Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/466

460 Cortez, no strange flag had ever waved on this place; and, I believe, as Gen. Scott said, that the war of masses have ended with the capturing of the city of Mexico.

In fact Gen. Santa Anna is himself a fugitive, and knows not where to go for safety, as there are constantly scouting parties sent out in pursuit of him; but, so far, has escaped the vigilancia (vigilance) of our pursuing officers.

As I stated before the Congress of the Republic of Mexico has fled to Queretero City, which lies north of this city on the Zacatecas Road, where they expect to reassemble; and, no doubt, elect a new President in the place of Santa Anna, and then either peace will be declared or else the war carried on with more vigor, and not stop until the whole country of Mexico surrenders up her authority to the United States.

Gen. Scott has done a good act by imposing a heavy fine upon all gambling hells and shops. A circumstance which will considerably thin the ranks of the army followers, who have been swelling about in fine broad-cloth, purchased with the hard-earned money of the poor soldiers, who are mostly enticed to go into these hells to get rid of their money. They are what we might call the ladrones, a rascally class of beings; and the soldiers can do much better without them. The soldiers does the fighting and guarding of these thieves, and the black legs does the plundering. But thank fortune they are taking the hint, or the tax is too heavy, for they are vamosing as fast as they can get off by the trains, and a good thing it is for them they do.

Besides this, Gen. Scott has already levied a tax upon the different States here in Mexico, and has commenced disposing his soldiers all over the country to occupy the mining districts.

This war must either soon be brought to a close or else it will be pushed to the greatest extremity.

We are now employed in drilling in various ways once a day, which gives the soldiers a good appetite. In fact, too much so; for we cannot get half enough to eat. There is very little