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382 he could, and take rations for the next two day—Santa Anna advanced. Agua Nueva was only some thirty—five miles away, and he expected to overwhelm it early the next morning. The march continued well into the night. At Carnero Pass, five or six miles from Taylor, the troops lay down by columns as they arrived—the cavalry still holding their reins. It

was too cold for sleep, but they rested; and at six in the morning they rose in the deepest possible silence, and resumed their march.

The Americans had at last awakened, however. By February 19 Santa Anna was expected "hourly," wrote Lieutenant Posey, and the next day Major McCulloch with his party of Texan scouts was despatched in the direction of La Encarnación, while Brevet Lieutenant Colonel May with about 400 dragoons