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

CHRISTMAS IN CA]MPo 271
illuminated, and the sound of bells floated far over the plain.
In our camp too, there were some merry little parties. Some
of my readers will perchance recollect a certain company of
jovial friends that assembled at our Assistant Surgeon's tent
to discuss a bucket of foaming egg-nog, mixed according to
the Old School prescription and administered in no HIomeopathic doses; they will remember too, that when in the full
enjoyment of their "' flowing tin-cups," a courier, who had
come in hot haste from Saltillo, entered with the intelligence
that the Mexican troops were rapidly advancing, and an
order for the brigade to be held in readiness to march at a
moment's warning; —and how, in the midst of the song and
toast, those'Gmerry, merry men" buckled on their swords
and hastened to their posts, with the white froth yet upon
their mustaches and the red blood bounding gladly in their
hearts.
An old Mexican residing in the neighborhood, and whom,
for certain reasons, I was inclined to believe, had on that day
assured me with many solemn protestations, that Santa
Anna's forces were still at San Luis de Potosi. But with
the brightening prospect of another glorious " stampede" at
least, the men were directed to sleep on their arms. Toward
morning as we lay "''twixt sleeping and waking" on the
hard ground, the faint but unmistakable sound of many distant hoofs was heard; and after the lapse of a few anxious
moments we saw advancing across the arid plain, what, in
the uncertain light appeared to be a large body of cavalry.
They approached slowly and cautiously as if hoping to surprise the camp; and we were just indulging in a little quiet