Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-08-12
SALTiLLo, Mexico, July 5, 1916.

Dear -: write 10 inform you thai
another report has reached US that the Mexi-
cans are certainly advancing upon us, and
learn from a gentleman who has Just come in
from camp that the report is believed by Gen
Wool.--We have now pretty respectable
force, howeyer-some 300 and about 81
pieces OF artillery--and ii is hardly probable
that the enemy can muster sufficient strength
TO drive us from our position, unless they
should concentrate their whole energies in
this quarter. But must confess | have little
faith in these reports.-We have been so Of
ten stdnlpcded, Gas we call IT, that such re-
ports do not much affect us. Still there may
be some truth IN this one.
The health of the company has not been so
good for the last two days. | am now the on
Iy commissioned officer reported for duty,
with two Sergeants, three CorpoIals, and thlr-
y-seyen privates. None OF the new cases,
however, hope are serious. There are sew
eral OF those who have been aillng Tor some
time in the company thai would like TO have
discharged, because they are really burden
10 me, but such have been the fragrant lmpo
sltIUns practlsed by some of the volunteers al
ready discharged, tina; the Surgeons have be-
come chary about granting certificates, and
there is growing repugnance 10 dlSchargIng
by the commanding officer, whose approval
is necessary.-Thls is TO be regretted, because
| know that in many cases It operates, hardly,
il not unlustly, upon the really afflicted and
disabled soldier.
A report has reached us within few days,
whether true or not suppose you are better
informed that the Administration at Wash
ington have determined TO change the mode of
carrying on the war against MexicO--that in
stead OF forwarding provisions from home to
sustain our armies, and buying here whatev-
er may be more economically supplied, they
have directed us whitherSoeyer we 90, TO quar-
ter upon the enemy--lf this be SO, if II do
not leopard our subsistence. have no doubt
it will make the mass of the Mexicans feel
our presence far more sensbly than they have
hitherto done. 1t IS doubtful, indeed, wheth-
er the larger portion OF them have not been
actually benefited by our being amongst them
Every thing they have 10 sell brings enormous
prices.--Beei which might have been bough
for a cent pound is worth four or five, anc
so with other mcats.-Eggs which were {
drug at Cd. sell for so cts. the dozen, and eve
ry thing in about the same proportion.
The war, | understand, is operating with
peculiar benefit. in favor Of the peones. Mos
OF the marketing In our camps and garISonS
is carried on through them, and they are reap
ing quite harvest from H. Many OF them
by their sly gains, have been enabled to pay
off the debts held by their masters agains
them, and thus release themselves from servl
tude.--l have already, in former letter, de
scribed this system Of Mexican slavery. i
has some features, however, find, which
was not then apprlSed oi-A debtor may no
merely be compelled to render personal ser
I,.V h,,, L.
sold for the debt at the creditors whim or con
venence. | learn also that il is not unlre
quehtly the case that very Young person!
(minors) are thus aucuoned of, whether to
Their own debts or the debts OF their parents,
am not informed. 1t was but few week,
since that a girl OF about fourteen or ffteer
years of age, and boy of about the same age
were publicly sold in the streets OF Monterey
The girl brought iorty-hye dollars, and III,
boy seventy dollars.--They were bought by
American officers, and set at liberty-the cir
Internationally and the boy upon a prouiis
TO refund the purchase money, which an
told he has since done, by the profits of SOM
small traffic which they assisted him 10 en-
gage in. Nor is the system Of Mexican sla
very 50 accidental in its operation as might b.
supposed but il is perPetuated in famllle
pretty much as with US. II is quite an easl
matter for the master so to manage as TO keel
his peon constantly in his debt, and quite a
easy to involve the poems family in the obi
gation-Thus they are made to form distinc
class in the social SySem-quie as distinct a
that Of our own slaves in Virginia.
have often been struck, since | came II
Salullo, with the immence burdens which
some Of these peoneS are made 10 carry
There IS an old man, who goes many time
DUNG the day by ny quarters, with a hug
box OF new y made soap on his back--loat
enough nearly, should say, for mule Til,
poor old fellow goes along half bent, the DO,
lying on his back, aud kept from slipping of
by a cord and band which passes round hi
forehead
The farming utensils Of the Mexicans ar
really curiosity. only implements o
non are the hoe and the axe that | have We
seen. The plough is entirely Of wood, beiu!
formed out OF the body of tree, the branche
serving for handles. The farm vehicle is alst
entirely wood, the wheels either sawed out o
the body OF large tree Generally the ebony
or framed Of smaller timber pretty much hkt