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

290 AFFAIRS IN MONTEREY.
the firm tread of its determined little garrison. Beacon fires
were nightly flaming on the lofty peaks of the Sierra Madre;
a primitive mode of telegraphing for which the country is
well adapted. The gloom of approaching danger was the
more oppressive, because its position and extent were unknown. Every possible precaution was taken against surprise. A careful watch was maintained upon all the roads
leading to the city, and the highest officers relieved each
other in mounting guard at night. All the public stores
were removed to the citadel, which fortress, under the superintendence of Captain Frazier of the Engineers, had been
much strengthened since it fell into our hands. The 1st
Kentucky regiment lay in the work, while ours remained in
the town. For more than a week preceding the battle of
Buena Vista, (23d of February,) and indeed for several days
succeeding it, we did not take off our boots or clothes, but
remained under arms day and night. Such restless vigilance
was more harassing than bodily fatigue. Stampedes were of
frequent occurrence; and at the first sound of the 6'longroll,"' every man hastened to the post assigned him, either
upon the house-tops or at the barricades of the Plazcca iayor,
which quarter of the town alone, our force was sufficient to
hold.
Up to the 24th of February, no very satisfactory information was received at Monterey, of the movements of the
enemy. It was evident however, from the non-arrival of
couriers, that our line of communication had been cut both
above and below us. On the 23d, a lieutenant of our regiment who had gone to the summit of the mountain behind