Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/521

Rh In the evening, after dark, Company G, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, headed by their Sergeant, Joseph L. Parker, made a Paddy of Gen. Lewis Cass, extended a rope across the street, and hung the old veteran of Hull's surrender in effigy. The old gentleman being very heavy, the rope broke several times; but at last the company succeeded in getting him up, when a great huzzaing burst forth from the crowds standing around looking on. Some officers, touched by their politics, ordered it to be cut down, but nary a time, the boys had him in his just position. They left him hanging until late at night, when a large fire was built right under him, after which he was lowered down, and poor Lewis Cass was consumed to smoke and ashes in a foreign land, and mocked and hooted at. "Give us that dollar, you sad, you have taken from us; you have sucked the United States out of enough without stealing our clothing money." There was also a committee appointed to raise a collection to present Mr. Cass with a leather medal, and also nominate him for the next office as dog-catcher, or some other office that meets with the approbation and feelings of the volunteers.

Saturday, March 25, 1848—This morning the city papers have in that Gen. Valencia (captured some time ago by Col. Wynkoop) died last night of apoplegia (apoplexy). His death has caused a gloom and great mourning among the gentle portion of the community. At San Angel all the church bells tolled in sorrow at his death. Gen. Valencia was no doubt a brave, gallant and skilful officer, and it is a well-known fact that if Gen. Santa Anna, with his twelve thousand troops who were in reserve, had supported Gen. Valencia at the battle of Contreras (according to the Mexican programme), our army would not so easy have gotten into the city of Mexico. But, fortunately for our side, there was no unity among the Mexican Generals; they were jealous of each other in the whole campaign. Gen. Valencia was engaged in every battle fought in the valley of Mexico, and has proven himself a brave, daring and most excellent and gallant officer. Peace to his ashes.