The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-01-22
Cotrcsrord,ncc Of al, Free T,nder.
Letter. from tic Editor.
NO. XVIII.
MoHcLovA, Nov. II, 1916.

Slon where therc Is no enemy TO
harass us, is but poorly calculated
TO furnish material for newspaper
paragraphs, SO that You must not be
surprised if my present communica-
ton is short one. The only achieve
ment of our army have to record
since my last letter is the taking of
about 800 mule loads, say 1000 lbs.
Of Mexican -four, that was on the
road to the Mexican army under
Santa Anna. A party Of dragons
with the Typographical corps, had
towards Saltillo, and to gather sup
plies for the army, and on the road,
about forty miles from here, over
took this train Of mules, and order
ed them to be bout faced. The
owners, il seems, were but seeking
a market for their -four, and instead
Of selling to Santa Anna, they were
bought out by Gen. Wool, who paid
them their own price, and sent them
away with their unloaded mules, in
peace.
We have not had word from
Taylor since we are here, although
the Gen. says lie should have had
two or three expresses, and the feer
is entertained that the expresses
have been cut of. Still We have
heard OF no enemy between here and
Monterey, except rumor, that was
picked zap by the detachment that
had gone out with the Typographical
corps, that they had been followed
some distance by 800 Camanches.
Their while speaking of rumors, ]
may as well say, toe, that il is the
current talk, know not upon what
authority. that Santa Anna has left
San Luis Potosi, and is making for
this place with 1900 men to give
Wool fight; and they have even
gone so far rs TO say that lie is at
present within two days march Of
Monclova, and that Taylor is close
upon his rear. Bat all this is The
idlcst kind OF talk and doubtless
amounts to nothing.
We shall leave here b. day after
tomorrow, the l9th, J but as to our
destination, | doubt whether Gen.
Wool himself knows where it is.
Certainly, there are but two ways
we can take. We 90 either towards
Chihuahua or San Luis Potosi. TO
either, our road leads us by SaItillo,
and 10 reach that point as speedily
as possible will be our first object.
There, the supposition is we Shall
await the orders Of Gen. Taylor, and
take whatever route he may put us
upon. The preferences OF the whole
army are decidedly for San Luis
Potosi, for there, it is believed there
will unqucstionably be big fight,
while the belief is equally strong
that there is more chance of starving
than Of being killed in battle if we
go to chihuahua.
Our officers are getting along We
ry smoothly again, considering all
things, and in battle would doubt
less pull together tremendously.
Shields is the favorite Gen, and
Hardin, doubtless, the top Colonel,
and if we have fight you will hear
from both. Gen. Wool has rra-
ciously paid our regiment the com
pliment to say that they only need
the uniform to be regulars, which is
considerable, if we "reckon" the
immense difference he seems to
think there is between regulars and
all ordinary volunteers.
There has been some hard swear
ing among the troops at being put
upon unhusked corn and Mexican
chops, with short rations of sugar
and coffee. But the diet is THOUGHT
to be healthy, and as large coffee
mills arc furnished to grind the corn.
and the exigency of the times de-
mands it, there has yet been no mu-
tiny.
Capt. Richardson, who is a favor
ito with all the officers and men that
know him, was very summarily put
under arrest by Gen. Wool the other
evening, while on guard, for not
having gwen ont the countersign in
time. The Gen. rode mp to the
guard, and the sentinel did not hail
him, stating that he had not rcceiy-
ed the countersign. Richardson,
being Capt. was presumed to be at