Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/401

Rh a barricade, four feet thick, was thrown across the road; and the hills and thickets of Chaparral on the right, between the National Road and the road cut by General Twiggs. and the intrenchments and breastworks on the. series of bluffs upon the left, were filled with Mexicans. As the Americans approached, the enemy commenced firing from the hill-side and wooded ravines on the right, and Lieutenant ears immediately brought his guns to bear upon them. The fire was continued for some time, when Captain Hornsby, of the 12th infantry, was ordered to dislodge them with three companies of infantry and one of voltigeurs. Moving rapidly through the Chaparral, he scaled the height, and drove the enemy from their position in a few moments. On the left of the road, Lieutenant Ridgely, of the 4th infantry, with three companies, boldly stormed the intrenchments on the central bluff, notwithstanding a destructive fire of musketry, and of canister from a nine-pounder gun, which the enemy poured down upon his party. The work was carried, and two nine-pounder guns and nine thousand musket cartridges captured from the enemy. Lieutenant Ridger now turned his fire upon the other positions occupied by the Mexicans, and they soon after fled at all points. The hills along the road were at once ordered to be occupied by detachments of the command, and Captain Besançon was then dispatched, with fifty mounted men, to communicate with Captain Wells.

Captain Besançon learned that the National Bridge was in possession of the enemy, and rightly concluded that the reinforcement had been driven back.-Upon receiving this information, Major Lally pushed forward with his train, on the l7th instant. The guerilleros had become very much dissatisfied with their ill fortune; —