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

CHIAPTER II.o
Departure fiom New Orleans-Brazos Santiago-" A man overboard " —Scenes on
the Island-A fire in the rear-The mouth of the Rio Grande-Volunteers " falling back on New Orleans" —Burrita-Camp Belknap-The cat-fish war-Sickness and trials of the troops-The battle fields of Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma.
Despairing of convalescence in the atmosphere of lNew
Orleans, and being anxious to join our regiment before the
contemplated invasion of Mexico should be set on foot, a
brother officer, also an invalid, and myself, concerted arrangements to decamp. Our medical attendant offered no
serious objections, either because he thought our chance of
recovery as good in one place as another, or agreed with us in
believing that the voyage across the Gulf would dissipate the
slow, burning fever which his potions had failed to extinguish.
We therefore caused ourselves to be conveyed on board the
steamer "d Alabama," then about to start for Brazos Santiago.
In her cabin were assembled forty or fifty officers, and on her
decks a crowd of volunteers; many of whom, like ourselves,
were feeble and emaciated from recent sickness, and not very
redoubtable looking soldiers certainly. But all were filled
with the ardor and ambition of youth, and were hastening with
joyful anticipations to range themselves under the standard of
the gallant General from whom they were to receive their first
lessons in the art of war. We left New Orleans on the 26th
of July, 1846, and anchored off the Brazos before daylight