Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/107

Rh and every one found on the road during the day, to be arrested and kept close until they left in the evening.

After leaving the hacienda at dark, they came upon a party of mounted Mexicans, with a carriage whose occupant bore a passport from General Smith to travel to Orizaba. He was permitted to pass, with his attendants.

At dawn our army were within half a mile of Tehuacan. The report of a solitary gun of the enemy, gave hope that the bird was about to be caged. Our dragoons and riflemen dashed to the right and left, closing every outlet; while the rangers, with cocked revolvers, galoped toward the Plaza to secure their prey: but their amazement and mortification may be imagined, when they learned that, two hours before, the object of their search had fled to Oajaca, with seventy-five men. With chagrin, they also learned, that the Mexican, whose coach was stopped the evening before, had despatched a messenger across the mountain, to inform Santa Anna, that the American troops were on the road, with the probable intention of making him prisoner. Had it not been for this treachery, the surprise would have been complete.



Leaving Tehuacan, on the 23d, the troops, after a rough march of several miles, came down, Feb. 26, 1848, into the valley of Orizaba. On arriving at the gates of the city, the authorities delivered up the keys; and on entering, they discovered a white flag, at the window of every house, and found the entire population assembled to witness their entry, with apparent satisfaction.

The inhabitants of the neighboring city of Cordova, sent a deputation requesting its occupation by the American Army.

Nothing of importance occurred afterwards, until Feb. 2d, 1848, when the Treaty of Peace was signed by the American and Mexican governmensgovernments [sic]. 