The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-03-05
LeHer(r0m Tie Editor.
No. NXllI.
CANr LA ENcANrAnA, near SaNi0o, M,rieo. 5

NJ. AAIIi.
CANE la ENcASrADA, near SohiHo, Mrico, ,
January 8, ls47 s
We are still here in this miserable
air duct, without any very ilattering
prospects of getting out Of it soon.
There are some new movements go
ing on at present, but how they are
to Affect us, we can get no informa-
ton. Last evening an order came
for all the regulars in Gen. WOODS
column, except one company of artil-
lery, to repair Immediately to town,
and they accordingly left us bright
and early this morning. The Gem
4 eral, however, was alarmed at the
rate at which the -.duction of lis
command had been col...> ccd, and
accompanied tie troops % town,
where he prevailed upon Gen. But
Ter to leave him at least one compa-
ny of dragons, for the sake of
! picket guard. Thus is the ''Central
Division of the Grand Army of the
U. States operating against Mexico
reduced to one battery Of field pieces,
two regiments Of Illinois volunteers,
and one company Of Dragons.
The troops that have left us, to-
gether with Gen, Worth's command,
now at Saltillo, about 800 regulars,
are ordered to proceed forthwith TO
Camargo, and thence to take ship
ping for Tampico, il is presumed
A large proportion of the volunteers
in and around Saltillc, it is UNDER
stood, are 10 proceed soon in tie
same dire ction; but which regiments
will be selected, has not been vet
determined, or at least nobody knows
hereabout. ne have not yet aban-
doned the hope of being of the favor
ed number, though, il must be con-
iessed the prospect looks gloomy
enough.
In the way of camp news, I Lave
no items, unless mention little
incident, which looks strange, to say
thc least of it. The introduction of
liquor into camp for sale to the
troops, or even the sale Of it in Che
neighborhood of camp, had hitherto
been strictly forbidden. Even SUIT
lers that had brought it with them,
were allowed to sell it only in limit
cd quantities TO officers; and while
We lay at the Aqua Nueya, an Amer
lean, who had come with us as clerk
to Sutler, and for month or two
was living on expense, (the Sutler
having sold out) and who, by way of
making raise, bought barrel or
two of GgH0 0rdedRta (Mexican
brandy) and opened grocery at
the hacienda, was arrested, his IL
quor poured out, and himself drum
med out Of camp. Now, in the view
OF these facts, you may imagine our
susprise on seeing, few mornings
ago, two Mexican carts near the
Generals tent, the one loaded with
a pipe of brandy and the other pipe
of wine, and Mericoa, the owner,
selling it to every one that Called
officers, priyatcs, or servants, in
quantities to suit purchasers. The
feeling it created was intense--a
Nerican invited into camp to sell
liquor but few days after an inner
ic0n had been drummed out for the
same offence ! 1t flew among the
soldiers like wildfre. But a num-
Der bought of the stuff, and by eve
ming got so uproarious, that "Old
Buck" our Lieut.. Col, went up TO
head quarters, and swore if the IL
quor was not removed from camp BY
morning, he would take the rospon-
sbility Of breaking in the heads Of
the pipe. The hint appears 10 have
been sufficient, for next morning the
liquor had cQnighcd.
There was an express to- day from
Maj. Warren, by which we learn
that the last train from San Antonio,
about GO wagons with provisions,
with all the troops still hey ond Mon
clova, had arrived safe at PRESIDED,
and would be at Monclova by the
18th inst, whcnhc (Moi. w. would
Immediately leave with his whole
command for this place, so that he
will undoubtedly be here in less than
three weeks. The Major had got
into no difficulty with the Mcxicans
at Monclova, although attempts had
been made to excite the populaco
against him, and to intercept ayala-
bic train.
The express brought an item far