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

BURIAL OF A SOLDIER. 65
which they had long been confined, vied with each other in
the extent and singularity of their saltations. They danced
in couples, but without much regard to time or order; and at
intervals the whole party indulged in a promenade or rather
gcallopacde of two or three heats around the hut. A heavy
rain terminated the sport at a seasonable hour, and the men
returned to the boat much amused and refreshed by their
exercise.
We suffered much while cribbed upon the narrow decks of
the steamboat, from the great heat of the weather, and the
mosquitos that nightly environed us like a legion of foul
fiends. To the sick (and there were many on board) those
roasting days and restless nights were particularly trying.'We lost but one man during the trip,-one of the Dayton
volunteers, Co. B. His death had a very depressing effect
upon the invalids who were stretched around him on the
cabin floor, and who seemed not to have anticipated the
sudden invasion of the King of Terrors. Late in the afternoon of the day of his decease, we landed to perform the
sad funeral rites of poor Dix, —for such was his name. (' No
useless coffin inclosed his breast," but wrapped in his blanket,
the dead volunteer was borne in the arms of his comrades to
a grave which had been prepared in the chaparral, close by
the shore, and where the last honors were performed by a
corporal's guard. Attracted by the volleys of the funeral
escort, and understanding their import, a very respectable old
Mexican, whose haciezndcb was near by, came down to the
boat. He was accompanied by his wife, a fine specimen of
the Spanish matron, in manners and appearance. They were