Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/228

222 The main plaza takes up a whole square of ground. And it is the place where the citizens hold their open meetings, and markets. Their largest market is on Sunday, directly after church hours, and any article that you could think off can be had; it beats the world for confectionery.

You will see that I have been engaged in two battles, both gloriously fought and victoriously won. But where the third one will be is hard for me to say, but I think it will not be until we arrive near the capital of Mexico, where they are now concentrating all their forces and strengthening all the approaching points to the ancient city. They might just as well dispense with the trouble of adding to the fortifications, for it will be something like "love's labor lost," for when the re-enforcements arrive and get ready to go on, these obstacles will be trifles. At present our fuerzas (forces) are too small to make any further advance into the interior of Mexico, therefore, we will have to await the arrival of troops from the United States, which are coming slowly.

Gen. Scott and his little army of brave men, are all anxious to march on, but it seems that our Government is constantly throwing obstacles in Gen. Scott's plan of capturing the capital, which looks as if our Government was trying to degrade him from his high position.

They have sent Mr. N. P. Trist, a Commissioner to negotiate for peace, which is, in my opinion, all a humbug. To tell you plain facts, our Government don't wish the war over so soon, for our contractors and the thieving Quartermasters have not robbed the Government and the poor soldiers out of their rations enough. This cry of peace, peace, is only to blindfold the people, and is firing in our rear. The Mexicans will not at this time make peace with our Government, the capital will have to be taken first, before the Mexican Government will be ready to talk of peace; and, mark you, this will be the case, for the Mexicans will listen to no peace proposition until the capital of Mexico is taken.