Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1848-05-27
Life i'm Mexico.

lished tho copy Of a letter from a Scottish
soldier In tho American army, addressed
TO his brother In Scotland and stated that
through the same channel we had obtain.
ed possession Of n similar letter from n
gallant son Of the Emerald Isie to bis
brother In Ireland W. beg now to pres.
ens 10 our readers the following extracts:
Cry or Mexico, ls4s.
Ny dear James,
Lest the letter which ! wrote TO my
father should not reach, | think | may give
you some idea Of my travels since / parted
with you4
| sailed from Liverpool on the Let Octo.
Der, and arrived in New York ON The 9th
Nov. after u p%erilous p& sage. A gen.
tleman from Nenagh was my companion
on board, and we endeavoured to make
ourselves as happy as We possibly could on
the voyage. After visiting Canada, the
Falls Of Niagara, and other places, I found
myself without any means, In a foreign
land, without friends or acquaintance.
The state of New York was then raising d
Regiment Of volunteers for the war in
Mexico. and determined to join, and have
an opportunity Of seeing other countries.
| Immediately had my name enrolled, and
the company, which was composed ofIrish.
men and Germans, unsolicited, elected me
second SERGEANT. We sailed from Fort
Hamilton the first week in January ls47,
and landed safely on the island of Lobos,
on the Mexican frontiers, where we re.
NAMED for three or four weeks at exercise.
The whole army then moved off for Vera
Cfuz-the Gibraltar Of Mexico-wherc
We landed within thee miles Of the city,
and Immediately commenced the invest.
meit. Alter three weeks preparati n and
skirrnishing the bombardment was opened,
and continued for three days at the end
of which the city Of Vera Cruz surrender.
| ed at discretion. The Mexican soldiers
laid down their arms and were permitted
to depart on their parole Of honor not TO
serve against us until exchanged az prison.
ers Of war. Eight thousand infantry were
thus allowed to march with their figs fly.
ing and music playing but the same men
shortly thereafter, broke their parole and
fought against us at Sierra Cora.
After the capture Of Vera Cruz and the
fmpregnable castle Of San Juan de Ulloa,
We took up our march for the city Of Mexi-
co, about 80 miles distant. About so
miles from Vera Cruz we arrived at the
celebrated pass of Sierra GDrda, which
we found strongly fortified by General
Santa Anna, who had an army of 10000
men to defend the works. After a halt oil
three or four days for the arrival OF
our troops, and the opening 81 roads fl
our artillery, we commenced the attack
about two o'clock on Saturday the 18th
April le47, and the battle continued to rage
tfl darkness compelled the combatants 10
desist. The Mexicans cut Us up at a ter.
mendous rate on that evening, because,
from their favorable position, they could
have three 10 one engaged and theil
breastworks protected them from our as.
sault. We however succeeded in driving
them from where they were posted on !
high hill within half a mile Of their main
forts, and during the night we had an|
heavy artillery drawn up to the top 81 she
hill, readyto open upon them IN fhe MORN.
ing. Al day-break the battle fecansrso-
ced, and in the course oltwo hours We bad
all the main works carried by Storm, and
the Mexicans retreating hi every direction,
with the loss &c about 1900 killed and 5000
prisoners besides property TO an immense
amount, which their precipitate retreat
compelled them to abandon. We pursued
the enemy with mountain howitzers FOL
IL miles, and one Of my boots got SO crook.
ed from running over hills and valleys, ina.
had to throw it away, and afterwaFdl
travelled twenty miles TO Jalapa, with ons
boot After the chase we encamped on 81
extensive plain like the CurTagh Of Kildare
near i beautiful river. For two night
we slept without any covering but III,
canopy Of heaven, a0d have since done 8
Tor weeks togtheF but Notwithstanding,
thank God | have not had an hours sick
ness since | shook hands with you 81 th
Gate. We continued our naarch fror
Jalapa to Percte, and thea 4 aehla