turned their right, the remainder advancing by the road and bridge.

These orders were gallantly carried out. Roberts, from his previous knowledge of the ground, was the first to reach the enemy. He succeeded in facing their position, when, finding themselves charged on all sides, they broke in confusion, and were pursued until sunset. In this skirmish Lieutenants Roberts, Maury, and Hatch, were particularly distinguished.*

The second affair was of a far more important character, and may be justly regarded as one of the most brilliant actions of the

war.

Learning on the 25th that a considerable force of the enemy were in the neighbourhood of the Medellin river, Colonel Harney advanced to meet him, taking with him Thornton's dragoons under Major Sumner, and some fifty dismounted men, commanded by Captain Ker.

On reaching the stone bridge of the Morena, he found it fortified, and all further passage disputed by two thousand men and two pieces of artillery. Small parties of lancers were also occasionally seen. On approaching the bridge, a heavy fire was poured upon our skirmishers, by which one man was killed and two wounded. Harney then fell back, and waited for two pieces of artillery, with which he determined to force the bridge. Meanwhile he was joined by Captain Hardee with forty men, a company of the 1st Tennessee regiment under Captain Cheatham, and part of four companies of the 2d Tennessee regiment under Colonel Haskell. As soon as the two pieces of artillery under Lieutenant Judd arrived, preparations were made for the attack. Captain Ker, with the dismounted dragoons, was stationed on the left of the road leading to the bridge, the volunteers on the right, while Captain Hardee and Lieutenant Hill supported the artillery, and held themselves in readiness to charge. Major

Smith's Report.

HARNEY'S BRILLIANT AFFAIR AT MEDELLIN.

Sumner with the mounted men were kept in reserve.

309

Lieutenant

Judd was directed to approach with caution, as the road was circuitous, and the bridge not visible until within fifty yards of the fortification. No sooner was he discovered than the whole fire of the Mexicans was concentrated upon him. To divert this, the detachments to the right and left of the road were ordered to fire, while Lieutenant Judd, nothing daunted, opened upon the fortification; and, after six or eight well directed rounds, the heads of the enemy were no longer to be seen above the parapet. *

At this moment Harney ordered a charge, and forward rushed the volunteers under Haskell and Cheatham; and, following with a shout, came the bold dragoons. Haskell was the first man to clear the parapet. The enemy fell back, and re-formed beyond the bridge. Sumner's command now came galloping up, and with a wild hurrah they leaped the fortification, and charged across the bridge. The Mexican infantry broke and fled, some towards Medellin, some into the chaparral. The lancers stood, and a hand-to-hand conflict ensued. Sumner and Lieutenant Sibley, in the thickest of the melee, several times measured strength with the enemy, killing or dismounting their antagonists. Harney was seen everywhere; his tall form and gallant bearing, his coolness, and his audacity, won the admiration of his command, and struck terror into the enemy. The 2d dragoons, the bravest and best disciplined corps in the whole army, parried the quivering lance-points with the easy grace and expert swordsmanship for which they are renowned. The lancers faltered, gave way, fled, and were routed so utterly, that Lieutenants Lowry and Oaks, with three men, pursued a party of thirty, and sabred or dismounted all but five.

The pursuit was urged to the village of Medellin, where another party of lancers were found;-these, too, soon partook of the general panic, and were pursued by Lieutenant Neill, outstripping

* Harney's Report.

his three companions; but his daring had near cost him his life. The flying foe, ashamed of being chased by one man, turned suddenly, and by dint of numbers succeeded in lancing him in the breast and arm. The pursuit was urged for two miles beyond this, and then the victors rode back to the village. After halting to refresh both men and horses, Harney returned with his command to camp, which they reached on the morning of the 26th, after a warlike episode which, in its chivalric character, has nothing to compare with it but the series of dashing heroic exploits we have yet to record, and of which the action at Medellin was a fitting forerunner.

But we have now to notice events of greater magnitude. The siege of Vera Cruz was approaching its close.' On the same day which witnessed the return of Harney, General Scott received in answer to his reply to the consuls, overtures of surrender by General Landero, upon whom, owing to the sickness of General Morales, the chief command of both city and castle had been devolved.

The Mexican general invited the appointment of three commissioners on each side, to meet at some intermediate point, and treat upon the terms of accommodation.

Generals Worth and Pillow, and Colonel Totten, were accordingly appointed on the part of the Americans; and Colonels Villanueva and Herrera, and Lieutenant-Colonel Robles, on the part of the Mexicans. After a considerable discussion, and a rejection of several of the articles first proposed, articles of capitulation were agreed upon and assented to by the respective Commandersin chief. On the 27th the ratification took place. The following are the articles of capitulation :

"Generals W. J. Worth and G. J. Pillow, and Colonel J. G. Totten, Chief Engineer, on the part of Major-General Scott, General-in-chief of the armies of the United States; and Col. Jose Gutierrez de Villanueva, Lieutenant Colonel of the Engineers, Man