Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-04-03
CENTRAL ARMY.
CONTINUED from last weekly

On the Gath OF November--the armistice
having expired the whole division, with
tie exception Of a command Of men
which was left to guard the depot at Mon.
clova, took up its line of march for Parras,
nearly southwest. If you will lay before
you Spanish or Mexican map. you will be
able TO trace our route through the folio ".
ing places--viz: Cas,ano. Marques, Baian,
La Jova-through the Punta de Estanosa.
Punta de Reata--Jarai, San Antonio. Yen.
Ella, CieEega, Grande, Galera, and Ojuelos.
on to Parras, at which place we arrived the
5th instant, and are now encamped before
the town.
Parras is said to contain 5000 inha bitants.
1t is built in such manner as to render it
more difficult Of capture than any town we
have yet seen in the republic. The streets
+are exceedingly narrow and crooked; and
nearly every one of them has on each side
a thick adobe wall, some ten or twelve feet
in height. A high range Of mountains rises
up Immediately in the rear Of the city, ca
silly to be maintained; while along It's entire
front, and sklrting each Of its TANKS, are
immense vineyards, surrounded, also, by
walls of great height and thickness. It's sill,
uation is at the foot Of the celebrated Boil.
son de Mapami, and is about 100 miles
from Saltillo, 900 from Durango, 800 from
San Luis Po,osl, $50 from Monterey, and
$50 from Chihuahua. 1t is represented as
being near the centre of the best grain
growing region in Mexco; the business OF
the place, however, is the culture of the
grape, and large quantities OF wine and
brandy, of superior quality, are annually
transported on the backs of mules to all the
principle towns throughout, the country.
This city heing the key to Chihuahua.
General Wo was anxious to reach it much
earlier than he dd--and would have done
so by nearly a month, had it not been for
the armistice as has already been shown
Once being here he would be at liberty to
90 with his whole force TO that place, or
send detachment to take possession of it;
while the rest would be free to co operate
with the army Of occupation, or 10 move on
Durango or Zacaecds, as the exgences OF
the service should most require. As it was,
however, previous to his arrival here intel
ligence was received that mos, Of the troops
which had assembled in the upper provln-
ces had fallen back upon the lower, there
by rendering the necessity Of the whole d.
vision marching in that direction, on, of the
question. And now, the near proximity OF
Santa Anna, and the grea, efforts he is ma,
king to concentrate and prepare for the
field the most formidable army Mexico has
ever arrayed against US, imperious'y de-
mands that we remain at or near the posi-.
ton we al present occupy. that we may be
ready at any moment to form junction
with General Taylor, and perform our part
in the most fearful game that has been play
ed for many year, and one in which we
have Santa Anna for an antagonist--Out
who yet has been able TO compute the
stakes
have already made this letter too long;
but before | close it, permit me to say that,
for the maintenance Of this column, almost
every article, whether of ammunition, sub,
sistence or other stores, had to be transport
ted from La Vacca here, a distance Of 900
miles. The labor required to procure the
necessary wagons, teams, &c. and to orga.
nize them into trains. though great IN itself,
was not to be considered in comparison
with that of guarding them through a hos.
tile and, IN measure, unknown country,
and bringing them, without loss, over desc.
late plains. rapid and almost impossible riv
ers-over high sierras, and through danger
Gus defes, where it was incumben, upon
eperv man not only 10 exercise the utmost
vigilance, but literally to put his shoulder to
the wheel. Wherever we went, the neces
sites Of our position urgently demanded
thar we should be encountered with all these