Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-04-29
San Fran isc0. .Mrch If 1852.
To The Editor ofMe NeuS;-

ol my whcreabout, | take the opportuni-
ty This evening 10 say that | arrived
safely at this place, at9 O'clock this,
Sunday morning. Of my departure
from Newport have not time TO enter
( into an accurate analysis, ere the de.
rarture Of the mail steamer CaIlornia,
which leaves for Panama tomorrow
morning. 1t must suffice tor The pres
ent, therefore, that II erely glance, as
the preacher has it, at 'thc head of the
discourse" which constitutes my theme
on the present occasion
/ l. left New York Oh the 10Th of Janua-
ry, in the steam er Falcon, accompanied
by as wild set Of vagat onds rs ever
sailed, undsclplined, beneath the gIoii-
ous flag OF the American Army. The
weather was intensely cold when We
/ started, but after some three or tour day S
/ smart sailing, il began to moderate until
about the 3Olh Of January, when we
found ourselves sweltering beneath Il
tropical sun, in the immediate neigh
borhood Of Kingston, Jamaica. AT this
place our gallant ship paused Oh her
bounding way, resting awhile her wings
for the necessary and very common
place purpose OF taking IN COAL
While the crew were engaged in the
aforesaid avocatlon, our glorious repre-
sentatiyes Of the American Army, as IN
duty bound, rccrcated themselves with
IA glorious spree. Some five hundred
of them, strong both in purpose and mo-
ney, (havlng been paid oil just before
leaving New York; made rush from
the ship and circulated both themselves
and their cash through the peaceful
streets OF Kingston much to the annoy
aucc Of the decent portion Of the inhabi-
tan,s and to the qualification Of the runs
sellers who were sufficiently mercenary
to del rive our men both of their money
and their brains. As matter OF course
the affair resulted in general Gght be-
tween the troops aud the natives and
in the attempt to aIlay the disturbance,
my poor unfortunate head was deprived
Of It's cap by IA blow from IA negroes
bludgeon. and bled somewhat freely, a
second time, in the blessed cause of my
country. The first action in which |
suffered you may remember, was the
battle Of Cerro Gordo this last encoun-
ter, par excellence, is termed by our Off
GERS 'Me battle Of jamaica"
Our next stopping place WAS at Ma
w Island, near the lsthmus, at which
place we took The railroad for IA distance
of eight miles. Thence we. proceeded
up the Chagres river to mud village
dignlGed with the name Of GOicOHa,-
and from thence marched To Panama,
over the perilous road OF which you
have heard so much, but, concerning
which. the halt has not been told. For
tmatcly, | was provided with "A mule.
OF believe that shou have left my
bones TO pave the mlry way. AT
times the path was so narrow and con-
fined far down between two prcclplces,
that ones feet Ton mule 6dcE) would abb
solutely brush against either side, - and
il became necessary, before attempting
the pass, 10 shout loudly, in order that
tle traveller entering III the contrary DIR
rcclion should be made aware ol your
close proximity and hglt- railroad fash
Ion-at one OF the turn-outs, until you
passed Add to tins lhat the ascent and
descent were sometimes SO precipltous
that your mule could only preserve his
footing by means of hobs made in the
solid rock, aud you will get FAINT idea
OF the passage over the lsthmus. We
arrived AT Panama. safe and sound, on
the 2d OF February, with the exception
OF several descrters, together with one
drowned IN Chagres river, and two Kill.
ed 10y the natives on ihe lsthmus.
At Panama, we all embarked OF board
the steamer California which Was 10
touch AT San Diego and leave my de-
tachment and then pro 'eed on with the
remainder ol the troops, under another
officer, tO Benicla. Several days after
leaving Panama we had fine weather.
but, before arriving at Acapulco. en-
counlcred gale which lasted twenty
four hours. 1t was the most irightlul
scene | ever witnessed, aud We expect
cd every moment that our engines would
give out in which case we must have
been inevitably lost, as we must have
swampcd. The billows broke entirely |
over the ship, carried away portion of |
the wheel house, broke the limbs Of /
several of the men and severely wound
ed others. The Officers aud ladies' were |
confined in the 81 oon, from which |
could be seen the work ol dcstruc,ion.-
All the men who could he slowed |
away were put below, while the remain
der on deck clung to the ropes for dear
life. At dinner, while we were seated |
at the table, trying TO eat a sea- broke
over the ship and came pouring down
the sky-Iight upon us to the destruction
both of dresses and provisions. You
may imagine there was some scamper-
ing-vsry few wanted to "hear grace,'