Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/464

458 I like so much to call up the past, and brighten my memory of the many pleasant and happy days I have passed in Lancaster city and county.

The first recollection of scenes and events in this world, were the spires and the ringing of church bells on the Sabbath day, in Lancaster.

Even now, after the lapse of years that I have passed, I feel just as much interested in the progress of the city and county, and the prosperity of the people, as I did when I was one of you. Oh, how well do I recollect the scenes that I passed through at that time.

I am not going to write anything about the battles fought and won, nor of our victorious marches, as I gave you them in my first letter, which I think you did not receive, for I learned since, that the train containing my letter as well as many others was robbed by the guerillas.

At present we are encamped at San Angel, a small village, outside of the city of Mexico, but we know not what moment we will get orders to march.

Madame Rumor with her thousand tongued instrument, is continually busy, sometimes bringing pleasure and joy to the bosom of the soldier, and then again suffering him to revel in his own gloomy reflections of disappointment.

You can perceive by this letter, that we have not as yet taken up our line of march to Queretaro City, nor do we know (as I stated before), when we will be called upon to do so.

The destination of the soldiers in time of war is very uncertain; we may receive an order one day and have it countermanded the next, the same as was the case with us before Gen. Scott left the city of Puebla for the city of Mexico; we were ordered to march with the main army on to the capital, but was countermanded the next morning, leaving part of our regiment at Puebla as a garrison; afterwards we were engaged partly with Gen. Santa Anna's army and the thieving guerillas, for over fifty days and nights.