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

VIEW OF THE CITY AND VALLEY. 145
east and west rose those remarkable mountains heretofore
described, now seen from base to summit in all their grand
proportions. As we looked upon the refulgent and beautiful
city, reposing in the green valley, its charms coquettishly
hightened by their partial concealment in the fragrant foliage of the gardens, the lofty and insolated Saddle and Miter
mountains, along whose sides floated many golden clouds,
like ships drifting upon a lazy tide, the whole scene was in
such striking contrast to the country over which we had
recently passed, that we seemed to have arrived at the very
gates of Paradise. A paradise, alas! too soon to be converted into a Pandemonium. But with the roar of a hostile
battery in our ears, we did not regard that lovely landscape
with the calm delight of pacific and pleasure-seeking tourists.
The imposing yet beautiful aspect of the city awaiting the
combat, was viewed with feelings rather akin to those with
which the keen huntsman, after a long and fatiguing pursuit,
suddenly confronts some much-prized and formidable foe, at
bay in its mountain lair. Its rare beauty and unexpected
strength kindles anew the waning enthusiasm of the chase,
and causes him " to hold hard the breath, and bend up every
spirit," for the inevitable and doubtful struggle.
Linked in the memory with our first view of Montery, is
one of those sublime and fleeting merial scenes, by which the
heavens are often made to declare the glory of God and
the firmament to show his handiwork, and whose surpassing
grandeur appeals to'" every thing that hath breath to praise
the Lord." There is a deep and romantic mountain gorge
west of the city, through which passes the road to Saltillo,