Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

THE ACTION OF SAN JERONIMO. 161
men were killed and some wounded on the hill. The surgeons, who had already, with their usual professional nonchalance, displayed their glittering instruments and bandages
on the grass a few yards behind the line, then commenced
their merciful labors. It was remarked that, after the groans
of the first sufferers were heard, but few of the soldiers
seemed inclined to commit the offense of Lot's wile.
To describe the events of the 21st of September as they
occurred, it should be stated that, even before our line was
forined in front of the city, Worth had brilliantly commenced
operations among the hills and gorges on the right. Leaving his bivouac befobre "6the blabbing eastern scout" had
returned to advise the enemy of his movement, he had, at
the hamlet of San Jeronimo, encountered the cavalry of
Generals Roomaro and Torrejou, covered by the batteries on
the hights. After a fierce conflict of fifteen minutes' duration, the enemy was completely routed, and driven in disorder up the pass, or compelled to take refuge among the
mountains. The Mexican loss in the affair was about one
huindred killed and wounded. Among the former, the Lieuten::~a- Colonel of the Jalisco Lancers, Don Juan N. Najera,
whose conspicuous gallantry and death-defying courage,
elicited the admiration of friend and foe. General Worth,
having thus become the master of the Saltillo road, prepared
to launch his columns against the batteries on the hights-of
which hereafter.
The enemy, after the morning combat of San Jeromino,
finding all his communications cut off, prepared, with
-undaunted courage, to resist the closing of the fatal coil so