Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/82

76 To-night strong picket guards were thrown out and posted on all the important points, for it is rumored that there is a strong force of Mexicans behind the sand hills who are trying to make their way into the city of Vera Cruz.

Laid down to sleep with no shelter except the sky above us.

Friday, March 12, 1847.—This morning our company was detailed to dig an entrenchment across a road below the railroad. We were kept at it all day without being relieved, which was anything but pleasant, working under the rays of the hot sun with bad water to drink.

At noon we saw Gen. Patterson move his quarters to the old ruins, but the Mexicans must have noticed him moving, for the General was not long in his new quarters when they commenced to bombard it so hard the General was obliged to leave it in double-quick time and hunt other quarters.

In the evening, while we were lying down under the bushes resting ourselves, a "northern," (so-called,) wind of the Gulf blew up fearful, and it wasn't long before we were buried in the floating drifts of sand, the sand being so light that during the least wind it drifts and makes hills, and when the wind changes drifts and make hills elsewhere. We had to leave and seek shelter in the chaparrals.

Saturday March 13, 1847.—This morning the Castle of San Juan de Ulloa and the forts of the city opened some of their big guns on our men, but done very little damage. We were only sorry that we could not return the compliment.

There is not much firing from our side, owing to heavy northern winds, which still continues to blow, which prevents our men from landing our cannons and munitions of war.

This evening it is reported that Gen. Scott, with his spyglass, discovered the Mexicans hoisting a cannon on one of the church steeples. He immediately sent orders to Com. Oliver H. Perry, who is now commander of the fleet in Vera Cruz Harbor, to fire a few round shots towards such a steeple, which he did, and soon made them leave the steeple.