6th.—I went to the Secretary’s office and wrote letters to my sisters in Maryland.
10th.—For several days past we have been relieved from all extra duty, only answering to the roll-call night and morning. I have been busily engaged to-day writing letters for different persons.
17th.—During the past week I have had no time to write in my journal. I have been busy in writing letters for others, and assisting in writing out requisitions, &c. I received to-night the first number of the “Anglo Saxon,” a paper printed by our boys, and the first American newspaper ever published in Chihuahua. On Wednesday the 15th, the express started from here for the United States. Many weary months have passed, and we have heard no tidings from home and friends. Truly a soldier’s lot is a hard one.
19th.—I had a chill last night, which ended in a fever. I felt thankful that I was favored with every attention from Lieut. Sprawl, who is as kind and generous as he is brave. A few hours sleep recovered me in some degree from the stupidity in which the fever left me, and I arose from the stone floor refreshed. I went to church, which was opened for Mass, but soon returned with a headache, longing for the simple and sweet worship of my own church at home. An express consisting of twelve men was sent on to General Taylor to-day.
20th.—I took a stroll through the town—went down to the American Hotel to learn what news was stirring. Nothing is heard from the South.
23d.—We have at this time all that is necessary for our comfort, and nothing to do but attend to our slight duties, and the care of our mules and horses. A strict guard is kept. The captured cannon is in charge of the non-commissioned officers, and our company has to practice target shooting. Being number four I have to touch off the guns. The concussion jars my head so much that I have to place a quid of tobacco in each cheek, to prevent it from injuring my teeth, which are very sore. The companies are all well disciplined, and with our 25 pieces of artillery, Col. Doniphan says he would defy 10,000 Mexicans. When not on duty, our men resort to every kind of mischief by way of amusement. Two pieces of artillery found at this place, were by them, on yesterday, dismounted and blown up. They were filled with powder and plugged, and the muzzles being buried in the earth several feet, a slow match was applied. The reports were terrific. They have also burnt all the powder. A train, nearly one-fourth of a mile in length, was made and set off, and which ignited several barrels at its termination. The poor affrighted Mexicans, meanwhile, ran off crying “no wano, no wano,” (very bad, very bad.) Another species of fun, consists in collecting all the dogs that can be found during the day, and carefully shutting them in a room; at night each dog is brought out, and a large bundle of fire works fastened to his tail. He is then let loose, amid the general halloo; and being enveloped in sparks, accompanied with the noise of small fire arms, wherever he runs in the crowded streets, the Mexicans fly before him with the utmost consternation.
Sunday, April 4th.—This was the appointed morning for us to leave Chihuahua for the south. But, on account of a bull fight, our trip is postponed. As soon as church was over, the soldiers hastened to see this great sight. As I was conscientious in regard to the violation of the Sabbath, I, of course, staid behind; I was, however, informed by the men on their return, that five bulls were let loose, but none were killed. If they cannot strike the animal in some vital part, they are obliged to let him live. The blows were badly dealt and the bull escaped. This is a strange mixture of christianity with the barbarities of heathenism. Card playing, cock fighting, bull baiting, and dancing, are the chief amusements of these people, and they are always accompanied with excessive drinking, not unfrequently with quarrelling and fighting, in which the belligerents are bruised, their limbs broken, and their lives sometimes destroyed. What an idea of the character of God must be entertained in the midst of such performances? He can hardly be regarded as a God of love, whose delight is in the upright walk and chaste conversation of his people. The service of that blinded population, comports better with what we might suppose would be the worship of the devil, were such worship distinctly ordered. Alas! for the darkness in which so many of our race are enveloped!
5th.—The wagons were loaded for our long journey—but a difficulty in getting our soldiers together detained us till two o’clock, P. M. At length, every thing being in readiness, we started out of town. Some of our men imagined themselves commanders in chief, assumed to give orders, and were otherwise troublesome. We succeeded in reaching a ranch, twelve miles off, and encamped.
6th.—Moved on twenty-five miles, and stopped at a ranch late in the evening. Putting our horses in a clover field—we spread our blankets on the ground and rested till morning.
7th.—After accomplishing another 25 miles to-day, we erected our tents close to the walls of a town. Here we were joined by two strangers, who said they came from a coral, 140 miles off, to inform us that a large Mexican force of about 10,000 soldiers were on their way to re-take Chihuahua. They also stated, that Generals Taylor and Wool had gone far to the south, in the direction of the city of Mexico. These men being native Americans induced our Colonel to listen to their story, which, if true, would have placed us in a bad situation. With one half of our command left behind at Chihuahua, we could be easily cut off from this point.