Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-03-27
CENTRAL ARMY,
.nP OF THE CENTRE DIVISION, NE ar PARRAs,

December 18th, 1916.
To the Editor of the Union:
The centre division is now within 600
miles OF the Pacific ocean. Its march, since
It first passed the natural boundary of the
two republics, has been a long and excessive.
y arduous one.
On the 9th Of October, the advance Of
this column, commanded by General Wool
in person, and numbering 1854 aggregate,
arrived on the left bank Of the Rio Grande,
near the Mexican town San Juan Bau,ista,
better known as Preside. 1t had been
eleven days in traversing the country from
San Antonio de Bexar to that point, dis.
lance Of 1872 miles. A flying bridge had
been constructed by Captain Fraser, Of the
engineers, and transported in wagons from
San Antonio, for the passage Of the river
II was soon put in operation, and by the
evening Of the 18th, the whole of the COM
mand, and the immense train of stores
which accompanied it was safely landed up,
on the opposite shore. The Rio Grande at
that place was found to be go yards wide.
Its current was exceedingly rapid, and its
waters turbid and ola yellowish grey color,
like those Of the Missouri.
AT this point Gen. Wool published an or
der, in which he defined the course he in.
tended to pursue that he had no, come to
make war upon the people or peasantry of
the country but to compel the government
Of Mexico to render Justice to the United
States. All, therefore who did not take up
arms against US, but remained quiet and
peaceful at their homes, he should not mo-
lest or interfere with, either as regarded
their persons or their property ; and all
those who should furnish supplies should be
treated kindly, and be literally paid for
whatever we should receive from them.
The better 10 protect the ferry establish
ed upon The river, and to keep il secure for
the troops and supplies to be forwarded by
Inspector Gen. Churchill, commanding the
rear column, Captain Fraser was directed
to construct a redoubt as a tete du pont on
the right bank and on the left, field. work
to be defended by two companies. sutfi
cient force TO carry into effect such a pur-
pose being detached from the column, the
general pushed on to San Juan Bautista.-
This town contains two thousand inhabi.
tants-al Mexicans. The buildings are OF
stone, or unburnt bricks, (adobe,) and, with
but little preparation, are capable OF being
easily defended against a superior force
Not the slightest resistance, however, was
offered, although the people are represented
as being exceedingly hostile towards US.
| The Jesuits erected large mission with
in mile Of the city similar TO the Alamo
La Purisma Conception, San Jose, San
Juan, and Espada, near Antonio. 1t is a
massive structure, built entirely Of stone
and now fas. falling to decay. When we
passed 1t, the wind was bowling through It's
ruined arches, like voice Of mourning foI
those gone from beneath them never TO re-
turn. Milred bishop and cowled monk
yelled nun and timid devotee, have lone
since passed away, and the grass and wild
flowers grow in the deserted corridors, anc
over the crumbling walls and focks o.
goats herd in the solitary and deserted
courts.
The country in the vicinity Of this city
we found TO be very ferte-especlally
where It was artIfcially irrigated. Cotton
sugar, corn, wheat, sweet potatoes, and al
most every description Of garden-vegetables
besides figs, oranges, peaches, and olhe
I fruits, were raised with but little labor, anC
in considerable abundance. We were adj,
to procure sufficient supply of forage 70
the use of the command, and at very rea
sonabe rates.
| Going from thence westward, the column
was obliged to march twenty-six miles with
3 out water, when it arrived at the town O
San Juan de Nava, situated in the middle G
+, an immense plain, and watered entirely b
; irrigating bitches, which are said to hav
their fountains in a range of hills twent
! miles TO the left Of the trace. This town