CASSIUS M. CLAY, "LION" - The Filson Historical Society

1957] Cassius M. Clay 137
He is now in Jacabago his place of residence, a village a few miles from
Mexico, whence he will go in a few days to join the army at Jalapa
against Scott. Scott is bombarding Vera Cruz which must soon fall;
when we trust he will take prisoners to exchange us." What does this
mean? What treachery is this by Santa Anna? Did he not promise on
the field of Buena Vista to send an express to the Capital with orders
for liberating all American prisoners & that they be delivered to Gen.
Scott? I so understood; and yet Santa Anna has had time to March
800 miles since the battle & this promise made & yet on the 28th of
March the prisoners still immured in the walls of Castle St. Jago. Mr.
Clay says that they "are "allowed 50 cts a day as our pay which with
the addition of a little more from our private purse with a negro cook
(who had married a Mexican woman) enables us to fare well enough
in the eating way; I sleep on a Buffalo rug & my saddle blanket &
cover with another rug, with my big coat as a pillow, so that in the
sleeping also, I do well enough, as I am used to hard fare."
I am glad you are coming over next week. The reason I did not
go down to see you I was too unwell. I got so restless at home not
hearing from Mr. Clay & not being well enough to engage my mind
in reading that I felt I must be moving to breathe even. So off I started
Monday morning if I was made ill by the trip I did not care much &
I had the kindest relatives to nurse me & I would go any how & I had
liked to have been knocked up or down. But on my way over I met
a letter from Mr. Clay which Pa sent me by a negro man &. this I know
kept me out of sickness. Come over soon. I want to know what you
think about the prisoners being detained. I cannot think, think for
me? Mr. Clay sends his love to you and Ann & each of your children.
I will read his letter to you when I see you. Love to Ann & believe me,
Yrs. affectionately
M. J. Clay.
Madison Co, Ky. July 14t '47
Dear Brutus,
•..As you pass over to Martha Rodes s wedding I hope you will
stop to see me. I received a letter from Seymour yesterday in which
he says "From the many letters received by me from various parts,
relative to the completing of the subscriptions of those whose time
had not expired, with the T.A., I am led to think that it would be
well to take council upon the propriety of making an arrangement with
us to have 'the Examiner' sent to those persons to complete their
time. The amount on the books of the T.A. for their incomplete subscription
was $1300. We would agree to furnish the paper to them
for simple cost of paper & printing. I will not express an opinion as