The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-04-19
From the ST. Louis Republican,, April 5.
From chihuahua.

Ell IAsD DEL NDRTE, FeD =, ISL
On the 9th of December last reached I'll Paso, a
deputton OF its citizens having met previously
rying white flag praying that their property might re-
friendly disposition Of the inhabitants. III Paso is quite
large place. extending twentyt miles along the Rio
Grande, there called BravoD and numbering about 900
inhabitants The soil along the banks of the river is Of
excellent quality and the settlement decidedly the mos,
beautiful that | have yet in Mexico Its Inhabitants
are people OF altogether dlereat cast from those OF
New Mexico, possessing intelligence industry, and
patriotism than the Mexicans, who have indeed sunk so
low in the most corrupt incidence that il vain to
seek their equal The women well as the better class
OF the inhabitants had fled at approach and though
repeated assurances given them that no harm would
beall them, but few returned during our stay The
chief production of the soil here is the grape; which,
manufactured into excellent wine and brandy, taguar
diente) forms an important article OF traffic to the inlab
tants Besides the grape, great quantities OF other fruit
is raised here, as well as corn, wheat and few garden
vegetables and nothing seems wanting To I'll Paso but
wood for fuel, which cannot, indeed BE- found within
twenty miles of it. The climate is exceedingly
during the winter and nothing but slight night fross dis
tinguish that season from fall or spring. As in New
Mexico the land is irrigated here by means of "lecas,
conducted from the river. In lieu Of winter, however,
Ell Paso peculiar for its winds, which rise whenever
clouds are in the horizon, and, owing to the dry and
dy soil of the country around, plague almost nsup
portable The customs of the people differ little from those
of the New Mexcans Their houses are built OF clay
but are large and comfortable. Glass windows much
more scarce than Santa Fe and the of knife fork.
spoon in eating, seems TO be generally abolished here
the inhabitants OF FL Paso having returned TO the ancient
and primitive mode of drinking their soup, and of carry
ing their meat TO the mouth by means of the torlla in
their right assisted by the thumb and the fore and middle
finger OF their left hand. Tables commodity
with them, and only found III fra and dminutive
specimens the houses of the rich, where they seemed
to play the part that pianos do IN the parlors OF
many of the fashionable houses with uso establish
of crcumsanal evidence OF their being used ny the
inmates, but no more.
AS the Nayajos in New Mexico, so the Apaches
here-the dreaded enemy of the rancheros. Not seldom
do they the streets OF the town and collect Their
quasi tribute from the citizens, by driving off what herds
Of cattle, mules, horses, they find Their attacks and
dcpredations most generally made stealthy, that
resistance comes invariably too late Topursue the IN
vaders would be and to seek them in their retreats
the Mexican lacks both courage and energy wherefore
il seems that these depredatons almost looked upon
as vsatons of Providence to war against which were
frultless.
During our stay here, little army may be said to
and anxiety imaginable Ever dreadng an attack or IN
surrecton, off from all communication, beyond the
reach of any resources, we have spent month OF the
most intense anxiety, drudgery and toll. From Cen
Wool we have never heard and but seldom did a mes
senger from SAINT Fe, bringing tdngs oil the APP
proach of Major Clarks artillery which we hourly and
now the discovery of plot-now the capture OF spy
and false alarm--whch kept force a,whoe day IN
battle array. so completely wearied mind and body, that
shall remember the days spent in this place; as the most
wearsome of my life The army advancing on us from
the south, gradually sweed from 800 to 5000 Seno-
had poured out its population Durango mad come 70
against us and il though the whole western
world had determined to chastise and annlhllae our
small invading force yesterday finally, did Captain
Weghtman arrived with his battery, and had you seen
the groups of men standing on the tops of the houses
waving Aags and standards, the artillery marched to-
wards the pazahad you heard the shouts and exulhng
cries as one piece Of cannon after the other turned the
corner and came in sight, you would have believed that
our troops had celebrated day Of jubilee, and that our
men were drunk with Joy and revelry
All the information which we have from the south Is
soon given few newspapers of the ~, 29th and 3ls
of December from Chihuahua, which were detected on
the person of spy captured some time since, report zen
Wool at Paas uncertain whether to advance on Duran
go or Chihuahua Information received some time after
reports the advance guard of General Wool retreang
and other rumors again report him having fought the
Durango troops at Mapauri, and defeated them. Oi
General Taylors movements, nothing is known and all
we know from chihuahua is founded on rumors more
vague and unsatisfactory, than the former The
better belief seems, however TO be that Governor lras
has collected force of about troops at the Lake
Incihila about 40 miles north of Chihuahua awaiting
our approach at the same time, enough to Chi,
huahua, TO reach that place in time, should Gen. wool
advance Some of the Mexicans here positive IN
this belief that Sonora will relieve Govenos Trias with
near two thousand men, which few OF us, however be-
ieve The troops under command of Tras must be very
inferior, and but indierently armed unless, indeed
General Martinez has had time to return from Zacaecas
with 900 regulars whittier he went for that purpose
In any OF either must march onward be fate
wha, it may, we do nothing but conquer, knowing
tina, defeat is worse than death. ASIDE from this, we
have unlimited confidence in our strength and know the
enemy we have to deal with Our force numbers now
about $50 men rank and file, which, taken with the