Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-01-14
FROM GEN ERAL pATTERsoN,s TRAIN

" JALAPA, Nov. "a, 1847.
sent off an unfinished letter to you last
night, and when interrupted by the information
that a courier was on the point of starting, |
was gong on to speak of the intense feeling
manifested by the most influential people in
town IN favor of Lieut.. Alcalde, who, with Adj
Jutant Garcia, is to be shot to-day, at noon,
Tar a violation of their parole of honor. So
deeply Were my feelings wrought upon by the
scenes OF last evening-the crowds of suppl
eating women-the solemn but animated coun-
t~enances OF Mexican generals, priests and Dig
nltied citizens, as they plead for the lives Of
those who had SO basely forfeited them, that
L dreamed of nothing else last night but exc
cutlons, priests, and crying women.
The degrading confession, on the part of the
most respectable Mexican citizens that it is
considered no:dlsgrace, no crime for a Mexican
oftlcer to violate his parole of honor while an
enlarged prisoner OF war, or even for him to Join
a band OF cut-throats while yet a prisoner, and
lie in wait to kill those to whom he owes his
life and freedom-to whom, in fact, his life be-
longs. IS enough to excuse us from putting any
faith IN future in the promises of Mexican Off
GERS. 1t is time, too, to give these individuals
a few salutary lessons in the school of honor,
and to cause them to hold inviolate the almost
only barrier against wars of determination, viz:
the soldiers parole.
The two criminals spent the whole of last
night in the church with priests, a strong guard
being placed over them. Their collins have al
ready been conveyed to the place of execution
and IN less than an hour the two wretched men
will die, as they hardly deserve to die, a sol
dier's death, and they will appear before ahigh-
er judge, who will decide whether it be wrong
to take the life of a professional soldier for a
violation OF the most sacred and humaniziug
feature in civilized warfare. Yesterday the
citizens of Jalapa witnessed an act of Ameri-
can justice, today they will see another.
HGgcpast II oiciOck.-The execution is over.
The prisoners marched blindfolded to the pla-
"a; a priest attending them. They were in
full uniform, and behaved with as much firm
ness. as, could be expected of men under such
circumstances. Each was supported by a friend
at either arm, and were led to the side of the
plaza and seated upon their collins, near the
wall of the barracks. They continued their de-
votions aloud, after embracing a few friends
until the word 'frel' when both fell back dead
scarcely moving a muscle. The troops ander
Gen. Patterson were ali paraded again. and
not only looked very well, but behaved as they
did yesterday, with perfect propriety. The
bodies of the executed officers were given over
to their friends, and soon conveyed away in
neat collins. Thousands of Mexicans focked
towards the scene, but were prudently kept
out of the plaza. The excitement which pre-
vailed yesterday among the inhabitants seems
in a measure to have subsidized to-day-but
whether it yielded to a sense Of justice or to
awe, remains to be seen.
The colonel and captain guerrilla officers
were sentfup this morning to Perote, in charge
Of the first Pennsylvania and Georgia regi
ments there to await their trial. 1t is more
than probable that they, too. have broken theil
parole, put | really hope for human .decency's
sake, that they have not been guilty of so in
excusable and disgusting an offence.
We are off again tomorrow morning sc
farewell, or rather, an reDOtr. b.