494. PARRAS 
could be procured; but, much to our surprise, the peo- 
ple would sell none, although there were large corn- 
fields near. It was, therefore, necessary for us to push 
on and endeavor to reach Hncantada, ten miles further. 
The road proving very good, we got along very well 
after dark by driving cautiously, and arrived at our 
place of destination in safety—a place rendered famous 
from its connection with the campaigns of General 
Taylor and the battle of Buena Vista. Distance tray- 
elled to-day, thirty-two miles. 
December 7th. Before I had risen this morning, I 
was aroused by the arrival of a courier bringing me 
dispatches from Washington, and letters announcing the 
arrival of Major Emory and his corps of engineers at 
Ringgold Barracks, Texas. ? 
Encantada (Knchanted) is a small village, where 
the American army under General Taylor was en- 
camped at the time of the approach of Santa Aia 
with his army of twenty-five thousand men, pre- 
vious to the battle of Buena Vista. Not finding the 
position an advantageous one, he fell back and took 
position at Angostura, the narrowest portion of the 
valley leading to and beyond Saltillo, which is six 
miles distant. ‘This valley or pass lies between two 
ridges of mountain five or six miles apart, which ap- 
proach towards the north-east, until at Angostura the 
space is not more than two miles. The eastern range 
is much the highest, rising ten or twelve hundred feet 
above the plateau; the western is about half that 
height. The plateau from the eastern ridge extends 
about a mile, or half way across the valley, when it 
drops off abruptly to the flat or alluvial bottom. In 
