Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/322

316 Oh, Santa Anna, we have heard your fanfarronando before and it was the general opinion among the soldiers that you would be sadly disappointed in your object, and that you would leave this city more quickly than you came, with stinging fleas in your ears, which, from the present retreat of your army, is true!

The train which Gen. Santa Anna is going to meet is under the command of Gen. Joseph Lane, and is about fifteen hundred strong. It is composed of infantry, cavalry and several pieces of artillery, also Captain Walker's Texas Rangers are with it. These officers would sooner fight than eat, and they will give Gens. Santa Anna and Torrejon battle in the El Pinal Pass, which is a strong position for defence. I have been there and know all about it. We have worked our way through, and so will Gen. Lane.

Gen. Rea, with about a thousand men, is to remain here. His force is mostly mounted lancers. They are to harass and annoy us and shoot down a poor soldier whenever an opportunity offers.

In the evening I noticed that the Mexicans had still their picket-guard stationed around the city, and, of course, firing at every picket or other soldier who might happen to be outside his quarters.

To-day one of Co. A, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers was badly wounded. He was shot from the house-top, behind the battlement wall. By-the-by, most every house in the towns or cities has strong battlement walls from two to four feet high from the roof, through which they have portholes, mostly for musketry, from which they fire, and all our men who may venture outside their quarters are shot down.

To-day nearly all those men who were not on guard were detailed to put up additional breastworks around our quarters, also large ladders were made and placed around the parapet, so that in case of an unexpected attack we could ascend at a moment's notice.