having proceeded To Monterey, with
,he ONO regiment under Col Curtis, arrived here
last evening, having been ordered by Gen. TAYLOR
10 taRe charge of a return train of about one hun
dred wagons No incident of much interest occur
req ON the route back. We had several demonstra-
uohs indicating disposition to attack us, trat no
actuai nght. The parties We're all small that were
seen, and doubt whether the enemy now is i'm any
great force ON the road. We had expected 10 re-
Turn by different route, and such were our orders
up to the evening before we left 1t was DESIGNED
by Gen Taylor that we should open n new com
munication by Catareta and Gilman cnterprze
OF some hazard, in the opinion of all military men
at Monterey with whom conversed-par,icnl,ry
with our small force, namely: the four Virginia COM
panles, Capt. Marshall's Dragons. and one six
FOUNDER Of Bragg's battery under Lieut. Kilburn. a
young officer of merit, who did good service in the
late battle OF Buena Vista. Our next move from
this, however, will be OH that route. The entire
Virginia regiment, which is now here, with all its
held and staff officers, it is understood will take up
the line of march for China during the present
week-slx companies to remain there and garrison
the place, and the remainder TO proceed TO Monte
Tey under Col. Hamtramck and Major Early.
The Augusta Volunteers are to be armed with
rifles, and form part of the detachment stationed
at china, which, report says, is one of The plea
VI.
ny Is made grcnadiers, and goes with COL Ham
tramck.
Our company have had n good deal of diarrhua
among them, but no case of much seriousness We
LETT one man i'll with it (Jacob Long) a; the hospit-
al In Monterey-another (Johb Peer) with the eff
fects OF an injury received on ship board not seri-
Gus i hope-and another, Lieut. Geiger. i'll of
mumps. saw all Of them before left and think
there is little doubt that they are able TO be about
by this time.
While at Monterey, visited Arista's gardens.
They are on grand scale, but too new to possess
very great beauty. The trees and shrubbery are
small; but the fine baths and ducts for irrigatnp
the grounds, all of solid masonry, give indication
that the proprietor intended to spare no expense to
make it one Of the loveliest spots on earth. The
Howers were generally in pots, and to the credit Of
our army be it said, that although the gardens are
much visited not the slightest injury has been done
to any thing. also visited several other gardens,
hlled with orange trees loaded with ripe fruit
blossoms, sc. The perfume was delicious-Also
with the lime, lemon, and fig the latter, however,
had no fruit.
Camargo is mserably dirty place, and although
at rest, we see little comfort. But for the momen-
tary feeling, 1t is hardly worth while to think of
putting OH clean shirt. While on the march we
do not pretend TO make an effort to keep clean. All
complexions arc conounded by the dust, and it is
often difficult to tell even the color Of our clothes
Our Virginia blue makes pretty good grey mixed
on the march, and pity, indeed, il is. that it was
not. Camargo, however, has one charm---innu-
merable birds, which make the air vocal with their
songs.
We have little means of Judging here of the pros
poets of the war, or its probable continuance. In
this quarter, doubt not all will be successful du-
ring the present campaign. We are daily growing
stronger by fresh arrivals of troops From Gen
Scott we have heard nothing