Our Army at Monterey ... With a description of the three days' battle and the storming of Monterey, etc

Front matter

, ,^7 ENTRY INTO MONTEREY. OUR ARMY AT MONTEREY. BY T. B. THORPE. GUARD - EOUSS. PHILADELPHIA: CAREY &. HART. 1848. OUR AMY AT MONTEREY. BEING A CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED TO THE "ARMY OF OCCUPATION" UNDER THE COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL TAYLOR, FROM THE TIME OF LEAVING MATAMOROS TO THE SURRENDER OF MONTEREY. WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE THREE DAYS' BATTLE AND THE STORMING OF MONTEREY: THE CEREMONIES ATTENDING THE SURRENDER: TOGETHER WITH THE PARTICULARS OF THE CAPITULATION. ILLUSTRATED BY A VIEW OF THE CITY. AND A MAP DRAWN BY LIEUT. BENJAMIN, U. S. A BY T. B. THORPE, AUTHOR OF " OUR ARMY ON THE RIO GRANDE," " TOM OWEN, THE BEE- HUNTER," ETC PHILADELPHIA. PUBLISHED BY CAREY AND HART. 1847. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1847, by CAREY AND HART, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BT L. JOHNSON & CO., PHILADELPHIA. PEINTED BY T. X. & P. O. COLLINS.

Preface

. The publication of " Our Army on the Rio Grande," suggested to the author to continue the history of the campaign. The present volume records the most important events up to the capitulation of Monterey. Every effort has been made to obtain the most authentic materials ; and the author is under obligations to many officers of the army for items of interest. The official reports appended will form the best collateral evidence of the truthfulness of the details in the description of the battle, and to them the author particularly refers the reader who may honor this volume with a perusal. It is a source of regret that, in the obituary notices, an epitome of the lives of all the officers who fell could not be given. The materials for such notes the author found it impossible to obtain. Trust ing that it may save some noble act of gallantry from oblivion, the volume is respectfully submitted to the public. Another volume, containing the history of the campaign up to the battle of Buena Vista, will be issued soon. Louisiana, June, 1847, CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Movement towards Reyonoso — Col. Wilson's command — Preaching in Mexico — The town of Reyonoso — Canales — Steamers on the Rio Grande — Independence of Northern Mexico — High water — 4th of July celebration — Volunteer camp — City of Matamoros 9

Chapter II

Movement of the Seventh Regiment — Paredes — Catholic clergy — Men of Matamoros — Romance of the country — La Gran Querira — Capt. Thornton's defence — Camargo — Amusing incident — Indians — Capt. Vinton — Mier — Description of it — Mier prisoners — The battle of the Texians — Evidences of the contest 15

Chapter VI

Morning of the 21st — An express from General Worth — The reconnoissance — Formation of the line of battle — Gen. Taylor's orders — Col. Garland's advance — Lieut. Dilworth — Battle commences — Volunteer division ordered forward — Tennessee regiment — Col. Garland's command — Major Lear — Col. Watson — Major Barbour — Lieut. Terrett — Capt. Williams — Capt. Bragg's battery — Capt. Bacchus— Gen. Quitman's division — Lieut. Hoskins — Lieut. Woods — Charge of the Mississippi and Tennessee regiments - - 48 a2 v VI CONTENTS.

Chapter VII

The Ohio regiment — Gen. Butler — Mexican cavalry — Bragg's, Ridgely's, and Webster's batteries — Col. Garland's command — The tete du vont — Destructive fire — Capt. L. N. Morris — Major Graham. — Capt. Bainbridge — Mexican lancers — The battle-field — The wounded — Lieut. Skerrett — The close of the day — Gen. Taylor in battle 56

Chapter VIII

The morning of the 21st — Gen. Worth's division — Charge of the lancers — Death of a Mexican colonel — West side of Monterey — Capt. McKavett — Capt. C. F. Smith's command — Storming of Federation hill — The Eighth Regiment — The Fifth, and Blanchard's Louisianians — Carrying the heights — Gen. P. F. Smith— The second fort carried— Nightfall - - - - 63

