Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-05-29

river. surrounded by a kind Of breast work and
ditch, made BY the American troops. after
ito capture. We did not sto? to look At and er-
anime the spot. bot the sppearsoee il presents
from the river. 10 bv NO means inviting. The
buildings appear to be old and dilspidated, and
not many of them look hsbtsble. As we passed,
an old Mexican came down to the river bank and
made very polite salaom, can't say whether
IT was intended for us, or the boat The banks
are very bluff, and the country low--very simi.
Iar in that respect to that Of the Mississippi
We are pleasantly encsmped here. There is
kne breeze generally, but still the heat of the
sun is excessive We have plenty Of 6sh, caught
BY the men, and venison can be got from the
Mexicans. who bring into camp onions, eggs,
homemade sugar, (somethins like our maple su.
gar,) and milk, and sometimes oranges They
ask so cts per dozen for onions, the same for
eggs. and one dine for not quite pint Of goats
milk, and so on, in proportion. They are set
Of rasoais and il I was in command OF the camp,
iwould not allow them to come in. unless they
sold their things at a reasonable price.
The Mexieans here. are said TO hate the upper
Mexicans; yet the general impression is, that
none are to be trusted They have a cast OF
countenance something similar to Indians, tho
no, so noble. They will steal all they can lay
there hands on and no doubt would murder all,
il their own security lid not depeLd upon the
way in which they conduct themselves.
We have encamped here, 2 companies ofdra.
goons, companies Of voltigeurs, and companies
of infantry, under command of Col. A C. Ram.
sey, Of the nth Regt. of Infantry, and Majors
Morgan and Talbot. The men are as fine bo
dy oftroops as ever were sent into this country;
and as for the officers, generally speaking, a
finer set Of gentlemen never met They are a
socable and frank set of gallant men--which is
the most suitable compliment can pay them, at
present. When become more particularly ac.
qua,nted with each individual, can speak more
pontedly.
We are within about miles Of the battle
field of Paio Alto, and some miles from that Of
Resaea de Ia Palma. | purpose visiting them if
possible, in company with Lieut.. Cochrane, who
had brother killed in the last named battle.
We have found numbers of balls here, either lost
in their cartridges or spent balls of the fight In
three days will be the anniversary Of the two
great battles Of the sth and 9th Of May Then
I wish to visit those fields Lieut.. Cochrane
wishes TO find the place where his brother fell
and wish to see the spot upon which was spill
led the first drop Of American blood, in war
with nation not much better than negroes
Night before last, party Of US went to a Fam
dango There was present a large number Of
Mexicans, male and female. The men are dark,
and the woman dark and homey. The officers
others young but by no means prerossessing.
They play on guitar, to which they dance.
They also have game of cards, called monte,
very much like the game Of faro. They are ex.
cessively fond of gambling. Whileatthe rancho
at which this fandango came of. (Which was civ.
en- in honor of bride who had just got married, }
a report came, that band Of CanaIes' men were
below, at a wood. yard about IA miles below
camp, The officers returned to camp, and some
one or two were considerably scared, think
Thfy said the rahcheros had surrounded the
house, and that some were even inside Scouts
were sent off to ascertain where the rancheros
were. don't know what report they made. II
is certainly necessary to be careful and pruden,
with these people, as have no doubt they are
all banded together, the same as we would be in
case Of an invasion into our country; but with
this marked difference-we would fight a fair,
manly, honorable kind Of fighting, whilst they
are sneaking, treacherous and cowardly.
PALo ALTO.