directed the left to be strengthened by detachments of Captains Bragg and Sherman's artillery, also by bodies of cavalry. The action was for a long time warmly sustained at that point, the enemy making efforts both with infantry and cavalry, against the American line, and being always repulsed with heavy loss.

At one period, the position of that portion of the Mexican army which had gained the rear of the Americans was very critical, and it seemned doubtful whether it could regain the main body. At that moment, General Taylor received from General Santa Anna a message by a staff-officer, desiring to know what he wanted. Taylor despatched General Wool to the Mexican commander, and ordered his own troops to cease firing. General Wool could not, however, cause the Mexicans to cease their fire, and returned, without having an interview with Santa Anna. The extreme right of the Mexicans retreated along the base of the mountain, and finally, in spite of the efforts of the Americans, effected a junction with the remainder of the army.

During the day, the Mexican cavalry under General Minon, had ascended the elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the road from that city to the field of battle. Several skirmishes took place between them and the small bodies of troops left by General Taylor to protect his rear. General Minon made one or two efforts with his cavalry to charge the artillery, but this body of Mexicans were finally driven back in a confused mass, and did not again appear upon the plain.

reserve

his infantry support be

In the meantime the firing had partially ceased upon the principal field, at Buena Vista. The enemy seemed to confine his efforts to the protection of his artillery, and General Taylor had left the plateau for a moment, when he was recalled thither by a heavy musketry fire. He then discovered that a portion of his infantry, the Illinois and Kentucky volunteers, had engaged a greatly superior force of the enemy - evidently his - and that they had been overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most critical. Captain O'Brien had lost his two pieces of artillery, which had been taken by the Mexicans ing entirely routed. Captain Bragg, who had just arrived from the left, was ordered at once into battery, without any infantry to support him, and at the imminent risk of losing his guns, this officer came rapidly into action, the Mexican line being but a few yards from the muzzle of his pieces. The first discharge of canister caused the enemy to hesitate, the second and third drove him back in disorder, and saved the day. The second Kentucky regiment, which had advanced beyond supporting distance in this affair, was driven back and closely pressed by the enemy's cavalry. Taking a ravine which led in the direction of Captain Washington's battery, their pursuers became exposed to his fire, which soon checked and drove them back with loss. In the meantime, the rest of the American artillery had taken position on the plateau, covered by the Mississippi and third Indi

ana regiments, the former of which had reached the ground in time to pour a fire into the right flank of the enemy, and thus contribute to his repulse. In this last conflict the Americans sustained a very heavy loss. Colonel Hardin of Illinois, and Colonels M'Kee and Clay of Kentucky, fell at this time, while gallantly leading their commands. Colonel Yell of Arkansas, and Adjutant Vaughan of Kentucky, had previously fallen.

No further attempt was made by the Mexicans to force the position of the Americans, and the approach of night gave an opportunity to pay proper attention to the wounded, and also to refresh the soldiers, who had been exhausted by incessant watchfulness and combat. Though the night was severely cold, the troops were compelled for the most part, to bivouack without fires, expecting that morning would renew the conflict. During the night the wounded were removed to Saltillo, and every preparation made to receive the enemy, should he again attack the American position. Seven fresh companies were drawn from the town, and Brigadier-General Marshall, with a reinforcement of Kentucky cavalry, and four pieces of artillery, was near at hand, when it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned his position during the night. Scouts soon ascertained that the Mexican army had fallen back upon Agua Nueva. The great disparity of numbers, and the exhaustion of Taylor's troops, rendered it inexpedient and hazardous to attempt pursuit. A staff officer was despatched to General Santa Anna to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, which was satisfactorily completed on the following day. The Americans collected and buried their own dead, and the Mexican wounded, of which a large number had been left upon the field, were removed to Saltillo, and rendered as comfortable as circumstances would permit."