Chapter IX

Morning of the 22d — Gen. Worth's division — Storming of the height above the Bishop's palace — Lieut. Col. Child's command — Independence hill — Discovery of the storming party — Scene from the heights — Gillespie and Thomas i — Lieut. Roland — Preparations for assaulting the Bishop's palace — Mexican cavalry — They charge — Retreat — Taking of the palace — Operations of the First Division — Close of the day ------ _ . 70

Chapter X

Morning of the 23d — Fort Diablo — Order of battle — Gen. Quitman's division — Gen. Henderson's command — Gen. Lamar and Col. Woods — Terrible assault — Its effects — Letter from Gov. Morales — The Second Division — Entrance into the city — Eastern end of the city — Gen. Ampudia — The plaza — Nightfall 75

Chapter XI

Morning of the 24th — Flag of truce — Letter accompanying it — Answer Incident of the preceding day — Meeting of the American and Mexican commanders — Their appearance — Deception on the part of the Mexican commissioners — Terms of the capitulation — Gen. Taylor — Final agreement - - 82

Chapter XII

Morning of the 25th — Difficulty of wording the terms of the capitulation Its consummation — Effect of the capitulation upon the Mexicans Surrender of the citadel — Appearance of the enemy — Description of the citadel Interior of the city — The Montereyans — Marching out of the Mexican troops Departure of Gen. Ampudia -- go

Chapter XIII

The capitulation of Monterey — Opinions thereon of one of the commissioners Different character of the assaults upon the city — Defences of the eastern CONTENTS. VII side — Of the western — Gen. Worth's position — Difficulties under which Col. Garland laboured — Obstinacy of the defence at the eastern part of the city — Mexican anticipations of an assault — Historical reminiscences suggested by the city of Monterey 98

Chapter XIV

Gen. Ampudia — His character — His despatch announcing the surrender of Monterey — His proclamation to the people of northern Mexico — Proclamation of the acting President of Mexico 106

Chapter XV

Monterey — Its situation — Character of its buildings — Incidents in its history — Entrance to the city — The main plaza — The cathedral — Halls of justice — Trophies of war — Fortifications of the eastern part of the city — Of the western — Arista's palace — Hospital — Cemetery 112

Chapter XVI

Monterey after the surrender — Its cathedral — Gov. Morales and Gen. Taylor — Misunderstanding — Mexican insensibility to kindness — Letter from a citizen — Social life — Female character — Superiority of the Mexican women - 118 OBITUARY. Lieut. Col. W. H. Watson— Major W. W. Lear— Major P. N. Barbour— Capt. L. N. Morris — Capt. W. G. Williams— Capt. Henry McKavett— Capt. George P. Field — Capt. Randolph RidgSly — Capt. R. A. Gillespie — Lieut. Charles Hoskins — Lieut. R. H. Graham — Lieut. D. S. Irwin — Lieut. J. S. Woods — Lieut. John C. Terrett— Lieut. R. Hazlitt— Lieut. R. Dilworth - - 127 OFFICIAL REPORTS. Despatches of Gen. Taylor — Letters from Gov. Morales and Gen. Ampudia — Terms of capitulation of the city of Monterey — Reports of Generals Butler, Hamer, Quitman, Worth, Twiggs, Henderson, and Col. Garland — Gen. Worth's general order — Names of the killed, wounded, and missing — Loss of the Mexicans at Monterey liOif. Thila Prom a man drawn hyfiait. f/i'ii/firiu n J '.)'../. and oiyravrd r.rprtsly lor Our Army al Monterey

Chapter I

Movement towards Reyonoso — Col. Wilson's command — Preaching in Mexico — The town of Reyonoso — Canales — Steamers on the Rio Grande — Independence of Northern Mexico — High-water — 4th of July celebration — Volunteer camp — City of Matamoros. The first movement that was made in demonstration of penetrating into the interior of Mexico, by American troops, which followed the events immediately connected with the battles of the "8th and 9th," 1846, occurred on the 5th of June, 1846, when Lieut. Col. Wilson, with the first regiment of U. S. Infantry, Capt. Thomas's Artillery, and Capt. Price's Texan Rangers, took up his line of march for Reyonoso, a small town between sixty and seventy miles above Matamoros, on the Rio Grande. A few days previous to this event, the Alcalde and several important citizens of that town had waited on Gen. Taylor, offering a sur render of the place, and expressing a desire to come under the protection of the American flag.

