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On the 5th of February, General Taylor, having heard reports of the advancement of Santa Anna with a large force, moved his head quarters eighteen miles south of Saltillo to Agua Nueva. By the 8th all of his army excepting Major Warren's command, which was left at Saltillo, concentrated at that point. The forces consisted of two companies of the 1st Dragoons, under Captain Steen; two companies 2d Dragoons, under Brevet Lieutenant-colonel May; Bragg's and Sherman's batteries, 3d Artillery; Washington's battery, 4th Artillery; one regiment Arkansas cavalry, under Colonel Yell; one regiment of Kentucky cavalry, under Colonel Marshall; 2d Kentucky fool under Colonel M'Kee; 1st Regiment Mississippi Rifles, under Colonel Davis; 3d Indiana, under Colonel Lane; 1st Illinois, under Colonel Hardin; 2d Illinois, under Colonel Bissell; and two companies of Texas volunteers, one com-commanded by Captain Conner, the other a spy company, commanded by the celebrated Captain (now Major) M'Cullough, in all amounting to three hundred and thirty-four officers, and four thousand four hundred and twenty-five men.

It was evident that there must be a terrible conflict and General Taylor selected a pass two miles in advance of Buena Vista, as his position. There was a valley about three miles broad, with irregular surface, containing occasionally hills and ravines, and was surrounded by high