Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1847-09-02
A Tough One.

extracts from the journal of It's correspondents
perfect Hotspur save in his self glorifcation.-N Y
Journal Of Coznmsrce
j July 30-I left the CITY of Mexico in company
with few friends at seven o'clock, A. M. We had
British passports ard strong guard, ostensibiy for
British officer, To sale through the foriIca
tons which are going up at PInon, remarkable
mountain pass sixteen or seventeen miles from the
city of Mexico, on the road to Pueba by way of ST.
Martin. At PInon the road winds around between
two volcanic Mountains, each commanding point or
turn in the road Between these two hills is an ex-
tensive frtihcation nearly completed. and which
| found hirty.fCe thousand at work OF these,
two companies were Europeans. deserters from the
o. s Army. and to their skill may be attributed tie
superiority displayed in the works. The gurad now
left U.s. Our party consisted of four. viz: the British
officer, two Engllshnru interested in one Of the
mines, end myself. AT about 30 miles from the
Capital we overlook twrnty-une Struggling Next
cans, and made their acquaintance AT first we were
hfrnd OF them but finally accepted their services as
guides. The British officer, however, was suspicious.
He had dispatches of great Importance Every body
seemed To know him, but he would give his name to
no one. He exhibited a British flag, fifteen inches
by eight or ten, which at respected by every
guerilla party public officer on the road. In two
Instances he received letters ON the way TO carry
short distances. The two British miners having left
us, the British officer concluded To proceed alone,
leaving me with twenty lone Mexcans. 1t get
ting late, and | put up at the next Rancho, about
sixty miles from the Capital.
July 3l-At O'Clock this morning, being still
awake, heard horsemen approaching, and the
gueras with drawn swords coming up to my door.
had tlceHtg-fOur shots liz four of Turner's New
York revovers which stuck in my belt Drawing
one. opened the door and fired five shots in rapid
succession. Two Of the riders fell and were imme-
dlately borne off by their comrades. | now called
Out TO the landlord and demanded an explanation, pre-
facing my demand with declaration that he deserv
ed instant death for his treachery. He denied the
| lmputatiOn, and accused my own men. He said, In
an under tone, that my guides professional rob-
bers that they employed by their chiefs the
capital to follow Us, and and kill ALL the British
officer included. Them SAID l. we shall probably be
attacked again, and to you | shall direct the first
fatal shot | then tied him my door outside, and
there he remained till morning. | started early, and
took the arms of the twenty-one Mexcsns on my
own horse, and told them to follow TO ST. Martins
When | got three miles east of Martins ordered
halt, called the ring leader up before me, reprOved
his tteachery, and then shot him dead on the spot
In presence of his terrified companions. They com
menced begging for their lives, which spa red aud
they scompered off on their mules, and put spurs
To my noble horse and reached Puebla where [
delivered Tie muskes to the United States authori-
ties. | saw numerous guerilla bands on the noun
iaIns, but met no opposition on the road. | found
General Scott at The head of 1880 men, ounging
away his time IN religious exercises. He Is SO ex
cessvely pous, and intimate with the Bishop, the
Priests and Nuns, that the populace call him Father
Scott" His officers and men, On the contrary, call
him Foolish Scott" His men deserving to the
enemy in consequence Of his inaction. / think the
great battle at Pinon will be fought before September
left Puebla In the afternoon, in company with two
or three Mexican gentlemen They took another
road. Ten or twelve miles out ! overlook FIVE u. 5.
soldiers, returning home by way Of Vera Cruz We
dned at hacienda, whose proprietor treated like
princes. But we had not got half mile from his
house before my spy glass revealed assemblage of
Mexican cavalry and infantry, numbering seventy or
eighty men, two miles ahead
We were chased within a league Of Perote by
hty-hve of them. Their horses were fresher than
ours, and 1t was only by throwing away all extra
baggage and scattering doubloons the road that we
got rid of the villains. ! threw away one hundred
aud fifty ounces, (dOuboOns,) hundred of which
| received from Santa Anna for bringing on pack
age of letters addressed TO Mexicans at Vera
Cruz. One Of the villains who fired at my head was
the owner of the Hacienda at which we had dined,
who had followed us, probably to caught In
the trap he had prepared | shall remember him on
my return to Mexico. We passed Peroie a little to
the left. | learned that Walker had 400 men in
the Castle, and that General Pierce had Just arrived
from Vera Cruz with $500 Both commands
would proceed at once TO renf rec Scott, leaving
Scott has now about twenty thousand men. We
encountered no interruption until within two leagues
OF Jalapa, where we encamped for the night. We
could see guerilla parties on all the hills, and signal
fires were kept up during the night
August 1.-The appearance Of the hills during the
night unfavorable Hostile bands surrounded us
all hands, and four of my companions resolved to
abandon their horses. They took to the chapperal,
and | fear will be heard of again. Their
names were Sergeant Knapp, of lew York, Bos-
ton; Corporal Hamilton, relative Of Hon. John c.
Hamilton, of New York city; and private Thomp-
son, from one of the Southern Safes and Wilson,
Bugler of one of the Carolinas.
Sergeant Melton of Mississippi, proceeded with me
on horseback. This morning employed Next
can TO show the main road, which we had aban-
doned to avoid Jalapa. His pay was to be one dollar.
He had hardly gone thirty yards before he pleaded
hunger, and received our permission to get food at
nelghboring ranch We accompanied him. Soon
his wife came in and told us we were in great
danger-hve robbers were coming. We mounted,
and had proceeded Oily short distance when he
halted again at another ranch for a drink My sus-
piclons were now aroused by seeing forty fifty
robbers coming after US at fulI speed ordered him
to proceed and on gaining the road, accused him of
delaying and betraylng us. He freely confessed his
crime, and Immediately fell on his knees. After Civ
ing him time for a short prayer, put revolver to
his head, and he fell, corpse! We galloDed off.
the robbers following in hot pursuit. Only three of
them could keep in sight of Melton remarked
that were too many for three, and, so, Stacking
our speed till they enough, we wheeled
and the first fire sho, two of them-he third got
off We dlsnounted, and rling the corpSes of their
money and clothing, put the latter upon per-
sons, the better TO pass for real Mexcans. | found
twenty doublO0ns with some small coin and silver