Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1847-11-18
From the Ssauntssn Spectator.
LETTER FROM CAPT. HARPER
CAMr BuENA VISTA, Sept. 26, l847.

! CAMP BrENA VISTA, Sept. 26, ls47.
Dear -: In my last, / gave you
an annecdote in reference TO the great
Mexican superstition of "'rhe Lady
of Gaudaloupe," and the successful
play made upon it by one Of our sol
dlers. The history Of that superstl
sion, as | understand, is as follows
1t appears that in the early part of the
sixteenth century, the Spanish Priest.
hood, seeing the intractabIeness and
aversion Of the Indians ts the adoption
Of their faith, bethought them OF the
expedient Of creating for their especial
benefit a rev Saint, and thus afford
Them visible token Of personal inter
est and identity with the Church.
Accordingly it was arranged that La
dy, richly a,tired, should meet a Ger
tam Indian OF note in his accustomed
walks, and represent herself as The
"Virgin Mary" come down from
Hcaren, upon an erragd of love 10 the
Poor Indians, and Lifre0t him to 60 to
the High Priest in the city, and say 10
him that she desired Church 10 be
erected, upon particular spot, as a
memorial that hsnesiorih she dssi gntd
10 take them under hsrpeclfiar care
and protection. This injunction the
Indian joyfuIly obeyed, button present
ing himself to the Priest, he was coldy
repulsed, and his story treated as "a
fable. On the next morning, however,
he was again met by 1.-The VirgiA
Mother" and directed to return with
the same message, which he did, but
with no better success. Again she
appears to him, and says-'Co back
TO the Priest with my message-but
first repair to the top of the mountain,
and gather the roses you will find there,
and present them to him, in token Of
the authenticity Of your mission The
Indian obeyed; but with many mis-
givings. He felt that it was quite as
fruitless to look for roses upon a spot
SO proverbialIy bleak and barren as
the mountain to which he was direct
ed, as had been his former visits to the
Priest. Still he went on, and soon
his doubts were dissipatad by dis
covery Of the promised flowers. Thess
he carefully gathered, and Fastening
with them to the Priest, repeated his
miraculous story, and exhibited the
roses as the proof. The Priest was
still inclined 10 discredit it, but upon
examining the flowers he found painted
on the leaves likeness of "The Virgin
Mother" dressed in a rich. flowing
mantle, just as she had exhibited her.
self in her interviews with the Indian.
This was conclusive. The temple
was ordered to be built, and a new
Saint added to the Calendar Of the
Church, or rather an cid one in new
character, ''Ihe Virgin Mother" as
the Patroness OF the "Native Mexi.
cans" under the name of 1.-The Lacy
Of Gaudaloups."
1t is worthy of remark that he other
great national superstition, "Ihe La
dy Of Remedies" is also but a repre-
sertation of "i'he Virgin Mary" in a.
mother form. This superstition is said
10 have had its origin in the days Of
Cortes, and is nothing more than a
common waxen doll, which is still
carefully preserved in the city of Mex
leo, and is believed to have a miracu-
lous power in arres'lng diseases, and
averting threatened cajamities, wher-
ever carried.
Two Of our men employed in the
Quarter Masters department, named
Patterson and Raynes (from Illinois, J
were cruelty murdered BY some Mexi-
cans in the nejgbborhood, on " ednes-
day evening last.
The health Of our regiment is tolera-
bly, good, although our company re-
ports eleven on the sick list. There is
no case of seriousness, however, al this
moment, except one. Yours, &c.