Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/56

52 and had, in his message, recommended a vigorous prosecution of the war.

Dec. 31st, the rear guard of Colonel May, in passing from Labadores to Linares, was attacked by the enemy and cut off together with the baggage train.

General Quitman took possession of Victoria on the 30th without resistance.

Just beyond San Pedro, on the way to San Luis Potosi, when our men were passing through a defile with high mountains each side, a mine was sprung and showers of stones thrown down among us while we were fired upon from the other side. The arrieros deserted their mules and the rear guard, consisting of eleven men, fled. Colonel May dismounted twenty men and went through the pass. Only an occasional shot was fired at them. Eleven men, twelve horses and all the baggage were lost. At Tula, one hundred and fifty miles from Victoria, towards San Luis Potosi, Generals Valencia and Urea, had concentrated, as was reported, Jan. 6th, a large force.

The order was issued January 12th, 1847, to proceed to Tampico. We set out on the 13th. As General Taylor was about starting, he received orders from General Scott to send his whole command, excepting two batteries of light artillery, and squadron of dragoons, to Tampico, where Scott would meet them about the first of February. General Taylor was ordered to return to Monterey and remain on the defensive. He left immediately, taking, in addition to the above named forces, the 1st Mississippi regiment. Thus Taylor was deprived of almost all of his regulars, which blasted all of his hopes in reference to advancing upon San Luis Potosi.

Upon parting with his old veteran soldiers. General Taylor said: