New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-24
The Frankfort KY Commonwealth publishes the io''
lowing letter from WILLIAM WHITEHEAD one oil 'he
prisoners taken ut Eucanscion 10 bis mother

lowing letter from WILLIAM WHrEHEAr' one oil the
prisoners taken At Eucamscion 10 bis mother
Is PRrsox. Cry OF MEXICO April 2 lei7.
Dear M0tha For the hrst time 10 my lie taSe up
my pen in prison 10 write to you am well Al t1S
boys of our company that taken with me are wei
suppose you Ne heard how were taken prison
ers or at least you have heard that we were taken
Major Gaines Capt Clay and George Dayidson' win
thirty men went out on scout we wsh' soou, on,
hundred miles in advance Of our army, when we ten 10
with a scout OF the Arkansas regiment uhdet M'Jot
Borland. We stopped At hacienda one nignt ana con
cuded to 60 about sixty miles farther the next day 10
place called Saedo where we had heard mere was ABOUT
three thousand Mexican lsncers We started In the eve
ming and there came on heavy rain and got so dark
that our guide lost his way aud We were compelled
turn 10 Incarnation, where we had started from ahu
mt nm for the night Just before day seutrIes came
In aud told us thst they believed the Mexcans were
coming. We jumped up and some feared mat they
surrounding US Ihey were tnree lnous snu
strong At hrst we determined to hsht them they
came up playing on four brass bands 10 Was one OF the
urettiest sights ever They sent US an officer de
nsnding q surrender upon their own terms md farther
20 deliver up our guide We toldthem we would die on
the walls Of Encarnscion hrst Eucsrnacon - walled
around with high walls but We he'd no "ater and wa
Ter is very IN that part OF the country Al set
they said If would sufrunder We should % treated
AZ prisoners of war and our guide should hANe iar
! trial We then surrendered and We have been many
/ times since sorry that we dd so.
Ieould not help shedding few tears when parted
from my little Prsey Rnggold she was the best
| little mare IN the regiment
The next morning we started without ufeakiast ana
travelled thirty Elk miles foot There was Texan
Ranger a Captain (Henrie) who, toward evening made
bis escape The Mexican officer then ordered The whole
of US 10 be instantly killed but he thought better Of IT,
and tied us with ropes around the arms so tight that my
hand black snd my did not get over II tor two
| weeks The next day were tied around the body
sni driven along like dogs half the time without food
/ Our suffering. were very great Often have wished
for the bread have wasted 81 home. had money Win
me but il was OF no use il was IN Treasury Notes
The sun was 90 hot that we could hardly endure Il
We travelled from 80 to a. miles per day until We arry
ed Al the City of Mexico We had not been accustomed
10 walking for our duties about camp and on the march
kept us on horseback. When We reached Mexico we
we're put in Penieuiiary with some two OF three hun
DE eonvics with chains 10 their legs We get plenty
10 eat. such as tbs.
Think we will be exchanged in short tine for Gen
scott has taken Vera Cruz Old santa Anna left thi'
morning with fifteen thousand men 10 give scott oatue
Scott Will whip him, and will be here Ia lew days
hope YOU will not ieel uneasy about me Lieut. David
son John Swigert Wake HOlenan, and AL the boys are
well and hearty and feel more Ike giving the enemy
brush than ever I would jlst mention that have no
drank Gil OF liquor since have been IN the army
heard hst Gen Taylor had whipped the Mexican army
There must have been from twenty to thirty thousand
men under santa Anna. He had a company Of Whit
men deser,ers commanded by an lrsh fellow by th'
name OF Riley. think shall be tree before long.
will not lose any thing BY being IN the war II can &c
3 kmusfw w "