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enemy at full speed, made its way through the almost impenetrable chaparral, engaged the enemy, and for some time sustained the fire of the Mexican army, without any infantry to support it, except the advance party, under Captain McCall.

The 4th infantry, while pressing on towards the enemy through the chaparral, became divided. A part united with the 5th, while the remaining portion, under Captain Buchanan, with Lieutenants Hays and Woods, crossed the pond in the ravine, which was waist-deep, and on surmounting the crest of the hill, charged and took one of the enemy's pieces, though defended by a hundred and fifty infantry; and immediately after drove the enemy from a breastwork behind which he was intrenched. Before the cannoneers fled, they had set fire to the priming-tube, and the match was about to ignite the powder; Lieutenant Woods sprang forward in time to prevent it, and with his sword knocked off the priming. Soon after a body of cavalry came dashing up, and made an effort to recapture the artillery; but a part of the 3d infantry, under Captain Barbour, had arrived to the support of the 4th. They formed in the face of the enemy, and advanced with the utmost determination, when rapid discharges from the united force drove back the enemy in confusion.

The action now became general, and the battle raged with fury. In various parts of the field was heard the roll of musketry, where the infantry, divided into small parties by the intervening chaparral, was contending with the enemy. At times the conflict became nearer, and bayonets were crossed in the deadly encounter. The artillerists, under Ridgely, meanwhile, were bared like reapers to their toil, and the corses of the enemy, like ripened grain, strewed the field of death beneath their incessant and terrible service at the pieces. Their intrepid commander, cool and determined, not only gave direction to the discharges of the guns, but with his ready glass sought afterwards the evidences of the effect with which each charge was sped. The roar

of the enemy's cannon, in the mean time, was almost continuous; and had it not been that the fire was directed too high, it would have swept Ridgely's batteries, and annihilated his command.

While the battle thus raged, Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap, who commanded the First Brigade, ordered up the 8th infantry, and Duncan's artillery, which had been posted as a reserve. On arriving at the scene of action, the 8th charged the enemy on the right of the road, and after a vigorous resistance drove him from his position; but Duncan's battery, on arriving at the edge of the ravine, could not open fire on the enemy without galling his friends at the same time. He was obliged, therefore, to let it remain inactive until near the close of the action.

The battle had now continued for some time without any decided advantage on our part, and General Taylor perceived that the enemy could not be driven from his position until his artillery was silenced. He therefore ordered Captain May, who was stationed in the rear, to report himself for duty. He soon appeared, with his command, and was directed to charge and take the enemy's batteries, at whatever sacrifice. After exhorting his men to remember their regiment, the captain pointed towards the batteries and bade them follow. Striking spurs into his horse, he dashed forward, followed by his command in columns of fours.

On arriving at the place occupied by Ridgely and his brave. cannoneers, May halted to learn the position of the enemy's batteries. Knowing the danger attending a charge upon their pieces when loaded, Ridgely desired him to wait until he drew the fire. of their batteries. He suddenly applied the match, and, ere the reverberation of his pieces had died away, the enemy replied, and their shot swept like hail through his batteries.

Instantly the squadron of dragoons sprang forward, May in the advance, with his long hair streaming behind like the rays of a comet. The earth shook beneath the iron hoofs of their steeds, and the rays of the tropic sun flashed back in flame from their

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burnished sabres, as they swept along, cheered by a shout of exultation from the artillerists and infantry.

Still foremost, May reached at length the batteries in the road, and upon the right of it; and, as his steed rose upon the enemy's breastworks, he turned to wave on his men to the charge. Closely pressing upon him, was Lieutenant Inge, who answered to the challenge with a shout, and turned in like manner to encourage his platoon, when a terrible discharge of grape and canister from the upper battery swept down upon them, and dashed to the earth, in mangled and bloody masses, eighteen horses and seven men; among them the gallant Inge and his charger. May's steed at a bound cleared the batteries, followed by Lieutenant Stevens, and the survivors of the 1st and 2d platoons. Their impetus carried them through and beyond the batteries, when charging back, they drove the enemy from the guns and silenced their fire. Captain Graham, and Lieutenants Winship and Pleasanton, with the 3d and 4th platoons, in the mean time swept to the left of the road, and at the point of the sword carried the battery situated there.

Perceiving the small force by which they were assailed, the Mexicans recovered from their panic, and rushing back to the batteries, prepared to fire them. Gathering around him a few followers, May charged upon them with irresistible force, while the terror-stricken enemy shrunk back from the blows of his sword, which descended with a flash and force like that of lightning. An intrepid officer, however, kept his place, and endeavoured to rally his men. With his own hands he seized a match and was about to apply it, when he was ordered by Captain May to surrender. Finding himself without support, he acknowledged himself a prisoner, and handed his sword to his gallant captor. It was General Vega, a brave and accomplished officer. He was placed in charge of Lieutenant Stevens, and conducted in safety