Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/118

112 marched about five miles we heard the report of artillery, in our advance, which raised the cry throughout the whole division, "A fight ahead! A fight ahead! Huzza! Huzza! Huzza!" In fact, we were so much aroused with admiration and confidence of soon having another fight with the enemy, that we had almost forgotten our fatigue and our tiresome marching.

Being thus encouraged, we hurried along a little faster, when we met with a courier, or express-rider, who stated that Brig.-Gen. Twiggs, who is in our advance, had fallen in with the enemy, and had a little brush with him, after which he (Twiggs) fell back to the watering-place, and was now awaiting re-enforcements, and for the arrival of Gen. Scott.

We arrived in camp about 4 o'clock,, and encamped at the lively stream called Plan del Rio (River of the Plain), over which is a splendid stone bridge, built in 1804, of cement, and very substantial.

This evening it is rumored that Gen. Twiggs is making a reconnoisance, and that he is determined to attack the Mexicans as soon as possible, and before the arrival of the general-in-chief, if convenient.

There is a village here composed of miserable shanties and huts, and, like most of those we passed along the National Road, were nearly all deserted by their owners and tenants.

At dark Maj.-Gen. Robert Patterson and his staff arrived and took up quarters in an old church or convent.

Late this evening nearly the whole regiment took a bath in the noble River of the Plain, after which we lay down on the bare ground to take a good rest and much-wanted sleep.

"When our earthly cares are over, And we enter into our rest, May we join that seraphic choir That dwells in the land of the blest!"

I have heard and read a good deal about the richness and sunny skies of Mexico, but if this is a sample of the country and balmy breeze, I don't care about going much further.