The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1852-01-02
An Incidentrof the Mexican War.

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An IncidentFOf the Mexican War.
A correspondent of the N. o. Picayune
furnishes a laughable incident Of the Mexi-
Van war. Immediately after the battle of
Btsto sGordo and the rarsuit Of Santa Anna
and Ampudia, detachment of, American
troops was ordered to take possession of one
of Santa Anna's haciendas, days ride dis
tant. The detachment consisted of fifty
picked men. Having reached the hacienda
atdark, they proceeded to quarter themselves.
Itwas luxurious establishment. Marbles,
bpnze and beautiful paintings, graced the
walls, and filed the inches, while on every
side magnificent mirrors multiplied to inf
nily the splendor around. In the great ban
quoting hall, which was Of princely proper
ti0ns, mirrors covered one side of the wall
from floor to ceiling, and when the glittering
ch,ndelierwas lighted, strange were the con-
trdsts which their broad surfaces reflected. -
Here work of Grecian or Italian art, en-
bodying the idea Of some sculptor-poets
dream-there a bronzed and weather beaten
dragoon, armed in all the panoply of wars
rough trade here collection of ornamental
furniture, tables richly inlaid, flower vases
and gilded and embroidered ottomans there
pile Of saddles and holsters, carbines and
sabfes. Videttes were thrown out, guards
stationed, fires kindled, supper prepared and
disposed of. AT midnight, after having Civ
en- the necessary orders TO the guard againsta
surprise, Capt. o. and Lieut.. c., the officers
in command, retired to their own private
qualtersin in his Excellency's own magnificent
sleeping apartments, We give the rest in
hewords Of the Captain: ,t5 .,.,,
'sAthousand little lady like elegancies were
lying scattered about, all showing the taste
Of the young and beautiful espousa Of his
Excelency, and among other things ! hap
pened to set my eyes upon was most rech-
erche and exquisite bonnet de mutt, called, in
our vulgar venacular, night cap. To seize
, upon it Immediately was my first impulse
to clap the captured article upon the head
of E. was my second. He was remarkably
handsome young fellow, and as he took his
place on one side of his Excellency's bed
J certainly looked the lady to the life. At thu
!. same time, with as much dignity as conlt
! well assume, surrendered myself to sleel
: as Santa Anna on the other,
sss'Was nof this sceneY With the rici
lace frilling drawn under his chin, and con
!, cealilg the incipient down of his whiskers
: the lieutenant certainly looked charmingly
!. !, and effeminately beautiful, while hattered
! mysef that ! played his Excellency tolera-
: bly, veil as far as APPEARANCES went, having
: certainly the advantage in dignity that two
!, legs nave over one. The lieutenant, whowas
!. OF course the sole spectator, applauded 10 the
J, skies, and flattered me upon my chances oi
4 success as delineator of high dignitaries.-
After succession of hearty laughs at our
I strange if not ludicrous position, we finally
!. fell off into sleep which was not destined
= 10 BE- Of long continuance.
Itmust have been past two o'clock in the
! morning. The officer Of the guard had long
. since made his round with the reliefs, and all
sayethe sentries were doing their best 10 sleep,
4 when | was suddenly aroused by roar and
crash, as thought tremendous battering
: tain had dashed the building to atoms about
Dur ears, and old Trotter himself was coming
n Vera Cruz over the hacienda. For the first
# moment, although awakened, was bewild-
! cred and the next moment had seized my
= sabre, and at once rushed into the hall where
q all he men who were not out on duty had
IS been sleeping on their arms. AS burst in
d 10 the room, a sulphurous canopy Of smoke
was curling up toward the ceiling, beneath
which the men were standing in line,g cur
,r bines in hand, and gazing intently toward tht
T. wall where once there had been Mirrors
4 Just then, and before question had been ask
:. ed, a vidette was brought in, who reported
= having fired upon small party Of guerrilla'
It evidently reconnoitering the hacienda, bu
IS who finding US as they supposed in force, dash
led off at top speed when challenged
= "The whole rumpus was now explained
without word being said. Hearing the re
Iport of the vidett's carbine, our half-rouseC
r fellows sprang to their feet, fancying them
IN sslyes attacked, and mistaking, by the din
/. and uncertain light, their own reflection il
/. the mirrors for an antagonist party, they ha'
? blazed away, slap bang into them, smashin
ne the beautiful glass to atoms. And that's tn
re way Santa Annals mirrors were destroyed.
t. "The whole thing Of course flashed acros
~ my mind in an instant, and fairly screame
u with laughter. The men looked sheepis
i enough at first, but soon ageneral and expan
ne siye grin spread over every countenance, an
be the next moment perfect yell ofmerrimer
e burstiforth as an accompaniment to my ow
C. boisteious laughter. The noise was SO dea
n ening that il prevented me from noticin
ns what was occurring behind mel was ha
Sc stunned with the din. My own uniforn
n drawers and sabre, was ridiculous enough, an
had served to keep up the mirth Of the men
re- but there was greater food in my rear to il
lr- crease the peals which reverberated throug