Meanwhile, President Paredes had been deposed, and General Santa Anna appointed Dictator of Mexico. After raising a large army, that officer established his head-quarters at Potosi, designing to raise a sufficiency of supplies to enable him to arrest the further progress of General Taylor. Early in 1847, most of that officer's regular troops were withdrawn by General Scott, which so reduced his numbers as to force him to abandon his designs upon the Mexican capital and to fall back toward Monterey. General Taylor took leave of the troops who left him, in a very feeling address. The arrival of volunteers under General Wool again enabled him to move forward, so that on the 21st of February, ascertaining that Santa Anna was moving rapidly upon him with twenty thousand men, he took up a strong position at the pass of Augostura, three miles from Buena Vista, and seven from Saltillo. On the following day, the Mexican forces were observed approaching over the neighbouring mountains; and immediately after, General Taylor received a summons to surrender, which he refused. Toward evening, a brisk cannonade was commenced upon the Americans, but with little or no effect

A portion of the enemy's infantry then wound along the

gorge and hills to the left of the general's position, and opened a heavy fire upon that flank. It was returned by a portion of the Kentucky mounted regiment, under Colonel Marshall, and the skirmish lasted until after dark. Three Americans were wounded.

During the night, General Taylor retired to Saltillo, leaving with General Wool the care of providing for the commencement of the attack. On the following morning, the action was renewed in earnest. The American army did not number more than five thousand men ; yet these coolly prepared to resist the overwhelming host, whose dark lines of infantry were drawn out as far as the eye could reach, while the cavalry appeared in dense columns, presenting the most gaudy appearance. Before sunrise, a large body of both foot and horse moved toward the point which had been the scene of conflict on the preceding night, evidently with the intention of turning the American left flank, and penetrating to the centre. To prevent this, General Taylor ordered Sherman's and Bragg's batteries to the threatened position, the second Illinois regiment, under Colonel Bissel, occupying a position between them. The second Kentucky regiment was placed near the centre. The extreme left was supported by the second Indiana regiment, under Colonel Bowles, so placed as to check, by a direct fire, the enemy's flank movements. The battle was opened on both sides by the artillery, which was soon followed by the musketry of the Mexican right. Notwithstanding the great disparity in numbers, the Americans maintained their ground with firmness, each regiment vying with the others in the obstinacy of their resistance.

At the same time, the Mexican cavalry were winding slowly along the mountain defiles, and notwithstanding the havoc caused by the American artillery, they succeeded in gaining a position close to the rear, and in view of the stores at Buena Vista. To prevent their further advance, General Taylor sent forward his artillery, extended his front, and opened a combined fire of rifles and cannon upon the approaching lancers. The action now raged with terrible effect, but although at the first shock the cavalry reeled and fell back, they twice rallied, and it was not until they had been divided into two bodies, that this vigorous attempt was abandoned.

At this critical position of his affairs, Santa Anna sent a flag of truce to the American general, desiring to know "what he wanted." A temporary cessation of hostilities took place, during which the detached cavalry were enabled to regain the main body. This again.

gave the enemy a large numerical superiority, which enabled them almost completely to overwhelm the second Kentucky regiment, and drive the second Indiana from the field. Captain O'Brien, with two pieces of artillery, sustained this heavy charge to the last, but was finally compelled to leave his guns on the field. Perceiving their advantage, the enemy rushed on in dense masses, captured the guns, and the Indianians retreating by order of Colonel Bowles, the Mexicans advanced upon the Kentucky regiment, under Colonels McKee and Clay, and the Mississippi regiment, under Colonel Jefferson Davis. At this moment, by order of General Taylor, Captain Bragg threw himself into action, and opened his battery within a few yards of the Mexican cavalry. By this daring movement, the enemy's progress was suddenly arrested, and his whole body of lancers driven back. But during their retreat, they attacked the second Kentucky regiment, which had pursued beyond supporting distance. The gallant troops composing it were overwhelmed with immense slaughter, and driven into a ravine, where they were saved from total annihilation only by the timely discharge of a battery placed there under command of Captain Washington. The remainder of the American artillery then opened a heavy fire upon the Mexican right flank, which contributed materially to his final repulse. Night had now fallen upon

the field, and each army appeared unwilling further to test the strength of the other. Notwithstanding the numerous changes in position, the forces occupied nearly the same ground as they had in the morning. The Americans expected a renewal of the battle on the following day; but the disheartened condition of the Mexicans rendered this impossible; and before daylight, Santa Anna, with his troops, was in full retreat to Agua Nueva.

In this action the Americans lost two hundred and sixty-seven killed, four hundred and fifty-six wounded, and twenty-three missing. The killed and wounded of the enemy have been estimated at more than two thousand, nearly five hundred of their dead being left upon the field. The relative loss of officers among the Americans is surprisingly great, and comprises some of the brightest ornaments to the service. The names of Colonels Yell, Hardin, Clay, McKee,

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Captain Lincoln, and others, will long be remembered in connection with the price at which this victory was bought.

The report of this action was sent toward the seat of government, in care of Mr. Crittenden, escorted by Major Giddings, with two hundred and sixty men. This force was attacked by General Urrea, with a numerous body of lancers, but succeeded in driving him off with loss. The major had two soldiers and fifteen teamsters killed. Immediately after, General Taylor started in pursuit of Urrea, having with him Captain May's dragoons, and two companies. of artillery. The pursuit continued as far as Caidereta, when the Mexican general succeeded in escaping beyond the mountains. General Taylor then fell back upon Monterey, and, with General Wool, concerted a plan for marching against San Luis Potosi. This he was prevented from executing, by a second demand for troops made upon him by General Scott, which deprived him of nearly all the officers and men by whom he had been so nobly sustained at Buena Vista. Toward the close of the year, he returned to the United States, leaving the command of the army at Monterey with General Wool.