Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/220

214 You will perceive by this letter that we have advanced further into the interior of Mexico. We left Camp Plan del Rio, April 20th, and all along the National Road, from the foot of Cerro Gordo to Gen. Santa Anna's hacienda, the roadside was strewn with the dead Mexicans, and horses and mules; and at Gen. Santa Anna's headquarters, near the rancheros, where Gen. Twigg's army overtook the flying Mexicans, they lay thick everywhere, and the hediondes (stench), and a more horrid scene I don't wish to see again. A great many are still lying wounded and begging for help and aqua. They have our sympathy and feeling, which all true soldiers should have for one another, and, especially, when fallen wounded in the defense of their country.

The first day's march we encamped at El Encero, the summer residence of Gen. Santa Anna; and a beautiful place it is, with plenty of good aqua, but the buildings are poor. The second day's march was through a delightful country. We entered and marched through the city of Jalapa, the streets were crowded with citizens, and the ladies and gentlemen were standing on the balconies and in doorways, some waving their hands and handkerchiefs, which was not the case at Vera Cruz. We marched through the city, and went into camp about three miles from Jalapa. Here we encamped from the 21st of April until the 7th of May, without any tents or shelter, and being the rainy season made it very disagreeable for our men. Our knapsacks were our almohado (pillow), the wet ground was our bedtick, the wet blankets our cover and the blue, cloudy, rainy and threatening skies was our shelter for nearly one month.

Thus you can imagine yourself that our quarters were anything but pleasant, and during our encampment here many of our soldiers took sick, and many soon afterward died for the want of shelter and medical treatment.

We left camp on the 7th of May, and marched over a very hilly and rough road, up hill nearly all the time, passing through the dangerous pass of La Hoya, and arrived safely at