Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/134

112 Their artillery was shown to be ineffective against the better-directed ﬁre of the American batteries, and every attempt to outﬂank General Taylor's little army, although their force consisted of 6,000 men, was met by skilful manœuvering. If a demonstration was made on the American right, that wing half-wheeled to the left by regiments, and marched by its right ﬂank upon a point a little beyond the enemy's left; if on the left, that wing half-wheeled to the right, and marched by its left ﬂank on a point beyond the enemy's right. When the Mexican cavalry, availing themselves of the open spaces produced by these movements, prepared to charge, at the instant the word was given to form by companies, right and left, into line, and barriers of glittering steel were at once presented to check their progress.

The American loss in the battle of the 8th was ten killed, including the two ofﬁcers, and forty-four wounded. That of the enemy was near one hundred and ﬁfty killed, and three hundred wounded. Worn out and overcome with fatigue, General Taylor's gallant army lay down upon the ﬁeld where their courage had been so severely tested, while the dragoons kept watch around them, to think over the events of the day, and what the morrow might bring forth, and, perhaps, to dream of their far-off homes, and of those who were near and dear. The night was serene and beautiful; the early moon shed its mellow light over the scene; but that dark pall of smoke still hung above the battleﬁeld.

Early in the morning of the 9th, General Taylor ordered his command under arms, and called a council of war to decide upon the course it was proper to