Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-08-05
THURSDAY, AUGUST S, ls47.
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
SALrILLo, Mexico, June %. lS1

SALrILLo, Mexico, June 90, IS47.
Dear -: Death has again been in our midst.
Another member Ofour corps has paid the debt of ma
ture. MILES SIMEs departed this life on Yesterday
morning, about eight oclock, at the Hospital in this
place.
Shines had been complaining for more than
month, but his condition was not considered dan
gerous until within the last few days. do not
believe that either the Surgeon at the Camp or in
tho Hospital could come to any certain opnion as TO
the true nature OF his dlseasc.-His spirits were
greatly involved from the first. and it had very
inuch the appearance Of case of home sickness
The deceased, understand, has left wife and
FAMILY In Augusta.-lie did not unite himself with
tho company until after its arrival in Richmond.
lbs remains were inferred last evening with the
usual honors.
SnhIInLu, MEXICO. June so, 1917.
Dear ---: have written so frequently of
late that have but little news to communicate-
Since the deaths of the lamented Grove, Brown and
Dimes, the health of the company has been rather
improving The sick are for the most part getting
better; and we have had but two new cases. both
OF which yielded recdily to rcatment.-I was the
Physician, rs indeed have sometimes been com
Peied TO DC Tor the whole company, for days togeth
or, In tue sickness absence of our REGULAR SIR
seon. You may Judge then, of the value of the
box of medicines you sent me.--In fact the public
supply at China was very meager and the slender
STOCK of Lieut. Hartman and myself was subject to
frequent drafts for the of the Hospital But io
return To the company am now i'm homes tha,
with proper care and attention diet the health of
me men may be preserved. The climate here is
certainly delightful one-atmosphere pure and ,rv
and moderately warm-and do not see why i
should not he healthy
have no news at present Every thing remains
quiet in the city.-The Mexican inhabitants. |
.nihK' are becoming more reconcled 10 our domino.
ton: The most perfect order prevails Not the
slightest disturbance OF the public peace. by drunk
cnneSs or otherwise, is allowed in the streets by our
guard and the city. in this respect is as orderly as
tne pest regulated IN our own country. The police
duty has been devolved for days past upon the
TWO volunteer companies alone-Capt Hennino's
Ahd my owh-but another company has now been
sent In from camp TO our relef-the Sd Richmond
under the command of Lieut.. Shoemaker
l suppose you have heard that a number of orr
virginia Officers have gone home on sick flrloupbs
haincly-Capt. Archer of the Sd Richmond lent
Alien, do lieut.. Pegram OF LIST Petersburg. and
Lieut. Washington of the Jefferson company.-I
regret TO hear that the probability is that scarcely
one ct them will return.
SINCE we arrived here have had nv comnanv
uniformed anew have got the sky blue of The |
= Infantry and it looks very we'll The other
companies OF the Regiment will no doubt follow the
example Several of Them indeed have done ca
already. Our State uniform, being of fine ligbt
cloth, has been pretty well used up in ask months
service. '''''
have not heen out at canap for more tbs, .
week, but learn that our friends there are gcner-
ally well, and getting along pretty smoothly. The
entire Virginia Regiment and the Mississippi and
Worth Carolina. are now there.-Gen Wool is :,
rigid dscPlinarian and officers rs well as men are
required to toe the mark. This. as might be sun
poseo' is rather chainS TO soue, but it is all the
better tor those who have come here to do service
1t relieves company officers from a vast deal Of
trouble In the management of their men The
eneral, too, is very Notwithstanding seems to es-
cape MN but 1t is not in small things only, as
some OF MS enemies say. that he is so PARTICULAR
NO part OF MS own duty, in my opinion is neglect
cd, and shall be greatly mistaken if he is ever
caught mapping by the enemy. In his intercourse.
1 nave always found him courteous and gentleman
ly, and his conduct in the late Battle of Buena Wis
ia proves him to be brave as well as skilful Off
cer-ite 1t was who selected the ground for the
night. and none better could have been chosen to
enable our small force to cope successfully with the
overwhelming odds agans; us Yet. to show the
feeling against him, need but quote the lanouaoe
OF one of his enemies. 'D-n him." he said, 81
was III hopes he would run; but found him on the
oatte-heid OF Buena Vista just every where that he
ought to have been, and exactly at the right time ~
, nave Thought 1t but just To say this much in be-
half OF an officer and gentleman, who, as be
ileve, has been greatly msrepresented
The idea of Gen. Taylor's going home in the
fall, find is not much relished by the army. His
name is worth good DEAL and as our force is small.
his presence would be of the more importance
Yet, the impression is. that we shall lose him.
SO far we have had frequent showers here-sorne
times one and two day for several days in success
sion but nothing like the ''rainy season" we have
heard SO much talk about. | expect the truth OF
The matter is that the latter part OF the Spring and
carly ton OF the Summer are the seasons in which
they have rain in Mexico, while during the rest of
the year they have little or none and hence it is
called the Rainy Season." the season OF rain
In looking over the face of the country around
oaltIllo, one who does not know something of Mex
Ican habits would be at a loss to conceive whence il
Is the population derive their subsistence AItboupb
the valley stretches out beautifully for miles there
are scarcely any signs of cultivation. and all looks
waste and desolate Here and there over the ex
fensive plain the eye may be relieved by the spht
OF Small homestead, and scanty cump of trees
but nothing more. Even the mountain sides are
almost naked, yielding nothing but short moss or
grass, ntersporsed with scattering patches ofdwarf
ish brusiIwood, and the fuel which is necessary for
cooking purposes is brought from great distance
some where beyond the m0untains-packed ON
mules. 1t is strange that city as LARGE as SadlIo
should have grown up under such circumstances
but the Mexicans do not generally live in towns so
much IOr tbe conVonienceS and advantages OF trade
as for safety, and the farms which they cultivate
and upon which they rely subsistence are often
located at great distances and are worked By peones
Our troops here are subssted chiefly on Mexican
Flour and Mexican Beet. The former is but little
oetteT than our Rye Flour, being dark and heavy |
and the Beef is only oleTabIe, though it is mprov
ing with the pasture
There has been considerable mortality among
The natives OF Saltillo since we have been here par
Icularly among the Children and funerals have IA
zen place daily. 1he exnlnsinn of r,nLot, ,,n.. l.