The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-04
Ertract of letter from young SOLDIER toho acent from
Washington, to his family, dated

SANTA FE NEW MEXICO, August ~.
We arrived here on the 22d instant safe and we'll with
our scalps.aa on except one and can assure you we
have had quite walk. Having been here week, |
have had some slight information of things about here
The town (as all the towns in New Mexco) is built of
unburnt brick, called in their expressive language ado
bes and is situated valley, surrounded the east
north s ana south Sy hgh mountains h ,. ahs INHABITANTS
are very poor degraded set OF individuals The men
are lazy and vicious; the women centous in the most
extended of the term the children ignorant and
filthy Gambling and drinking entirely too common !;
but lieutenant colonel has taken command of the
post to-day, hope TO- see better state of things exist
solemn music of fife and mufled drum and listened to the
voleys fired over fellow-solder. The battalion has
been quite healthy however, the march, and all the
deaths Ordinary that have occurred have been those OF
persons diseased at the start and who undertook the
tramp for the benefit Of their health. My. own health
middle of the day. and wet and cold, and rain that have
occurred the route and although may after years,
should live feel the effects of this campaign rheuma
kind
From that has reached us since left the States,
it appears that the is not yet entirely over and that
than we bargained for However. we are tight in The
service, what will My duties sergeant major
have not been very great my chief implement being the
pen, except when on parade. Probably there may be
better things in store for me-who knows
Our route has been by the Cimarone rivers and it is the
occasionally covered with good grass. and once in
while some water. However, water can always be OBJ
tanned digging wells about three four deep Away
OIL to the right and left occasional high rocky points
of land the stones bearing evident signs of being very
much water-w and presume that at time, the
northern lakes and very likely, we travelled where
many water-mOnster has made his feast those who
once were sailing over them.
! The scenery beyond the river is grand The Rabbit
Ear mounds at first sight, (hree days march,) look like
clouds against the western sky. The Wagon mound is
covered with tremendous rock, resembling what
full view after we left the Spanish town of Begas
We then travelled for three four days among the
ains to Santa Fe sometimes taking the bottom Of
mountain torrent, skrted each side by high rocky
cliffs and, after getting through the pass to enter into
fine looking valley clothed in abundant grass The soil
cessity Of irrigation Ali the towns are situated in val
leys, and on some mountain stream and, in Santa Fe
the little dches like mill races, are scattered through al
OF corn and wheat The crop looked WE'LL but little
the latter had been worked.
At about twenty-five miles from here we came to thu
pass that Ao attempted TO defend. His natural advan
tages were great-his each side, almost perpendcu
lar and covered with loose rock, and few pines
road passing up the bed h Hf as and
mand the whole. Fortunately for us, divisions in hi
ranks caused him to break up his entertainments, ant
Gen. Kearny marched in without the loss of singh
man. Give the Americans such chance, and the com
bned armies of the world could not pass six days march
) or the distance from here to Begas
Texans graces the plaza Fort Marcy looks down upo
in its expressive silence, and looks like guardian
prOecOras IN fact 1t would be- should there be an N
surrecon (or one OF the returning volunteers we me
on the road styled it, esurrecon) take place tits sit
uaed on hill which commands the town, and built
adobes II is star fort surrounded by ditch, and
what is called babette work-the gun being above tn
embrasure. 1t is not occupied, but can, in OF
cessty, be used Immediately For the last few days
staff have quartered ourselves in Of the budingt
and they quite comfortable They have the creates
way Of getting the fireplace where takes little room
ours being placed in of the You recollet
the enfoot buildings in Boston looks in shape III
same The roof is flat and covered with dirt inside it
whtewashed, but without any floor The houses seer
all to be made in the manner and you Bee the ir
side Of one, you do Of all. No one improves on HI
neghboT. as they 40 with you but everything is tn
pretty soon The train in which this leaves starts tc
! morrow early