Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/119

Rh Tuesday April 13, 1847.—This morning at reveille we were all up and down at the stream, some bathing, others washing their only shirts, the rest having; all been thrown away on our march.

All day the stragglers kept coming in to camp, those that could not keep up with the division. They say that they shut the rear-guard's and Gen. Pillow's eyes up by going in off the main road, so that they could not be seen or found.

At noon to-day Gen. Twiggs issued orders to prepare to storm the pass of Cerro Gordo at midnight, but, fortunately, Maj.-Gen. Patterson arrived last evening, and reported himself for duty this morning, and delayed the attack until the arrival of Gen. Scott. Several scouting parties.started out to-day, and brought in a few prisoners, who reported that Gen. Antonio Lopez De.Santa Anna is at the Cerro Gordo Pass with thirteen or fourteen thousand soldiers, strongly entrenched, with batteries well planted and fortified.

This evening some of the dragoons came into camp and reported having found three of our soldiers dead on the road. Two of them belonged to the New York regiment, and the other to the Second Dragoons.

Late this evening a train of some eighty-wagons started back to Vera Cruz for provisions and ammunition for the attack on Cerro Gordo. Capt. Wall's field battery, attached to our division, is encamped close by our regiment; they are brightening up their pieces and getting them ready for action.

This is a lovely night, making it very pleasant to sleep in the tierres calientes (warm country) and particularly without tents. All quiet yet.

Wednesday, April 14, 1847.—This morning, after reveille, some soldiers enjoyed themselves in fishing and swimming, while others went out after beef. In the afternoon our Commander-in-Chief, Maj.-Gen. Winfield Scott, arrived at our camp and took up his quarters in an old ranch beside the National Road. As the General came riding by, our soldiers took off their caps and hats, and those that had nothing on their heads