El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-19

Q seen at the hacienda had driven them
[ all of. 20 prevent the Americans from
subsisting on them On the n sh- q
the 18th, and before u was known
That the soIdiery had evacuated the
post. Capt Reid, with 25 Of the horse
suards, volunteered 10 make a recon
uoissance OF the enemy and report
his position and strength. As In the
event the enemy was still occupy l1s
his position at the hacienda strous
guards would most probably be post
ed near the roads leading INTO the
place from above and below the lake.
the scouts. TO prevent falling upon
the guards. and 10 take the enemy lI
surprise. IL q should be deemed adj
risable 20 attack him. crossed the
lake which was near three miles
I wide, and both deep and b0EgE. and
hitherto considered impossible On
reaching the opposite shore. they saw
no sentinel Therefore. rheT ap-
I preached nearer SIN they saw no
sentry. Cautiously, and WITH lgl-
footsteps. and IN almost breathless ST.
I lence, without q whisper or the jim
sling Of a saher, and under cover
I inE OF the dark. they advanced a lit
tie They heard the sound Of music
and at Intervals the trampllnE Or
horses. Perhaps q was the military
patrol None knew
Hacienda wen Fortified
They now rode around the hacienda.
but the high walls prsciuded the pos
sibiIty OF seeing within No salts
fore be made Not wishing 10 re-
turn TO camp without effscting their
object the captain and his men. like
Mcdonald and his madcaps AZ George
town, made a sweeping dashs with
drawn s1b6rs ana gathering arms.
into the hacienda to the Infinite
alarm OF the Inhabitants. They now
had possession The 700 soldiers had
started, about an hour previous to
Sacramento This was a bold and
tered in the place. which contains
several hundred Inhabitants. and were
suuptuously entertained By the adj
ministrador del Hacienda The next
morning they rejoined the army, then
On the march. having with them sew
eral Wild Mexican cattle. The whole
force now moved on 20 a fort called
SAM. on a creek discharEinE into the
Laguna de Encenillas- Here they en-
camped.
The next day the army and trains
including the merchant wagons. were
drawn up IN order OF battle, ready 20
maneuver eNpeditiously IN the event
Of q sudden attack. The enemy Was
known 90 be at no great distance
Capt Skiliman this day pursued one
OF the enemy's spies into the noun
tains 50 closely that he captured his
horse, but the Mexican leaping of
escaped on foot among the rocks.
Marching TO Battle.
Thus the march was continued until
nlght over a level beautiful valley
with a hish range OF mountains run
ming along on the left. and, at @
greater distance. also on the right
a short time before sunset Lieut. Col.
Mltcneu. Lieuts. Winston and Snroule.
Corp GoodfelloW, the author and one
otner volunteer. having proceeded
about nine miles in advance O. the
column and within five miles Of the
enemys fortified position at Sacra-
uento, assembled a high. riclzv peak %
the mountain. and. with good tele-
scopes, enjoyed q fair view OF the
whole Mexican encamoment. The en-
emy's whole line OF field works was
distinctly viewed; tire position OF his
batteries ascertained. and his prob
able numbers estimated. The result
OF this reconnaissance was duly re-
rorted 70 col Dominican. whereuuuu
he Immediately called a council OF Of
ficers. and matured a plan for the
conduc- OF the march on the following
day This niCht also the army en-
eamped on a tributary Of the lake %
Encenfllas
Next morning. February - 1877.
The nnniphan column moved nEainst
the Mexican fede-aiS at Sacramento.l