Page:History of the War between the United States and Mexico.djvu/92

76 disputed. A reconnaissance was made of the ford, when a party of rancheros were discovered on the right bank, who signified to the ofﬁcer in command, that an attempt to pass the river would be considered an act of hostility. General Taylor promptly made his dispositions to cross 1under ﬁre. A road was opened down the bank of the river, and early on the morning of the 20th, the cavalry and ﬁrst brigade of infantry advanced towards the ford, while the batteries of ﬁeld artillery were so placed as to sweep the opposite shore; the port-ﬁres were lighted, and every preparation made for action. The rancheros again appeared, and stated to Captain Mansﬁeld, who was sent to communicate with them, that they had positive orders to ﬁre on the Americans if they endeavored to cross the river. A second party now came up, at the head of which was a person who represented himself to be the adjutant general of the Mexican troops, though he was afterwards discovered to be a private citizen of Matamoras. He, too, said he had peremptory orders to ﬁre upon the Americans, and that the passage of the river would be considered as a declaration of war. A proclamation issued by General Mejia, the Mexican commander at Matamoras, on the 18th instant, was also presented by him, in which a similar announcement was made.

Orders were now given by General Taylor to proceed with the passage; and the enemy notified not to obstruct it in any manner. The second brigade of infantry was formed on the right, and the crossing commenced. Not a gun was fired, and the Mexicans retreated in the direction of Matamoras. The whole