Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/541

Rh defeated, without fault or neglect on the part of any concerned. General Lane accordingly took possession of the military property of Santa Anna, in the absence of its owner, and on the 23rd instant directed his course towards the beautiful valley and town of Orizaba, which is situated in the centre of a romantic and fertile district, chiefly inhabited, however, by bandits, in time of peace, and guerilleros in time of war. On the 24th, General Lane entered Orizaba, the ayuntamiento of which surrendered the town without resistance. White flags were displayed from every house, as the Americans marched through the streets. Several days were spent here in recovering plundered property, and the command then set out on their return, arriving at the capital on the 10th of February.

It is now time to refer once more to the position of affairs in California and New Mexico — After the arrival of the regiment of volunteers under Colonel Stevenson, it was distributed through Upper and Lower California; Colonel Stevenson was stationed at Ciudad de los Angelos, with four companies; Major Hardy, with two companies, at San Francisco; and the other companies were stationed in the valley of the San Joaquim, and at Suters' Port, on the Rio Sacramento, with the exception of two companies sent by sea, under Lieutenant Colonel Burton, to La Paz.