against Vera Cruz, and left about ten thousand (mostly volunteers) scattered within the reach of General Taylor's command. We must no» return, to take a brief survey of the movements of General Taylor. In pursuance of the orders of the war department, he had directed, during the month of November, the divisions of Generals Twiggs, Pillow, and Quitman, to move from Monterey to Victoria, for the purpose of joining at Tampico the expedition against Vera Cruz. In the latter part of December, General Patterson's division left Matamoras for the same destination, while the division of General Worth, by another route, joined General Scott at the Brazos. In the latter part of January, 1847. General Taylor left Victoria, and established his head-quarters at Monterey, where he found himself at the head of between six and seven thousand men At Monterey, he received intelligence that a party of dragoons under Colonel May had been surprised at Encarnacion, and that Cassius M Clay, and Majors Borland and Gaines had been taken prisoners by General Miñon, at the head of fifteen hundred men. Induced by these circumstances to believe that Santa Anna intended prosecuting the war in bis direction, he determined at once to meet him, and offer battle. Leaving a force of fifteen hundred men at Monterey, he started for Saltillo, where he arrived on the 2d of February, having been reinforced by five hundred men on the way, which made his effective force about five thousand. On the 4th of February, he advanced to Agua Nueva, a strong position oo the road leading from Saltillo to San Luis. Here he remained until the 21st, when he received intelligence that Santa Anna was advancing with his whole army. Having carefully examined the strong mountain-passes he decided that Buena Vista, a strong mountain-pass eleven miles nearer Saltillo, was the most favourable point to make a stand against a force so overwhelming. He therefore fell back to that place; and having formed his army in order of battle, calmly awaited the approach of the

enemy.

The position of the American army at this moment, says Mansfield, was most critical. The regular troops had been withdrawn, with the exception of four companies of artillery, and even these had been filled up by new levies. The volunteers, of which the army was mainly composed, had received some instruction in the regular duties of the camp, but had not attained that perfection in discipline which gives confidence in military operations.

The army which Santa Anna at this time commanded, was the finest body of troops in the nation; and with a superiority of numbers exceeding four to one, and the knowledge that General Taylor's regular troops had nearly all been withdrawn, the Mexican commander might well feel con fident of success. On the 22d of February—a day then already memorable in history—General Taylor saw the Mexican army leave its position, and approach the mountain-pass where he had posted his little band. Tb* enemy's right was concentrated in columns of attack behind a spur of the mountain, and his riflemen were opposite ours, firing across a deep gully—a small unoccupied eminence and mountain-spur between tbem. On our extreme left was the 3d Indiana regiment, supported by three pieces of artillery, one of which was lost in the onset of the morning: next, the Illinois regiment, with a piece of artillery on either flank; next, two pieces of artillery, and a squadron of dragoons; next, two pieces of artillery, and the 2d Kentucky foot; next, four companies of the 3d Illinois regiment on a spur of the plateau, at the foot of which was a parapet across the road, behind which were four pieces of artillery, and two companies of the 2d Illinois regiment. The 2d Indiana regimeat was a little to the left, on an eminence, behind which was a squadron of dragoons; and still further to the rear, near the rancho of Buena Visia, the 1st Mississippi legiment, and one piece of artillery. In the rear of

our extreme left, on the edge of the plateau, were posted the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry.

We make such extracts from General Taylor's own report of this brilliant battle as we have room for, in preference to any attempt at condensing its details :

"During the evening and night of the 22d, the enemy had thrown a hody of light troops on the mountain side, with the purpose of outflanking our left; and it was here that the action of the 23d commenced at an early hour. Our riflemen, under Colonel Marshall, who had been reinforced by three companies under Major Trail, second Illinois volunteers, maintained their ground handsomely against a greatly superior force, holding themselves under cover, and using their weapons with deadly effect. About eight o'clock, a strong demonstration was made against the centre of our position, a heavy column moving along the road. This force was soon dispersed by a few rapid and well-directed shots from Captain Washington's battery. In the mean time the enemy was concentrating a large force of infantry and cavalry under cover of the ridges, with the obvious intention of forcing our left, which was posted on an extensive plateau. The second Indiana and second Illinois regiments formed this part of our line, the former covering three pieces of light artillery, under the orders of Captain O'Brien; Brigadier-general Lane being in the immediate command. In order to bring his men within effective range, General Lane ordered the artillery and second Indiana regiment forward. The artillery advanced within musket-range of a heavy body of Mexican infantry, and was served against it with great effect, but without being able to check its advance. The infantry ordered to its support had fallen back in disorder, being exposed, as well as the battery, not only to a severe fire of small-arms from the front, but also to a murderous cross-fire of grape and canister, from a Mexican battery on the left. Captain O'Brien found it impossible to retain his position without support, but was only able to withdraw two of his pieces, all the horses and cannoniers of the third piece being killed or disabled. The second Indiana regiment, which had fallen back as stated, could not be rallied, and took no farther part in the action, except a handful of men, who, under its gallant colonel, Bowles, joined the Mississippi regiment, and did good service, and those fugitives who, at a later period in the day, assisted in defending the train and depot at Buena Vista. This portion of our line having given way, and the enemy appearing in overwhelming force against our left flank, the light troops which had rendered such good service on the mountain were compelled to withdraw, which they did, for the most part, in good order. Many, however, were not rallied until they reached the depot at Buena Vista, to the defence of which they afterwards contributed.

