The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-20

that paper by an officer of the 4h artillery who made
one of the party" In the initials IS L. G. ;" many will
probably recognise young gentleman who was appoint
ed lieutenant from this District, and has claims to
the friendly ecolectons of our citizens He is young
officer of great merit His eloquent pen speaks for him
in the following production. His brave steord has been
in every engagement which has been fought under
the walls of Mexico In stormng the batlements OF
Chapultepee his cap was shot of by cannon-bals He
is an officer OF Rey's brigade Where they have been,
he has been there also
Ii is delightful for us TO turn moment from the
excitement OF party to the description of such striking
scenes nature exhibits in Mexico. This Will null
tpy the intellectual of both the parties 1t will
bring them better acquainted with each other opens
TO US the extraordinary landscapes in which Mexico
abounds the localities and productions of the country,
the strange character of her peoples whilst it will impress
them with the nfeority of their institutions, and stmu
late their energies with the example OF Free enerpr-
sing. and active republic.
We trust that when the is over and our army has
returned to their homes, shall be enabled TO enrich
columns with many beautiful extracts from their port
folios, like the folowing
from Outpost Guard.
The following account of the expedition to the Snow
Mountain has been kindly furnished by officer of
the 4th artillery. who made one OF the party
volcan dc ToIuca
Having beakfasted, and the day being fair a cloud
obscurDg the horizon, kettles, meats, and eata
bes of all kinds slowed away wagons together
with the knapsacks and blankets Of fifty men, who
had volunteered from the 4h artillery accompany
and about eight O'Clock the morning of the 18th March,
started upon expedition 10 the Snow Mountain OF
Touca In about two hours reached the hacienda OF
Guadalupe, passing the lille hill of Tlacotepec left
Procuring guides here, continued on and, with our
wagons entered three miles into the pine forest that
encces the mountain and there bvouacked for the night
Some three tents, brought in the wagons,
pitched houses Of pirotree boughs built; and in
short time the place had the appearance of small village
Huge fires sprung all around, if by magic and soon
every employed in cooking making bowers bring
ing from small by hunting dry wood
| for the fires. All was hustle, life, and harity
The soon set, and the wind now commenced blow
ing bringing up huge of clouds that the night
set in rainy and staress, seemed to fill every with
responding and anxiety for the weather the morrow
The cold and continued sitting around
fires, making merry with chocolate and hot punches fun
late hour when by the party stole of sleep
comfortably the number of blankets each man had
brought would permit him.
The morang before sunrise every one had prepared
his breakfast myself, then thought that nothing
could have tasted than did cup Of chocolate of
my make, and the leg of chicken Breakfast over
horses sadded and the guides eadins we were
winding way, pursuing narrow path through
| the forest, which seemed to me nterminable
AS had feared, the morning was cloudy and the
mist dense that could scarcely the guides before
us The trees became smaller and stunted
proceeded, and finally disappeared altogether We then
Sed into of wild ascending PRAIRIE covered
with long rank growth of grass which has the appear
ance from Toluca, of banks of sand Continuing
this prairie for three miles, arrived at the foot oil
steep hill On reaching the top of this we found that we
only separated from the highest peaks by deep
Intervening valley Passing through this, and up slight
elevation the other side, length stood at the base
of The towering snow-topped SUBMITS far above us.
Our party scattered some leaving their horses here.
commenced the Of the HILL whose base then
stood, while others continued towards the peaks beyond
the lakes My horse being completely exhausted lei
him, and commenced the first at hand. After
climbing short distance stopped and gazed with won
Ter upon the scene before My further be
perfect of pedup rocks--black, rent into
prsmatc blocks, and through whose crevices the eye
would occasionally penetrate into many dark recess.
The difficult and tiresome, from the raried
Of the that but few upward steps could be taken
time, and then the heart would throb with violence,
md the air in the lungs seem exhausted The head would
swin and until had inhaled copious draught of
iir, could he continue After climbing up for
han hour, completely exhausted, seated myself upon
projecting rock and gazed around bitter dsappont-
ment: dense mist and clouds hid everything from my
view. But whilst sitting here the gods seemed take
compassion me; and, in reward for my perseverance,
with blast swept the mist and clouds from before me-
revealing my longing eyes, in the far east, the
topped SUBMITS OF Popocaapt and lztachuat
Below lay the fertile valley of Touca, which, though
bounded the by lofty ridge seemed be shut
by the hills Over their tops could be the
far famed valley of Anahuac and still farther to my
right rose that mariners guide, high alo amid the clouds
The snow-topped peak of Orizaba. This dis
closed but for moment and again the envious mist
,houded all in obscurity.
Continuing the ascent last stood CHEST pima
Gle of this range and there only remained above me-
the opposite side OF the lake, whose deep blue waters
lay calm below the high unapproachabe peaks OF the
western ridge.
Again the mist, for instant, broke away, and looked
with longing eyes the west possible, the bright
OF the Pacific Bat this denied the was
densethe mist thick. Aud, later the day.
when the had broken out, and in measure dis.
PEELED the gloom, could still cach the west no glimpse
of its
remained here gazing around Tor time, and then
determined to let myself down towards the lake by the al
most perpendicular side which descends towards ever
silent waters Having proceeded short distance found
the undertaking much difficult than had imagined
it could be. AT times my foot occasionally fell upon
sonN huge rock 1t would shake, toer, leave its bed and
with noise like thunder, leap down from cag to crag
and bound into the gaping mouth of the below A
danger and much exertIon, reached the base
and, looking up again. scarcely could realize that
had descended from point SO high.
Our party scattered every part of the
mountain. On every snowto topped crag could be seon
moving figures who made the misty mountains echo and
reecho with their shouts and the reports Of mukets