The Mexicans departed on their way homeward, evidently delighted with their visit to the Ameri cans, but unfortunately for their happiness and longevity, they fell into the hands of Canales, who robbed them of their valuables, and, it is reported, showed his enthusiasm in the cause of his native land, by murdering the Alcalde. This movement of Col. Wilson was the first step towards Mon terey, the possession of which city Gen. Taylor considered im portant, as it commanded the passes in the mountains, that con nected northern Mexico with the capital-, On the Sabbath preceding the movement of Col, Wilson, Capt. R. A. Stewart, of the Andrew Jackson regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, preached at the head-quarters of Gen. Worth, on the west side of the Rio Grande.

His con gregation was composed of the officers and men of the regular army, and a few civilians. This sermon was the first preached by a Protestant clergyman in Mexico, and in the history of the religious movement in that country, will ever be one of interest. Col. Wilson, with his command, arrived at Reyonoso, after a hot and fatiguing march of four days and a half, and immediately despatched the news to Gen. Taylor, stating that he had met with no resistance to his march. The town was found to be situated on the west side of the river ; it was built upon a solid limestone rock, and contained be tween eight hundred and a thousand inhabitants. The buildings presented quite a substantial appearance, and gave evidence of its having been in former times a place of some business activity. The inhabitants of the country generally were found to have abandoned their residences and removed into the interior.

This was caused by proclamations from Monterey and elsewhere, noti fying the inhabitants that they should be treated as "traitors" if they held any intercourse with the "invaders of the soil." Col. Wilson, on his arrival at Reyonoso, was authorized to throw up intrenchments and fortify the place, but finding the plaza sur rounded by heavy stone buildings, he occupied it, and without much trouble put it in such a state of defence, that he was relieved from all anxiety with respect to assault from the enemy. The country through which our army passed was exceedingly beautiful, a mixture of chaparral, prairie, and rich land. The farm-houses looked miserable and in ruin. Every thing of nature's creation smiled ; but man's work seemed to be under a curse, the curse of a miserable government, and of besotted ignorance among the people.

The establishment of Col. Wilson at Reyonoso was followed by the return of the inhabitants to their homes, who expressed a lively degree of pleasure that the Americans had arrived among STEAMERS ON THE RIO GRANDE. 11 them for their protection. It seemed that Canales, who had been compelled to retire with his marauders, represented a class of worthies, (answering to the "cow-boys," of our Revolutionary history,) who preyed on the weak of either side ; and that his proclamations against our advance were only issued to form groundwork for plundering his unoffending countrymen. Of this man it is said, that he joined Gen. Anaya, in 1839, with a colonel's command, in an attempt to revolutionize northern Mex ico. With about five hundred Texians, he penetrated the country as far as Saltillo, and in the midst of storming that place, deserted the Texians, joined the "centralists," and thus defeated the object of the expedition.

Soon after the occupation of Reyonoso, steamers began to ply merrily upon the Rio Grande, much to the astonishment of the original inhabitants, and which, joined with the long wagon trains that were constantly moving up the country, gave every thing a bustling appearance. In earlier times, when Stephen Austin (so much identified with the early history of Texas) first received his immense grant of land from the Mexican government, he intro duced a small steamer upon the river. It soon began to drive a most profitable trade, purchasing from the inhabitants many things before valueless for want of transportation ; the muleteers, the "regular carriers," became alarmed, and petitioned the central government to abolish "the innovation;" they were successful, and the commerce of the river was thus checked in its advance towards prosperity.

The country was still unsettled ; rumours constantly reached Reyonoso, that the Mexicans were preparing to attack that place. Carrabijol, a follower of Canales, was known to be scouring the country for horses, in order to organize a cavalry force. There is foundation for believing, that at the very time our troops moved towards the Rio Grande, there was a concerted plan among the inhabitants of northern Mexico, to declare themselves inde pendent of the central government, and this Carrabijol visited Gen. Taylor's camp at Corpus Christi, on a mission connected with this subject, but received no encouragement from the stern old soldier. Arista was reputed among his own countrymen, for a long time, to be favorable to such a movement. He was a powerful citizen, and much dreaded by the government ; his ap pointment to supersede Ampudia in the command of the northern army created much surprise, and, probably, awakened in Arista's breast a new ambition, for he believed that in crushing Gen. Tay lor, who seemed to be within his grasp, he should not only be able to lead in the northern provinces, but extend his sway to the capital itself.

