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TKc Hagerstown TOall.FRIDAY, MAY «, 1808.An Old Letter From Vera Cruz During The Mexican Conflict.WRITTEN' BY VETERAN AMOS WOLFTrip From Fort McHenry and Account of a Fight Other Interesting Matters of Note.At this time w hen the war spirit pervades the land, everything of a warlike nature is of interest and eagerly sought after. The following interesting letter w ritten at Vera Cruz, Mexieo,during the war between the United States and that country recalls the stirring scenes unacted then and over fifty years airo. The letter was written by Mr. Amos Wolf, of Williamsport, who is now lying ill at his home, to Mr. Samuel Elliott, of that place. 31 r. Wolf served under Gen. Scott.Vera Cruz, Feb. 24, 1 '48.1 take this opportunity of w riting to you to inform you that 1 am well and hoping that youare in the same state of health.I w as at Fort McHenry seven and a half months, but I did not w ant to w rite before I reached Vera Cruz. We sailed from Fort McHenry on January 20th, on the Margaret Hoy of Baltimore, with 205 men on board. iV e had a fine voyageuntil the---w as reached w henthe ship struck a reef. Many on board were fearful that the ship would be wrecked, but w e finally got olT safely. There was a vessel from New York lost there with 204 passengers.Vera Cruz is not a healthy place. It is very hot, and the water is as warm as fresh milk. The city is a strange looking place. It is surrounded with a big wall something like the Washington County jail, only higher and more splendid. The houses all have flat roofs are without window's and painted white. There are a great many American traders here. The Mexicans hate them, but the former outnumber the latter. You can get $25 and $80 a month w ages for any kind of work. Hands are scarce, but I w ould not persuade any person to come out here for the county is unhealthy in the summer.There are a plenty of wild and domestic animals in this country. Bears, wolves and wild cats appear to be very tame. There is also lots of fruit,such alt; oranges, pine apples, etc., here.There is a great deal of talk about peace, but it does not look much like it. Guerrillas attacked a wagon train and the Texan rangers with it on the 17th, but they were repulsed with a loss of 30. The United States troops had four officers and eleven privates killed. The Guerrillas burned thirty wagons. We were ordered thirty rounds of cartridges but did not get out.It is counted nothing to see a dead man in this country. You can see thousands of skulls lying around like flies.A strange tiling happened at camp this evening. One of the privates struev the captain in the face with his fist, but what for I do not know. I expect tlia lie will be courtmartialed and very likely shot, for there was a man shot for striking a lieutenant not long ago. The law is very strict in the army.I will close now w ith the request to be remembered to all my friends Tell Jim Long that he should have come with us. I don’t know how soon we may march, so wait until you hear from me again lie-fore you answer. Very truly,Amos Wolf.WOrerinjHanmartMobMr.Dr.TheA. 1 by tl Join inir * Tl whil bom mail gam A oYh friei R Mol Bur N. Gen Mai ladi ove T Jan: wlu A rn Knj; the M thn31DcyNe\HinSt.WeOlasCanlastseriarrilayaeclt;YoilionMetsidtIIkidtakiliiglpneiiisandFarenes:bovlist:havthesonVthewitwinhoi)3and St. stri w if dan ciD Ret He din St. cit 31 a a 1 Ythe
Newspaper Details
Hagerstown Mail
Hagerstown, Maryland, US
Fri, May 06, 1898
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 13 Feb 2024
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