Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1847-07-15
The Castle Of PerOtc, Mexico.

correspondent Of the Philadelphia inquirer, writ
ing from Mexico, contributes the annexed interesting
sketch of the celebrated castle of San Perote in which
better idea is given Than in any other account we
have seen, Of it's grea, size and strength
It covers about twenty acres Of ground, and is
in the perfect repair. Indeed, il is constructs
ed in such substantial manner. that Il appears to
defy time decay il. There is an inscription over
the main entrance, or rather was, for the Mexicans
obliteraied it when they dismounted the Spanish
coat Of arms, and supplied lis place by their own
that suppose gave the date OF the erection of the
building, the reign Of the King in which it was
erected. The figures INA are cut in the stone
over the main inner entrance but whether it means
that the building commenced or finished in that
year don't know. Among the most remarkable
things about this place are two enormous bronze
mortars, one Of which is IL years old, the other
ITO. They are the most splsndid mortars. as well
the largest have ever seen. They are elabo-
rately aud most exquisIiey carved and finished off,
and should be sent TO the UaRed States as trophies
If not for the service they would render in some
Of our Forts. These pieces are, of course. OF
Spanish manufacture, as are almost all OF the Mex
lean artillery.
In the chapel Of the Castle, which is very beau
tfu is the grave of Guadalupe Victoria, the first
President OF the Republic of Mexico, who, accor-
ding to the inscription on his tomb, died 1924. In
the moat of the Castle. (which by the by. is 80
feet wide between the basiions and the wall, and
ls0 feet between the main walls and the wall OF
the moai, and % feet deep) is the place where the
Mexicans executed their State criminals, and de-
serters from The garrison of The Castle, &C. They
must be bloody aud cruel people, judging ton
the manner OF their executions; for the persons
murdered in this spot were, it is said by those re-
siding here, always left they were killed, and Sc
remained until the flesh rutied from the bones. We
could not doubt the fact for all around the cross to
which they tied, were skulls and other bones
making, il put together, complete skeletons. The
cross itself is about IL feet high, aud has strong
pegs in the lop-s,ick TO which the hands OF the
fortunate victims Of tyranny were tied whilst thei
feet were secured to rings in the masonry, in which
the bottom Of the cross built. The wall Of the
| Castle in the rear Of that emblem Of Christianity
loully abused, by being used for such purpose
is marked by musket balls thick that scarcely al
inch Of the wall can be picked out that has moi
| musket shot marks on il. There are also seyera
| deep trenches near the cross containing piles o
bones that have been inferred from time TO tine
after the flesh had roued from them, and the space
they occupied around the foot Of the cross, was 10
! other victims.
The moat Of the castle, the Dimensions of which
give you above is dry, but can they say, be flet
with water in two hours, which dare say is ih
case as there is 6ne stream OF water running int
the Castle continually and has reservoirs or tank
that contain an immense quantity The create
part OF the armament Of the Castle was carrie
down to Cerro Gordo, from whence of course
never returned. as we took the whole of it, rher
are however pieces enough left on the walls for Il
TO beat of any Mexican army that can Re brougt
against US. The garrison of the place consists c
seven companies of the Isl Pennsylvania Regimen
and Capt. Tayors company of United States A
liery. The other three companies Of our reg
ment. together with the I'd Pennsylvania regimen
garrison Jalapa.