822 A RETREAT. 



boBily occupied, some in preparations for dinner, and others in making 

 amends for a night of wakefulness. 



In fact, each one conducted himself apparently with as little concern a« 

 though it were impossible that a Mexican could he found this Bide of the 

 halls of Montezuma. Participating in this general feeling of security, 

 and anxious to enjoy the relaxations of camp, in a brief intervel the sen- 

 tinele deserted their posts and mingled among the loungers. 



This remissness was first noticed by a private, who hurriedly enquired. 

 " Where is the guard ?" Scarcely were the words spoken, when anothet 

 exclaimed, " There go our horses !" 



The latter announcement aroused all hands — but only in time to witness 

 our whole cavallard under full headway before a small party of Mexican 

 cavalry, while at the same instant a brisk fire was opened upon us from tha 

 rear, and tiie dusky forms of the enemy appeared both right and left ; thus 

 we had the mortification to find our little band surrounded by a superior 

 force. 



Orders were given to dislodge the foe, and occupy his position in the 

 rear. At tlie word " charge," our dauntless partizans, with a siiout, rushed 

 up the steep hill-side and drove the panic-stricken Mexicans before them, 

 who fled with the utmost precipitancy in all directions, throwing away their 

 blankets, robes, arms, and even clotlies, to aid them in their hurried escape. 

 So great was their consternation, in less than fifteen minutes not one re- 

 mained in sight, either far or near. 



On examining the premises, we found fifteen or twenty saddles, with 

 a mule, which they, had likewise abandoned, — but only two half-jaded 

 animals told the remnants of the nobie cavallard of more than eighty head 

 that had grazed around us scarcely tiiirty minutes before ; a thing of itself 

 equivalent of a defeat. 



What could twenty-one footmen do in an open prairie opposed by hun- 

 dreds of cavalry, able at any time to choose their own place and mode of 

 attack? The issue was quite apparent, — we must retreat. In an advan- 

 tageous position, surrounded by game, and acquainted with the topography 

 of the country, we might hold out against a Ibrce of tliousands ; but it 

 would be presumption to tliink of either maintaining our present ground 

 or advancing upon the foe. 



Preparations were therefore immediately commenced for acting upon 

 the only prudent aiternauve now left. Each man selected for himself a 

 blanket, or robe, which, witii such other neces;?aries as he coulJ conveniently 

 carry, was bound in the form of a knapsack and strapped to his shoulders; 

 our animals were then heavily laden with provisions, and the remaining 

 luggage (consisting of arms taken from the enemy, saddles, robes, blan- 

 kets, knives, &.c.,) committed to the flames ; the value of property thus 

 destroyed, amounted to several thousand dollars. It wat; a melancholy 

 thing to witness this wanton wainte ; y^t such is the custom of war under 

 like circumstances. 



Toward sundown we took ui) our line of march, each one on foot with 

 nia shouldered pack, in every appearance illustrating the soldier's return 

 "from the war !" 



In the above manner we trudged along, bearing a course due east, tiU tha 

 ercDlng of the third day, which brought us to ttie base of the table moao- 



