Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-08-12
NUMBER "a.

need but quote the language ofone Of his enc
mes. "D2-n him. he SAID. ii wasin hopes
he would run but found him on The battle
field Of Bnena Vista just every where that he
ought 10 have been. and exactly al the right
timel" | have thought il but just to say tins
much in behalf of an officer and gentleman.
who, as believe, has been greatly misrepre.
scented,
The idea of Gen Taylcr's gong home in
the fail, find is not much relished by the ar
my His name is worth good deal, and as
our force is small, his presence would be OF
the more importance. Yet, the impression is.
that we shall lose him.
So far we have had frequent showers here
sometimes one and Two day fer several
days 10 succession but nothing like The '.rai
ny season. we have heard so much talk about.
expect the truth o. the matter is that the lat
Ter part OF the Spring and early portion Of the
Summer are the seasons il which they have
rain in Mexico, while during the rest OF the
year they have hlle or none, and hence IL IS
called the '.Rainy Season. CT the season Of
rain
In looking over the face Of the country
around Satillo, one who does net know some
thing Of Mexican habits would be at a loss 10
conceive whence il is the population derive
iheirssuhssience. Although the yaiily stretch
es out beautifully Cor miles, there are scarcely
any signs Of cultivation, and all looks waste
and desolale. Here and there over the exten-
sive plain the eve may be relieved by the SIGHT
of small homestead. and scanty clump Of
trees, but nothing more Even the mountain
sides are almost naked, Welding nothing but a
short moss or grass, interspersed with scatter
irg patches OF dwariish brushwood, and thu
far ftfiF
is brought from great disiance--sonewhere
beyond the mountains packed on mules.--lt
is strange that city as large as Saltillo should
have grown .;p under such circumstances
but The Mexcans do not generally live IN towns
so much for the conveniences and advantages
of trade as for safety and the farms which
they cultivate, and upon which they rely ior
subsistence are often located at great distances,
and are worked by peones. Our troops here
are subsisied chiefly on Mexican Flour and
Mexican Beef The former is but little better
than our Rye Flour. beng dark and heavy.
and the Beef s only lolefable, though II rs i'm
proving with the pasture.
There has been considerable mortality
among the natives Of Salullo since we have
been here, particularly among the children.
and funerals have taken place daily. The
explosion of rockets may be heard at almost
any hour. which as stated in former letter,
is part OF the funeral rites. | saw the funerai
of two adults. The corpses were earned on
fiat boards, dressed up in the most fantastic
manner imaginable The decorations about
the head We're particularly singular and gau-
dy. rising 10 the height Of about two iee 10 the
form Of a fan or sun-shade. and sci oil With
tinsel and gold The MexicaDs use no collins.
We know nothing certainly 10 regard 10 the
time OF our proposed onward movement
We learn, however. that there are three or
four Regiments below, and heavy Siege
Train coming up. II we do start, the hope "a
that we shah not be stopped shon Of the CITY
Of Mexico The distance 10 San Luis is 3uu
miles--not quite halfway. Col. Hamirainck.
am glad 10 learn. is about getting up brass
band for our Regiment
] have heretofore mentioned, trust with
Just pride, the humane conduct OF oar Regi-
ment towards the non combatant Mexieans.--
Not an outrage, and hardly an offence OF any
kind. has been committed against them, so Tar
as have heard by the humblest private IN
the rsnks-As proof OF this, need only
state that at China; where our battalion was
stationed for nearly two months, many OF the
inhabitants expressed their regret when they
heard Of our intended departure from amongst
them. They felt themselves to be safer with
MS than they would be with their own troops.
under Canaes and Unea--ihls, too. whethe
nomination has the credit OF being among the
most rascally in Mexieo' The fact is that
Mexico. with all its boast Of Repubheanism
and free Government, is yet stranger TO their
most essentia. principles. 10 the first place.
an established Religion is incompatible with
them--so also the undue authority which is
given 10 or exercised by the Military over the
Civil Power, and her system Of converting
Creemen into slaves for debt have heard OF
numerous instances. in our marches. Of Mex
ican troops most cruelty plundering their own
people Some Of the sufferers indeed, told us.
by way Of apology for the little they had to
sell us, that they had been robbed but recently
by their own soldiers. And il has rot tcen
many months ago iha, an Acade (who is the
civil magistrate or governor OF town. was
taken out, yoked with an OK, and driven
through the streets, by command Of Mexi
can General. because he could not OF did not
GIL reauisition which the General had made
upon him for Beef, on a notice Of two or three
hours! Where such contempt eau be shown
with mpuni,y for the evil Law and It's officers.
and for private rights, surely there can be no
liberty that is worthy Of the name.
Yet more, while on this sublect-l see that
Santa Anna aud all the leading AIexicans
in their leading proclamations and addresses
speak Of the war which we are waging as
against their Nationality and their hoy Rel
zion. And this too, while they have beef
irving 10 wrest from the Churches Their prop
ertv by all means in their poverty forced
loans. BIZ taxes, and even By actual violence
The magnificent Church in this place. which
/ have heretofore spoken Of, bears the marks
Of two cannon balls. fred against u by order q
Gen. Ampcdia on his retreat 70 Monterey, to
enforce a demand upon il for money New
ertheless. in the face of facts ike these The I'M
urincpIed men who rule IN turn The poor OPP
pressed Mexicans for their own advantages
and ACKNOWLEDGMENT will continue 10 pirate
or liberty. patriotism, nationality. and Their
Holy Religlonl The truth is that no country
on the face ofthe earth scarcely, is worse gov
erned than Mexico.--Large districts through
which we have passed have been allowed by
the Government to be preycd upon by The
Camanehe Indians at their mercy, and robber
bands have prowled through the country al
most unheeded by ,he civil power. There Is
not a public road that have been upon ;hatis
not lined. some Of them every few steps, with
wooden crosses, TO mark the graves Of muir
dered travellers, No wonder. then, if the
clouds should withhold their rain, and every