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 IV.
CAMP scenes at Camargo.-General Worth.-The review.-The regular troops
sent forward to Cerralvo.-Great sickness and mortality in the volunteer regiments.-Character and conduct of the natives.-Our treatment of them. —The
Proclamation.-The Army and Church of Mexico.-Their influence on the government.-Eager and enthusiastic spirit of the Volunteers.-The Rangers.Brigades organized for the field. —Limited means of transportation.-The Mexican jockeys and our Horse Market.-Something of a shower. —General Hamer's
brigade crosses the San Juan preparatory to marching for Monterey.
A STROLL through the encampment, on the morning after
our arrival at Camargo, afforded me,-a raw volunteer,much pleasure and instruction. It was the first of any magnitude, and by far the most beautiful one I had ever beheld.
Never before, indeed, had I seen a battalion of our regular
troops, either in camp or garrison. But there, in the same
field, were horse, foot and artillery; not in great force, it is
true, but perfect in all their appointments and discipline.
Four light batteries, of six guns each, a few squadrons of
dragoons, and four brigades of infantry, (comprising the
divisions of Twiggs and Worth,) in all about three thousand
men, comprised the regular army of General Taylor. The
tent of every officer and private was pitched in its proper
place, so that knowing a man's rank and company, his quarters could be almost as easily found as any number in the
streets of our principal cities. In front of the camp was a
vast and well smoothed parade-ground; along the edge of