Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/271

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NOTES OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
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considered him the best uniformed and finest-looking officer belonging to our whole garrison. He was a well and highly educated young man. He was beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. Lieut. Sperry belonged to Capt. Naylor's company, Second Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, and hailed from Philadelphia, Pa.

Saturday, August 28, 1847.—This morning news from Gaudaloupa Heights stating that the train was coming from Amozoquco road. Their belief was from the dust they saw at a distance on the road, but when they came nearer they saw that it was the lancers, and saw them stop and encamp on the same place where our men had the fight with the guerillas the other day. At noon they rode into the city and commenced to open stores and private houses, for the purpose of plundering them. The police and some of the citizens engaged them, and for a half an hour the firing was very brisk, and finally the Third Dragoons came riding in the quarters, and I really thought that the lancers were right on top of us. We hurried up on the ramparts with our muskets, and had our mouths full of dinner. We staid here until 3 o'clock, p.m.

There seems to be a great deal of shooting down in the plaza among the Mexicans themselves, and our spies informs us that the city policemen were obliged to get upon the house tops and fire therefrom on the guerillas.

In the evening all seemed quiet about or near our quarters.

At 11 o'clock, p.m., we were suddenly called up by a great firing in the plaza, but it soon died away, and we again laid ourselves down not to sleep, because these infernal greasers will not let us sleep, but to rest and watch.

Sunday, August 29, 1847.—This morning a Frenchman came to our quarters in a great hurry, and very much excited, stating that the guerillas had some of our diarrhœa men shut up in a church, and they were going to kill them, and would have done so had it not been for some of the Mexican women interfering. Gov. Childs sent word to Lieut.-Col. Black, saying that these sick soldiers must be rescued if possible. So Col.