Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/585

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NOTES OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
579

Welsh, and a few others. They got permission to go ahead for the purpose of taking up the dead bodies of William Eurick and Jacob Banner.

On our march to-day Sergt. C. Bruton, of Co. A, First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, died from the effects of a burn received at San Angel. He was buried this evening near a stone vault.

Saturday, June 3, 1848.—This morning our company, being in the advance, left camp at daylight, and marched on until we came to the beautiful city of Puebla. Here we halted for a short time, giving the soldiers an opportunity of shaking hands with the Mexicans, who came flocking from all the corners of the city; and particularly when they heard that it was the soldiers who were stationed here during the long siege of Puebla. The humbres, senoritas, leperos ladrones, etc., came from all parts of the city and bade us good-bye.

Many of the gentle class came and shook hands with us. They called us the no rendirentregar Yankees buenos and mucho valentes Americanos. Just as we were about going to to start our old milk woman, who used to serve many of our men with leche (milk), came running in and among the soldiers, shaking and grasping our hands with much joy, saying, Dios bendecir esta Americanos (God bless these Americans). La valentres humbres gracias Dios (they are brave men, thank God).

We finally got started, when the leche muger and many others gave us three hearty cheers. We returned the compliment. Many of the women and men kept following us for over five miles chatting, talking and laughing of the times we had during the siege of Puebla. Our government is indebted to many of these Mexican women, and in particular to the huckster women, for saving the lives of many of our soldiers from the bloody assassins' hands. They were our best friends. We marched on until we came to Amozoquco, where we camped for the night. On our march to-day three soldiers of the South Carolirnias died of cramp colic, they were taken back and buried at Puebla.