Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/377

Rh rest assured that there was a gay old time about Quartel for about three hours, carrying things away after they were paid for. My little desk I used to write on I sold to a Mexican friend of mine, with leave to keep it until to-morrow morning, as I wanted to write several letters on it, this being the only opportunity to write for some time to come.

In the evening a good many of our old Mexican friends came to see us, bidding us buenos por (good-by) and buenos lacay (luck); also some of the new arrivals who are expecting to settle in our quarters when we leave are picking out their places to bunk.

One of my letters I penned to-night is to my old schoolmate, George W. Bare, of Granville Township, Mifflin County, Pa., as follows:


 * —I again embrace the favorable opportunity of writing to you to let you know that I am well, and I hope that this letter may find you rejoicing in the same state of health.

I received your letter about two weeks ago, and you can't imagine how glad and rejoiced I was when I received your kind letter. I should have written to you before this time, but our communication with Vera Cruz has been cut off by the notorious guerillas.

You will also perceive by this letter that our detachment has not advanced any further into the interior of Mexico, as I mentioned in my last letter to you.

On the 7th of August we received orders from Gen. Scott that our detachment of six companies was to remain here to form the main garrison of Puebla City. This caused great dissatisfaction among our men.

The Mexicans noticing that our forces were very small to garrison such a large hostile city, (with nearly a hundred thousand inhabitants], began to get very independent and