The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-21

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and mustangs in charge of eight men, and
with the remainder set out in the direction of
the Salado, which flows from north to south
a third of mile to the westward of the mis-
slon About halfway between the latter
and the river, was small group, or island
OF muskeet trees, the only object which broke
the uniformity of the prairie. The bank of
the river on our side was tolerably steep, a.
bout eight or ten feet high, followed out
here and there, and covered with a thick net
work of wild vines. The Salado at this spot
describes sort of bow-shaped curve, with a
ford at either end, by which alone the river
can be passed, for although not very broad, il
is rapid and deep. We resolved to take a
position within this bow, calculating that we
might manage to defend the two fords, which
were not acove quarter of mile apart.
AT the same time we did not lose sight of
the dangers of such position, and of the al
most certainty that ifthe enemy managed to
| cross the river, we should be surrounded
and cut off But our success on the few oc-
casons on which we had hitherto come to
blows with the Mexicans, at Valasco, Nacog-
doches, and Galveston, had inspired us with
so much confidence, that we considered our
selves a match for thousands ofsuch foes,and
actually began to wish the enemy would at
tack us before our main body came up. We
reconnoitred the ground, stationed picket
of twelve men at each ford, and an equal
number in the islands of muskeet trees; and
established ourselves with the remainder a.
mong the vines and in the holows on the riv-
er bank.
The commissariat department of the Tex
ian army was, as may be supposed, not yet
placed upon any very regular footing. In
fact, every man was, for the present his own
commissioning general Finding our stock of
provisions TO be very small, we sent out n
party of foragers, who soon returned with
three sheep, which they had taken from a
rancho, within mile of San Antonio. An
old priest, whom they found there had threat
ened them with the anger ofHeavcn and of
General Cos; but they paid little attention to
his denunciations, and, throwing down three
dollars, walked off with the sheep. The
priest became furious, got upon his mule, and
trotted away in the direction of the city to
complain TO General Cos of the misconduct
of the heretics.
After this we made no doubt that we should
soon have avisit from the worthy Dons.-
Nevertheless the evening and the night pass
ed away without incident. DAY broke-stll
no signs of the MeXicans This treacherous
sort Of calm, we thought, might forbode a
storm, and we did not allow it TO lull us into
security We let the men get their breakfast,
which they had hardly finished when the
picket from the upper ford came in with
news that stroag body ofcavalry was ap-
preaching the river, and that their vanguard
was already in the hollow way leading to the
ford. We had scarcely received this intelli-
gence when we heard the blare ofthe trump
cts, and the next moment we saw the officers
push their horses mp the declivitous bank,
closely followed by their men, whom they
formed up in the prairie. We counted six
small squadrons, about three hundred men in
all. They were the Durango dragons
smart troops enough to all appearance, capt.
tally mounted and equippedy and armed with
carbines and sabres
Although the enemy had doubtless recon-
noitred us from the opposite shore, and ascer-
tanned our position, he could not form any
accurate idea of our numbers; for with a view
TO deceive him, we kept the men in constant
motion, sometimes showing part of them
on the prairie, then causing them to disap-
pear again behind the vines and bushes. This
was all very knowing for young soldiers such
as we were; but on the other hand, we had
committed grievous error, and sinned a
gainst all established military rules, by not
placing picket on the further side of the riv-
or, to warn us ofthe approach ofthc enemy,
and the direction in which he was coming
There can be little doubt that five had ear
good marksmen-and all our people were
that--might not only have delayed the adj
vance ofthe Mexicans, but perhaps even to-
tally disguised them of their attempt to cross
the Salado. The hollow way on the other
side of the river, leading to the ford, was mar
row, and tolerably steep, and the bank at
least six times as high as on our side. Moth
ing would have been easier than to have sta
toned party, so as to pick off the cavalry as
they wound through this sort of pass, and e.
merged by two upon the shore. Our
error. however, did not strike us till it was
too late to repair it; so we were fain 10 con-
sole ourselves with the reflection that the
Mexicans would be much more likely to at
tribute our negligence to an excess of conf
dence in our resources, than to the ineXperi-
ence in military matters, which was its real
cause. We resolved to do our best to merit
the good opinion which we thus supposed
them to entertain ofus.
When the whole ofthe dragons had cross
ed the water, they marched on for short dis
lance in an easterly rection; then, wheeling
to the right, proceeded southwark, until with
IN some five hundred PAGES of us, where
they halted. In this position, the line ofcav-
airy formed the chord of the arc described by
the river, and occupied by us.
As soon as they halted, they opened their
IRE, altTougn tney cOuld not see one OF uS,IoT
we were completely sheltered by the bank.
Our Mexican heroes, however, apparently
did not think it necessary to be within sight
or range oftheir opponents before firing, for
they gave us a rafting volley at a distance
which no earbine would carry. This done,
others galloped on for about hundred yards
halted again, loaded, fired another volley,and
then giving another gallop, fired again. They
continued this sort ofmanege till they found
themselves within two hundred and fifty pa