Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1847-10-27

WHUE IS 8VuTH1TlY CuIl6u III Inc kotul6S, HUE
downs or stag dances. All the females here
smoke. 'fhey sport their cigarettes in the
streets and in the saloons, ut the fandangoes
and in the parlor All kinds Of outdoor
business that rsquires dray or wagon, is
packed on the back Of mules or donkeys. !
have seen several travelling groceries on
the backs of donkeys; the bar keepers stop
ping occasionally to deal out glass Of Polka
a banana, or, perhaps, to sell to some dark
eyed Sonora, her fayorite cigarette.
There is stationed here one regiment of
Louisiana Volunteers, one Battalion Of the
Sd Regiment Illinois Volunteers and sever
al companies and fractional companies of
regiments, in all amounting to about 400
men. Our Notifications are strong and COM
plete, and adequate to operate against ten
times our number of the enemy.
| A few days since party of American pris-
oners, numbering 40, were brought in here
for an exchange. They were composed
principally Of Majors Gaines and Borland's
commands that were captured last winter,
and presented very sorry spectacle. They
were mostly barefooted, some had pieces of
hides tied on the soles of their feet. Hu-
manity and decency required that they
should have been better clothed. The heart
Of every American beat with sympathy and
revenge on witnessing so many brave and
noble spirits crushed down by on ignoble
foe, who. when in our power, never applied
for succor or protection but that they receive
ed it. These men when they were captur-
ed by the Mexicans, we're robbed of every
thing they possessed, even to their clothing
and blankets, and few oil, rags returned in
their place. They were often forced to per-
form long marches without clothing, and
exposed to all the sudden changes of for
eign climate; often travelling for days with
tfocd or nsmouthtul of water. Thisis true
outline Of the Mexican character. The r
pharasa!cal boast Of being ''magnanimous
people,, is all bombast. sincerely wish,
that the s'magnanimous" wing friends Mex
leo has IN the U. States, had been present
when these poor fellows arrived here. They
then probably would have had some feelings
OF sympathy for the suffering brave; but it is
extremely doubtful.
1t is currently rumored and believed here,
that Gen. Scott is in the city Of Mexico with
his army. 1t is certain that lie has gained
an important advantage over the molasses-
co'ored devils; but to what extent, can on
" learn from vague rumor. The effective
force OF our army here, is entirely to small
for the large field they have to operate in
Ou: active force in this country all this time
should be at least sc, 900 able bodied men,
Our numbers then would strike terror to the
enemy, save thousands OF valuable lives, and
be sufficient for any emergency.
| Let me earnestly urge upon volunteers
coming TO this country, the Importance of
making good selection of officers to COM
mand them-men who have some knowledge
of military duty and camp life. Ifthis i'm
portant matter is elected in the beginning,
it is almost impossible to correct i: after
wards, and subjects them to be imposed up
on and defrauded in hundred different
ways.
Sept. 2Sth.-Snce the Goth inst, the as
pect OF our camp has undergone great
change. Sickness and death have complete
ly overpowered US. At this time, there are
Only about 100 men in our battalion fit for
duty; the rest are sick or dead We have
lost but one man in our company by death.
Ills name Was STEPHEN HAWKINS, and from
P!atteuiile, ". T., He died on the Oath
inst, OF inflammation ofthe brain. We are
anxious!y waiting for the north winds to
commence blowing. r.n. w.
T. S.--Since writing the above, our Bat
talon has received orders to Join Gen. Scott
Scott has got command Of the city Of Mex-
co, and Santa has fallen back to Gaudaloupe,
and is making demonstrations for another
battle. The Mex:cans have offered to treat
for peace, providing our government would
take the Nueces as the boundary between
Texas and Mexico, and pay her war expen-
see. Corporal JOHN G.. McAL1srER, of
our company, has just died. He was from
Galena n d w