Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/253

Rh He was accompanied by Capt. Phil. Kearney's First Dragoons, and they expect to overtake Gen. Twiggs' division to-morrow. This division is composed of the South Carolina, New York and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and a detachment of four hundred United States Marines, under Maj. Twiggs. After they had passed we returned to our quarters, but still wishing ourselves to be with the main army.

Monday, August 9, 1847.—This morning at 8 o'clock,, we were again formed in front of the Alameda Park, to view Maj.-Gen. William J. Worth's First Division pass out. It commenced to move at the above hour, and it took nearly four hours until the rear guard passed out. It is the largest division that has yet passed. It is composed of two brigades; First Brigade—Second and Third Regiment Artillery, Fourth Infantry and Capt. Duncan's Field-Battery, under Col. Garland. Second Brigade, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Infantry, under Col. Clark. The whole division is composed of regulars over five thousand strong, and about three hundred wagons. The soldiers all looked remarkably well, and in high spirits, confident of their success in the approaching contest in the valley of Mexico.

After they had passed, we were removed from our comfortable quarters Plaza de Toras, to a regular built barracks called Quartel de San Jose. Here we are to remain until further orders.

As soon as we entered, our men made a rush (which is generally the case when we come into new quarters), for his place or bunk to dormir (sleep), every one was trying to get the best place. Joseph C. Taylor, John Newman and myself, succeeded in getting three bunks together, but sorry to say, they are all laid in with bricks, and from the foot to the head it rises about four inches, at the head is an offset and a rise of about three inches more, which is intended for a almohado (pillow); just to think of a brick pillow to rest your weary head on.