The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-02-11
lCnNTINI,En. |

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whether this was SO or not, commanders Of
Regiments had sent out large details from
each, for the purpose Of killing bceves, and
| about the time we were anticipating the re-
| turn of the parties, were ordered OH the
march encore, at 10 o'clock n. M. Our route
| now lay along the sh ores ofihc Gulf, the whole
distance to Alvarndo some II miles-,hc houu.l.
| less waste q! waters on our left and n row of
tall denaIrd cliffs ON orr right nnd the pnrch-
| ell sands beneath our feet, was all the variety
th's days scenery afforded rude cross, sup
ported by clastcr of Stones l.roil n:arl; Jed The
spot where some unfortunate one had fallen,
perhaps by lnwlcss hands And here it is ac-
counted pious act for one. passing by to add
still another stone to 81. pile. Early in the
! day, piece Of A"';'icry broke down and
small guard was left with il. This point seems
to have offered rnIlying place to numerous
| strugglcrs from the ranks, who perhaps unable
to proceed from physical affections, or other
| wise Indifferent about the honors consequent
| upon the conquest Of city, rcmnincd around
| the disabled gun to greet our return. They
said the natives visited them in numbers, and
! supplied them with fowls fruits and vpgcta
bes without pecuniary remuneration or only
such as they saw proper TO bestow aud in
| fer that was not much. We suffered this tlay
| more than any previous onc because the j is
| tance travcrsed was somewhat greater aud
| we had besides our former fnl s,ucs to contend
| with. The men began to lag behind as the
| march progressed, whilst We We're strung along
from our recent encampmeut to Alvaraio. 1t
was growing late. in the day when we arrived
| at Alvarado. The vessels Of war were riding
| quietly at anchor before the city already
in posscssi ion Of Lieut.. Hunter Some military
stores We're captured and also two small gov
ernment vessels. The lutt.r comprised prola
bly, all belonging t" their Navy. The i:hahi
; tnnts to the number Of ) 900 hnd mad. tracks
| long before We arrived in hearing. They car.
/ rIcd with them ali their ml,vc,bi- pulIcr. a
| few superrnnunted men and women were all
who remained III welcome the American \rmv
| Lieut. Hunter Was severely ccI@ur"l by his
superior "tii for thu part he bore III thus
! transaction. Probably they were envions OF
him likewise. for having harvested To himself u
a few slim honors. But subsequently, Congress
endorsed his conduct 10y Er"Inhing him to a
| higher gra'le. Aivara.lu is rather poorly sI,u-
nted for military defense: otherwise It's loca
tion is we'll selected. The Alvuraln, Il bread
lear stream flows softly bv the town its rls
cid bosom is studded with numerous Isl an,ls,
while gmrd.ns and flowers and groves Of iro1,.
ica fruit trees, environ their fertile shores The
city is we'll built and the Cathedr, is h-a,l-
tiful building and chas,e in its design. We
have appropriated large private residence
(Which we found stripped aud vnrated) to on
temporal use. This nights feasting Ia i'll all Of
our prev ious .l"ings far in The shade. Come
listen ali ye old gou'y Ep:cures as we'll Dys-
peptics from over fred,ny. while portray TO
your jaied appetitrs. n list of royal dainties-
soup made from the choice pnrts of river tur
tie, and II stew made of the posteriors npprn-
dage ofn fat young Alligator; aud to whic 1,
were added turtle eggs, fresh fish, sea crabs
| and fresh wheat bread, besides other vel eth
bles too volumnous to mention. Alligator fesE,
was to me, and while was haItinr upon
certain individual scruples about its propriety
others were smacking their lips " i,h gusto, and
all hands untel in its praises, while equa
thanks were being awarded our AbbeviIle
friend for having brought it on his back for the
past 20 miles. We were most agreeably enter
|
adventures offs. P. Co. H., who headed one of
the beef details sent out in the morning. lie
| said they traversed miles Of the prairi. with
out being able to get within gun shot Of the
cattle because of their willucss. and were fam
Ished for water. They made for one of those
green spots which like desert oasis marked
the.Presence of moisture. They found some
deep wells. and saw the sparkling fluid, but
beyond their utmost reach. Our narrator fell
upon an expelient which few would have
thought of having cut Two long poles and lash
ed them fast in the centre, he tied Ills brogau
to one end, and drew up sufficient supply OF
water for all the party. At this moment
large herd of cattle were seen coming towards
them. which perhaps were seeking the same
shadein which they were reclining. J. B., the
best shot in the party now made ready and
fred with complete success. Some rancho
ros who had observed their operations, came
up with large knives and assisted them about
the butchering. in the mean time that they
might take care Of tho offal with which they
went away well satisfied. We were not &C
comfortably located for the night as we had
imagined; for We were tormented out of sleep
by the vermin which appear to Inhaht tho
domicils of all classes. Besides the sand fliet
and musque'oes are quite as nq,nepous as they
are about the village Of Madelon. In addition
We were subjected to tho poisonous thing of
species of ant whose presence wsssnost annoy
ing. April Sd. We are ordered to remain il
Alvarado until to-morrow for the purpose o
, recruiting our physical energies. which by tn
way they vastly needed. During the day W
: diversified our pastimes in looking at the cit,
enyrens. and in bathing aud angling; from
Appearances We are in. tho rnids. Of tropica
llfs' and tropical scenery. The soil 10 unsur-
passed for it's fertility which kept continual.
!, moist bya humid atmosphere aud aqueous de
: posits. vegetable matter attained an astouisl,
3 ing strength and beauty. Nature seems to b.
T in e1ces with everything.
Those plsnts. vines and aowerets. are matte
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