Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/250

 

GEN. SCOTT'S ARMY LEFT PUEBLA FOR THE CITY OF MEXICO—MUCH DISCONTENTMENT—A GALA DAY FOR THE SOLDIERS WHO WENT—MURDEROUS OUTRAGE ON OUR SOLDIERS—GOOD NEWS FROM GEN. SCOTT; SO FAR VICTORIOUS— MULE-FIGHT—FOURTEEN MEN KILLED—REVOLUTION OF HIDALGO—GEN. REA ISSUED A PROCLAMATION TO DRIVE THE YANKEES OUT—COL. CHILDS AND GEN. REA MET TO EXCHANGE PRISONERS—EXCITING NEWS FROM GUADALOUPA HEIGHTS— REVOLUTION OF HIDALGO IN 1810.

Sunday August y, 1847.—This morning the orders for marching on to the city of Mexico, read to us last evening, were countermanded, and orders read that we are to remain here to form the main garrison of Puebla.

Never did I see the countenance of men change so suddenly, and never did I see a set of men more provoked and put out about anything in all my life. They cursed and swore and called Gen. Scott almost everything for keeping us here, for we were all in high glee, expecting, without fail to go on to the city of Mexico with the main army, and be with it in all the pictured battle scenes which are to be fought at the great empire of Mexico; but all our hopes of triumphant prospects and victory were dashed.

"You can't go," were the words; discouraged and dismayed again. The cause of our order being countermanded is that Maj. Twiggs, of the United States Marines, who was detailed to form part of the garrison of Puebla, being a near relative of Gen. Twiggs', and was anxious to be with the army marching on to the city of Mexico, his orders were changed from forming the garrison, and was ordered to march in our place. Our men will never forgive Maj. Twiggs for taking the advantage of our orders of marching on to the city, and the general saying is that they don't wish Maj. Twiggs any luck; they also (244)