On the evening of the 26th it was ascertained that, excepting a small body of cavalry left at Agua Nueva, the Mexican army had retreated in the direction of San Luis Potosi. On the 27th, General Taylor advanced with his troops and resumed his former camp at Agua Nueva, the Mexican rear guard evacuating the place as the Americans approached, leaving a considerable number of wounded behind. It was Taylor's purpose to beat up the enemy's quarters at Encarnacion early the next morning, but upon examination, the weak condition of the cavalry horses rendered it unadvisable to attempt so long a march without water. Colonel Belknap, with a detachment of troops, was despatched to Encarnacion on the 1st of March. Some two hundred wounded and about sixty Mexican soldiers were found there, the army of Santa Anna, having passed on in the direction of Matehula, with greatly reduced numbers, and suffering much from hunger. The dead and dying were strewed upon the road, and crowded the buildings of the hacienda.

The American loss at the battle of Buena Vista, was 267 killed, 456 wounded, and 23 missing; that of the Mexicans in killed and wounded

* General Taylor's official despatch,

was estimated by General Taylor, and admitted by Santa Anna, to exceed 1500. At least 500 of their killed were left upon the field of battle. The loss of the Americans was especially severe in officers - 28 having been killed upon the field, and 41 wounded.

In a private letter to General E. G. W. Butler, General Taylor referred to certain incidents of the battle. Among other remarks he says: "For several hours the fate of the day was extremely doubtful; so much so, that I was urged by some of the most experienced officers to fall back and take a new position. This I knew it would never do to attempt with volunteers, and at once declined it. Between the several deep ravines, there were portions of level land from one to four hundred yards in extent, which became alternately points of attack and defence, after our left was turned, by both sides. These extended along and near the base of the mountain for about two miles, and the struggle for them may be very ap propriately compared to a game of chess. Night put a stop to the contest, and, strange to say, both armies occupied the same positions they did in the morning before the battle commenced. Our artillery did more than wonders.

"We lay on our arms all night, as we had done the two preceding ones, without fires, ready and expecting to renew the contest the next morning; but we found at daylight the enemy had retreated during the night.

"I hope the greater portion of the good people of the country will be satisfied with what we have done on this occasion. I flatter myself that our compelling a Mexican army of more than twenty thousand men, completely organized, and led by their chief magistrate, to retreat, with less than five hundred regulars, and about four thousand volunteers, will meet their approval. I had not a single company of regular infantry; the

whole was taken from me."

The news of the victory of Buena Vista was received in the United States as the crowning evidence of Taylor's generalship. He had assumed the responsibility of holding his position beyond Monterey. Knowing his resources and trusting in his officers and troops, he hesitated not to risk everything on the field against the host of Santa Anna. He has himself done justice to the brilliant part which General Wool bore in the action, approving all the preliminary dispositions of that able commander. He has also borne testimony to the services of all others who took part in the action, and expressed his sympathies with the friends of those who had fallen. It was the province of the nation, in return, to acknowl edge the surpassing merit of the commander-in-chief. That merit was acknowledged in every form of popular rejoicing and congratulation Cities and states were emulous in exhibitions of sympathy for his trials exultation for his success, and respect for his character.*

The importance of the victory at Buena Vista (says Mansfield) cal *Fry's Life of Taylor.

not be exaggerated. It secured the whole frontier of the Rio Grande, and struck terror and dismay into the hearts of the Mexican nation. It was, in fact, the first great turning point of the war.

General Taylor, on the 2d of March, intrusted to one of his aids, Mr. Thomas L. Crittenden, of Kentucky, the official reports of the battle of Buena Vista, to be conveyed to Washington. He was escorted by Major Giddings, commanding 260 infantry and two pieces of artillery, and having in charge also one hundred and fifty wagons. Near Ceralvo, on the road to Camargo, the escort was attacked by 1,600 Mexican cavalry and infantry, under Generals Urrea and Romaro. After a brief and gallant struggle the enemy was repulsed, with the loss of 45 killed and wounded. The Americans lost 17 men, of whom 15 were teamsters. General Taylor, subsequently hearing that Urrea was in command of a still larger force, pursued him with about 1,200 volunteers, and two companies of Bragg's artillery, as far as Caidereta, where he learned that the Mexicans had crossed the mountains. General Taylor then returned to the camp at Walnut Springs, three miles from Monterey, where he established his headquarters.

