Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/362

356 I don't know why it is these pests should keep following us through this country, unless it is, that our skin is so much finer and whiter and our blood sweeter than the Mexicans. Oh! I tell you, friends, they stick to us like beeswax, never letting go until squashed.

Mr. George Kiem, of our company, has adopted a new and ingenious mode of avoiding these pests. He puts the skin of beef in each boot, wraps it up in an old pair of pantaloons, then folds his old blanket nicely around them and then puts the whole snugly to bed, and goes to sleep, and he is never troubled with pulga.

These pests are getting so saucy and determined, that they and the piojo (lice), have regular pitched battles with one another on our bodies. But of the two pests, give me fleas in preference to piojo; but I am like all my comrades, troubled with both sometimes.

Friday, October 15, 1847.—This morning about 9 o'clock, the thirteen unfortunate victims belonging to Capt. Herron's Co. K, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, were buried by a detachment of our garrison. It was truly a heart-breaking scene to see those gallant young men, who, but a few days ago, were among us enjoying good health and in good spirits, hale and hearty, and full of hopes of soon going home and again seeing their wives, children, relatives, sweethearts and friends, but they are now sleeping in the embrace of death, and their spirits have returned to the God who gave it to them.

After they were consigned to their final resting place, Lieut.-Col. Black stepped to the side of the graves and made some beautiful and touching remarks about the heroic dead, which brought tears to the eyes of all who stood by the graves.

At noon. Gov. Childs, (through his spy), found out the whereabouts of Senor Don Rivera's printing and publishing establishment. Gov. Childs immediately sent Capt. William F. Small, with his company, to capture the printing establishment together with the proprietor. He started and charged