The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-04-01
VOLUME 6---N0. 48.
FOR THE INDEPENDENT PRESS.
INCIDENTS OF THE
MEXICAN CAMPAIGN,
March to Puebla Continued.
hY A MEMBER OF THE PALMETTO REGIMEN

officers in the Volunteer service was stationed
in garrison at Pcro,e, with a competent force
of foot and horse.
Nav lOth.-We resumed our march ut 10
=. IN, Gen. Worth's division having moved Tor
ward Yesterday evening, which threw ours
DAYS march in the rear. But Mt time We
were more than five hours apart, and we
arrived in the vicinity of Puebla, the columns
became more closely app, oximatci Our Army
News is rite with intelligence respecting the
movements Of our and the enemy's forces. Ru
Inors are Indigenous products Of camp. and
what they start from, or how they ever start
at all knows, and subsequently, when
we were shut up In garrison, 2J0D miles from
home. and there was no earthly opportunity
6or news to get either in or out ofquarters,
then heard more than ever did before.
Early i'll the evening we reached SdtHdo.
which is also military station, some ten miles
from Perote. We occupied sleeping apart
ments a number of horse stalls that were pref
ty we'll Fl lied nth leas. And will state for
the qualification Of the curious that the Mexi-
eau race of vermin are size larger than our
own, ard their sting is in proportion to their
increased physical powers, Of which we had
conclusive ev idence. We are supplied with
water from u we'll 400 feet deep. The buckets
are drawn up by rope and vertical windlass
turned by a mule. estimated its depth by
the number Of coils around the wheel, which
judged to be Eve feet in diameter. A couple Of
the natives were engaged all night in draw ing
up sufficient supply for our consumption
though they drew up rs much ns ten gallons
1T time. This will serve to convey some
idea of what nn enormous amo unit Of water is
requisite to water army Of men and brutes.
The laborers were paid two dollars each for
their services which is large sum Of money
to poor man in this country.
Morpiug Of the llth.- arc again en- route
over the same desolnte looking lundscape. This
section is called by the natives Nal Pals and
heantily endorse the sentiment. No one can
conceive of n more monotonoua. barren and
desolate region, and our hearts almost sank
within us at the cheerless prospect. Not an
object was discern ibe within the scope of our
vision. Not even withered shrub or distant
undulntion to base a hope upon. No renova-
ting ehower nor kindly dew had fallen upon
this dreary md parched desert for by-gone
months and perhaps years. And as We drag
ged our worn and suffering limbs across it.
time itself grew weary, and minutes seemed
heightened into hours. And isolated hills now
appeared in our front. and wound our
course more to its left. the cupulas and spires
of a distant town appeared in view, and which
pointed out our quarters for the night. Almost
famished for water. and exhausted with hun
ger and fatigue, we halted for the night at the
filthy town called 7',pcyag"alco. We are sup
piled with water from wells not exceeding ten
feet in depth. Our sleeping apartments were
.cornfortless those o f last night. Some of the
men a little more refined than others occupied
the commodious troughs as a better guarantee
against the annoyance of the fleas. But upon
examination of their BLANKETS, they discovered
they had brought good supply with them
from Salado. The inhabitants Of Mexico are
found to dwell mostly in large commun tiles,
that they may afford mutual protection to one
another. against the depredat,ons of the lawless
bands Of desperadus who in fest the mountain
regions. The houses in all Mexico are con-
structed similarly to Notifications. The OPEN
ings are all barricaded with iron bars, and
there Is but one entrance froln the streets,
which is closed as occasion requires by pair
of massive gates.
Morning of the 12ti, we are again under
way at early light. Two privates Of Capt
"illiams company named Werners. who were
brothers, were left in quarters. the one dead
and the other dying. The natives promised
faithfully to have them deeenty Inferred, and
for which expected trouble they were paid in
cash, and thus small portion of the surplut
State fund was very judiciously accounted for
subsequently we learned that the dying man
recovered through, the Kindness and good
nursing Of our landlady, and ultimately reached
his home in safety. sincerely hope that he
did. Whatever may have been said derogatory
to the character of the Mexican women We
have met with many redeeming traits in them
and which would shed yirtuous lustre upor
the sex in any community. The custom of 60
.ciety here tolerates q certain looeene.s of NOR
ala, and what may appear to US as unbecomipe
in their deneauor, they are not conscious o
themselves. Allowances must and should b,
made. and 10 stigmatise the whole of then
with q lack of virtue is unjust and unfair.
This days march will never be forgotten, 81
RoDg%es 2 member of Gen. Quitman's Brigad
lives. : The heat is almost insupportable to tn
men and animals. If he,remans of our me-
and harsss which perished on this and subse
queut marches, had been collected together, th
- route. from Perote to Peubla. might have bee
paved with their bones, Many of our poo
fellows hsye fallen, .exhsqsted and faintips b
the wayside: IN addition to empty wsgon
which have been bronghts saiong for the. .nss {
the siok, every lisision. isfuruishsd with on
or two. -Am6aages,, that are intended for stb
accommodation { of,sthe Officers. They AZ
something like 4 jsrssy, IEhtaad .oenmodiou
and sre dravnby four horses. All this la
our.eol6np ,Esmindsd me Of = funera eoftegt
sndxeascsiya sotdwaa exchanged fortourst
gsthsr. An immense canopy Of dHst thoysrs,
over our afneoF maren, and settling down upo
hsDf6eSrs and men, zsit were spparsnsiy le,
sled ,tos the ,ssyoe a distinction OF rank ri
rnonpt pgas slan ki6g ;of sswords Ind sbsyonel
sgstYsssapr tanpty oantesase conveyed ssthe Ad
pressise reality, that all were q Ike saeiel
h tbe. Hfssu,tsfnips bsvsrses. "%''