An Artillery Officer in the Mexican War, 1846-7: Letters of Robert Anderson, Captain 3rd Attillery, U.S.A., with a Prefatory Word |
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3rd Arty Adjt advance afternoon Amozoc Anna's arms Army arrived batteries battle Belton bless Brigade camp Capt Castle Cavalry Cerro Gordo City of Mexico Clarkesville close command commence companies Compy Congress Cruz Derr Division duty enemy engaged fear feel firing flag FORT BROOK Genl give Good-night Govt guard hear heard honor hope informed Infy Jalapa Lake Chalco last night leave letter looks Major Wade mentioned Mexican Mexican Congress miles Molino del Rey Monday morning nearly Norther o'clock officers Orizaba Orleans party passed Patterson peace Perote Popocatepetl presume pretty Puebla quarters Quitman received Regt road rumors Santa Anna Scott sent sick soldiers soon Sunday Tampa Tampico Taylor to-day to-morrow to-night told Trist troops Twiggs Twiggs's Vera Cruz wife Worth wounded write yesterday
Popular passages
Page 287 - At ten o'clock precisely, by my watch, on reaching the top of a little hill, my eyes caught the first view of the valley of Mexico. There it lay, as seen through the narrow opening made by the road, in the overhanging trees; a quiet landscape, having in the foreground a sheet of water; the portion of the valley visible blending itself imperceptibly in distant mountains, which could scarcely be distinguished, the day being at that moment cloudy, with a gentle mist from the clouds which rested on their...
Page 86 - ... care it is difficult to keep a church pure, in a reasonable sense of that word. How absurd, then, to expect it when the doors are thrown wide open to admit hastily all that profess to be converted ! Experience shows the necessity of decided views on this subject, and of firmness in enforcing them. On this point, as well as on all others relating to the discipline and government of the Church, too much care cannot be taken to avoid latitudinarian practices. The Church must be kept a living body...
Page 28 - ... till further orders. The anxiety increases daily in relation to Genl. Scott. All want to see him — because all think that Vera Cruz can be easily taken with the troops now here. Genl. Scott will not move till his plans are well matured, and will not strike a blow until he knows it will tell well. Great anxiety is entertained here by Genl. Scott's friends relative to a bill before Congress to make a Lt. Genl., as we know it is aimed at Genl. S. and designed to place some politician above him....
Page 124 - ... informed me that Mrs. Sprague had given him another granddaughter. The Genl. looks in better spirits since the reception of his Major General's commission. I have not had the pleasure of seeing Genl. Twi^gs; he is too cunning to permit Genl. W. to outgeneral him. I fancy that Twiggs's friends will succeed in getting a brevet for him, bearing the same date, or an older one than Gen. W.
Page 56 - II shall not be able to send you by this mail the copy of Genl. Scott's order which I intended sending. You will find a copy in the next newspaper which I send. Maj. McCall has just sent me word that he wants to see me, and I must go over. — I have just returned; he gave me the order detailing the Military Commission and the charges against Nogales. They are hardly strong enough to convict him of being a spy. I must study the case. Good-night, may our Heavenly Father bless you. No. 7. TAMPICO....
Page 176 - ... correspondence cannot be continued with the punctuality which has attended it thus far. Should any of my letters fall into the hands of His Excellency Genl. Santa Anna or any of his officers, I hope that they will do me the favor of forwarding them to you. My letters can be of no possible service to them, as I, from my position, am debarred from all knowledge of the secret plans (if they have any) of our Commanders.
Page 186 - ... about our being able to keep our ground, still I cannot see how our communications can be kept up with our seaports. Would that Genl. Scott were here, he would soon solve all my difficulties. We attended, by invitation, High Mass this morning in the Cathedral. The ceremonies were more showy then I ever saw in the United States, as the number of priests and attendants was larger than our Catholic communities could get together, and their dresses were also much more costly than we see in the United...
Page 268 - That is our business, we will take care of ourselves. " They are very useful in getting information, etc., and are used individually or collectively, as their services are required. The Capt. says he can increase his band to 1500 or 2000, if a greater number be wanted than he now has. This afternoon, I went with Lt. Johnson to an "Old Curiosity Shop," where I purchased a Catholic Bible, 1742 AD, for Brother William.
Page 104 - ... surrendered Castle and Forts) towards the City gate — meeting and passing close by the advancing prisoners of war. I will not attempt to describe their troops; they wore dresses of various colors, blue, red, and white predominating; none of the companies looked to me like well drilled troops; they were, however, a conquered army, and, of course, could not have felt or exhibited much of the haughty pride of the soldier.
Page 28 - The newspapers give you so regularly and constantly the last news from the Army, that it is hardly worth while for me to chronicle events as they transpire, or to detail rumors as they fly.