TO CHIHUAHUA. 419 
and when at our approach they rose, the noise seemed 
like distant thunder. I shot twelve, and others of the 
party brought in numbers. They were all teal. 
A few miles brought us to the hacienda of El Sauz 
(The Willow)—a building inclosed by a wall full 
twenty feet high. This estate also belonged to Gene- 
ral Trias. We stopped a few minutes at the gate, and 
the occupants came out to meet us. We endeavored 
to buy eggs, poultry, or some other kind of fresh pro- 
visions, but found they had ‘“ nada,” nothing, for sale. 
This establishment had likewise suffered from the 
Indians, notwithstanding its high wall, which would 
inclose many hundred cattle. On one occasion the — 
Savages for mere sport lamed a large number of these 
cattle, and filled up a well near by with their carcasses. 
On the opposite side of the valley is a village called 
El Sauzillos, or Little Willows. 
ter a march of twenty-four miles from El Pefol, 
we reached the Sacramento River, and encamped near 
the famous battle-field where Colonel Doniphan and his 
brave Missourians gained the decisive victory which 
resulted in the surrender of the city of Chihuahua. 
The Mexicans did not show much judgment in the 
Selection of this spot to resist the approach of the 
invading force. It is on the level summit of a plateau 
Some sixty feet above the valley, and about half a 
mile in width. The plateau juts directly across the 
valley we had been travelling, and leaves but a narrow 
Passage to the east. If the Americans had been obliged 
to march through this valley, the position of the Mexi- 
ans would have been a good one. But it was unne- 
cessary for Colonel Doniphan to force a pass, and thus 
° 
