Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-10
CuARsAvAcA. Mexico,
March A, lS4S.

MdECil +, lO4Cs ~
Dear &r:--Your favor Of the goth Dec.
from Iowa City, came safely to hand three
days aimee, for which you have my sincere
thanks.
One in the private walks of life, sur
rounded by friends and society, can hard
y conceive the qualification it gives us. SO
far from home and its endearments, to re-
ceive letters and information, from the We
ny spot, too, where we laid down the ha-
biliments of civil life, for those of war
We have neither books or papers to read
Spanish excepted, consequently mail
from the States is hailed by us with the
most rapturous delight.
The solicitude YOU evinced for my well
fare last Spring at St. Louis, is not for
gotten. I assure you had there been nc
other incentive but the confidence Of my
friends, to sustain me in the hour Of bat.
tie, that, and that alone, is sufficient in my
breast for any emergency. i'll know my.
self, | would rather die thousand deaths
than disappoint the confidence and ex pee
tations of my friends.
1t is a pleasing reflection to US, to have
the assurance that our country and friends
appreciate our services. Dollars and cents
could never compensate for our suferings
and hardships, saying nothing of the dan
gers. The appreciation Of our country and
friends can alone do this; It's all we ask
The 18th Regiment of Infantry, believe
has acquired more fame than any other OF
the "Ten Regiments raised last winter
but it has been earned at a great sacrifice
She has brought thirteen hundred men in.
to Mexico, one half of whom sleep beneath
the silent turf. One third of the men en-.
gagged in the battle, fell on the field o.
Churubusco. At Chepultepec, by the ar.
engagements, she was placed on the left
consequently the hindmost in the charge
But, thank God, she ,ras the first ON tn
ramports and into the fort, and nobly die
she retaliate for the murder of our woun.
ded on the field of Moline Del Rey. an
proud of the 18th, but will say no more
lest you think me egotistical.
You will perceive by the caption of this
that we are no longer in Chapultepec
neither are we in the beautiful valley o.
Mexico. A high and lofty range of noun.
tains devides us. This valley is about
two thousand feet lower than Mexico, ant
is said to be as hot as that of Vera Cruz
which should judge to be correct as ia,
as my knowledge goes. The different
seasons Of the year make no alteration il
the appearance of vegetation or the face o.
the valley generally; in fact the four sea.
sons here seem to have become blendid in.
is the raining season. which, sets sets ' IN The
fore part of May, and continues for about
two months, when am told it rains in.
cessantly.
This place contains population of ter
thousand, and is situated about sixty miles
from the city of Mexico (South) upon the
main route to the Pacific Ocean, and
should the efforts now being made for
peace prove abortive, force will be i'm
mediately sent there, and we shall COM
pose a part of that force-the distance
from here is but two hundred and fifty
miles.
| suppose you hear as much talk about
peace in the States as we do here. fear
it will all end in smoke. The powers
that be, as well as the better portion OF
the Mexican people, desire peace, but
do not believe the Mexican Congress dare
take the responsibility of ratilying any
thing that approaches to severance Of
their territory; and therefore will, if pos
sible, defeat the meeting of quorum.
These are only my opinions; hope
they are erroneous, but time must test
them. | will say however, should quo
rum get together, that they would proba-
bly, sanction anything to save their Nation
atty. But powerful influences are at
work, to prevent such meeting, and it
gives me pain to say that the strongest and
most powerful of these, are at home.
Sincerely, Your Friend,
F. o. BECKETT.