eTacubaya May 1^st – I returned from the expedition men-
tioned in my last letter, 12 days ago – On Monday the 3^d of
April 5 of our Regiment set out at 6 oclock in the morning
for Penon 8 miles outside of the City, where the party were to
meet preparatory to our final departure – We were all provi-
ded with horses and had two mules for luggage – all were
in fine spirits at the prospect of a pleasant trip, to which
the circumstance of being mounted contributed not a little,
most of us being obliged to walk on previous expeditions–
About 10 oclock we arrived at Penon where we waited for the
remainder of the Party, when all had arrived, it consisted
of 30 officers, 40 infantry and 30 cavalry. At 4 oclock we
again put ourselves in motion & proceeded to a Hacienda
6 miles further where we put up for the night. Spreading
our blankets on the floor after a hearty supper we were soon
asleep – April 4^th. We were awakened by the sound of the
bugle at 4 oclock, having eaten our breakfasts and had our
horses fed we started again, just as day was breaking.
Our road the previous day was the same we passed over
incoming from Puebla to Mexico , and so continued about 6
miles further where we left it. We then passed from the salt
plains into quite a fertile region ^valley^ , covered with wheat and corn.
We passed to day several fine Hacienda’s; at 10 oclock we
arrived at M. Flores a small town containing a large cotton

manufactory, the Superintendent of which together with 10 or 12
overseers in the work shops were English or Scotch – The Superintendent
invited us to breakfast and treated us very hospitably – They all
seemed glad to see some one that could speak their Language.
We remained here two hours and again proceeded on our jour-
ney – Having gone 3 miles we were overtaken by a heavy rain
which caused us to stop at a small town, the name of
which I do not reccollect – Our quarters during the night
were a large schoolroom, the walls of which were covered
with paintings and soneto’s calculated to stimulate the
young mind to study – April 5^th – We were up and off at
sunrise – The first part of the day we travelled over a
ridge, then entered the valley of Amecca in which is
the town of Amecca containing some 5,000 inhabitants.
We were now very near the foot of the mountain & were
obliged to leave a couple of wagons which had come with
us thus far, and pack their contents on mules. Having
done this we went 6 miles further where we remained for
the night – April 6^th – We found ourselves at the foot
of the mountain after a march of 3 or 4 miles – stopped
a few moments to obtain a guide. Our road was now
only a narrow path, some parts of which were nearly per-
pendicular and very difficult of ascent for the mules –
We continued ascending until 3 oclock, when we reached a
hut a short distance from the limits of vegetation, where
we remained during the night, which was rendered very
uncomfortable by an incessant rain and hail storm. There was
but a single hut at the place, large enough for about 6 to
sleep in comfortably, in this some 20 of us spent the night
sitting around the fire, thinking ourselves fortunate if we
could get in that portion of the house which had a roof
a good half being roofless – April 7^th – The rain con-
tinued with very little intermission, at 8 oclock the ascent
was renewed, in about an hour we reached the snow
there was a perfect hurricane, blowing the snow down
in our faces, the cold nearly unsupportable; our party

became separated not being able to see each other at the
distance of a few paces – we concluded to return to the hut
where we passed the night and wait for a more favourable
day – that on which we attempted to make the ascent was
probably the most stormy there had been for some time – For
several days before we left the City scarcely a cloud was to be
seen about the mountain. After getting our supper we retired
(more comfortably than the night previous, the rain having ceased
with the intention of making a second attempt the next day
About an hour after this most of us began to be affected with
our eyes, being obliged to get up several times and wash them
during the night, by morning some 6 or 7 were perfectly
blind, not being able to open their eyes, some of them
were much swollen – This was produced by the reflec-
tion of the sun ^light^ from the snow the previous day. Those
that suffered most described the sensation as that of
having needles penetrating their eyelids incessantly
We were therefore obliged to give up a second attempt,
for the present at least, and having no conveniences
as well as no forage for our horses we concluded
to return to Amecca until our eyes became better – Several
were forced to have their horses led the whole way. We all
arrived safely at Amecca by 2 oclock where we stayed the remain-
der of the day and through the night – April 9th – We all got
up feeling much better, all being able to see, though some very
imperfectly, these were obliged to keep their eyes covered in the sun – The
company now divided into two parts. The infantry and some of
the officers concluding to remain at this place until their eyes
were restored and they were favoured with a good day for the second
attempt – The remaining officers & dragoons formed a party to
go to Cuerevaca – thence to Mexico, visiting a noted cave near
the former place. All from my Regiment except Lieutenant Fowler
chose the latter expedition, of which I will give you an account
in my next letter – The Queretaro papers say there is a
quorum – the Commissioners wait here until notified of their read-
iness to enter into negotiations, when they will leave for that place
escorted by companies of Dragoons – We shall know this month
whether we are to have peace or war –