spurs. One of these ridges forms a plateau of nearly three hundred yards wide, and about a thousand yards long, which was the scene of the principal operations.

The place was not unworthy the approaching conflict. Nature was there in her grandeur and her power, and far as the eye could reach, the peaks of the Sierra Madre were towering to the skies. If Napoleon could excite enthusiasm from the antiquity of the pyramids, in that burst of sublime eloquence which of itself would render his name and memory immortal, the members of both armies might have here drawn inspiration from a higher source. They were in the presence of the preAdamites. Around them were monuments of creation, which had risen when the "morning stars first sang together," and which will crumble into decay only, when "the sun shall slumber in the cloud, for getful of the voice of the morning."

While the American troops were taking their positions, the Mexicans were rapidly advancing. Column after column arrived in view; their immense masses rolling up clouds of dust before them, which hung like a canopy above the road, far beyond Encantada. The presence of the Mexican general-in-chief was first announced by a white flag, which was seen dimly fluttering in the distance, the emblem of peace being appropriately borne by a disciple of the healing art. The messenger was halted by the advance picket, to whom he delivered the following summons from General Santa Anna to General Taylor to surrender:

par

Camp at Encantada, Feb. 22d, 1847. You are surrounded by twenty thousand men, and cannot in any human probability avoid sufering a rout, and being cut to pieces with your troops; but as you deserve consideration and ticular esteem, I wish to save you from a catastrophe, and for that purpose give you this notice, in order that you may surrender at discretion, under the assurance that you will be treated with the consideration belonging to the Mexican character; to which end you will be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to commence from the moment when my flag of truce arrives in your camp.

With this view, I assure you of my particular consideration. God and Liberty.

ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. To General Z. Taylor, commanding the forces of the U. S.

To this elegant emblem of benevolent bravado, and characteristic "considera

SIR-In reply to your note of this date, summoning me to surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that I decline acceding to your request. With high respect, I am, sir, Your obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR,

Maj. Gen. U. S. Army, commanding. Señor General D. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Commander-in-chief, La Encantada.

During this epistolary episode, the Mexican troops had arrived on the ground, and General Santa Anna was completing his dispositions. His infantry was formed in two divisions, under Generals Lombardini and Pacheco. A battery of three sixteenpounders was established on his left, supported by a regiment of engineers, under Colonel Blanco, while two batteries of eight and twelve-pounders of five guns each, were planted near his right, so as to sweep obliquely the American line. The cavalry, commanded by General Juvera, occupied the rear of the batteries, near the main body of which, on his extreme right, was also posted a regiment of hussars, under Colonel Andrele. By an oversight* in the posting of the American troops in the morning, a duty which had been performed by General Wool, before General Taylor's arrival, a height on the left and a little in front of the American line, was not occupied, and the first act of the Mexican commander, seeing the importance of the point in turning his enemy, was to order General Ampudia, with his light battalions, to take possession of it, and hold it at all hazards.

The array on both sides was now complete. The opposing hosts only awaited the signals from their leaders, to "let slip the dogs of war." But, for the first time in his Mexican campaign, General Taylor was acting on the defensive, and General

* Santa Anna's report.

Battle of Buena Vista, page 33.

any

Santa Anna was evidently unwilling to commence the action. His troops had just performed a march of more than forty miles, were of course much fatigued, and required rest. Hours rolled by, without decisive movement, after the response to the summons to surrender, which, it was thought, would at once introduce the roar of the enemy's artillery. During this pause upon the verge of battle, there was deep sensation within the American lines; each man seemed to feel that the hour for which he had marched so far, and toiled so long, had arrived; enthusiasm was tempered by a just sense of the immense issue involved in the struggle-a great victory or an overwhelming defeat, and the stern silence was broken only by the shouts which ever and anon rose from the volunteers, as some change of position occurred among the Mexican troops. At length a flash is seen, a report is heard, and a shell explodes not far from the American centre. Several discharges from a seven inch howitzer followed at irregular intervals, but did no execution.

66

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It was now nearly sun-set. The Mexican bugles were heard sounding the treat," and General Taylor, attended by his staff, rode up the broad platform, from which could then be seen the entire Mexican army. Seldom has the eye rested upon a more imposing or thrilling picture. The serried hosts were all in position. The parting rays of the sun were glancing from the bayonets of thirteen thousand infantry, and the lances of five thousand cavalry; their crimson pennons were fluttering gaily in the breeze, and their blazing standards waving proudly over the magnificent array. Steeds richly caparisoned were moving from one point to another, while the towering plumes and gorgeous uniforms of their riders seemed sporting in mockery with the sun-beams. The twilight falls softly upon their glittering hosts, as the angel of death hovers above both armies, a sentinel for the night, from whose ruthless quiver the shafts of carnage are to fly to-morrow.

