The National tribune., 1901-10-03
earthwork, mounting at present but four

guns
Opposite BRACES, on the other side CT
the Boca Chica, is Point Isabel, noted as
having been the place of Decentralization
of our troops under Gen. Scott. A few
miles above this point are the battlefelds
of PalO Alto and. Resaca-de-la-Palma.
VISIT TO BAGDAD.
During our sojourn at Brazos l had the
satisfaction of paying a visit to Bagdad.
little Mexican town at the mouth of
the Rio Grande. Reaching GAINESVILLE, a
small military post on the Texas side of
the river, | engaged boatman to take me
across, and soon experienced the novelty
of setting foot for the first time on foreign
SOIL
With regard to Bagdad it requires but
a cursory view to give the visitor most
unfavorable impression of the place; and
one visit to that town during lifetime
is sufficient to satisfy any person of
ordinary temperament. Although its
name has been associated with scenes of
enchantment in that marvellous volume
called the Arabian Nights Entertain
ments," still this modern Bagdad, unlike
its oriental namesake, is far from being
invested with romantic interest, and is
wholly devoid of every essential charac-
teristic of ''fairy-land."
The buildings are mostly low, rough
board structures; the streets are narrow
and full of filth; and some of them are so
that they are completely flooded with
stagnant water; in consequence of which
a pedestrian is obliged to walk on boxes
and extemporized foot bridges of boards
in crossing from one side to the other.
All sanitary measures seem to be
neglected. the garbage of the place is
thrown prOmiScuouSly into the public
thoroughfares; and even the bodies of
dead animals are suffered to decompose
under the very noses of the inhabitants.
That place so excessively filthy, in so
warm a latitude, can escape raging cpl
denies; is mater of great wonder.
| was somewhat amused at the free
and easy customs of the people, many
of whom seem to regard clothing as an
article of fashion rather than of real utili-
ty. A hat and a pair of shoes constituted
the sole apparel of some of the juveniles
that | saw on the street.
French and Mexicans compose the
greater portion of the inhabitants, some
of the latter of which are soldiers in the
Imperial service. Their unifOrm-if uni
form it can be called-consists of a white
fatigue cap, la militaire; sort of gray
blouse, half frock style, trimmed with
green lace; while their pants seem to par
take of no particular uniformity as re-
CARDS color or material. Some of them
wear sort of sandal, consisting OF the
sole of a shoe, strapped to their feet; and
all are dirty, hstiess, and unsoldierly in
appearance.
Having seen Bagdad to my satisfaction,
l was about preparing, at o'clock, to
start for camp, when heavy thunder
storm set in from the northeast, submerg-
ing in a very short time every street in
the place. After waiting till nearly sun
set for the storm to cease, without dis
covering any signs of such desired
meteorological change, l made up my
mind that between the two evils of stay
ing in Bagdad over night and facing the
tempest to camp, L would choose the lat
ter; and so in few minutes after form
ing my resolution l was again in the sad
die, and under full way for headquarters
at Brazos, where / arrived a little after
dark. thoroughly drenched to the skin.
On reaching camp l found things in a
decidedly unpleasant condition. The
tornado had FRUSTRATED part of the tents,
mine among others, and everywhere
around headquarters the water was ankle
deep. So here | found myself, without a
dry thread to my clothing, my tent in
state of collapse, everything afiOat, and
night already arrived. The prospect was
truly dubious. This was a part of my
days experience that had not bargained
fora part of the performance not put
down in the bills. But good fortune did
not entirely forsake me. By dint of
little wading | succeeded in finding a
shelter.
OF SeNeFeal Gays the our
style of living was truly Aquatic. The
appearance which our camp presented
was really worthy of artistic delineation,
as showing the delightful features of
army life. Let the reader imagine him
self occupying a point Of observation on
ayerdureless island of sand, in the middle
of which is a sheet of water; in the mid
die of which pond of water is a camp;
and in which camp, TO give it an appear
ance of life, posse of humans" in
Government employ, with feet bare and
legs of pants rolled up, are seen wander
ing demurely to and fro-imagine all this
and you have true ideal picture of army
experience on BraZos Island, Texas, Sum-
mer of 1865. Previous to the storm we
were complaining because water was so |
scarce; then we had it in greater album |
dance than was desirable; and yet the old 1
couplet remained applicable
Water, water, everywhere,
But not drop to drink"
The headquarters of the Corps |
dAtrique remained at BrazOs three weeks, |
when they We're removed to Brownsville, |
change which was greatly desired by |
all. With our island location We were |
thoroughly Disguised, very much prefer
ring TO contend with the pestiferous in |
sects that were said to abound in the in 4
terror, than to run the risk of future inun- 1
dations, and the danger Of being turned, /
ithS IOi , VIE, INTO IJll4drS Oh salt IN l
consequence of our saline surroundings.
Taking one of Uncle Sans military con-
yegaDees, your correspondents proceeded 1
down the beach to GAINESVILLE, where the
little steamer Rio Grande lay in readi-
ness to furnish us with transportation up
tile river. Ii was nearly sunset when the
engine was put in motion, but the night
was clear, and q good moon served to !
give us some idea OF the nature of the
country through which We passed Our
vessel was anything but commoeious, and !
the accommodations were far from being 1
firSt-class; but the weather and the tenn |
perature were highly favorable for a
pleasant passage, although the writer was
forced TO accept an Open-air berth on the
upper deck. These river steamers are of
peculiar construction, being about as
broad as they are long, like a turtle, the
wheel being at the stern, in consequence
OF which they are often designated as
'wheelharrows." from the resemblance
which they exhibit to that kind of vehicle.
THE RIO GRANDE DEL NoRTE.
With regard to the Rio Grande del
Norte, or Grand River of the North
i could not discover the propriety of be-
Slowing upon it so Understanding an APP
peilatiye, being anything but grand in its
appearance. In many respects, however,
1t is q remarkable steam-the prominent
features being a strong, rapid current,
the PERCEPTIONS nature of its banks, the
great turbidity of its waters. and the ex-
IRENE sinuOsity of its course. So far as
the aQt- faa+ura Sc