rdingly returned without (p. 342)
having an interview. The extreme right of the enemy continued its
retreat along the base of the mountain, and finally, in spite
of all our efforts, effected a junction with the remainder of
the army.

During the day, the cavalry of General Minon had ascended the
elevated plain above Saltillo, and occupied the road from the
city to the field of battle, where they intercepted several of
our men. Approaching the town, they were fired upon by Captain
Webster from the redoubt occupied by his company, and then moved
off towards the eastern side of the valley, and obliquely toward
Buena Vista. At this time Captain Shover moved rapidly forward
with his piece, supported by a miscellaneous command of mounted
volunteers, and fired several shots at the cavalry with great
effect. They were driven into the ravines which lead to the lower
valley, closely pursued by Captain Shover, who was farther
supported by a piece of Captain Webster's battery, under
Lieutenant Donaldson, which had advanced from the redoubt,
supported by Captain Wheeler's company of Illinois volunteers.
The enemy made one or two efforts to charge the artillery, but
was finally driven back in a confused mass, and did not again
appear upon the plain.

In the mean time, the firing had partially ceased upon the
principal field. The enemy seemed to confine his efforts to the
protection of his artillery, and I had left the plateau for a
moment, when I was recalled thither by a very heavy musketry
fire. On regaining that position, I discovered that our infantry
(Illinois and 2d Kentucky) had engaged a greatly superior force
of the enemy, evidently his reserve, and that they had been
overwhelmed by numbers. The moment was most critical. Captain
O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this heavy charge to the
last, and was finally obliged to leave his guns on the field, his
infantry support being 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 muzzles of his
pieces. The first discharge of canister caused the enemy to
hesitate, the