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

CHAPTER I1I.
Tui ITfexican Army under General Ampudia prepares to defbnd Monterey-General
Taylor's order regulating the movement to Camargo-Departure from Camp
Belknap-The valley of the Rio Grande, its people and productions-A Sabbath
in Matamoros-Reynosa —A Fandango-The Stag-dance —Death of a Volunteer —A pleasant interchange of visits with a Mexican family-Arrive at Camnargo —A glimpse at Head-Quarters and General Taylor.
AFTER the two sanguinary engagements on the northern
bank of the Rio Grande, General Arista solicited an armistice, which was refused by General Taylor, who stated in re —
ply, that a month previous he had proposed one to the Alexican
General, which had then been declined; that circumstances
were now changed; that he was receiving large reinforcements, and could not suspend operations which he had not
initiated or provoked. Perceiving that the Americans were
determined to crown their victories with the conquest of M]atamoros, the broken and dispirited battalions of the Mtexican
army evacuated the town at twilight on the 17th of May, and
retreated to Linares, which place they reached on the 28th,
sufiering every misfortune in their mournful retreat. We are
informed that "6many of the soldiers perpetrated suicide;
and that General Garcia, a chivalrous man and an illustrious
citizen, died during the march of profound grief."' "
": These facts are stated upon the authority of a M[exican history of the war, entitled, " The Other Side, or Notes for the History of the War between the United
States and Mexico;" written by a junta of Mexican officers, and translated by