Ere the last note of the evening music has died away among the western hills, a sterner echo is startled from an opposite quarter. The Mexican light troops have gained a favorable position upon the heights on their right, and have commenced a rapid fire upon the American

flank, composed of several companies of Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry, dismounted, and a battalion of riflemen from the 2d Indiana regiment, under Major Gorman, the whole commanded by Colonel Marshall. This fire was promptly and steadily returned. The Mexicans continued to advance up the mountain with the evident determination, not only to preserve the advantage of their plunging fire, but to gain the American flank; while their persevering enemy kept climbing with them, under cover of a nearly parallel ridge, until both parties had attained such an eminence, that flash followed flash like shooting stars, and the mountain seemed to belch forth fire and smoke, as if suddenly converted into a blazing volcano." This skirmishing continued until some time after dark, with no loss to the Americans, save four wounded, while the effect upon the Mexicans, though not precisely stated in General Santa Anna's report, was probably more severe. They remained in possession of the heights.

Convinced that no serious attack would be made until the next day, General Taylor, with a squadron of the 2d dragoons, and the Mississippi regiment, returned to his camp near Saltillo. Both armies bivouacked for the night without fires, and slept upon their arms. A prisoner was taken during the night, but could impart no information, save as to the strength of the Mexican force.

At an early hour on the morning of the 23d, the fire from the enemy's right was renewed, and soon after followed by repeated discharges of artillery from the same quarter, a battery of eight-pounders having been removed during the night to a point which commanded the entire plateau. The riflemen under Colonel Marshall were reinforced by three companies of the 2d Illinois regiment, under Major Trail, and returned the fire with spirit, gallantly maintaining their ground against a greatly superior force, and using their weapons with decisive effect. At the same time the advance of a body of Mexican infantry towards the head of a ravine, near which the Americans were posted was checked by a few shells from a twelve-pound howitzer, under Lieut. O'Brien, 4th artillery.

*Correspondence of the St. Louis Republican.

It was now eight o'clock, and the hour for | the ground attack had arrived. The divisions of Generals Lombardini and Pacheco, numbering seven thousand men, advanced by columns on the American centre; Generals Mora y Villamil and Ampudia led a column of attack on the right, while General Juvera, at the head of three thousand lancers, was to turn the left flank of the Americans, by a rapid movement, under cover of the artillery, and the first and second divisions of infantry. In a few minutes the attack became general. Along the entire line, the battle raged with variable intensity, while less than five thousand Americans found themselves arrayed against fifteen thousand of the victims of Mexican oppression, and the myrmidons of Mexican despotism. The lancers dashed forward in unbroken order, and with reckless impetuosity, their banners streaming gaily in the wind, and their plumes waving proud defiance to every foe. The base of the mountain, around which they were winding their way, seemed literally girdled with glittering steel, as their bright lances and polished sabres flashed back the beams of the morning sun. The 2d Indiana regiment, under Colonel Bowles, occupied a position to the left of the American centre, between which and the 2d Illinois regiment, commanded by Colonel Bissell, Lieuts. O'Brien and Bryan, the latter of the topographical engineers, were posted with three pieces of artillery from Washington's battery, Upon these the Mexican columns of infantry, under cover of their artillery, directed their march, and when within two hundred and fifty yards, opened, while still advancing, a most galling and terrific fire. The American troops were kneeling while awaiting this attack, and kept this position until the Mexicans came within fair point-blank range.* The fire was then returned by both armies with deadly effect; the discharge of almost every musket was the summons of a destroying angel, and the artillery poured into the enemy's ranks showers of case shot, canisters and shells, which were attended with frightful slaughter. Still the enemy moved steadily on, the deep chasms in his ranks being filled up as rapidly as they were created, by the thousands in their rear. There seemed no power in lead or

*Correspondence of the St. Louis Republican.

