Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-12-23
miscellaneous.
a TALE OF THE mexican WAR.

A correspondent of the New Orleans Plea
yuuc furnishes laugbable incident Of the
Mexican War. Immediately after the battle
OF Cerro Gordo aud the pursuit OF Santa
Aura and Ampudia, a detachment Of Ameri-
can troops were ordered to take possession Of
one Of Santa Annals Eaciendas, a days ride
distant The detachment consisted Of fifty
men Having reached the hacienda at dark,
they proceeded to quarter themselves. 1t
was luxurious establishment. Marble,
bronzes and beautiful paintings, graced the
walls, and filed the inches while on every
side magnificent mirrors multiplied TO inGnity
tie splendors around In the grand banquet
ing hall, which was Of princely proportions,
mirrors covered one side Of the wall FROM
floor to ceiling. and when the glittering cham
delier was lighted, strange we're the contrasts
which their broad surfaces reflected. Here
work Of Grecian or Italian art, embodying
the idea of some sculptor poets dream
there, a bronzed and weather. beaten dragon
armed in all the panoply Of wars rough trade.
/ here q collection Of ornamental furniture, la
bles richly inlaid, flower vases and gilded and
embroidered ottomans; there pile Of sad
dies and holsters, carbines and sahres Vi
!
dettes were thrown cut, guards stationed,
! fires kindled, suppers prepared aud disposed
Of 1T midnight, after having given all the
Captain O, and Lieutenant {. (thc officers in
command, retired to their private quarters
in his Excellency's own magnificent sleeping
apartments.
We give the rest in the words Of the Cap
tain:
"A thousand little lady like elegancics were
lying scattered about. all showing the taste Of
the young and beautiful esposa Of his Excel
lcncy. and among other things. ! happened
TO set my eyes upon most recherche and
exquisite toaact de Haiet, called in our vul-
gar vcrnaeuIar IA night cap. TO sciz, upon
/ it immediately was my FIRST impulsc--to clap
the captured article upon the bead Of 9. Was
my second. lie was a remarkably handsome
young fellow. and as he took his place upon
one side Of lis Excellcncy's bed. certainly
looked the lady to the life. At the same
time, with as much dignity as could vel! as
sumo, surrendered myself to sleep as Santa
Anna on the other.
Was not this scene With the rich lace
friling drawn under bis chin. and concealing
the incipient down Of his whisker, the lieut.
enant certainly looked charmingly and femi
ninety beautiful, while fattcr myself that
played his Excellency tolcrably well as far as
appearance went, having certainly the advan-
tsge in dignity that two legs may have over
one. The lieutenant, who was Of course the
sole spectator, applaulcd to the skies. and
fattered me much upouniy chances Of success
as a delincator Of high diguita,ies. After a
succession Of hearty laughs at our strange ii
not ladicrous position, we finally fell Of IN a
deep sleep Which Was not destined to be Of
! long continuance.
it must have been past . o'clock in the
morning The officer OF the guard had long
since made his round with the relief, and all
save the sentries were doing their best to
sleep, when was suddculy aroused by roar
and crash, as though tremendous battering
train had dashed the bailding 10 atoms about
our ears and old Totten himself was coming
| Vera Cruz over the hacienda For the first
moment, although awakened was bewildar-
I ed; the next moment had seized my sabre,
and at once rushed to the hall where all the
men who were net cut on duty had boon
sleeping on their arms. As burst into the
room. sulphurous canopy of smoke was
curling up towards the ceiling beneath which
the men were standing in line carbines in
hand and gazing inteutly towards the wall
where once there had been mirrors. just
then, and before question had been asked
v;dette was brought H. who reported having
fred upou small party of gucrrillas evident
" accomplishing tic hacienda but who fnd-
ing US as they supposed in force, dashed of
at top speed when challenged
The whole rumpus was now explained
without word being said Hearing the re-
port Of the yidotte's carbine, our half reused
fellows sprang to their feet. faneyiug them
selves attacked aud installing, by the dim
and uncertain light, their own reflection in the
mirsers for an antagonist party, they had
blazed away. slap bang. into them, smashing
the beautiful glass into atoms. And that's
the way Santa Annals mirrors we're destroy
cd.