At

"Colonel Bissell's regiment (second Illinois), which had been joined by a section of Captain Sherman's battery, had become completely outflanked, and was compelled to fall back, being entirely unsupported. The enemy was now pouring masses of infantry and cavalry along the base of the mountain on our left, and was gaining our rear in great force. this moment I arrived upon the field. The Mississippi regiment had been directed to the left before reaching the position, and immediately came into action against the Mexican infantry which had turned our flank. The second Kentucky regiment, and a section of artillery under Captain Bragg, had previously been ordered from the right to reinforce our left, and arrived at a most opportune moment. That regiment, and a portion of the first Illinois, under Colonel Hardin, gallantly drove the enemy, and recovered a portion of the ground we had lost. The batteries of Captains Sherman and Bragg were in position on the plateau, and did much execui tion, not only in front, but particularly upon the masses which had gained

our rear. Discovering that the enemy was heavily pressing upon h» Mississippi regiment, the third Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane was despatched to strengthen that part or our line which formed a crotchet perpendicular to the first line of battle. At the same time Lieutenant Kilburn, with a piece of Captain Bragg's battery, w»s directed to support the infantry there engaged. The action was for a long ime warmly sustained at thai point—the enemy making several efforts Doth with infantry and cavalry against our line, and being always repulsed with heavy loss. I had placed all the regular cavalry and Captain Hike's squadron of Arkansas horse under the orders of Brevet Lieut.-col. May, with directions to hold in check the enemy's column, still advancing to the rear along the base of the mountain, which was done in conjuoc tiou with the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry, under Colonels Marshal and Yell.

"In the mean time our left, which was still strongly threatened by i superior force, was farther strengthened by the detachment of Captain Bragg's and a portion of Captain Sherman's batteries to that quarter. The concentration of artillery-fire upon the masses of the enemy aloof the base of the mountain, and the determined resistance offered by tbe two regiments opposed to them, had created confusion in their ranks, and some of the corps attempted to effect a retreat upon their main line of battle. The squadron of the first dragoons, under Lieutenant Rucker. was now ordered up the deep ravine which these retreating corps wer» endeavouring to cross, in order to charge and disperse them. The squad ron proceeded to the point indicated, but could not accomplish the object, being exposed to a heavy fire from a battery established to cover the re treat of those corps. While the squadron was detached on this service a large body of the enemy was observed to concentrate on our extreme left, apparently with the view of making a descent upon the hacienda of Buena Vista, where our train and baggage were deposited. Lieut.-colonel May was ordered to the support of that point, with two pieces of Captain Sherman's battery under Lieutenant Reynolds. In the mean time, the scattered forces near the hacienda, composed in part of Majors Trail and Gorman's commands, had been to some extent organized under the advica of Major Munroe, chief of artillery, with the assistance of Major Mor rison, volunteer staff, and were posted to defend the position. Before our cavalry had reached the hacienda, that of the enemy had made its attack; having been handsomely met by the Kentucky and Arkansas cavalry, under Colonels Marshall and Yell. The Mexican column immediately divided, one portion sweeping by the depot, where it received a destructive fire from the force which had collected there, and then gaining the mountain opposite, under a fire from Lieutenant Reynolds' section, the remaining portion regaining the base of the mountain on oar left. In the charge at Buena Vis\a, Colonel Yell fell gallantly at the head of his regiment; we also lost Adjutant Vaughan, of the Kentucky cavalry a young officer of much promise. Lieut.-colonel May, who had been re joined by the squadron of the first dragoons and by portions of the Arkansas and Indiana troops, under Lieut.-colonel Roane and Major Gorman, now approached the base of the mountain, holding in check the rigbt flank of the enemy, upon whose masses, crowded in the narrow gorges and ravines, our artillery was doing fearful execution.

"The position of that portion of the Mexican army which had gained our rear was now very critical, and it seemed doubtful whether it eould regain the main body.

"During the day, the cavalry of General Miñon had ascended the ele vated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the road from the city to the fr»«d of battle, where they intercepted several of our men. Approaching toe town, they were fired upon by Captain Webster, from the redoubt occ