Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/616

610 Queen street and the railroad track. Here Judge Ellis Lewis made his appearance on the porch or piazza, and made a telling and remarkable good speech, welcoming the soldiers in the name of the citizens of Lancaster City to their hospitality. He referred at considerable length to the brilliant conduct of the sons of the old Keystone State, whose galaxy of heroes fought gallantly, manfully, under our glorious country's flag, and poured out their blood like water in defense of our country's cause. Upon its conclusion he retired amid great cheering and applause, and it was in a fitting manner responded to on our side by Gen. Robert Patterson, Cols. Francis M. Wynkoop and Samuel W. Black, who mostly referred to our fatigue marchings, our hardships, sufferings, and privations, which fall on the life of soldiers, our triumphant victories in Mexico, which was loudly cheered by the immense concourse of people assembled around the stand. I noticed the farmers paid close attention to what our officers said, and their whole conversation and remarks (in Pennsylvania Dutch) were "may God forever bless these gallant soldiers."

After speech making was over the different companies were distributed to different hotels; our company (C) took up our quarters at Mr. Hopel's hotel, right along the railroad track, now used by the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. as a passenger depot and ticket office.

Here we have elegant quarters, a fine large room to sleep in, and receive the same kind treatment as at Harrisburg—giving the soldiers a supper that could not be beaten; it consisted of all the best of edibles which Lancaster County is so famous in producing. Soldiers always have good appetites after a long march; they soon made sad havoc among the rations.

After supper was over, some took a walk around the city, while others, including myself, remained closely in our quarters, being much fatigued from our ride and march of to-day.

In the evening a large number of the citizens called upon us, making inquiries of the number of battles fought and about