The operations of General Scott, at Vera Cruz and other points on the gulf of Mexico, and the brilliant series of successes of that officer and the troops under his command, in the march from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, terminating in the capture and occupation of that capital by the American troops, in September, transferred the seat of war to that quarter. Consequently, General Taylor remained for some months in comparative inactivity, at his headquarters near Monterey. Actual hostilities with Mexico having been practically brought to an end, with the exception of skirmishes with guerilla parties, General Taylor obtained permission to visit his family at Baton Rouge, in Louisiana, from whom he had now been absent for about two years.

Accordingly, in November, 1847, he left the command of the army with General Wool, and took his departure for the United States, by the way of Camargo, Matamoras, and Point Isabel, at which last place he embarked in a steamer for New Orleans, and arrived below that city on the 1st of December. He landed at the barracks, where he met his family, and remained two days. He was greeted by salutes of cannon, display of flags, and the cheers of the people. On the 3d the general proceeded to the city, where he was received with transports of enthusiasm and joy by his fellow-citizens anxious to welcome him to his home. Along the shores of the Mississippi, as far as the eye could reach, gay streamers floated on the breeze from ships of every nation, and the numerous steamboats on the river added to the interest of the scene.

General Taylor was accompanied by several officers of his staff, among whom was Major Bliss, assistant adjutant-general, who had accompanied him in all his campaigns and battles in Mexico. On landing at New

Orleans, a vast procession was formed, and the general was conducted to the St. Charles hotel, where he received the calls of several thousand citizens. To the address of the mayor, welcoming him to the city, the general made a modest and appropriate reply, expressive of his gratitude at this reception by the people of New Orleans. On the following day he visited the Roman catholic cathedral, and was welcomed in an eloquent address by Bishop Blanc. A magnificent sword that had been voted by the legislature of Louisiana, was presented by Governor Johnson, with appropriate remarks, to which General Taylor replied in language of deep feeling at the honor done him.

On the 5th of December, General Taylor left the city in a steamer, for his home in Baton Rouge. On the way thither he was greeted with the most enthusiastic cheers from people on the banks of the river, and on board of steamers and other vessels. From that time he remained to enjoy the quiet of domestic retirement, of which he had so long been deprived, until summoned by the people to accept of new honors, and to enter upon the duties of the most important office in their gift.

The brilliant achievements of Taylor during his campaigns in Mexico, so much attracted the admiration of the people of the United States, that a strong desire was early manifested by his fellow-citizens of various political parties, to place him in nomination as a candidate for president of the republic. His official despatches and private letters confirmed the favorable opinion generally entertained respecting his ability to fill the highest station with credit to himself and benefit to the nation—and the excellence of his private character, as well as his sterling good sense, was acknowledged by all. Although his political opinions were known to coincide with those of the whig party, he had never taken an active part in political contests; many of the democratic party, therefore, avowed their determination to support him as a candidate for the presidency, but the leaders of that party refused to acknowledge his claims. A large portion of the whig party, particularly in the southern and southwestern states, early saw in the popularity attached to his name, the great probability of success in the presidential election if he could be made the candidate of the party, and consequently used every effort to effect such a result. The attention, also, of citizens in several of the states, organized as the native American party, was turned toward General Taylor as a candidate for the presidency immediately after his brilliant victories on the Rio Grande and in Mexico. One of the earliest meetings of the people in favor of his nomination for president, was held at Trenton, New Jersey, on the 11th of June, 1846; this was followed by a similar meeting in the city of New York, on the 18th of the same month. Both of these meetings were called without distinction of party, soon after the reception of the news of the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palına.

Taylor's nomination for the presidency was proposed to him by one of the