Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/386

380 We came upon the citizens quite unexpectedly, they did not know that there were any Yankee troops coming.

This being All Saint's Day, and a great day among the priests, hooded monks and the Mexicans generally, the streets were full of regatonear (huckster) stalls, and most anything could be had in the shape of sweet-meats and confectionery.

We took up our quarters in the National armory, but did not remain long here on account of its being alive with pulga, so we vamosed out of that armory in double-quick time, we preferred sleeping out in the lluvia (rain), without shelter; I had a good place, sleeping under a balcony, but the rest of my fellow soldiers passed a disagreeable night.

To-night several of the drunken Mexicans, who no doubt got drunk at the All Saint's Day Festival, stumbled over my feet, (myself lying on the stone pavement), woke me up, and I was going for one of them when he turned back and apologized, saying muchabuns Americanos.

Tuesday, November 2, 1847.—This morning I got up stiff and sore with rheumatism, all owing to those cursed fleas which drove us out from under shelter and made us sleep out on the cold ground and in the damp air.

At 8 o'clock,, we left the city, and for several miles the road was perfumed by the sweet scents of the narunjas (orange) groves, and I can assure you, the soldiers were no ways backward in helping themselves to the delicious fruit.

At noon we halted at Gen. Santa Anna's summer residence, hacienda El Encero. The last time we were here was when our army was on a chase of Gen. Santa Anna from the battle of Cerro Gordo, the 18th of April last. The hacienda (an estate of wealth), is now unoccupied and nearly gone to wreck. This seems hard, when a man like Santa Anna buys an estate and then cannot live on it without these infernal Yankees all the time hunting him up like so many wolves.

Wednesday, November 3, 1847.—This morning we left El Encero, and passed through the historic Pass, Cerro Gordo, which means (greasy or oily hill). I know it was well greased