466 HISTOEY OF CALIFORNIA. 



The afternoon of the 27th, a party of fifteen men 

 captured, in San Antonio, Pineda, the commander of 

 the Mexican forces, with his secretary, Serrano. 



The morning of the 29th, having received informa 

 tion that the enemy had concentrated their forces in 

 Todos Santos, we pressed on with all speed, fearing 

 they might evade us, by retreating towards Magdalena 

 Bay. The morning of the 30th, about ten o'clock, 

 having received accurate information respecting the 

 e*hemy, Captain Naglee with forty-five mounted men 

 was despatched to intercept the road leading from 

 Todos Santos to Magdalena Bay, and, if practicable, 

 to attack the enemy in the rear at the same time our 

 main body made its attack in front. 



The road leading from Todos Santos to La Paz, for 

 some distance before reaching the first named place, 

 passes through a dense growth of chaparral, (very 

 favorable for an ambush), and in this the enemy made 

 their arrangements to receive us. We left the road 

 about five miles from Todos Santos and marched along 

 a ridge of high land on the north side of the river, 

 having full view of the enemy's operations. 



They then took possession of a commanding hill 

 directly in our route, between three and four miles 

 from Todos Santos, with their Indians in front. Com 

 panies A and B, under the direction of Lieutenant 

 Halleck, were deployed as skirmishers in such a man 

 ner as to expose the enemy to a cross-fire. The enemy 

 opened their fire at long distance, but our force ad 

 vanced steadily, reserving their fire until within good 

 musket range, when it was delivered with great effect, 

 and the enemy retreated very rapidly, after a short 

 but sharp engagement. At this time, Captain Naglee 

 being near Todos Santos, and hearing the firing, 



