turrets, spires, and domes, while high above all waved in triumph the stars and stripes. Climates succeeded to each other to use Humboldt's expression-in layers, and the detachment passed in review, between Vera Cruz and Mexico, the whole scale of vegetation, from the cacti of the tropics to the pines of the Arctic regions.

Lieutenant Burnside was warmly welcomed by his brother officers, and he was complimented by his superiors for the ability with which he had kept the men and the mules of his train from straggling and being carried off. He was much interested with the novel appearance of the captured city. Palaces, churches, and monasteries rose on every hand, some of them bearing marks of the recent cannonading. Dark-eyed senoritas smiled from behind. the iron-work of balconies, and young men, gorgeously arrayed in Andalusian attire, moved about on small, ambling horses, richly caparisoned. Itinerant jugglers performed the same tricks that were witnessed by Pizarro; but a band of negro minstrels had crowded out the Spanish operatic company, and an American theatrical company nightly reveled in the halls of the "Gran Teatro Nacional."

"

The Cafe de Independencia" had been rechristened the "Old Kentuck House." Other hotels in a like manner had changed their cognomens, and there were the "Eagle House," the "Lone Star House," the "St. Louis." the Alhambra," the " Verandah," the "Merchants," the "St. Charles," the "New York Restaurant," the "American Eating Establishment," the "Shakespeare Dining Saloon," the Indian Queen," etc., etc., where everything to eat and to drink, from "pigs' feet and buttermilk" to the very best bald-face and Jamaica," were sold.

The Diaro Gobierno newspaper had given place to

the American Star, the first number of which had been printed at Matamoras when the United States troops landed there, while others had been successively published at the various stopping-places of

the advancing column. The North American was issued from where a Mexican journal formerly emanated; and the Yankee Doodle, full of mirth and humor, poked his comical face from behind a corner, weekly.

Divine services were held every Sunday at the Grand Palace, by the Rev. Mr. McCarty, chaplain to the army, who, in a highly commendable manner, had been assiduous in his attention to the sick, wounded, and dying, both upon the field and in the hospital. While one of the commands was passing to a position in order to turn the enemy's works at Cherubusco, they encountered a murderous fire, which swept off nearly one-third of the command, and was calculated to produce momentary confusion even among the veteran troops. The reverend gentleman was among those left standing, and turning to them with a calm and placid countenance, raising his hat from his head, he called out: Never fear, my brave fellows the Lord is on our side; do your duty, and we are certain of victory." As the troops proceeded on they encountered an almost impassable ditch, where they suffered severely from the guns of the foe before they could reach the point of assault, when he was again foremost in the van, remarking: "My

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friends, war is a very bad trade, but this is not the time to discuss it; just hand me your guns, and I will hold them until you hurry over the ditch." His language and action produced a most happy effect upon the men, and as they were led on by their gallant officers they raised a shout, charged the enemy in fine spirits and confidence, and most signally routed and defeated them. As soon as the contest between the two armies was decided, the reverend gentleman was to be found among the wounded and the dying, endeavoring to alleviate the sufferings of the former, and administering the last of all earthly consolations to the latter.

The United States Army in Mexico presented but little of the pride and pomp of war, but all of its stern realities. The bloody battles in the neighborhood had made sad havoc among the officers of the old regiments of regulars, which gave the young graduates from West Point a great deal to do. Living under military regulations, and breathing a military atmosphere, the young gentlemen became habituated to obedience and accustomed to the restraints of discipline.

Lieutenant Burnside is remembered by his comrades as a tall, lithe, well-made young man, whose features were expressive of indomitable good spirits and keen humor. He was remarkable for his good temper, his obliging disposition, and his aversion to continued duty. In conversation with his superior officers his manner was slightly deferential, while with the younger officers he was cordial and courteous, his manner combining dignity and elegance with singular ease and simplicity.

The society in Mexico was to the young lieutenant an enigma. The degenerate descendants of the Cortez and the Pizarros lacked the chivalrous arrogance of the Cas

tilian, or the bland gaiety of the French. Gambling and smoking occupied their time, while the ladies, reared in deplorable ignorance, lacked the languid grace and subtle sparkliness so peculiar to the Andalusian race. Many of the officers visited the gambling-houses, and Lieutenant Burnside was one of those who became fascinated in "fighting the tiger," without sufficient self-denial to stop until he had been regularly plucked. At last he found himself stopped of all his available means, and his pay for six months in advance was mortgaged. His first impulse was to resign, but a senior officer who had been regarded as somewhat parsimonious insisted upon Burnside receiving from him a loan sufficiently large to extinguish his indebtedness.

“Nanyana,” was the favorite expression of the Mexicans, and it was practically applied to everything, from the simplest transactions of life up to matters of the utmost moment. It may be translated: Do nothing to-day which by any

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possible means you can put off until to-morrow." With the Americans it was different. Guard-mounting, drills, reviews, and parades were ordered and punctually executed. Unfortunate differences of opinion between General Scott and his subordinate generals created a bad feeling, which extended throughout the army, and there was a general feeling of relief when the troops began to leave for Vera Cruz, there to embark for the United States. Bragg's battery, of the Third Artillery, to which Lieutenant Burnside was attached, was ordered to Fort Adams, at Newport, R. I.

1

FRONTIER PLACED IN COMMAND OF A DETACHMENT OF
MOUNTED MEN - HIS FIRST REPORT VICTORIOUS ENGAGE-
MENT WITH THE INDIANS- WOUNDED - JOINS HIS REGIMENT
AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS.

F

ORT ADAMS, near Newport, where Lieutenant
Burnside was stationed on his return from Mexico,

is a most delightful stronghold, built in accordance with the science of engineering, before earth-works were substituted for massive granite walls. The view from the ramparts of the fort is varied and picturesque. On one hand is Narragansett Bay, with its islands, its wateringplaces, its steamers, its fishing-boats, and in the distance the broad sweep of the Atlantic Ocean, its dark waves crested with foam and flecked with white sails. On the other hand is the long hillside town of Newport, with its spires and public edifices, its long wharf, and the range of villas on its heights. Between the fort and the city, in the foreground, is the harbor, often the anchorage of foreign or home squadrons of war-vessels, and of gay yachts. And in the background are miniature precipitous ranges of granite, veined with small terraces of green grass, some of which are watered by springs.