Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/380

330 of the holes cut with the axes was widened into a practicable breach. The six-pounder was further advanced within ten yards, — a shell and three rounds of grape were thrown into the opening, — and ere the echoes had died away, a party of stormers, headed by Lieutenant Dyer, of the ordnance, and Lieutenants Wilson and Taylor, of the 1st dragoons, sprang through the smoke and falling ruins into the centre of the church. The enemy fled before them, and shortly after abandoned the whole western part of the town. Some took refuge in the houses on the east, and others attempted to escape to the neighboring bills, but were cut down by the mounted men under Captains St. Vrain and Slack.

The American troops were quietly quartered in the houses on the western side of the village, during the night of the 4th, and early in the next morning the aged men and women of the enemy appeared before Colonel Price as suppliants, bearing their children, their images and crosses, and humbly sued for peace. Their request was granted on condition that Tomas, the Puebla Indian, should be delivered up to him. This was done, and he then returned to San Fernando with his command. In this affair the Americans had seven killed and forty-five wounded, many of them mortally. One hundred and fifty of the enemy were killed, and the number of their wounded was still greater. The prompt action of Colonel Price put an end to the insurrection. All the leaders of the movement, with the exception of Cortés, were dead; and, although the American forces remained for