The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-01-21
Approach to the City of Mexico.

If march to the Mexican capital, from
Vera Cruz as the starting point, is determin-
ed on at Washington we all have an interest
in knowing what is to be encountered on the
road. The following itinerary, as it may be
called, has been made up from authentic
sources by the N. Y Commercial Advertiser,
and is believed to be accurate.
VERA CRUz.-The city Of Vera Cruz is
walled round, with a fort at each extremity Of
the water front the walls on the land side
are loop-holed for mnsketry. Parapet guns
have been recently mounted on the walls.-
The city walls are very thick, of coral rock !;
the walls Of the houses are , l-2 feet thick,
and the roofs are fiat Each house has els
tern or cistcrns Of rain water, The city is
well paved.
From VERA Cruz TO NIEXICo.-About
ten miles from Vera Cruz is a stream 200
yards wide, crossed at a ferry in scows, or by
about 80 miles from Vera Cruz, is fordable,
and is also spanned by wooden bridge called
Pueate Del Ray (he Kings Bridgc,) and al
so the national bridge Near it, on the right
is an eminence of about so feet, on which is
a fort, completely commanding the approach
and the bridge.
Between these bridges and ,Jalapa The road
passes near several heights, from which the
natives can annoy the invaders while on the
road.
JALAPA-This city stands on very e}e-
waited ground, yet for many miles the ascent
is quite gradual. From the city Of Vera Cruz
it is visible, as is also the sea, so miles distant
The city itself is upon high hill-highest in
the centre so that the streets incline consid-
,1,-. tbof ,rha Ipl 10
can pass along any Of them except the main
street, or road, Which has considerable rise
and descent. The city is surrounded by a
the western gate, which could be converted
into d citadel. The streets are paved.
The houses, as in other Mexican towns are
dows. Opposite the city, on the left Of the
road, is a hill from which the road might be
annoyed, and shells thrown into fine town.
For the distance of six or seven miles before
reaching the town, the road is a handsome and
substantial structure Of chequercd pavement,
and must have been very costly.
PERoTE.-At the base Of q high mount.
bearing the same name, some distance from
the road on the left, is cluster Of houses,
with church called Perote.
CASTLE OF PERoTE Opposite, on the
right of the road, and commanding it in ev-
cry direction, stands the castle. 1t is built
upon a fiat sandy plain, strongly built Of
stone, and encircled by Il deep dry fossc or
ditch. The main entrance is by going over
a cberaur-de-trive by astyle descending some
twenty-five or thirty stone steps to the bot
tom of the fossc and crossing it to the gates,
which are on a level with the bottom.
PEUBLA,-This city is walled and fortified.
1t is built of stone, and the streets are well
paved. Contains about 100000 inhabitants.
Here water is abundant but from the nation
al bridge to this city no water can be obtain
ed-the natives substituting Pulque as bev-
erage.
From Jalapa to Puebla there are OCCASION
al heights near the road, which, if fortified,
might annoy invaders, In fact, from Vera
Cruz to Puebla this is the cause.-The travel be-
inc alternately over broad unobstructed roads
and narrow passes, commanded by heights
The road passes through Puebla The Pue-
ddnoS have a peculiar character; they are
cunning and courageous, and the most expert
robbers and assassins throughout Mexico,
where there is no lack Of such. If an Offend
err is brought before an alcade any where else,
and is known or ascerancd to be Peubla-
no, his condemnation is sure.
CoRDovA.-A small walled and garrison
ed town, through which the road passes. Be-
yond Peubla the road is good till it reaches
the mountain of Cordova, about midway be-
tween the former and the city of Mexico
where the assent is very rugged and steep,
though without defes. Near the road, at the
foot of this mountain, passes the Rio Fro, or
cold river,which has its rise in the mountain of
Popecatapel, 1900 feet above the level of
the sea. A work on some of the heights of
Popecatapel would command the road.
After leaving the mountain Of Cordova, the
road is good and unrestricted, with plenty Of
water, to the city of Mexico. For several
miles before reaching the city, the road is de-