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~. Most of the men were on foot, and a small party, composel 
chiefly of the general and staff, were a long way ahead of the” 
lumn, when, as we approached the end of our day’. 
who must have left that morning. Speculation was rife, but wea 
soon settled down to the opinion that it was General Castro an 
his troops; that he had succeeded in recruiting an army in sed tif 
The position of our camp was decided, as usual, with reference 
to the grass. The lives of our animals were nearly as important) 
as ourown. It was pitched to-day in a little hollow encircled by, 
a chain of sand hills, overgrown with mezquite. | 
. 
he sergeant of the general’s guard was behind, his mule haying) 
broken down, and when he came in reported haying seen two In- 
dians about five miles back. For a short time we supposed this) 
immense trail was a band of Indians, returning from a onjectu| 
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fires to the right, apparently five miles distant, on the opposite side 
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cer in charge, Lieutenant Hammond, reported he had seen large) - 
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the camp, its force, character, arid destination. : 
horses; I heard them neighing, and they cover much ground.” | He 
pointed in the direction, fina after proceeding a short distance, we 
—alleheard distinctly the noise of the horses, indicating a large 
number. ‘ 
| _ Silence was enjoined, and we proceeded stealthily along for some! 
time, when a bright fire blazed before us... I halted the guard, and( 
_ - with two dragoons, Londeau and Martinez, proceeded unobserved | 
_until within a few feet of the fire. Before it stood an armed Mex- Of 
