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

DEALINGS WITH THE NATIVES. 85
is due to the chiefs of the various staff departments of the
army, to remark that they did all, and often more than "the
regulations" required from them; but they should have been
neither disappointed nor dissatisfied when gently reminded
by the general commanding in the field, that the very nice
calculations made at Washington, did not altogether meet the
exigencies of every climate and service.
At Camargo we were tolerably well supplied by the Mexicans with fresh provisions, for which they took care to exact
exorbitant prices. These native hucksters were a morose and
knavish set. Taught to hate all foreginers, and especially' 8os Yankhees," they looked-even when pocketing our dollars-as sour as their own bitter oranges when the green
rinds have received the first tinge of sickly yellow. As they
were allowed to enter the camp at all hours, they of course
kept their friends at Monterey well advised of our condition
and movements; while, in their dealings with us, they were
close-mouthed and professedly ignorant beyond example.
Nothing scarcely could be extracted from them save the price
of the articles they offered for sale, and which they uttered
glibly enough. To every question touching their roads, country, towns, troops, etc., even when put in the purest Castilian, the usual reply was, " no entende, Senor," (don't under.
stand you, sir.) It appears that General Taylor, up to this
time, had failed to obtain any very reliable information conbut if they desire more medical officers, they shall have them-with myself to boot,
if acceptable-and I am borne out in the measure by the government. Far be it
from me to withhold aught that will contribute to the comfort of one of those gallant souls who so valiantly fought and so signally triumphed on the battle-fields of
Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma."- From the Letter of the Sturgeon General to the
Adjutant General.
AS