Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/160

154 where the others are buried. The funeral was attended and followed by most all of our officers and regiments. So much for straggling outside of our pickets. Our men to-night are cursing our Quartermaster for not sending our tents. They were left at Vera Cruz on account of the Quartermaster not having wagons and teams ready in time to bring them along on our march hither to camp.

To-night Lieut-Col. J. E. Thomas' Tennessee Cavalry are out on a scouting expedition.

Monday, May 3, 1847.—This morning orders were read to us to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice on toward the capital of Mexico. After the men were dismissed, cheers and clapping of hands were given, so much rejoiced at the prospect of leaving this camp of misery.

At noon the Cameron Guards, hailing from Harrisburg, Pa., belonging to the Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, marched up in front of Col. Wm. B. Roberts' tent, and told the Colonel that they wanted something to eat. The Colonel answered them by saying that he had nothing to give them. At this moment they made a rush on the Mexican huckster women, who have their stands throughout the camp, selling' their things to the officers and soldiers, that is to those who have money left, and took nearly all the poor Mexican women had, and such a scrambling and rushing I never saw before. It beat the scrambling for Santa Anna's silver at Plan del Rio. The Officer of the Day tried to stop them from plundering the women, but all of no use. He might just as well attempt to stop thundering as to stop hungry mouths from being fed when there is something to eat. After they had plundered from the hucksters all they had they went to work and cleared the huckster women out of "Camp Misery." The eatables taken were then handed around from one to the other in the fellowship of good will. There was a marvelous wagging of jaws, and a volume of voices that much reminded one of the buzzing in a church fair—fearing of being heard by the commanding officers,