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

BEARERS OF DISPATCHES ESCORTED TO CAMARGO. 297
On the 3d of March, Mr. Crittenden, volunteer aiddecamp, and Major Coffee of the pay department, arrived at
l/Ionterey on their way to Washington. They were the
bearers of those dispatches from Buena Vista, which, while
they excited the admiration and called forth the gratitude of
the nation, carried desolation and mourning to many a home
and heart. That night, an order was received by the Major
commanding the 1st Ohio regiment, to march on the following day to Camargo, with five companies of infantry and
two light pieces, as an escort to the bearers of dispatches.
Wearied by inaction and the monotony of garrison life, that
officer had long desired such an opportunity for employing his
men; and for that and other reasons, he prepared to execute
his commission with no ordinary zeal and pleasure. Knowing that his march would be opposed by General Urrea —perhaps daily harassed by the attacks of the light squadrons of
the enemy-and that much would depend on celerity of
movement, he had determined not to encumber his troops
with more than their blankets, and provisions barely sufficient for the journey. With this compact little escort, he
felt assured that the merely mounted force of the Mexicans,
could not compel him even to halt or change the order in
which he proposed to march. The companies-who had all
now acquired the discipline and weather-beaten aspect of
veterans-burned for another fight before their term of service should expire, and pleasantly contended with each other
for places in the expedition. But as two companies of our
regiment had been detailed for the previous enterprise under
Major Shepherd, the Kentucky regiment reasonably claimed