 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0039 Enlarge and print image (920K) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
||||
|
Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0039 Enlarge and print image (920K) |
| msa_sc5826_3_l-0039 ©Maryland State Archives - 39 - of the first water. Unfortunately we had nothing to eat but the coarsest Commissary food, which, in those days, was not of the great variety and even luxury of the present day, and being on an Island nothing could be improvised. Galt was greatly disconcerted, and never ceased to crack his jokes on the subject and evidently told it to Gen. Scott, who in the City of Mexico, in one of his facetious moods, asked me if his friend Galt had invited me to dine since ray arrival in the City. This dreary and monotonous life in garrison, determined me to act on the proposition, and accept the appointment of U.S. Civil Engineer whenever it was offered, with a view of appointment in the Top'l. Eng'rs. where I should lead a more active life. Spring came, and no hostile French fleet had approached our position. Louis Philippe had complied with the demands made upon him, and the whole difficulty was at an end. With the disappearance of all necessity for occupying so disagreeable a place, the trees began to bud, and the grapes to cover the hills, and waft their perfume across the narrow channel which separated us from them, and an almost irrepressible desire seized one, to break loose from the confinement and strict military discipline of the Post, and roam at will over the beautiful country so near at hand. I had not long to wait; simultaneously with a letter notifying me that an appointment as U.S. Civil Engineer was at my service, came an order for my company to march against the Creeks; of course I declined the civil appointment, but asked that it might be reserved for me until the end of the campaign, which was kindly accorded, and I went off with a light heart. One of the few physical facts that I cannot recall, is the mode by which we reached Charleston, en route to the Creek Nation. I have never kept private notes of any thing, and the statement of Mr. Webster's mentioned else- where, may have helped to confirm me in this habit; when I was officially |