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

FIRST INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL TAYLOR. 71
undisciplined troops, were engaged in cleaning their horses.
Just above them, a party of the village women were coming
to the stream for water, with the most primitive-looking
earthen jars upon their heads.
Having sent an officer to the quarter-master's office, in
quest of wagons with which to transport our equipage to the
camp, we set out to report at head-quarters the arrival of our
detachment. In our walk thither, we were overtaken by an
officer wearing the uniform of a brigadier general, who,
after exchanging salutations, informed us that he was General
-—, of the State of -. Learning our destination and
object, he politely offered to accompany us to head-quarters
and introduce us to General Taylor. Passing on through
some narrow streets and lanes, and between gardens surrounded by mud walls, on the top of which grew many varieties of the luxuriant cactus plant, we arrived in a few minutes at a little grassy lot just without the town, in the center
of which were pitched three soiled and ragged tents. A
small guard of dragoons was posted near by. The spot was
remarkably quiet, being removed from the noise and bustle
of both the camp and village. Under an awning in front
of the tents, sat a solitary man, dressed in linen coat and
trowsers, twirling a straw hat between his fingers, and apparently conversing with or dictating to some one within. The
first glance assured us that it was the old hero, with whose
name and fame the country was then ringing; and as we
approached, we recognized the mahogany complexion, piercing eye, iron-grey hair, and stout frame, which we had been
told distinguished the commanding general. As he arose to