Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/589

Rh Saturday, June 17, 1848.—This morning we left camp at 1 o'clock, and arrived at San Juan about 7 o'clock,, and encamped for the day and part of the night; it being still excessively hot. About one hour after we arrived in camp, news came that one of the New Yorkers had been killed by the guerillas. So Col. Wynkoop sent back for his body, which was much lanced in several places. In the evening we left camp San Juan, and went to Santa Fe. We arrived about 10 o'clock and encamped.

Sunday, June 18, 1848.—This morning we left camp early, and marched slowly on account of the road being heavy and sandy. We halted at Rio Medio for one hour to rest and refresh ourselves, after which we left and arrived at the outskirts of Vera Cruz about 11 o'clock,, when it commenced to rain most powerfully. All got wet through and through. Col. Wynkoop would not allow any of the soldiers to enter the city of Vera Cruz until the ship was ready to receive us. This caused a great deal of dissatisfaction amongst the men, who were obliged to encamp on the wet beach without tents. It being too wet for me to retire, I went over to Lieuts. Hare and Dutton, and had a general talk with them about the shooting affairs in the city of Mexico. They both said that the shooting was all in self-defence; that it was a general gambling-room fight, and that nobody knows to this day who killed the banker; that the lights were all put out; that a dozen or more shots were fired at one another at one time; that the fighting and shooting was not done on account or intention of robbery, but on account of cheating and falling out about the game. The trial was the most absurd thing that they have ever heard tell of; they were allowed no counsel or witnesses to defend themselves with, or even they (Hare and Dutton) were not allowed in the court-room to hear what was going on. After their conviction, Gen. Robert Patterson came to their room and told them not to make themselves anyway uneasy of either being shot or hung; that he (Gen. Patterson) had got it from Gen. William O. Butler