Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/125

Rh As soon as it shall be known that the enemy's works have been carried, or that the general pursuit has been commenced, one wagon for each regiment and one for the cavalry will follow the movements to receive, under the directions of medical officers, the wounded, who will be brought back to this place for treatment in the general hospital.

The surgeon-general will organize this important service, and designate that hospital, as well as the medical officers, to be left at that place.

Every man who marches out to attack or pursue the enemy, will take the usual allowance of ammunition and subsistence for, at least, two days.

Thus reads Gen. Scott's General Orders, No. 111, which shows and points out every General's position, and the duty which they are expected to perform, and which it is expected they will carry out to the fullest extent.

To-night most of our soldiers went into the river swimming and washing. Some were fixing up their firearms and their accoutrements; some were, like myself, writing letters home to their parents, wives and friends.

When I last saw you at Hollidaysburg, Pa., I promised you faithfully that I would write to you whenever an opportunity offered, but I am sorry to say that I have neglected it until the present time. I hope you will excuse me this time, and I will try to do better hereafter.

Our regiment embarked at New Orleans in three different sailing ships, being divided into three divisions, after which we set sail, and arrived at Brazos Santiago, January 28, 1847. After four days' delay we again weighed anchor and sailed for the Island of Lobos, about one hundred and twenty miles from Vera Cruz. Here we arrived February 16, 1847. We here disembarked, and encamped on the island until nearly the whole army of Gen. Scott's arrived; after which we again embarked, March 3, 1847, and the whole army, on shipboard set sail for Vera Cruz, and arrived at a little island called Anton Lizardo, March 6th. Here the whole fleet, say about two hundred vessels, including the men-of-war, was anchored. After several days of preparation and reconnoitering to select a suitable place for landing our troops, we landed on the 9th of the same month, without any opposition, after surrounding the city of Vera Cruz. The siege commenced on the second day after our landing, and lasted till the day when the agreement to surrender the city was signed, the 29th, making the siege last for seventeen days, in which tremendous and vigorous firing was carried on, both day and night.