MEXICAN RETREAT TOBASCO TAMPICO. 357 



along the stream. On his right was the whole Mexican army ; on 

 his left, far off in the rear, were the troops that had repulsed and 

 cut up the Mexican column ; and the great effort, upon whose suc- 

 cess all depended, was to bring these dispersed squadrons again 

 into action, whilst he maintained the position against the assault 

 of the fresh reserves. As Santa Anna advanced with his inspirited 

 columns, he was met by regiments of infantry, which stood firm, 

 until, overwhelmed by numbers and driven into a ravine, they 

 were cruelly slaughtered. After the American infantry had been 

 overcome, the last hope was in the artillery, and, with this, the 

 Mexican advance was effectually stopped and the battle won. 



The whole day had been spent in fighting, and when night 

 came, the field was covered with dead. It was an anxious season 

 for our battered troops, and whilst all were solicitous for the event 

 of a contest, which it was supposed would be renewed on the mor- 

 row, the greatest efforts were not only made to inspirit the troops 

 who had borne the brunt of two days' battle, but to bring up rein- 

 forcements of artillery and cavalry that had been stationed between 

 Saltillo and Monterey. At day dawn, however, on the 24th, the 

 enemy was found to have retreated. 



This wonderful battle saved the north of Mexico and the valley 

 of the Rio Grande ; for Minon and Urrea were already in our rear 

 with regular troops and bands of rancheros, ready to cut up our 

 flying army, and descend upon our slender garrisons. Urrea cap- 

 tured a valuable wagon train at Ramos, in the neighborhood of 

 Monterey. From the 22d to the 26th of February, he continually 

 threatened our weakened outposts, and from that period until the 

 7th of March inflicted severe injuries upon our trains and convoys 

 from the gulf. In the meantime Santa Anna retreated to San Luis 

 Potosi with the fragments of his fine army, and not long after, 

 General Taylor retired from a field of service, in which he was no 

 longer permitted to advance, or required except for garrison duty. 



In the months of October and November, 1846, Tobasco and 

 Tampico had yielded to our navy ; the former after a severe attack 

 conducted by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, and the latter with- 

 out bloodshed. 



46 



