Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1848 edition. Excerpt: ...a circle. Tables were placed around the ring, upon which a number of cake merchants offered small loaves of brown sugar, cigarritos, and other little dainties, for sale. Every thing was conducted with the utmost decorum, and with much taste. The senoritas, many of whom were, by moonlight, very pretty, were dressed, with a few exceptions, in calico, made up after the American style, or rather in bad imitation of it. They were ranged around upon the benches, where they sat very quietly, behaving very like our country-girls in Louisiana, on similar occasions. In truth, the party resembled a country ball at home, the girls manifesting the same modest timidity, so captivating in our sweet Creole girls, and the young men, who were neatly clad in white linen pants, snowwhite shirts, and red silk sashes, conducting themselves with perfect politeness and regularity. A little hump-backed Mexican--a dwarf withal--was seated in a chair, with a violin as large as himself, his keen black eyes twinkling in the moonbeams, sawing out waltzes and break-downs with wonderful ease. Just as the waltzing commenced, an orderly rode up from Col. Garland--Col. G. commands this camp--with an order for Col. Watson, who was a spectator, to appear at his head-quarters forthwith. A moment after, we learned that an express had arrived from Gen. Worth, bringing orders for the troops here to be ready for an attack; and in case firing was heard in the direction of Serralvo, THE ARMY AT SERRALVO. 123 to set out immediately for that place. A subdued buzz pervaded the camp, after orders in conformity with the above had been promulgated; new instructions were given to the sentinels, cartridgeboxes were carefully examined, muskets inspected, and the men lay beside their arms....