iron to arrest the progress of that mighty host. The 2d Indiana regiment, after gallantly sustaining itself for a time, gave way, under the ill-timed orders of Colonel Bowles, before the fierce and onward fire of the now victorious columns. O'Brien, thus deprived of support, was forced to fall back, leaving one gun* on the ground, of which the horses and cannoneers were all killed or disahled; and the 2d Illinois regiment was also compelled to retire, which it did in good order, before the overwhelming masses which had thus borne down all opposition. A few minutes more and the battle must have been hopelessly lost. The fate of the day trembled as it were upon a moment, but in that moment General Taylor arrived upon the field. The revulsion of feeling was electrical, and hope and confidence succeeded to despair. McKee's Kentuckians and Harden's Illinois battalion were at once ordered to join the intrepid Bissell, whose gallant regiment cheerfully responded to this support. The line was instantly re-formed, and with Sherman's and Bragg's artillery, now in battery on the plateau, opened once more the American fire. The thunders of the artillery, and the quick and startling volleys of the infantry, swept like the besom of destruction over the advancing legions. The Mexican columns wavered before the storm of balls which hurtled around them. The Americans seized the moment for an appeal to the bayonet. The Mexicans faltered, hesitated, and sullenly retired, with great slaughter, before a charget that seemed as irresistible as the decrees of destiny. The lost ground was regained, while the enemy, amid increasing carnage, and with the loss of two standards, taken by the Illinois regiments, sought safety and shelter in the ravines, into which they were driven.

With the retreat of the Indiana regiment. a portion of which was subsequently rallied in the most gallant manner, by Major Dix, serving on the staff of General Taylor, the American light troops retired before the

*This gun merits a passing remark. It was taken from the Mexicans near San Antonio de

Bexar, on the 28th of October, 1835, by the unfortunate Colonel Fannin; attached to Washington's battery, in 1846; recovered by its original owners in 1847, but does appear among those recaptured by the lamented Drum at Churubusco. Correspondence of the St. Louis Republican.

Notwithstanding these repeated repulses, those of the Mexicans who had been driven back from the hacienda, were soon joined by another body of cavalry, and thus reinforced, again advanced, with a view to engage the Indiana and Mississippi troops, which now held a position nearly midway between the base of the mountains and the hacienda. As one regiment was armed with rifles, the formation of a square would have afforded no strength; the two corps were therefore posted so as to form a re-entering angle, the opening towards the enemy, and the vertex resting upond the ege of a deep ravine, and thus awaited the attack. For awhile on came the enemy, with lances in rest, dashing ahead with a haughty confidence and proud contempt for the insignificant numbers opposed to them. But as the distance diminished, their progress gradually became slower and slower, until by a strange fatality, the whole body halted within a hundred yards of the Americans. The movement seemed a mockery, and had they borne charmed lives, they could not have exhibited more indifference to human power. But that halt sealed their destiny. Both lines had followed Warren's instructions at Bunker Hill, and "the whites of the eyes" being now "fairly visible," the arms were levelled, and then gleamed forth a sheet of fire that scattered the foe like chaff, felling many a gallant steed to the earth, and sending scores of riders to the sleep that knows no waking.

The discomfited lancers once more sought safety in the mountains, and having regained their position on the American left, there was yet a formidable body of the enemy in that quarter, towards which the dragoons, and a portion of the Arkansas and Indiana troops under Roane and Gorman, were directed to hold them in check. Their masses were crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, their own weapons were powerless from position; and upon them the infantry re-opened a

brisk fire, while Sherman, Reynolds and Kilburn, from their artillery, beautifully served, hailed the case-shot and canister with terrible execution.

At this time the entire Mexican force, which had gained the rear of the Americans, was in a critical position. The infantry held it on the left, while the artillery in front was making fearful carnage at every discharge. It was impossible to advance, and a junction with the main body seemed hopeless. In this dire dilema, the treacherous cunning of his race came to the rescue of the Mexican commander.

Four officers from a distant point were suddenly observed galloping at full speed towards the American lines. They were met by several officers of the Kentucky and Illinois regiments, which then occupied an advance position on the plateau, and one of them was conducted by Lieut. Col. Clay to the presence of General Taylor. It then appeared that he bore a verbal interrogatory from General Santa Anna, "to know what General Taylor wanted." This absurd message was at once believed to be a mere ruse, but under the sanctity of a white flag, the American commander was not at liberty to regard it as an act of bad faith, and despatched General Wool to meet the Mexican General-in-Chief, at the same moment transmitting orders to cease firing. Before General Wool reached the Mexican lines, however, they had re-commenced their fire, thereby at once exposing the dishonorable stratagem resorted to and avowing the shameless perfidy which had been thus successfully consummated. The flag of peace, prostituted to the purposes of treachery, had accomplished the ends which its wily originator designed; the cessation of the American fire had enabled the extreme right of the enemy to complete its retreat along the base of the mountain, and effect a re-union with the main body of the Mexican army.

The junction of the enemy's forces was effected near the position which the 2d Indiana regiment had occupied in the morning, and elated with the achievement, a portion of them made an effort again to advance. They were met by a blazing fire from the sections of artillery under O'Brien and Thomas, from which they recoiled with precipitation, and returned to the shelter of the hills and ravines. En