The daily union., 1852-09-29
A Letter from Captain zachariah Downing 10
his brother, Major Jack Downing.
wAsHsoros. Sept. IS. 1859.
To Major JACK DowkIEG,
Down ingville, Stale OF Maine

my hands jest now, and nolhn particular 10 do thought
I'D write you letter to let you know that Eve ay here
sale from the Rio Grande and seen your letter to Gales
x Seaon, which they published-shane on um for yio-
laing the honor OF your private lelters-n their nel
gencer OF day fore yesterday. was glad, though, 10
heer that you had fears that Scott might get the
lection and that that pesky dro criler Cousin JOEL
couldn't help hurrang for Scott tho he diunt mean to
vote for him. As for me, if | git back TO Down
ingville. you may write il down our suller door,
with piece OF chalk, as ixt fack"as Gneral Cush
ing used to saythat vote the Scott ticket tho say
raley think i'll be vote hrowed away for. ben rite
here in the very hickest of this ectoneerng squabbe
dew positively blieye that Scott is agoin 10 be licked all
tew flinders, and Sargent Joel ism; the ony one by
darnaton sight, tharl whorah for Scott and 20 rite off
and vote for Pierce I've found that out if nothin else
ldew suppose, wixt you and Major, that know Jest
about as much about Scott emmy other livn man You
know Jest as soon the drum tapped in Downngvle
for volunteers tew go tew Mexico, was on hand and
CESS wasn't slow nulher You recolec how tarnaIly
skeerd Aunt Keziah The first morning arter
when got out fathers old kings arm, put in hanfu OF
powder and let her strip OF our back kitchen door
Aunt kezah jumped right out hed Jest as she was
and running down, screaming out has there bin
arh quake " and there l stood, with the old kings
arm in my hand, snckeng rite out TO how SIX eeTed
she looked. And |, claw, Aunt, that was nothin
but the mornin gun; we've got glorious now, and
be g,n ready TO fight the innimy and we must
every
eayenn, till set out for Mexico intend TO wake IN the
naberhood with a gun" "Yew Zacarah I" saws She
you tarnal pesky critte shall be glad when yew are
gone, Tor you've skeered me cen jest tew deth and
dew believe you will be the deth OF me y" jest as she
said that Captain, he round the corner OF the
house, and got glim pse of Aunt Keziah ung dishab
the French say and the way she did streak IN the
back stairs SO, into sich arf that thought should
split open and for the Captain fust he seemed
kinder dumb founded but in mint so, when he come
TO find out jest how matters STOOD and harm DONE he
ned in, and we larlt it out But poor Aunt Kezah she
mortified like at being kitched ung distaJH tina,
she could look the Captain in the face agn the
whole durin time he staid in Downingvie ( kinder
spose you remember all this, but thought I'd Jest call il
back to your mind.
And now Major. Pm going TO tell you all about what
Pye and heered since | left Downngvle I've
kept putty well posted up in short letters but now
I'll give you the particulars.
When volunteered. | thought, OF course should
march rite TO Mexico under Gineral Scott; for
thought, as he was the commandern chief he'd be sure
TO be the fust to go; but when we got TO New York
they told us he Altered of Citing shot behind if he
started and so we had to put of without him I was
considerable womblecrop at that, because I'd heered SO
much of his not ben afead OF anything MORTAL either in
his front rear, that did feel if my opinion of him
was let down one button. hole of my galasses at least
But there help for it, and SO off we started for
Old Zack, and on went In September towards Mex
leo. by way of Seralvo and Monteray We had fighting
enuf, le you Major, and thought no more of seeing
feers rains all smashed out By ball right a,
my elbow that Uncle Josh would think OF knockin down
heffer to bucher Our officers killed off so fast
that il warn long before got to be leenant and ar,er
that captain And when we got to place called Buny
Visty found Santa Anna with Mexican troops enuf
TO all ups and he, like tarna fool, sent word
Old Zack TO surrender Says Old Zsck, says he, al de-
cline surrenderng jest - and at we went and
put il to 'em in the hottest kind of syle-I guess you
never heerd sich banging in all your life, even when
10 have Downingville mus,ers and sham
fights, when you dashing thru the smoke on your
old gray horse singing ont "Gve il 10 'em LIST Flsod
wood-make ready-,ake aim, fire p And when and
Sargent Joel brought mp the old sxpounder and lei her
off, ker bang, rite into the sth Bean -poes il nohin 10
be compared TO the darnaon racket they made Buny
Visty We licked Santa Anna and all his 10000 men
like sack, and then cakated 10 have eelle resin
spell.
But Gineral Scott, havn got bein aeared OF that
fire in his reer had out for Very Cuce and as soon as
he heard how Old Zick agong omit at Monterey he
begun be afeerd that all the shine would be taken off OF
his buons and what does he dew but he sends and
ders good part OF Old Zacks soldiers right away
down 10 Very Cruce good part OF the army had 10
start rite off before the battle of Buny Visy; bat did nj
go till arier that glorious hte High as my
opinion OF Gineral Scott, thought he didn't treat
Old Zack eXicly rite about that matter, and shouldn't
wonder II he had kind OF notion that Old Zlck
wouldn't dare to fte anuther battle arer so mlny men
taken away but he warn't TO be in that
ways bleve he would have fit the devil himself with all
his leuns a, his back and beat him ta hated to leave
Old Zack; for | had got 10 like him he was such a
real, rileup- down old chap, AMI warnt sfeered
nulher OF a fire either n front or reer When we got
down Scott had got into Very Cruce, and getting
ready as fast as he could TO go on towards Mexico
hadn't been in his camp long afore he sent for me TO
tew his quarlers Thinks |, what in thunder does
this mean, when his orderly steps up 10 me, and seq he
he, captain Downing he "lhe commander chief
wants YOU" sea he. "Wal" sez I, 'ell the Gin.
era I'll be there afoe he can count fifty" And OF
went 10 see him
When got there, seq he, Capt Downing, under.
stand you from DJwningville, the State OF Maine"
"Jes true, General" l. "as the book OF Ginesis"
Are you any related TO Major Jack Downing Of that
same place." sea he. "Nothng higher than his own
broheT" l. The Gineral riz right up, and il seemed
to me as II he full tall Uncle Joshes tsllest
hop-poe, and he Captain I'm delighted 10 hear H.
for know wha, smart fellow the Major is, but he
has always taken the rong side want 10 get you rite
for have no doubt you help me considerable" Sez
l. Ginera never did exacly agree with Brother Jack
in his supportin your old inimy General Jackson, and
Van Buren, and Polk, and them are sort of men, and
line ready TO take rite hold in real arnest and do all
can Tor You but you must tell me Jest what ts you're
ariet" Wel, Captain" he, ''to be plain with you
want to be President OF the United Satesp | couldn't