Page:Memoir of a tour to northern Mexico.djvu/61

Rh The elevation of Chihuahua above the sea is, according to my numerous observations, 4,640 feet. Its geographical latitude I determined to be in 28° 38′ N.; its longitude, according to lunar observations made by Dr. Gregg, is in 106° 30′ west of Greenwich. The climate is delightful. Of diseases I have seen there dysenteries in summer, typhoidal fevers and rheumatic affections in the winter. Intermittent fevers and scurvy, which prevailed then among the American troops, are not common to the Mexicans.

Part of the population are very wealthy, but the majority are quite poor. The lower classes are ragged and filthy, and as to thievishness they might excel in London or Paris. The manners of the people are generally polite, (except in patriotic paroxysm;) the señoritas are celebrated for their beauty and natural grace; and fandangos and montebanks, cock-fights and bull-fights, flourish as well here as over all Mexico.

Let us return now to the American troops in Chihuahua. When Colonel Doniphan's regiment left Santa Fe for this place, it was done in consequence of a previous order from headquarters to march south and report himself to General Wool, who was at that time marching towards Chihuahua. General Wool's destination was afterwards changed, but no news of that event nor contrary orders reached the troops at Santa Fe, and the "lost" regiment marched towards the south to meet with General Wool, in Chihuahua or somewhere else. In el Paso they ascertained, for the first time, that the General had not yet come to Chihuahua, and that the government of that State had made formidable preparations for defence. At the same time, news reached them of the revolution in New Mexico, exaggerated, for purpose, by the Mexicans. In this dilemma–surrounded in the rear and front by enemies–thrown in the middle of a hostile country–cut off from all communication and support of their own country, they took the only resolution that could avail in such emergency; they marched on, to conquer or die.

Having conquered Chihuahua, and not finding General Wool there, an express was sent from here to his camp near Saltillo to ask further orders. John Collins, esq., of Boonville, Missouri, a trader, who had volunteered in the battle of Sacramento, undertook the dangerous excursion with only 12 men. The regiment was stationed in the meanwhile in Chihuahua, and indulged in the luxuries of the town. Towards the end of March the first news of the battle of Buena Vista was received. Although Santa Anna claimed, in his official report that reached Chihuahua, a victory on his part, the Americans were too well versed in translation of Mexican reports not to consider themselves privileged to fire a salute on the Plaza in honor of our victory.

Most men of the regiment got at last tired of the inactive life in Chihuahua, and in a council of war an expedition to the southern part of the State was agreed upon. Some negotiations with the old Mexican authorities of Chihuahua, who had fled in this direction, failed to produce any result; they kept up, on the contrary, a shadow of Mexican government in the south of the State, at Parral. A march of the American troops there would have broken up that government at once, and being nearer to the seat of war, the regiment might, according to circumstances, have thrown itself upon the State of Durango or marched towards Saltillo.