Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/400

394 we left the city of Jalapa, glad that we Pennsylvanians would have nothing to do in the shooting of the two Baltimoreans who are sentenced to be shot to-day at noon.

We are now under the command of our First Lieut. Aquilla Haines, a competent and clever officer. We marched on until we came to La Hoya where we stacked arms and camped for the night. The day was pleasant; the woods resounded with the songs of the birds, the air balmy, and light fleecy clouds floating over our heads. For our supper we had pollito, we captured on our march. To-night it is blowing colder.

Thursday, November 25, 1847.—This morning we were all astonished to see nieve and yelo, snow and ice, on the ground, which made the air cold and very uncomfortable. We hurried and got on our march; our company was detailed as the rear guard. This day's march was the worst we had for some time; snowing, raining, and sometimes hailing, nearly all day. Lodo, lodo, (mud, mud). All the way over one-half of our wagons stuck in the mud up to the hubs, stalled, and such another way of lashing the poor mules and swearing I never heard before. We marched on and passed Las Vegas and arrived at Cruz Blanco at 5 o'clock, Here a squad of us captured a deserted ranche, made a fire, cooked our coffee and dried our clothing, and waited until dark for the wagons which were left back, sticking in the lodo; but none of the wagons made their appearance. So we were obliged to stop here and sleep on the bare ground without our blankets, as they are in the wagons, but we were fortunate to have shelter; yet the smell and the moist atmosphere was most too effluviable and powerful for any but accustomed noses. The rats scampered here and there over our feet, and the fleas and other creeping things held a circus all night in the other end of the room. To-night it is very dark, raining and chilly.

Friday, November 26, 1847.—This morning we got up early; good reason why—couldn't sleep or rest for the infernal rats, who held a perpetual circus. We gathered around our campfires, warmed ourselves and dried our clothing, also learned