Although it was now drawing towards the end of June, and always considered "the dry season" in Mexico, the country was deluged with rain. The San Juan poured out its waters into the Rio Grande, as if all the fountains of the Sierra Madre had been broken up. The Rio Grande gradually rose over its banks, leaving but little part of the country above the flood. The green fields and rolling landscape, so recently dotted over with white tents, disappeared, leaving but a few small islands on which sol diers could cluster. Fort Brown became half filled with water, the ravine of the battle-field of Resaca de la Palma bore a rolling flood, which extended over Palo Alto and the surrounding prai ries, quite cutting off all communication with Point Isabel. Enor mous cat and gar-fish were seen floundering over the battle-fields, their voracious maws becoming the graves of the unburied dead.

A hot tropical sun poured down its fierce rays upon our troops, a large portion of whom were without proper tents ; and many slept in the open air, surrounded with water ; musquitoes, and innumerable noxious insects of immense size, filled the air, and at night murdered sleep. In the midst of all these evils, as might have been expected, bilious and other fevers began to make their appearance among the soldiers. Volunteers, under the requisition of Major Gen. Gaines, continued to pour in from many of the United States. The means of transportation being unequal to the demand, Gen. Taylor found it impossible to make prompt movements towards the interior, in doing which, while prosecuting the war, he could have chosen healthy locations for the troops under his command. FOURTH OF JULY. 13 The approach of our National Anniversary was hailed on the Rio Grande with unusual enthusiasm, and preparations were made to celebrate it with becoming splendour and appropriate ness.

The military array, the firing of the heavy cannon and other arms, so recently engaged in deadly strife ; the active part taken by the heroes, whose laurels still proudly crowned their brows, made the circumstances under which it was to be com memorated peculiarly imposing. At daylight on the 4th of July, the spirit-stirring drum beat the reveille at daylight, at the various encampments, with unusual vivacity. The heavy eighteen pounders from Fort Brown, that had slumbered so profoundly since the "8th," announced, along the Rio Grande, that the anniversary of our glorious independence had returned ; the heavy booming sounds were answered back from "Paredes," while Ridgely's, Duncan's, and Bragg's batteries added to the universal roar. Beneath the stars and stripes that waved over the head-quarters of Gen. Taylor, were heard the soul-inspiring strains of "Hail, Columbia," interrupted with repeated cheering from ten thousand Americans.

The principal point of attraction was in the camp opposite Matamoros, composed of two regiments of Louisiana volunteers, and the head-quarters of Gen. P. F. Smith, commanding the volunteer brigade ; the mention of the ceremonies of which will serve as a type of the whole. Breakfast fairly dispensed with, the troops met on full parade, and marched to head-quarters, where Gen. Taylor had already arrived to participate in the celebration. By particular request the Rev. W. H. Crenshaw, Chaplain to the Andrew Jackson Regiment, opened the ceremonies with an elegant and appropriate prayer, after which Wolman Nichols read the Declaration of In dependence, followed by O. N. Ogden, who pronounced the ora tion, — these gentlemen being attached to Gen. Smith's staff. Gen. Taylor then reviewed the two regiments, and the multitude assem bled to partake of the dinner prepared for the occasion.

The manner of serving it up is worthy of notice : it was characteristic of the time and place. The total want of timber in B Mexico makes plank almost impossible to obtain, it was therefore necessary to provide for a table in other than the usual manner. A piece of ground was accordingly marked out, sufficiently long and wide for the " hospitable board," on each side of which a trench was dug fifteen inches wide, and sufficiently deep to afford a comfortable seat. Upon the " preemption" appropriated for the table were laid matting and the " flags" of tents, and then the eatables and drinkables that were to be consumed in this novel and patriotic dinner. Precisely at noon, a national salute was again tired from the head-quarters of each regiment, on both sides of the river, when the officers of the regular and volunteer divisions of the army took their seats at the table.

