Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

A HORSE AUCTION. 103
proclamation X of August 31st, threatening death to all the
natives who continued to traffic with the Americans, did not
distress us very much, after our dealings with the Camargo
people. Before leaving Camargo, the business of these
horse-traders was broken up, in our quarter of the camp at
least, in an anmusing manner. A party of them having
entered our lines one afternoon, were for some time quietly
permitted to exhibit their horses and horsemanship, in which
last they possessed considerable skill. Their greatest feat,
and one which they practiced most, was that of bringing
their animals from the most rapid stride to a sudden halt.
This, which was properly esteemed as a great accomplish* The following is a copy of Ampudia's bulletin, which, (as Gen. Worth remarked in his letter from Cerralvo, transmitting it to Taylor,) " is ingenious, and
well calculated through the clergy, to operate upon the fears of the ignorant Mexicans:"
" Considering that the hour has come for taking energetic and timely measures
to fiee the department of the East from Anglo-American rapacity, and that by the
laws of nations and of war, every traitor to his country, or spy of the enemy,
should suffer the penalty of death; and, finally, considering that it is my indispensable duty to oppose a barrier to the torrent of evils caused by the contraband traffic
which has been carried on in the most barefaced manner with the usurpers of our
sacred territory, in virtue of the powers confided upon me by existing laws, 1 have
determined to decree:
" st. Every native or foreigner, who of his own accord, shall give aid directly or indirectly to the enemy, shall be shot.
"2d. Those who, after the publication of this decree, shall continue to traffic
with the enemy shall suffer the penalty stated in the preceding article.
" 3d. The authorities of every branch of the public administration will take
care, strictly, and under the most rigid responsibility, that these provisions be punctually fulfilled.
" 4th. This decree is intended to produce action among the people, since all citizens have the right, and are under obligation to denounce any infraction of it, and
to apprehend the criminals in order to deliver them up to the judicial authority;
and, that it may reach the notice of all, and that none may allege ignorance, I
order it to be published and circulated among all to whom it belongs, to see that
it be faithfully executed.
" Given at Head-Quarters, Monterey, August 31, 1846.
PEDaO DE AIPUDImA."