Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-07-27
From Grahams Magazine.
THE WOUNDED GUERILLA,

OK n TALE OF THE LATE CAMPAuIN.
The city of Puebla lies in the centre of an
immense PLATEAU, seven thousand feet above the
sea level, and bordered by mountains of more
than twice this altitude. Malinchi, rendered cIas-
! sic in tie history Of tine first conquest, rises on
the north; the Pinal bars up the eastern passes,
while the great Cordillera of the Rio Frio forms
its westetn boundary, thus separating the two
great valleys Of Puebla and Mexico by an al
most impossible barrier. In this ridge lie the
great snow mountain Of Popocatepcc and the
"White Woman, Ia nauger 6laaca) known po-
etically as the "Twn Sisters"
These mountains soar far above the regions of
eternal snow. Popocatepcc is a cone, and the
gray fringe that marks the blending of the white
glacier and the dark Pines Of the mountain tur-
est, forms the circumference ola horizontal circle.
On the White Woman the snow line is more
irregular. On both mountains its altitude is va
riable, according to the season and the heat of
the sun. Thus the melting Of the SHOWS in the
su!try months of summer, throws the gray fringe
higher up the sides of Popocatepec ard Ixtci-
husth and irrigates the broad plains of Puebla
and Tlascala.
But for the snow-crowned mountains the pla-
teau of Puebla would be barren desert. As it
is, the western segment Of this plain may be
termed the garden spot of Mexico.
As the traveller emerges from the western gate
of Puebla, he behulds one of the loveliest pic
lures in the world The delighted eye roalns
over broad fields of corn and wheat, and fri
jolcs." bordercd by fence rows Of the pturesque
magucy-here and there the cupolas OF rich ha
eendas-thc tufrets Of a fourishing village, and
the spires of rural church varigate the green
landscape. while in the distance rises the dark
Corderas of the Mexican Andes, over whose
gloomy forests and frowning cl,asms the snowy
crcsts of the Twin Sisters" glisten with daz-
zling whitness.
This is, perhaps, the fairest picture in Mexico.
Its beauty, however, did not protect it from the
desoating influence of war, and during the oc-
cupation of Peubla by the American army,
bands of robbers under the name of "guer lie
ros," alike hostile to Mexican and American,
roamed over the fairest portions Of this district,
committing every species of outrage upon its
peaceful inhabitants.
The Americas army entered Puchla in the
month Of May, lS47. The inhabitants, one
hundred thousand in number, were struck with
astoniShment at the boldncss Of the act They
had been expecting an army OF at least ten thou.
sand men. instrnd Of this, n1ncty dragO0ns
role into the plaza alone, where they halted to
await the ad ance Of the army, in all, not num-
bering four thousand men. Hundreds of McXi-
cans counted our soldiers as they crossed the
bridge of Nochcbucna," AMI the feeling that
existed in the breasts of the Pobanos after our
entry into their city, was ne of shame, that they
had permitted such handful Of men to take
the old and warlike town Of pucb!a, without a
blow having been struck in its defence.
They yhtapparenty have stoned us to death.
Santa Anna rcpascd ut Amozoc, hal retreat
ed upon San Martin, and now held thai fair dis
trict with his ri.bblc soldiery.
On finding tha, it was not in the powerot the
American commander to advance beyond Pucbla.
for a time, the bright idea struck Santa Anna Of
rousu. the national pride ON c more in defence
of their capital. lie consequently crossed the
mountains of Rio Frio, and commenced fortity
ing the ancient city of the Aztcc>, leaving, how
ever large guerrilla force, who roamed at will
over the western plain Of Pueba and occupied
San Martin. Taxcaa and AtliXco. These at
first commenced hostilities by stopping the sup
plies of the Peubla market, which depends al
together upon the fertile districts Of the west.
Finding however, that the American gold re-
ceived in exchange for the fruits and vegetables
of San Martin, served their purposes better than
revenge, the guerias at length permitted the
produce to pass, levying heavy contribution
upon each article.
The hated "alcabala," was abolished at the
city gates, and the Indians and rancheros of Cho
hula, San Pablo, and San Martin, hocked to the
grand Plaza Of Pucbla
1t was a rare sight in the bright mornings of
June. this Plaza Of Pueb!a. Hundreds Of Indian
girls seated in groups under their awnings Of "pe
tate<," gaylcy chatting with one another, Or
laughing with clear ringing laugh at the bad
Spanish of the American soldier. Who says
that the indians Of Mexico are a detected race
No such thing. We have seen more bright hap
py faces in the markets Of PucbIa than any where
ese.-Tle slightest witticsrn--a miSpronuncia-
ton of the name of any OF their wares by 4
foreign tongue, will elicit pcas Of laughter from
these merry market girls while the almost con-
slant display Of their snail pearlv teeth and
sparkling eyes evinces the lightness Of their
hearts.
The remnants of several nations exist in the
plains Of Puebla. These may be easily diStin-
guiShed in the streets Of the city by singular
custom. a few strans of wor>ted thread, blue,
crimson or purple, are twisted into the paits of
their hair. The difference of color in this wors-
tnd marks thc tribe or yillarc TO which the wcarer