266 A RETREAT. 



busily 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 as 

 though it were impossible that a Mexican could be found this side 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- 

 tinels 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 another 

 exclaimed, " There go our horses !" 



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

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

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

 rear, and the 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 

 ^Tear. At the word " charge,''^ our dauntless partizans, with a shout, rusiied 

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

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

 blankets, robes, arms, and even clothes, 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 noble cavallard of more than eighty head 

 that had grazed around us scarcely thirty 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 force of thousands ; but it 

 would be presumption to think of either maintaining our present ground 

 or advancing upon the foe. 



Preparations were therefore immediately commenced for acting upon 

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

 blanket, or robe, which, with such other necessaries as he could 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 was a melancholy 

 thing to witness this wanton waste ; yet such is the custom of war under 

 like circumstances. 



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

 his 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, till the 

 evening of the third day, which brought us to the base of the table moun- 



