The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-08-13

.Dehc.al employment TOR NeXicahs tiiai 1
citing such battles as those Of Baena Vista v
ID Cerro GoJio,
Such howeverwere the confident expec-1 ,
lions of the Afcxicans, Of the officers, even i
ose of intelligence and Indignation, as well
Of thccomfnon soldiers. No wonder WIN |
lch hopes that they marched so rapidly, t
I'd bore so patiently the many trials and
lirerings to which they were subjected III
is unparalleled march.
In the rear Of the Mexican army, the pris-
ners met Capt. Riley, with his company Of
eserters from the American army. He had
READY eighty or ninety men, who consiitu-
ID the main artillery force Of the army, and
aid he was picking up more every day.
Ie made great effort TO persuade some OF
ne prisoners to join him, promising them as !
luch land and money as they ,waDtegs and
Nclaiing that it was impossible for Gen.
wAor to resist Santa Annals army, which
whdsirty thousand strong, and that the
would oil Of the valley of the Rio Grande
unneces&ivided among the troops. 1t Is
sails were REQ say that the traitors propo-
with scorn aYcd by our gallant volunteer
were much grahpntempt. The prisoners
wards in the Carceto hear sometime after
ley's company was c,.Jago, that Capt. Ri
twenty ever returned til to pieces and but .
This twenty, together wiacity OF Mexico.
deserters, who had escaped'Rer American
at Tampico and Vera Cruz, BU our army
orderly and unruly in their habiGe so dis-
were ordered out of the city, and2t they
way, were attacked by large Maheif
force and all put TO the sword. an
On the first Of March the prisoners arrirl
ed within nine miles of the city of Mexico,
when the Colonel in command Of the guard
received orders 10 retain them at the place
where he then was until the revolution
which was then raging in the city, had aba
ted. Bot the revolution continuing longer
than was expected, the prisoners were
marched into the city OH the night Of the 5tl
March, and we're lodged in the secure pris-
on-iortress Of San Jago. Here they found
themselves in the society Of all the principal
maleiactorS and convicts Of Mexico, and q
more rascally, filthy, and villainors set were
never before congregated. Their imperti.
nent and disgusting behavior soon rendered
If necessary that cur boys should give them
q little diSciplining. Several Of them were
wei logged by the Americans, and quite a
ieud sprung up in consequence, which.
reaching the ears Of the good natured, pot
beilied old Governor, he came down one
morning after one of the rows between the
convicts and the americans, and proceeded
very deliberately, with many grunts, much
perspirat.cn, and face full Of wisdom and
sagacity, TO draw a chalk. line across the
Eoor oi the prison, assigning the Americans
enc side and the convicts she other. And
as he completed this sage and ingenious
scheme for preserving tie peace, the jolly
old fellow chuckled very heartily over his
wisdom, and left the prison with very con-
tented and self-sa;iSfed air.
The revolution in the city still continued.
There was most terrific din Of cannon and
small arms, drums beating, bugles blowing,
cavalry charging, SC. The prisoners tho't,
from the connection apparent among the
people, and from the immense consumption
CT gunpowder that seemed TO be going on,
that very fierce and destructive battle was
raging Ill the city. Great was their aston
iShmcnt to hear from an EngliShman, who
visited them, that il was all sound and fury,
Signifying nothing; that the revolutionary
parties kept two or three miles apart, and
fired their guns at random down the streets.
No persons were injured but those who hap
pened to pass along the streets. The little
boys would watch the cannon balls as they
went booming along up the streets, and
when they were spent, and began to roll
slowly, would run and pick them up and sell
them to the opposite party.
For fifteen days did this fierce revolution
rage in the city. The parties would rise
carly in the morning, and while it was cool
and pleasant, would fire away at each other,
very comfortably retiring for their coffee
and lunch. In the heat of the day they
would suspend operations altogether, but at
dark they would Begin the battle with great
ierocity, and fight the whole night long.
Proposals We're made by both of the par
ties to our prisoners to release them if they
would fight on their side. The Mexicans
had heard Of the skill of our rillemen, and
they believed that it was only necessary for
the prisoners TO join either party, to secure
its success in the strife then going on in the
city. But our boys preferred looking on,
like the old women in the fight between her
husband and the bear, not caring copI e.
which whipped.
In the midst of the revolution the first
news of the Battle CT Bucna Vista reached
the city. There was great ringing of bells,
and much rejoicing on account of the low
iul tidings. But news travels fast. and the
prisoners were soon informed by Mexicaus
of the total rout and capture Of Gen. Tay-
lor'S whole army, the death Of Gen. Butler.
and several of our most distinguished Off
ccrS.-Although but little disposed to rely
In Mexican stories there was such an air of
probability abont this report that the prison.
ers were forced to give it some credence,
and were overwhelmed with grief and NOR
titication by the disastrous result. But
soon other stories were circulated, conflict
ing statements were given, all tending to
throw doubt upon the story of Santa Annals
splendid triumph. At last the hurried dcs-
patch of the Mexican General was received,
and the notes of rejoicing in the city subsid-
ed most percepdbly. A copy of this des-
patch was thrown, by means OF Irvine
string, from the room where the officers
were confined to the main court ward,
where the men We're, and was eagerly and
joyouSly pcruSod by them. 1t was evident
that Gen. Santa Anna had sustained de-
cided rcpulse, and the prisoners could not
restrain their cXultaton, but gave il relief
in three loud cheers, which startled the in.
mates of the prison, and brought the Cover
nor down upon them, in the greatest terror
and perturbation.
On the next day, however, the spirit of