The city of Matamoros presented a strange spectacle : all was bustle and confusion ; advertisements on the fronts of the different houses announced " fourth of July dinners," and fandangos in "honour of the day." A company of mountebanks paraded the streets, and cut their fantastic tricks in the Plaza. After passing "their hat" around for remuneration, they struck up their rude music, which consisted of a bass drum and primitive clarionet. Decked in their feathers and gew-gaws, and headed by a little girl who stood upon the bare back of a mule, bearing a little flag on which was emblazoned Compania del Norte, they would for awhile thread the principal streets previous to another " grand performance." At noon, to the surprise of the Americans, the cathedral bell commenced ringing, and the " sacred cannon" belonging to the church gave a salute ; this was looked upon as a most cordial joining in of the natives, in the festivities of the day, as had previously been noticed in the universally gay attire of the citizens of the town, and the festival preparations in the grand plaza ; but, upon inquiry, it was learned that the 4th of July was some "saint-day" in the Mexican calendar, that required these demon strations. MARCH FOR CAMARGO. 15

Chapter II

Movement of the Seventh Regiment — Paredes — Catholic clergymen arrive at Matamoros — Romance of the country — La Gran Quevira — Capt. Thornton's defence — Camargo — Amusing incident — Indians — Capt. Vinton — Mier — Description of it — Mier prisoners — The battle of the Texians — Evidences of the contest. The river was now slowly retiring within its banks, and the sum mer heat became unusually oppressive for the season, which bore heavily upon our soldiers. On the 6th of July, the Seventh regiment, under command of Capt. Miles, left the walls of Fort Brown, which it had so long and so gallantly defended, and started for Camargo, via Reyonoso. The news of the election of Paredes to the Presidency of Mexico on the 12th of June, reached Matamoros. His address to Congress and the people of Mexico, and his asking leave to head the army against the "invaders of the North," revived the idea that the Mexicans would make a decided resistance.

The war excitement began to prevail anew, and Monterey was looked for ward to with increasing interest, because it was understood that there the enemy would probably make their first great demonstration in hostile array. On the 8th day of July, two clergymen, the Rev. Messrs. McElroy and Rey, of the Roman Catholic church, appointed chaplains to the U. S. Army, for the soldiers belonging to that church, arrived in Matamoros. A curious story was repeated along the Rio Grande about this time, which was remarkable for its romantic novelty, and for its evident intent, viz. : the invasion of the country. It was reported that in the interior there was buried treasure of immense amount. The idlers and hangers-on about the camps caught up the idea of seeking for it, and the prospect for a time was, that a party of as wild adventurers as the world ever saw, would be banded together for the visionary purpose of " money-hunting."

The tra dition ran as follows : — LA GRAN QUEVIRA Years ago, in the centre of " the first ridge" of the Rocky Mountains, and not two hundred miles from the Rio Grande, where the great road crosses at El paso del Norte, there was a great and flourishing city. It was remarkable for its massive buildings, industrious population, and great wealth. In the suburbs of this city were mines where the gold and silver lay in almost unadulte rated heaps. Removing the thin soil that covered the hills, ex posed untold treasure ; in this way the inhabitants waxed great and revelled in every luxury. Twenty miles from this city there gushed out of the side of the mountain an abundant spring of water, which was brought to La Gran Quevira by means of a beautiful aqueduct made of stone and costly cement. From the main reservoir there ran through the streets constant streams, refreshing the air with their coolness, and forcing vegetation, until the city became a fairy land.

A splendid church was erected from the money paid by the citizens for the privilege of using the pure water from this aqueduct ; it was, in fact, a religious observance to pay liberally for its blessings. The church towered far above the surrounding country ; its spires of burnished gold pierced the heavens. The natives of the region looked upon it with awe, and almost worshipped the people of La Gran Quevira. In an evil hour the inhabitants of this favored city roused the vengeance of a chief who had a commanding influence among the aboriginal population, and had, by his intercourse with the whites, become acquainted with the value of gold. He resented the im pressment of his people to work as slaves among the mines. He excited envy and jealousy against their task-masters in the hordes with which he was surrounded.

And, at a time when the citizens were making great preparations to export the treasure gathered for years, the Indians suddenly appeared, bearing aloft black flags, and swearing death to their oppressors. La Gran Quevira was LA GRAN QUEVIRA. 17 well fortified by nature, and the invaders for awhile were kept at a distance. But consternation had seized upon the people, and they buried their silver, gold, and precious stones, to the amount of untold millions, because they looked upon this as the cause of their present misery, and they also wished to secrete their wealth to be removed at a future time. The Indians, after several unsuc cessful attempts to carry the city by storm, finally thought of a desperate expedient, and destroyed the great aqueduct that watered the city ; from that time the inhabitants despaired, and, upon a grim night, broke out in a mass, endeavoring to escape to their friends south of the mountains, but in this they were unsuccessful: they were fallen upon and massacred, but two persons escaping to tell the tale.

