h had
lately been transpiring, were seen approaching. Gradually, they
drew near to a cotton-wood grove of trees in which the soldiers were
resting, thinking no doubt, that they were there about to meet their
friends. A mountaineer by the name of Stewart, who commanded the Spy
company, and another man, one of the Mexican Volunteers, immediately
on seeing the Indians, sprang upon the backs of their horses which
chanced to be near by, and started out to attack them. Not until these
Indians saw the men advancing, were they made aware of their danger;
when instantly they turned around their animals, and put them on a
keen run for the nearest mountain. They were pursued and the race
hotly contested for at least two miles; but, the Indians succeeded in
making their escape, although shots were fired at them, and returned
by the Indians. In doing so, one of them was obliged to dismount and
leave his horse behind him, which fell into the hands of his pursuers.

At the time that the chief Blanco was endeavoring to gain a parley,
a stirring scene was being enacted at the soldiers' camp, which was
several miles distant. Most of the soldiers had left it and were then
out engaged in the business of scouring the country. In the camp there
were all the pack animals, provisions, luggage etc., of the command.
To guard this property there were only about fifty men left, who,
anticipating no danger, were employing themselves in cooking and
otherwise providing for the wants of their absent friends against
their return. The herd of mules was scattered about, and grazing under
the charge of a few herders. Suddenly a band of about one hundred
warriors, were discovered coming down the little valley where the camp
was located. The alarm was given, when each man seizing his rifle,
rushed to place himself in the line of sentinels which were forming
around the property. The mules were quickly driven together in a
compact body into the centre of the camp. Hardly had this movement
been performed, before the red men came galloping by. Seeing the
smallness of the force opposed to them, they made two or three
attempts at an attack on the weakest points of the lines. They
were about to succeed, when a shout went up from the Americans, who
descried relief in the shape of the foot company which, having been
left behind for one night in order to make easy marches and thus
partially rest themselves, was now approaching. The Indians saw
the near approach of t