Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/211

Rh However, the whole train passed on through the pass without the firing of a single gun; but further ahead we did see some three hundred lancers and infantry crossing a plain on our right, going toward a small town far off the National Road.

Gen. Pillow ordered the Third Dragoons to follow them, but seeing that the lancers were retreating pretty fast, countermanded the order, saying that it was hardly worth while to follow them, but should keep an eye on them and watch their movements until the whole train passed out gf their sight, after which our skirmishers again joined their respective companies, and marched on until we came to a beautiful and thrifty little town named Amozoquco, the place where Gen. Wm. J. Worth, with his division, had a fight with the renowned Santa Anna, who, as usual, fights and runs away. Our march to-day was over a very rough road, but well shaded and the sceneries are beautiful and enchanting.

As soon as we arrived in camp the Mexican huckster women came around our quarters wanting to sell to us tortos fritillos, fritura, etc. Of course, those who had the cash bought, and those who had none said, "no carecer."

Thursday, July 8, 1847.—This morning we did not start so early on account of having only ten miles to go, so a party of us took a walk around the town. We noticed some beautiful and well built houses, one and two stories high; it has a neat and clean appearance, and a fine large plaza where its markets are held, as well as political and revolutionary meetings. Also a fine, large (Catholic of course,) church along the plaza, which like all the villages we have passed, is situated in the centre of the town, and I have seen more priests and nuns this morning than I have seen since we left Vera Cruz. How all these priests and nuns make a living is a mystery to me. Strange in all these small towns you can see no burial grounds, and what they do with their dead is a mystery.

About 8 o'clock,, we left Amozoquco and passed several beautiful country seats, or so-called haciendas, and some magnificent and well cultivated farms; in fact, they