The victors now entered the city ; to their surprise they found little gold or silver, and no food ; half famished and enraged, they put the torch to La Gran Quevira, and left it at night by the light of the conflagration. A large number of the houses were de stroyed, but the grand church remained almost unharmed, towering over the ruins with its blackened walls, a worthy monument of the event that made it isolated amid a desert. Of those who escaped, one of the two reached New Orleans, then under the Spanish dominion. A great number of men were raised by him, who started for New Mexico, and crossed the Sabine, but from that time they were never heard of. Quite recently, it had been stated, that a party of Americans and a Frenchman, having been lost in Mexico, came unexpectedly upon the ruins of a great city ; they were led to it by following an aqueduct, leading from a spring near which they had encamped.

To their surprise, this extraordinary work led to the ruins of a remarkable church, and in the neighborhood were openings in the mountains, evidently of mines. Knowing nothing of the story of La Gran Quevira, they paid little attention to what they saw, and when they found the way to a part of the country with which they were familiar, they could not themselves locate exactly the whereabouts of the deser*'1 city, but their story repeated on the Rio Grande revived the glumly bering tradition, and there was not wanting, at the time we write of, daring spirits ready to undertake the search. On the 11th of July, a general court-martial, by order of the President, assembled at Matamoros, Gen. Worth being president ; Capt. Thornton, among others, was tried. The events that led to this gallant officer's being before the court, from the peculiar cir cumstances attending the capture of his command, created great interest in the United States.

Capt. Barbour, Third Infantry, and Lieut. Bragg, Third Artillery, assisted Capt. Thornton in the court. On Wednesday the 14th, Lieut. Bragg presented the written defence.* Capt. Thornton commenced by stating that a long established principle of his profession, and a stern sense of duty on the part of his accusers, had brought him before the court in his present position. Success, he was aware, was with military men often the test of merit ; yet he hoped to be able to show, even if he was not successful in his expedition, his failure was not owing to the omis sion of necessary precaution. On the night of the 24th of April, with a command of three com missioned officers and fifty rank and file, he was ordered to reconnoitre a country some twenty-seven miles in extent, and to bring information whether the enemy had crossed the Rio Bravo, his numbers, and his position ; and he had also further vested orders from the commanding general, to ascertain, if possible, whether he had crossed his artillery, and to report by the next day at 12 o'clock.

He referred to the testimony of Capt. Hardee and Lieut. Kane, for the manner in which he executed these instructions. He regretted that he could not lay before the court the testimony of Lieut. Mason, but regarded his loss as nothing, compared with that of the friends and relations of the gallant young officer, who fell, as he had lived, in the discharge of his duty. From the recapitulation of the testimony of Capt. Hardee and L '3Ut. Kane, in the defence, it appears that every precaution was • The epitome of the defence given is from the « Matamoros Flag." CAPT. THORNTON'S TRIAL. 19 used to guard against surprise — that an advance guard was thrown out, that flankers were impossible, for the most part, from the nature of the country, it being a perfect defile, admitting at times a single horseman with difficulty ; that when Capt. Thornton halted his squadron to rest his men and horses, which was extremely necessary, a sentinel was placed at both ends of the road, so that no one could approach without his knowledge.

About day light next morning the command proceeded towards the river, and to the constant inquiries made of every one that was met, " whether the enemy had crossed," the reply was, " he had," but all spoke from rumor — this Capt. Thornton believed to be unreliable au thority, upon which he could not base a report, and he referred, as an evidence of this, to the numerous false rumors with which the American camp had abounded for a month previous. Capt. Thornton alluded to the suspicious conduct of his guide, which induced him to doubt his fidelity, and subsequent events, he thought, proved that he was employed, in connection with other spies, to lead him into a position from which retreat was impossible. Subse quent information, upon which he could rely, satisfied him that his return to camp had been cut off; that the enemy was in his rear with a force of five hundred cavalry and a party of Indians.