Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/199

Rh poor, unfortunate souls who may happen to give out. But they failed in their dastardly design by being driven from their positions and destroyed. This is the only way to break up their gangs of desperadoes, ladrones, etc., by destroying their headquarters and burn the town, which was the case of Las Vegas, more than one half the town being burnt (around the fortification), and would have burnt it all down, had it not been for Gen. Cadwalader, who prevented the men from further destruction of private property.

I regret to mention that Gen, George Cadwalader of Philadelphia, Pa., made use of some very hard names, which was entirely out of place for a man of his standing, rank, or position, to make use of, and none but a drunkard or loafer would be guilty of making use of such language to his fellow-man. The whole was out of place as well as uncalled for. The men have been out for several days and nights, marching and skirmishing in the rain-storms and on the muddy roads and fields to keep open the National Road for Gen. Cadwalader and his division to pass on without opposition to him.

This was all done without a murmur, with patriotism and an empty stomach, scarcely anything to eat, or rest. We now claim that we should be received with a better reception than to be called hard names, cursed and sworn at like running mad-dogs, all because we happened to take a chicken or two from a deserted ranche.

Soldiers who have to fight their enemy in the enemy's country will never go hungry as long as there are any chickens about. And we warn Gen. Cadwalader never to call the Pennsylvania Volunteers Ss of bs and other vulgar names unfit to hear. A good many of the Philadelphians always thought a great deal of "Cady," but they now say they are done with him.

We marched on and camped at Res Trio (Head River). Our mess took possession of an old distillery. It rained hard all evening and night.