ragoons. Captain Moore had been ordered to make an attack on the
centre of the enemy, in order to cut their forces in two, and thereby
cause confusion in their ranks. As has been stated, Captain Johnson,
with his little force, joined Captain Moore in making this attack.
While the charge was in progress, and when within one hundred yards of
the Mexican camp, Kit Carson's horse, occupying a leading position in
the column of attack, accidentally fell, and threw his rider with such
force as to break the wood part, or stock, of his rifle into several
pieces, rendering it useless. His position, for a short time, was
precarious. Being foremost in the charge when the accident happened,
the whole troop of horse came galloping over him as he lay upon the
ground. His escape was almost a miracle. When the last horseman had
passed, Kit arose, and was quite happy to find that he had received
only slight contusions, which did not in the least impair his
movements or strength of body. Casting a hasty glance over the field,
he discovered a dead dragoon, not far distant from the spot where
he himself had fallen. Instantly running up to the poor fellow, he
relieved him of his gun and cartridge-box. Being once more armed, he
rushed forward at the top of his speed and plunged into the thickest
of the fight, which was then severely contested. Captain Johnson and
several of the more advanced soldiers had been killed by the bullets
of the enemy, almost at the same instant that Kit Carson's horse had
fallen. It is not at all unlikely, therefore, that the accidental
falling of his horse had been the means of saving Kit Carson's life.
After a desperate and deadly conflict, Moore and his men dislodged the
enemy, causing them to retreat. They were followed by the Americans,
but, unfortunately for their complete success, the large majority of
the latter were mounted on mules. These, when the firing commenced,
became almost unmanageable. But forty of the entire command of General
Kearney were mounted on horses, and these were none the best for
cavalry purposes, having been but recently broken to the saddle. They
had been captured since the arrival of the American forces in the
country, from a party of Mexicans, who were en route to Sonora, by
Lieutenant Davidson and twenty-five dragoons, assisted by Kit Carson.
By the uncontrollable actions of the stubborn mules, Moore's men
became greatly separated and could not act in concert. This rendered
the purs