Page:Complete history of the late Mexican war.djvu/59

Rh mountains.The road passed by the side of a deep arroyo, which was umpassable. On the right side of the road, there were great gullies which it was impossible to cross, extending to the mountains. On the left of the road were steep ascents to the tops of the spurs of the mountain and there was formed a plain, suitable for a battle field. The choice of this place showed much skill and good judgment in the General. By the 21st of Feb. our forces were stationed at this position. Col. Yell was left, with some cavalry to cover the removal of the stores and were driven in by the enemy. Our men secured most of the stores and burned the remainder. General Taylor went to Saltillo immediately, to make arrangements for its defence, leaving Gen. Wool to command the army. Our forces prepared for the advance of the enemy. Capt. Washington's battery was so placed as to command the road. The 1st and 2d Illinois regiments containing sixteen hundred strong, and the 2nd Kentucky regiment, occupied crests of ridges in the rear and to the left. Near the base of the mountain at the extreme left, stood the Arkansas and Kentucky cavalry The Indiana Brigade under General Lane, the Mississippi Riflemen, the two squadrons of dragoons, and Sherman's and Bragg's batteries were held in reserve. On the morning of the 22nd the enemy approached, and General Taylor returned immediately to camp. Tremendous clouds of dust announced the advance of the enemy, who arrived in position, with immense masses, between 10 and 11 A. M. All was silence, waiting for the attack, when a white flag was brought into our camp, by Surgeon-general Lindenberger, with the following message from Santa Anna:

"You are surrounded by twenty thousand men, and can not in any human probability avoid suffering a route, and