Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/151

Rh To-day. Sunday, is the best day for marketing in Mexico, the market people are mostly all old women. We had a good little market outside of our encampment, and everything was reasonable, considering the number of people that was in it. Also a good little reading paper made its appearance in our camp, it is published in Jalapa, and is called the American Star, by the same enterprising citizens that published the American Eagle at Vera Cruz. So you can see that those enterprising Yankees, Messrs. Jewell, Peoples and Branard, are determined to follow up the army, and publish the news, as we go along, in English. It gives Gen. Scott's report of the battle of Cerro Gordo, and a list of the killed and wounded. Speaking in the highest terms of the heroic conduct of the soldiers at the battle of Cerro Gordo. Also states that Col. Thomas Childs, of the Third Artillery, who at the battle of Cerro Gordo drove the enemy, after a severe conflict, from their position, is appointed Military Governor of Jalapa. In the hands of Col. Childs the interests of the citizens of Jalapa, as well as that of the United States, will be looked to, and justice impartially administered.

To-night we have a roof over our heads.

Monday, April 26, 1847.—This morning after drill a squad of us got permission to visit Jalapa. We passed the Second Pennsylvania Volunteers' headquarters, where we saw Col. W. B. Roberts at his post. So he could not have been so sick as reported. In fact he looks more like being disheartened than sick. We weren't long when we arrived in the city, and we were much pleased and delighted to meet with such a clever and intelligent class of people. We really did not think that there were such people in Mexico, judging from those we have seen before. There does not seem to be much business done here, but what is done is carried on in a fair Yankee style, and whilst passing through the principal business streets we imagine ourselves in some thriving Yankee town. The senoritas are what may be called here beautiful. Their features can't be beat for pleasantness.