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

1 18 CERRIAL'VO —A ST)ORM.
advantages in a warm climate, and are quite comfortable
enough for such a people. A sparklling rivulet, fresh from
the cool recesses of the mountains, waters the town, and
forms, in its passage throughll some of the gardens, deep,
clear, and refreshing baths. One encllanting little spot I fiequently visited, where tle brook danced and sang through
banks of flowers, shaded by luxuriant lenmon and fig trees,
the interlacing brancles of which olbtered a welcome shade
and screen to the bather.
The country arouncl Cerralvo, except on the margins of the
streams, appears to be very poor and stony. The stratified
limestone lay so near the surface of the hill upon which we
encamped, that it was no easy matter to pitch the tents, tho
pins being broken or blunted in many attempts to drive them.
In consequence of this unfortunate geological formation, our
canvas was carried away by the first breath of a storm which
broke upon us one night durling our brief sojourn there. Of
all confusions confounded or confounded confusions, but few
can exceed that caused in a large camp by hig(h and sudden
winds, especially whern attended by rain. A squall in the
lday-time is often sufficiently annoying, but when it occurs
at night, when the frail tents are capsized in a twinkling, and
the tighltened ropes, and flying-pins are made to lash and
bruise the prostrate bodies of thousands of sleepers; when,
in an instant aroused from profound slumber, loose horses,
kicking mules and swearing soldiers, are sent stumbling
about among each other, tripping' and falling over knapsacks,
cooking utensils, and the many articles which the wind has
also set in motion; what pen can describe the scene I "The