nine at night
We again started on our journey to headquarters , and finally arrived at Torrecilla at two o'clock in the afternoon . Both the Commander-in-Chief Morillo , and Admiral Enrile , had that morning proceeded to the works at Boca Chica , so we only found El Senor Montalvo , the Captain-General of the Province , a little kiln-dried diminutive Spaniard . Morillo used to call him `` uno muneco Creollo , '' but withal he was a gentlemanlike man in his manners . He received us very civilly ; we delivered our despatches ; and the same evening we made our bow , and having obtained fresh horses , set out on our return , and arrived at the village of Santa Rosa at nine at night , where we slept ; and next morning continuing on our journey , we got once more safely on board of the old Brig at twelve o'clock at noon , in a miserable plight , not having had our clothes off for three days . As for me I was used to roughing it , and in my humble equipment any disarrangement was not particularly discernible , but in poor Treenail , one of the nattiest fellows in the service , it was a very different matter . He had issued forth on the enterprise , cased in tight blue pantaloons that fitted him like his skin , over which were drawn long well-polished Hessian boots , each with a formidable tassel at top , and his coat was buttoned close up to the chin , with a blazing swab on the right shoulder , while a laced cocked hat and dress sword completed his equipment . But , alas !