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opposite side of the village, and threatening the brigade of Cadwalader, already there and in position.

"The village lay entirely on the other side of the main road, and was divided from it by a small stream running through a deep ravine. On the road, and between it and the stream, was a garden and house surrounded by a high and tolerably strong stone wall. The village was intersected by narrow lanes lying between high dikes enclosing gardens full of trees and shrubbery -the lanes affording cover and the trees concealment for the men. In the centre stood an old stone church."*

Forming Cadwalader's brigade on the outer edge of the village, flanked on the right by the 3d infantry and Rifles, Smith occupied the church with the Engineer company, while the 11th regiment took up its position in the garden on the road, to protect that avenue and the rear.

The enemy now formed opposite in two lines, the infantry in front, the cavalry in the rear and about ten thousand strong.

Riley's brigade having arrived in the mean time, Smith determined upon an immediate and energetic attack; but the troops were disengaged from among the ravines and chaparral with so much difficulty, that it grew dark before his order of battle was perfected, and the design was abandoned.

The men now bivouacked for the night. The brigades of Smith and Riley occupied a narrow road running through the centre of the village, while Cadwalader resumed his former position. The brigade of Shields, which came up later in the evening, lay in an orchard near by.

But sleep visited not the eyelids of the weary troops on that eventful night, for the indecisive result of the day was succeeded by prospects gloomier still. They were surrounded by a force of eighteen thousand Mexicans, within range of the batteries upon the hill of Contreras, completely cut off from all reinforcements,

* Smith's Official Report.

and without even the possibility of hearing from General Scott, whose messengers, repeatedly despatched across the Pedregal, returned, one after another, foiled by the darkness of the night and the difficulties of the route.

To add to the discomfort of their situation, the rain fell in torrents. The rush of waters choked up the bed of the road where they lay. Drenched and benumbed, they sprang to their feet, and huddling closely together, awaited with desperate resolution the events of the morrow.*

But while the ill success of the day, the terrible storm by which they were now assailed, and the threatening aspect of the enemy by whom they were surrounded, all contributed to infuse a feeling of despondency among the troops, an unexpected discovery stirred their drooping spirits with hopeful animation.

A route, barely practicable for infantry, had been found by Lieutenant Tower, of the Engineers, leading from the village through a ravine to the rear of Valencia's fortifications; and Smith instantly determined upon the daring project of carrying them by

storm.

Dangerous as the execution of this design was, while hemmed in by masses of the enemy's troops, who might at any moment become the assailants, it was instantly acquiesced in by his subordinate officers, and Smith had actually matured his plans before the arrival of Shields.

That brave officer, though then the senior upon the ground, and, as such, entitled to the command, not only delicately waived his right to interfere, but took upon himself the perilous duty of holding the village against the overwhelming force of the enemy posted opposite, and of cutting off the retreat of the fugitives in the event of Smith proving successful.

The plan of attack having been arranged, Captain Lee, of the Engineers, volunteered to cross the Pedregal, for the purpose of

* Letter to the New York Courier.

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requesting that a powerful diversion might be made from San Augustine upon the front of the works, while Smith assaulted them in the rear.

The hour of three A. M. had been agreed upon as the time. when the troops should move forward to the attack; but, though the march commenced at the hour appointed, it was near daylight before the head of Cadwalader's brigade succeeded in getting out of the village.

Riley's brigade led, followed by that of Cadwalader, while Smith's brigade brought up the rear.

The rain still fell, and it was so dark that the men were required to keep touch of each other, to prevent their going astray. The path was narrow, and the ground a stiff muddy clay full of rocks, and the difficulties of the march were greatly enhanced by the necessity of advancing by a flank which extended the command to thrice its length. Eventually, however, the troops succeeded in attaining a point of the ravine from which it was supposed possible to reach the rear of the enemy; the advance then halted until those behind closed up. It was now about four o'clock on the morning of the 20th.

*

Forming in line, the wet loads were drawn ; and, with Riley's brigade in two columns on the right, the march recommenced.

They were yet about a quarter of a mile from the enemy's camp. Wending their way through a thick orchard, which, together with the darkness, effectually concealed their approach, they debouched into a deep ravine which, running within five hundred yards of the work, led directly in rear and out of sight of the batteries, being screened from them by an intervening hill.†

Up to this time it was evident that Valencia was utterly igno rant of the movement which so seriously threatened his position. Prepared for, and anticipating only an attack in front, he seems to have relied upon the vigilance of the main army stationed in

*Smith's Official Report.

† Letter to the New York Courier.

front of the village of Contreras, for intercepting any demonstration which might be made upon his rear. Flushed with the temporary success he had gained on the preceding evening, he distributed promotions among his officers with a lavish hand, and impatiently awaited the renewal of the attack, in full confidence that from so small a body of assailants, operating without either artillery or cavalry, there was nothing to fear, and everything to hope. But he was soon to be sternly undeceived. With celerity and in profound silence, the gallant Riley drew up his noble brigade just under the brow of the hill.

The entrenched camp was upon another and rather lower eminence, in front of the one upon which our troops now were ; from the crest of the latter a smooth slope descended directly to the work.

The position of Smith's command was now as follows:Riley's brigade was under the brow of the hill facing the rear of Valencia's camp, and awaiting the command to storm. Cadwalader was pressing forward to support Riley.

Major Dimmick with Smith's brigade, following in the same direction, changed the march of his command to meet a large body of Mexican cavalry discovered on the left flank.

Ransom, with a temporary brigade sent from San Augustine under the guidance of Captain Lee, crossed the ravine in front of the works, to divert the attention of the enemy from the meditated point of attack. These arrangements were completed about sunrise, and then Smith, walking slowly up to Riley's bri gade and finding all was ready, gave the word of command"Men, forward!"

In an instant, with a wild fierce yell, they sprang up and dashed over the brow of the hill-the Rifles, previously thrown forward to the foot of the slope, protected the storming-party by throwing in a deadly fire upon the startled enemy, and then gallantly rushed forward to participate in the assault.