TAYLOR DECLINES TO SURRENDER.

365

under the assurance that you will be treated with the consideration belonging to the Mexican character, to which end you will be granted an hour's time to make up your mind, to commence from the moment when my flag of truce arrives in your camp.

"With this view, I assure you of my particular consideration." The American general immediately wrote the following answer. "In reply to your note of this date, summoning me to surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to say that I decline acceding to your request."

N immediate attack was now expected, but this Santa Anna still delayed, as his rear columns had not yet arrived. At two o'clock, P. M., while the enemy's light infantry were moving up the sides of the mountain, in the ravines east of the road, they came in contact with the American light troops, and opened upon them with a large howitzer. On hearing the firing, General Taylor, who had arrived on the battle-field, supposed that a general attack was about to commence, and made such changes in the disposition of the Illinois and Kentucky regiments as were necessary to secure the plateau east of Washington's battery, which commanded the road to Saltillo, and was the key to his whole position. Occasional shots were thrown from the howitzer until after three o'clock, when the American light troops, under Colonel Marshall, engaged the enemy's infantry on the side of the mountain. The nature of the ground materially affected his movements, so that instead of the action increasing in extent, it sometimes dwindled down into unimportant skirmishes, and at others assumed a phase of some moment. The effect, however, upon the American army was most striking. To the far greater part, it was the first event of actual war they had ever witnessed; and as they stood on the broad plateaus watching the struggle, or wound through the narrow defiles from one position to another, their feelings were excited to the highest pitch. During this time the main body of the enemy, had collected in the road near a rancho, named Encantada, from whence they advanced in a north-east direction, towards a defile leading to the key of the American position. Their massrs gathered in order of attack, but it was soon evident that no effort was to be made that night. Meanwhile the firing to the east continued, each party manoeuvering so as to gain an advantageous position for the night. The sun set before the action terminated, and

even after darkness had covered the wild scenery, the firing of ligh arms was heard from the heights. The loss on the part of the Americans was very slight, while more than thirty Mexicans are said to have been killed and wounded. After sunset General Taylor became convinced that no serious attack was intended that night, and accordingly, with the Mississippi regiment and a squadron of dragoons, he returned to Saltillo. The night was excessively cold, yet the Americans bivouacked on the bleak rocks, without fires, and upon their arms. The scene was solemn and impressive; high rocks apparently shutting out even the twinkling of stars, soared up on every side until lost in the blackened air; thick darkness gathered around the little army, the air seemed clotted with oppressive vapours, and a silence that pained the ear more than the jarring of cannon, hung around. Now and then a solitary vulture moved heavily through the gloom, making the stillness more awful by his foreboding scream. Many a young soldier, whose heart beat high with the longings of ambition, looked up fearfully that night through the frowning shade, and turned away to dream of home and sleep his last sleep.

T daylight on the 23d of February, both armies were in rapid motion. General Taylor had reached Saltillo on the pievious night. Near this place General Minon had manoeuvered all day, for the purpose of cutting off the expected retreat of the American army, and perhaps of making an attempt upon the town. In order to be prepared for any emergency, the commander appointed four companies of Illinois volunteers to

garrison it, assisted by Webster's artillery. He then proceeded to Buena Vista, and ordered forward all the available troops from that

place.