Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/350

300 enemy in a narrow pass among the hills. An attempt was made to capture the wagons in the centre, but this was defeated, and the train closed up. Again advancing, they were attacked about half a mile further on, in the midst of a dense growth of cactus and wild thorn. The banditti were in a few moments discovered occupying the hills which flanked the road, and the Americans dashed into the thickets to drive them from their position. This was gallantly effected, and the command occupied the ground during the night. Believing it unwise to proceed, Colonel McIntosh dispatched an express to General Cadwalader, then at Vera Cruz, apprizing him of the attack made on his command, and that his train had been considerably crippled, and requesting that he might be reinforced as soon as possible. In the morning of the 7th he advanced to Paso de. Ovejas, a more favorable point for an encampment, beating off with little difficulty a second attack made during the march. In this affair Colonel McIntosh lost twenty-four men in killed and wounded; that of the enemy was not ascertained.

General Cadwalader received the dispatch of Colonel McIntosh on the 7th of June, and on the morning of the 8th was en route to reinforce him with about 500 men, consisting of one company of the 3rd dragoons, one section of the howitzer battery from the voltigeur regiment, and a detachment of infantry. He arrived at the camp of Colonel McIntosh on the 10th instant, and on the following afternoon the column resumed its march. Upon approaching the Puente Nacional, towards evening, they found the enemy in possession of the road. The bridge was barricaded, and they also occupied the fort on the left, commanding the road in its circuitous descent to the river, and the heights on